INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[bradselig]

well, I have had a failed hatch.  3 seramas shipped 2 turned wrong and drown. I have piped the last one but it seems very weak. IF it happens to hatch i am ISO of a couple small bantams close to me in madison. If i cant find any do you guys have suggestions for this one ? I think thats gonna be a big if. I would need something tiny and easy going I would guess because these are size A. my first serama hatching too.. 

Hopefully the last makes it. My incubators have been off for well over a month now and couldn't be happier. I needed the breakers and won't be buying many shipped eggs this coming year. It just doesn't pay off especially if you are wanting them to establish a breeding flock. I'll buy chicks or started birds from now on. Will only buy shipped eggs if they are cheap and not really needing the birds.

 

[bradselig]

I don't feel like going back to see who posted it, but I can't wait until those gong Tao chickens are in the US!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Looks great! Very envious of that pole barn! I was hoping to build one (more like have one built) this spring but since I ended up needing to buy a new car, there went my barn funds lol. The SFH are beautiful!

Thanks. The barn actually belongs to my dad. My husband and I moved in w/him a couple years ago to avoid his having to go to the nursing home. I haven't wanted to do anything permanent to it so all the panels came from CL over the last couple months and it's completely done without any alteration on the barn.

The longer we're here, the more liberties I'm able to take. If we like this situation, we may put in some semi-permanent automatic pop doors and just keep the chickens in there. I just wanted to try to give them more indoor space for the winter to see how it goes.

So now I'm sure I'll have to deal with rodents which I never have before. Which is why I was asking so many rodent questions lately.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Hopefully the last makes it. My incubators have been off for well over a month now and couldn't be happier. I needed the breakers and won't be buying many shipped eggs this coming year. It just doesn't pay off especially if you are wanting them to establish a breeding flock. I'll buy chicks or started birds from now on. Will only buy shipped eggs if they are cheap and not really needing the birds.

Interesting that you say that. I've had very little luck w/shipped eggs but I thought it was likely because I was using broodys. My thought was that if they're in an incubator they are more stable in an upright position and I figured that would give a better hatch rate.


Got a 100% hatch rate with my broody with our own eggs that didn't go through shipping.

 

[mrsblanchard]

Be sure to remove any feed for 12 hours a day. That's important, if you let them feed freely they park at the food dish and eat themselves to death, no kidding. My first round of meaties I raised in 1984 abouts. gave them all the food they wanted (big feeder) started with 3 dozen, ended with about 13. Most overate and flipped, (heart attacks) had no idea why without internet and google lol! My mom was a librarian so I read, a lot. Finally found enough info to understand what had happened. Moved into town, and didn't raise birds again till march 2012.
We do a large amount of meaties every year, I have 7 adult family members here and cook big meals. They do very well if you ferment the feed, and restrict the overeating. I kept LilX, a hen that stayed small from my batch we raised in 2012. She lays an xl double yolk egg usually, about 4x a week. The eggs hatch (GLW father) and I have a hen from her too I adore. So my point is, yep they will breed and lay eggs, and if you raise them naturally will be awesome for your table too.
You will love the goats! I adore mine. My Sugar is like a dog, she is an Oberhasli, its the only breed I keep. Sugar free ranges with me during the day. Will snuggle and sleep on my lap. gives kisses. Her daughter Sophie is less a little friendly.. my fault since I was not home much when she was growing up, But still adorable. I keep a buck also, Bo is a stinker but I can still manage him myself. They are an easy breed to keep, and I really enjoy their company. I can't keep large breed indoor dogs anymore due to my parents health. My goats fill that void, just love them.
DH and I are still discussing Boers, not sure I can do that yet.

I'll look into the breed. Currently thinking a nubian and some Norwegian dwarfs. Should be plenty of milk for us. Neighbors have a buck so no worries for me there I'm glad you found a good replacement for your pups. Husband has a service dog we couldn't do without!

 

[bradselig]

So the only breed I'm wanting to add next year are the heritage/exhibition barred rOckham. I'm having issues locating a breeder for chicks. Anyone have a connection or lead?

 

[Granny Hatchet]

Oh, I am sorry. I know that can be discouraging. I could help you out with some old english chicks, but I am up in Anderson. If that's not too far and you're interested, let me know and I would be happy to part with some.

Thank you for the offer. i have no idea where that is. lol I have found a chick hatched today that i will go pick up tomorrow. it is a blue silkie no less, for 5 dollars. mine is not out of the shell yet but looking a bit more active. I guess one baby is better then none.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

Hopefully the last makes it. My incubators have been off for well over a month now and couldn't be happier. I needed the breakers and won't be buying many shipped eggs this coming year. It just doesn't pay off especially if you are wanting them to establish a breeding flock. I'll buy chicks or started birds from now on. Will only buy shipped eggs if they are cheap and not really needing the birds.

I havent had my bator going all yr. that has to be a record. LOL i did find a little blue silkie. i will get it tomorrow. this was a first for me on shipped eggs. I got a serama pr. and 9 eggs for 50 dollars. that included shipping. breeder is also a judge for surrounding areas. he has great stock. the hen is size A and the male will be size B.

Meet Adam and Eve. Do you know of someone local with these beauties ?

 

[Indiana feather]

I havent had my bator going all yr. that has to be a record. LOL i did find a little blue silkie. i will get it tomorrow. this was a first for me on shipped eggs. I got a serama pr. and 9 eggs for 50 dollars. that included shipping. breeder is also a judge for surrounding areas. he has great stock. the hen is size A and the male will be size B.

Meet Adam and Eve. Do you know of someone local with these beauties ?

Those are little cuties

. I'm sorry if this is a dumb question but I've been wondering... are there bantams of nearly every breed? I mean are they just like miniatures of the full size or are they an entirely different breed? By the picture it looks like they want to help do some painting..lol

 

[Granny Hatchet]

these are seramas. smaller then bantam. a breed all their own but to answer your question, yes, you can get just about any breed today in bantam size. the fact is though there are very few "true " bantam breeds . I dont know what they are , maybe some one can enlighten us.