INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Faraday40]

wonder if a change of scenery would help ? one of those fake coyotes they sell at wal-mart or some bob cat urine dropped on the back of a chicken? maybe something different on top of the coop? something so the hawk wouldnt feel so "at home" ?

Some great ideas to start with. Thanks everyone. I think I'll try hanging some reflective tape & CDs around hawk's fav tree and try to find an owl statue for the top of the coop. I had saddles on the hens & attached some iron on patches. I may try dressing some of the girls up again. (Current roo is not tearing their feathers out, so I took them off.)
I was hoping for a "predator's eye" look. Of course if the hawk is close, I doubt it will fall for it.



Leahs Mom- The bird banger looks like fun. I think it may scare my neighbors, though. My son did enjoy trying to get the hawk with the hose once.

Another great idea is adding 2-3 pet turkeys! The answer will likely be no, but I'm interested in learning more about them. Does anyone know of a good online resource to get the overall idea of what's involved? (I've already considered but declined ducks, geese, & guineas.)

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/838701/turkey-talk-for-2014/3950#post_14028668
Or the previous years thread. Lots of turkey keepers there. They are really easy to keep if you choose a heritage breed and socialize them

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

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

Thanks! My friend @jsummers told me about this too, but uses parrafin wax like you would use for canning. strain while still warm thru cheesecloth and let cool, can be re-used. I would like to try a few skin on, but I bet it goes back to the "greasy" taste. They take forever to pluck otherwise without using wax or pre plucking for a machine. It may be different with them being free ranged too, I have to try a few.

 

[wheezy50]

I guess I just needed to publicly shame my hens over their lack of eggs. Since complaining here a few days ago I have gotten 8 eggs over the past 3 days! We're on a roll, I might be able to actually sell a dozen next week! If nothing else, we'll have a good breakfast Saturday morning.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I haven't had a single egg in at least 8 weeks. You think the shaming thing will work for me?

 

[hoosiercheetah]

I haven't had a single egg in at least 8 weeks. You think the shaming thing will work for me?

I think it will. Every time you feed them, sigh dramatically and say, "There's another two dollars I'll never see again. IT'S TOO BAD I DON'T GET ANYTHING BACK FOR MY INVESTMENT. IT'S TOO BAD ALL OF MY LOVE AND CARE AND SWEAT AND TEARS GO UNAPPRECIATED AND UNREWARDED."

And occasionally walk out there with a knife and fork sticking out of your pocket.

 

[ChickCrazed]

I haven't had a single egg in at least 8 weeks. You think the shaming thing will work for me?

Hahaha I'm only getting one a day out of 20 or so hens. Sadly I eat so few eggs it is more than sufficient for me! My chickens are more pets than anything!

Also! Let there be light!!!! Woohoo!!!! Electricity is officially out to the shed! Please ignore the clutter (and temporary work light - only used to give the electrician light to work in the dark) since we had everything all moved around to get the box hooked up.

 

[racinchickins]

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!
I really like the plucker I bought. It has worked well for both chickens and turkeys. However, the one duck that Brian and I tried was pretty much a failure. That was the first try though, ducks may require more heat to get the feathers loose. I've also heard to put soap in the dunking water to try to get the water into and under the feathers since they are so waterproof, but didn't try it. I will have to figure it out though, because I am serious about getting some Muscovies next year.

Quote: I LOVE my turkeys. And I really do think they are the reason I've had almost no issues with hawks. The chickens have learned to heed the turkeys 'look out' calls and head for the barn or the bushes. The turkeys stand their ground though. They aren't louder than chickens, but they do eat more, and free range more broadly.

Quote: I loudly walk through the barn proclaiming that if things don't pick up then heads will have to roll. I don't think the hens believe me though, because up to now all the heads that have rolled have belonged to roosters.

 

[hoosiercheetah]

I loudly walk through the barn proclaiming that if things don't pick up then heads will have to roll. I don't think the hens believe me though, because up to now all the heads that have rolled have belonged to roosters.

I have a hen who's due for the axe any day now. Back when I got her I named her Anne Boleyn. It's still hilarious. ;-)

 

[Leahs Mom]

Okay, guys. True confession time.

When I took the 2 birds to the processor on Monday...... I CRIED ALL THE WAY HOME AND MOST OF THE EVENING.

I was going to take 2 hens too, but I issued a stay of execution the night before and they are still with me. I hope it gets easier.... I have processed but it wasn't one of my birds so I didn't really "know" the victim of my murder.