INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[leslea]

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.

)

Those sound cute. Kids books are awesome.

Hooray for chicken math! The reason I'm getting too many chicks this coming April!

 

[Novafrk]

After many setbacks, I've finally committed to buying a dozen Wheaten Ameraucana's!!! Come spring time I'll have chicks all over the place. I ultimately want 6 hens so extras (assuming my straight run will have that many hens ;-) )will be put up on the forum. I'm on the fence about trying to keep a rooster in town.

Eric

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

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.

You have compassion for them, and that is absolutely ok! I still cry, I can't not cry, I have raised all of them. If DH or I am doing the deed, I know its fast and they won't suffer. It gets more matter of fact as time goes on but not necessarily easier by any means. I remind my self the reasons why, and I can live with it then.

Quote:

maybe hang a stewpot on the side of the coop, and don't forget an axe!

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 would be a bad one to ask...I only had adults! All the chicks left for new homes. Now the parents have new homes also. They look great

They just were not working out here for us.

Quote: Hehehe, there are several of us that can feed that turkey math!

Quote: They easily fly over a 6 ft fence. The gobble is as loud as a crow IMO. I have never had a human aggressive tom or hen yet, and have friends visit with small children. Strange dogs or cats may be a different story! I have seen a turkey hen trying to stomp a stray cat before. Turkeys & predators... Coyote, mean dogs period will kill a turkey. Most other predators will avoid the adults. I have lost a poult to a raccoon before. He had escaped, couldn't find him, found his headless body by the coop the next morning. Great horned owls may be a risk also, not sure. We have them here and have not had any attacks from them yet. Some of my turkeys roost in the trees at night.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

, I am not great at this but i see 2 hens . # 1 & # 3

Oh, and I cull mine no problem but its a mood you have to talk yourself into. Mad at the ol man, frustrated , ect... mine were mercy killings though or too many roos

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

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

Fantastic! Will check it out!

Quote:
It looks fantastic!! I am jealous!

Quote: I have to admit there are a few BA hens pushing me to that. Just hateful to the other hens! I hopefully have a home for them all, if not we will be facing it this weekend.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

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?

I stopped hatching until january, hopefully someone can help you out!

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?

They dig a bigger hole! But What I did is put a truck cap in the big run, it stays dry underneath and I rake it often. Thats their favorite dusting spot! There is also a really old car at the back of the property they dust bathe under.

 

[Dish chickens]

I've decided to do a winter hatch so I got in on the New years hatch along thread.
so I put these in the breeding pens and hoping for the best.









anyone on here doing the New years hatch along?

 

[pbirdhaven]

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?

My turkeys roost on a 6-foot fence. I began with one pair last year that I raised from chicks. They followed me around like puppies; then came breeding season last spring and Drumstick, my tom, became very aggressive. I had to carry a big stick whenever I went out, so he went bye-bye. I kept Wishbone, the hen, and Giblets,one of their chicks. If he becomes aggressive next year I'll do the same--they're too big to have to worry about attacks.

Sorry to disappoint but I think 1 is a girl and the rest possibly roos. She has that perfect round full bouffant that I've seen on females. The boys seem to get that 80's rocker hairdo that isn't so neatly round.

No, but I know where you can purchase some turkeys.....

See above...

I agree. Possibly #3--hard to tell from the pic what the hairdo is doing, but 2 and 4 look pretty boyish. Sometimes it's easier to sex Polish chicks right after they hatch than after the real crest feathers start to come in; the pullets have a round fuzzy top and the cockerels tend to be flatter. Not a 100% sure way, but an indication.

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?

My turkeys make BIG potholes!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

After many setbacks, I've finally committed to buying a dozen Wheaten Ameraucana's!!! Come spring time I'll have chicks all over the place. I ultimately want 6 hens so extras (assuming my straight run will have that many hens ;-) )will be put up on the forum. I'm on the fence about trying to keep a rooster in town.

Eric

Congrats!!! I just love those bearded faces.

I've decided to do a winter hatch so I got in on the New years hatch along thread.
so I put these in the breeding pens and hoping for the best.









anyone on here doing the New years hatch along?

Gorgeous~ blue orps?
Not this year. If I find a few pekin eggs I might but doubt it, incubator is off right now. only a day or 2 left to decide. My peking usually hatch around day 26 so that gives me a day yet lol.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

not real sure why but i wasnt getting very many eggs all summer and now from 6 hens i am getting 6 eggs a day. started about a week ago i had 4 then 5 now they all are laying except my polish. they never lay. did see one getting mated today though. I am feeding flock raiser. they are this springs chicks.