INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[hoosiercheetah]

Will a turkey fly over a 4 ft fence or do they stay on the ground like a big fat Orpington? Is a Tom's gobble louder than a roo's crow? Would a socialized Tom attack a visitor or do you have to lock them up every time your child has a play date? Do both Toms & Hens provide protection?

 

[birdman55]

I started a thread in construction/design and its called building paradise for the birds...please watch and subscribe

 

[hoosiercheetah]

I started a thread in construction/design and its called building paradise for the birds...please watch and subscribe

I need a link, because I'm lazy.

ETA Nevermind, I found it. I'm less lazy than I thought. Congratulations are in order.

 

[bnunes8]

I'm living in Henryville,IN and was wanting to know if anyone has some baby ducklings. I only got one from my hatching that a friend gave me the eggs. I don't want this little buddy sad and alone. I have chickens & Guineas but not any others ducks for this one. Do you have any leads that could help me out?

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote: my turkeys all fly upwards of 6 ft and if they can they will fly up 5 ft then another 5ft and eventually make their way to the top of our detached garage.
They don't attack unless you try really hard. so far the turkey tom has faked out 1 guy that was trying to make turkey calls to the turkey hens. my toddlers play outside while the turkeys free range. The tom ignores them as if they were too little to do any real damage.
My tom has gotten as loud as my quiet rooster but no where near as loud as my loudest BLRW rooster or Sumatra hens when they are broody.

 

[leslea]

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.

I would have, too. The only reason I didn't cry when we got rid of our rooster was because he attacked my daughter.

 

[leslea]

Here's some pictures of the Polish chick's I got from Jchny2000. They are right at 8 weeks old now. Any ideas on male or female?

#1



#2



#3



#4


#4 seems to look different than the others, I'm hopeful he's a roo and the others are hens.

I have never had Polish, but that would be my guess, too. And they sure are cute!

 

[leslea]

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.

Light looks good in there!

Re: egg counts, I guess I should count my lucky stars I'm getting 2-3 most days. Once in a while I get four. That means all four of my girls are laying. I guess it's just because they are young?

On an unrelated note, today I left my flock out even though it was raining, and returned to find one guinea and three hens ready to eat. I knew I had one hen broody in the coop, but wondered where the other guinea was. I have learned that guineas are smart enough to fly over a fence, but not smart enough to fly back over the same fence to get back to the yard. They would rather freak out and stick their necks through the fence than figure it out how to get over it. Possibly I haven't let them get desperate enough, but today was no occasion for that. It was raining and Louie was in the neighbor's yard, as opposed to being on the wrong side of the fence and still in our woods. Talk about too dumb to come in out of the rain. He was soaked and I'm hoping he doesn't get sick. It is no wonder the females cry sounds like "Come back! Come back!" if the males are all like him. What a ding-a-ling.

Hope y'all had a good Thanksgiving. I am finally reading that Hen of the Baskervilles book by Donna Andrews. I'm only about four or five chapters in, but so far a man has had a heart attack over a missing pair of Russian Orloffs! Pretty cute so far, but I wish it had more chicken talk.

I think when I am finished with my next 2.5 books, I will go on and write that chicken mystery novel I asked y'all about a few months ago. Until then, I will probably keep putting chickens into my "non-chicken" novels. I think books needs more chickens in them, generally. Don't you agree?

 

[Faraday40]

Thanks Racinchickins.
The flying thing could be a problem. DH hates it when a chicken walks into our screen room or garage. (They poop as they wait for us by the back door, so it gets stepped into on his way off to work.) A small fence is keeping them behind the garage most of the time. We really prefer a chicken-free zone between the house & garage.

It's very rare for a chicken to go over the property line fence. Both times it's happened, it's been accidental & they panic trying to get back to the flock. Of course when my neighbor opens the gate to invite our dogs into her yard, the chickens will take advantage of the open invitation. Did I mention, we have great neighbors? The chickens are entertainment, and a few neighbors bring treats to throw over the fence. I'm just not sure what they'd think if a couple big turkeys landed in their yard in search of treats.

Also, our chickens make their own dust baths even though a nice sandy run is provided. Little 8-12" pot holes can be found in my flower beds. Do turkeys do the same? How much damage can they do?

 

[Faraday40]

I think when I am finished with my next 2.5 books, I will go on and write that chicken mystery novel I asked y'all about a few months ago. Until then, I will probably keep putting chickens into my "non-chicken" novels. I think books needs more chickens in them, generally. Don't you agree?

I agree!


Thankfully our library has descent supply. One of my son's favs is Tillie Lays an Egg & my daughter loves to read him I Bought a Baby Chick. (It clearly explains chicken math in a way any preschooler can understand.

)