INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Granny Hatchet]

I have found that corn starch works better then flour. pack it on there with a paper towel. kinda pushing it in.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

It has been a few days now since my layers have had all of the roosters removed. There is a tom turkey in there with his 3 hens. The hens are laying better than ever right now. I do have rope lighting for them but it seems as if the lack of roosters has made the girls happy. My breeders are still a bit slacking but slowing improving. It is because I hatched them out so late in the season last year and many are heritage breeds.

The new to us stud goat.

 

[CharlemagneRoost]

Well, I have been snookered. At least two of the juvenile Cemani "culls" I purchased are mixed breed birds, as their offspring have very clearly demonstrated to me in the last couple of days as they hatched out. I am highly disappointed, but I have learned an important lesson. If you cannot or don't want to pony up the really big bucks for a rare breed, the scheisters will smell you a mile away - and they seem to run in packs.

So, I now will have a handful of mixed breed chicks not worth much - in the middle of winter. Any suggestions on what I can do with them? Any good ways to make lemonade with my proverbial lemons?

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

It has been a few days now since my layers have had all of the roosters removed. There is a tom turkey in there with his 3 hens. The hens are laying better than ever right now. I do have rope lighting for them but it seems as if the lack of roosters has made the girls happy. My breeders are still a bit slacking but slowing improving. It is because I hatched them out so late in the season last year and many are heritage breeds.

The new to us stud goat.

And what a handsome fella!
I am probably having a rooster roundup (processing) this weekend weather permitting, have several maran boys that have matured and I only need 2! Also may be seeing my BA flock leaving this weekend, will be very pleased to get them settled in their respective new homes. 8 pekin, 20 quail to add to the "roundup" too, and I will be happy for the winter.

Well, I have been snookered. At least two of the juvenile Cemani "culls" I purchased are mixed breed birds, as their offspring have very clearly demonstrated to me in the last couple of days as they hatched out. I am highly disappointed, but I have learned an important lesson. If you cannot or don't want to pony up the really big bucks for a rare breed, the scheisters will smell you a mile away - and they seem to run in packs.

So, I now will have a handful of mixed breed chicks not worth much - in the middle of winter. Any suggestions on what I can do with them? Any good ways to make lemonade with my proverbial lemons?

Ugh I am so sorry to hear it. Maybe post pictures and see if anyone is interested?

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Well, it was warm enough today, the pond was full of my ducks and geese. Love to watch them dunking and flipping.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

And what a handsome fella!
I am probably having a rooster roundup (processing) this weekend weather permitting, have several maran boys that have matured and I only need 2! Also may be seeing my BA flock leaving this weekend, will be very pleased to get them settled in their respective new homes. 8 pekin, 20 quail to add to the "roundup" too, and I will be happy for the winter.

Did you get your plucker made up? I was looking at the wizbang plucker website. I even found a kit on Ebay to build a plucker but it was going to cost as much as the cheapest ez pluckers.
I'm going to try and get one big thing every other year or so. I can't decide if the brooder stack or the plucker should be next. I'm kind of hoping you tell me that you got a plucker made and it was so simple and cheap.

 

[Rhandi74]

Some pics from today

Maybaline

Rudy my little wethered guy.

Shadow

Rocky, I am still unsure of sex on this Cochin. It is 5 months old, the same age as Shadow

Jewel still working on teaching her ducklings to be good chickens, they are 6 weeks old now.

Cole

Sunshine

Blizzard

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote:
DH keeps saying he will build one. I did consider the wizbang, but you're right, its as much as the commercial machines once you buy the kit and electric motor. Sooo I am doing the same thing. Next January I will just buy one like @racinchickins has, was impressed at the design. The time I will save alone pays for it in a few months. I need to see how it does for waterfowl tho. Read a lot of reviews, lots of different opinions on that. I still keep finding a lot of youtube videos on the home made pluckers too. Just need to motivate someone or do it myself!

 

[SallyinIndiana]

I found this for the ducks
http://www.cconly.com/processing/ez_duck_wax

 

[iamfivewire]

yankeedoodling - if the mix breeds turn out to be girls, then at least you can get eggs to eat (or sell)