INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: Well said, they have "matured". All of my 2-3 yr plus birds are much more calm, private about it all. The youngsters scream, squall and fight terribly! Most of my mature flock just produce eggs, babies and care for them. That's all I ask. Production hatchery type birds seem to rarely make it to adulthood IMO, I have seen a lot of "production breeds" with bad temperament and short lifespans. All of my heritage breed birds still thrive and act like chickens, just grown up and quiet.

New to chicks, whats the best bedding for the first couple weeks?

I start them on the rubberized shelf liner or paper towels. good quality with a texture. Shavings after a few weeks, I use large flake to avoid as much dust. The first week is very important to be sure they have good grip on the floor. A splayed leg is terrible to try to fix.

Here are the bantam Brahmas that are up for sale. 2 buff pullets and a light roo. PM me for more information!

Lovely birds! I bet someone snatches them fast.

Another ? for those veteran chicken owners:

I saw my roo do a quick head sway (or tilt) that caused his waddles to wiggle. It looked like an interesting dance move. Perhaps he was adjusting his crop or something. (Just a guess) Another thing I observed was some water come out of his mouth/beak. (Clear, not white, not foamy, no smell). He's been acting OK, but I saw the head movement a few times throughout the day. I know from owning a variety of animals in my life, that any small variation in behavior could be a symptom of a minor issue. It's always best to be observant so treatments can start before a pet actually looks ill.

Anyway, it didn't look like a typical rooster movement, and he wasn't trying to impress a hen - because those are some very strange moves.
Is there anything I should be on the lookout for? Something to feed him or prohibit?

Thanks in advance. .

I have seen this when they drink too much water at once. Was the water froze and he gobbled too much? My breaker had kicked out and the heater was off. Waterer had froze, my babies were really thirsty. Another thought is a personal favorite food, and he ate so much, it hung in his crop, lol! I have a turkey that adores BOSS and he will peck the other birds and not share it

. He eats so much, you can see him crook his neck to get it down.

nope have not visited them but I will look up the info and maybe this year I will go and check them out

I haven't been there for a long time, but if its still there its well worth a trip. here is the park info:
http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/3091.htm
I was there last about 1987. It was a very educational experience in pheasants of most American kept breeds.

Quote: I stopped in to read a bit earlier today and saw your post just before I went to hobby lobby so I looked for them and.... I got one too! Put it on the gate of the chicken pen in the barn so I get to see it when I go out!

Another ? for those veteran chicken owners:

I saw my roo do a quick head sway (or tilt) that caused his waddles to wiggle. It looked like an interesting dance move. Perhaps he was adjusting his crop or something. (Just a guess) Another thing I observed was some water come out of his mouth/beak. (Clear, not white, not foamy, no smell). He's been acting OK, but I saw the head movement a few times throughout the day. I know from owning a variety of animals in my life, that any small variation in behavior could be a symptom of a minor issue. It's always best to be observant so treatments can start before a pet actually looks ill.

Anyway, it didn't look like a typical rooster movement, and he wasn't trying to impress a hen - because those are some very strange moves.
Is there anything I should be on the lookout for? Something to feed him or prohibit?

Thanks in advance. .

Sometimes mine do that if they got a piece of something that is too long to get swallowed down. Like a long blade of grass, for example. But usually I see the piece partially out of the mouth. They try to get it down or pull it out of their mouth until they can break it off or get it down.

Did you possibly see anything that he was trying to swallow? If that's what it was, it will usually take care of itself.



Another thing that "might" cause head shaking would be mites in the ear.

I'd just watch him and see if he's still doing it tomorrow. If he's still doing it, I'd try to take a look for mites or lice around the head/ears.


These are just "possible" suggestions. May not be either one.
Going to our hobby lobby after Christmas so many cute posts of what they have

Quote: I am using the rubber type hair bands. They are for dog grooming etc, last forever. The tie straps fall off too much. I use yellow, white, I haven't seen them focus on a color aside from a red or green. I am hands on enough daily to watch the leg bands, but I still worry bout them! I saw a dog working in animal control with a collar so tight the skin had grown into its collar.. horrible. Any band on an animal must be monitored. Please.

 

[DarthLayer]

I haven't posted in awhile, but I wanted to drop in and say I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas this year!

 

[iamfivewire]

our roosters were having crowing contests at 2:00 am - maybe they heard santa & the reindeer on the rooftop . . . . . . . . .
:- )

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

Merry Christmas everyone

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

And Incase no one has this yet. A flock in Oregon tested positive for the Avian Flu. Nothing to freak out over yet but definitely needs to be watched

To Indiana Small Flock Poultry Producers and Interested Parties:

On Thursday, December 18, a diagnosis of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, H5N8, was diagnosed in a small flock with a mixed population of domestic ducks, geese, chickens and guinea fowl in a free range environment in Southwest Oregon. This strain appears to match those recently found in Korea and Europe.

This diagnosis is important and I am writing to alert you to this incident, but not to alarm you. The purpose of this memo is let you know that as an Indiana, National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) participant, Certified Blood Tester, or Indiana State Poultry Association (ISPA) T-12 testing program participant, we will contact you as changes in the avian influenza situation occur, to allow you to better protect your flock.

To assist you in protecting your poultry:
The USDA is encouraging “small flock producers to keep their birds sheltered/separated from wild birds, especially from wild waterfowl.”
Indiana’s Emergency Poultry Disease Plan states: “Isolate your poultry and poultry facilities from direct or indirect contact with other domestic and wild birds and mammals. Also, control rodents and insects on premises. Poultry raised under the USDA Organic standard must be kept indoors during avian hunting seasons. This includes all months from September through May.”

The ISPA is the Official State Agency for the NPIP and works closely with USDA Veterinary Services (VS), and the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH or the State Veterinarian). Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns. Our mission is to help you protect your flock from disease.

Thanks,

Paul
[][][]

Paul Wm. Brennan
Executive Vice President
Indiana State Poultry Association
915 West State Street
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2054

Ph: 765-494-8517
Fx: 765-496-1600
inpoultry.org

 

[kabhyper1]

VERY IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Okay guys my friend Barb posted this. She is a tester for Indiana and these are the Emails she received about the H5N8 situation in Oregon.
Please take the necessary precautions to prevent this from spreading any farther in the situation that it would come here. Starting now I am not allowing any entry into our barn or coops by anyone outside of our home. I really hope they can get this stopped before it reaches Indiana.

I have received two emails from the ISPA about the Oregon H5N8 situation. I am posting the text from both emails here for anyone interested in reading them.
Email 1
To Indiana Small Flock Poultry Producers and Interested Parties:
On Thursday, December 18, a diagnosis of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, H5N8, was diagnosed in a small flock with a mixed population of domestic ducks, geese, chickens and guinea fowl in a free range environment in Southwest Oregon. This strain appears to match those recently found in Korea and Europe.
This diagnosis is important and I am writing to alert you to this incident, but not to alarm you. The purpose of this memo is let you know that as an Indiana, National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) participant, Certified Blood Tester, or Indiana State Poultry Association (ISPA) T-12 testing program participant, we will contact you as changes in the avian influenza situation occur, to allow you to better protect your flock.
To assist you in protecting your poultry:
•The USDA is encouraging “small flock producers to keep their birds sheltered/separated from wild birds, especially from wild waterfowl.”
•Indiana’s Emergency Poultry Disease Plan states: “Isolate your poultry and poultry facilities from direct or indirect contact with other domestic and wild birds and mammals. Also, control rodents and insects on premises. Poultry raised under the USDA Organic standard must be kept indoors during avian hunting seasons. This includes all months from September through May.”
The ISPA is the Official State Agency for the NPIP and works closely with USDA Veterinary Services (VS), and the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH or the State Veterinarian). Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns. Our mission is to help you protect your flock from disease.
Thanks,
Paul
Paul Wm. Brennan
Executive Vice President
Indiana State Poultry Association
915 West State Street
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2054
Ph: 765-494-8517
Fx: 765-496-1600
inpoultry.org
E-Mail 2
To ISPA Board, EPDP Committee, Commercial NPIP Participants Committee Members:
On Thursday, December 18, a diagnosis of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, H5N8, was diagnosed in a small flock with a mixed population of domestic ducks, geese, chickens and guinea fowl in a free range environment in Southwest Oregon.
Attached is The USDA‘s December 19, announcement of the diagnosis. Additionally, the following information was gathered from a USDA teleconference:
1. The site has a mixed population of domestic ducks, geese, chickens and guinea fowl in a free range environment.
2. There is a pond on the property where the domestic birds commingle with wild water fowl.
3. The owner reported mortality in the guinea fowl for several days, and contacted state animal health officials on Monday (12/15/14).
4. Samples were collected and sent to a NAHLN laboratory that identified an H5 virus. NVSL confirmed the virus as H5N8.
5. This virus is essentially identical to the H5N8 diagnosed in Washington State, and it also matches isolates from Korea.
6. The premises has been placed under a hold order, and depopulation took place last weekend.
7. There is no history of movement of domestic birds from the affected site.
8. The premises is located in SW Oregon, and it is approximately 150 miles from any commercial poultry.
9. Surveillance zones are being established and coordinated with USDA, Wildlife Services.
10. Surveillance will focus on the Pacific Flyway, including testing of hunter harvested birds east of the Sierra Mountains. If detections of the virus occur in the eastern part of the surveillance zone, surveillance will be considered in flyways in other parts of the country.
11. Backyard producers are encouraged to keep their birds sheltered/separated from wild birds, especially from wild waterfowl.
12. USDA is expected a varied response regarding trade from the international community based on these diagnoses.
~~~ ~~~
This week, to help protect all poultry producers, the ISPA has begun an e-mail service updating and guiding small flock producers on changes in the status of H5 or H7 avian influenza in the U.S. and actions they can take to prevent disease. Our contacts are: NPIP Exhibition Participants; Certified NPIP Blood Testers; and participants in ISPA’s T-12 Program – over 250 producers engaged in small flock production. The message to small flock producers will be sent immediately following the delivery of this message.
~~~ ~~~
Attached is the Indiana Emergency Poultry Disease Plan (EPDP) approved by USDA, Veterinary Services. The latest draft of the EPDP has not yet been approved. The Level 1 recommendations of the Indiana State Poultry Association’s Emergency Poultry Disease Plan follow. The Level I recommendations listed below, under “B” is the language from newest version of the plan. This version is not included in the attached EPDP.
LEVEL I RECOMMENDATIONS
of
THE INDIANA STATE POULTRY ASSOCIATION EMERGENCY POULTRY DISEASE PLAN
Objective: PREVENTION
Situation: A BASIC ONGOING BIOSECURITY PROGRAM WHEN NO KNOWN EPD EXISTS IN INDIANA, IN REGIONS ADJACENT TO INDIANA, OR IN REGIONS OPERATIONALLY CONNECTED TO INDIANA
The Level I recommendations outlined here should already be part of more comprehensive biosecurity and preventive medicine programs which include isolation, sanitation, biosecurity, vaccination, sources of birds, all-in all-out management practices, etc. These Level I recommendations focus specifically on decreasing the probability of introducing an EPD agent, or any infectious agent, into your flock or into the state.
A. Personnel working in and around poultry production units should avoid direct and indirect contact with poultry outside of their company, other avian species (wild and domestic) and swine. If you do have contact with poultry outside of your company, other avian species or swine, you should not enter poultry houses for a minimum of 48 hours, you need to shower and change clothes, footwear and head-wear before reentering your buildings. The following are recommended guidelines:
1. Consider all birds (wild, pets, captive, hobby or domestic) as potential sources of infection.
2. Avoid caring for poultry after contact with waterfowl or other wild birds without showering and a complete change of clothes and footwear (for example, after hunting, after picnicking in a park full of geese or ducks, after visiting a pet store or zoo having birds).
3. Avoid direct and indirect contact with swine. Swine are the most common source of influenza viruses infecting commercial turkeys in the U.S.
4. Avoid direct and indirect contact with birds at county and state fairs, bird shows and exhibits, bird swaps, etc.
B. Isolate your poultry and poultry facilities from direct or indirect contact with other domestic and wild birds and mammals. Also, control rodents and insects on premises. Poultry raised under the USDA Organic standard must be kept indoors during avian hunting seasons. This includes all months from September through May. [Emphasis added.] The following are recommended guidelines:
1. Eliminate free-ranging domestic fowl and pet birds on or near commercial poultry premises.
2. Isolate ponds, wetlands and other wild bird gathering sites from your facilities, and avoid going from these areas into poultry houses without showering and changing clothes and footwear. Wild birds are known carriers of avian influenza (AI) viruses, Newcastle disease viruses, and other poultry disease agents.
3. Discourage waterfowl from congregating on or around ponds near poultry houses.
4. Discourage wild-birds from feeding on poultry farms.
5. Bird-proof houses
6. Control rodents and insect pests
C. Allow no visitors onto poultry premises unless they have a justifiable reason to visit. The following are recommended guidelines:
1. Post signs stating that all unauthorized persons are not to enter the premises or enter buildings. (Signs available through the ISPA office.)
2. Allow only authorized people in close proximity to or in poultry houses and then only following biosecurity clearance (no recent contact with other flocks, etc.) and taking adequate biosecurity measures (dress in clean coveralls, hats, footwear, etc).
3. Growers and producers have the authority to prohibit any unauthorized person from coming onto their property.
4. Birds shed infectious agents in excreta, from nasal and oral secretions, and in cells and excretions from the skin. These agents can then contaminate the air, litter, feathers, water, equipment, clothes, shoes, hats, supplies, hair, etc.
D. Industry Continuing Education Programs. Poultry companies and allied industries should train all their employees on how to prevent disease transmission in poultry, how to prevent spread of disease agents from premises to premises, and how to use biosecurity procedures which are specific for their particular jobs.
E. Flock Supervisors. Companies should review the ISPA EPDP with flock supervisors and ensure they understand the protocols and the justifications for the protocols. Also, companies should supply all flock supervisors with Emergency Poultry Disease Investigation Kits.
Thanks,
Paul
Paul Wm. Brennan
Executive Vice President
Indiana State Poultry Association

 

[kabhyper1]

And Incase no one has this yet. A flock in Oregon tested positive for the Avian Flu. Nothing to freak out over yet but definitely needs to be watched

To Indiana Small Flock Poultry Producers and Interested Parties:

On Thursday, December 18, a diagnosis of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, H5N8, was diagnosed in a small flock with a mixed population of domestic ducks, geese, chickens and guinea fowl in a free range environment in Southwest Oregon. This strain appears to match those recently found in Korea and Europe.

This diagnosis is important and I am writing to alert you to this incident, but not to alarm you. The purpose of this memo is let you know that as an Indiana, National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) participant, Certified Blood Tester, or Indiana State Poultry Association (ISPA) T-12 testing program participant, we will contact you as changes in the avian influenza situation occur, to allow you to better protect your flock.

To assist you in protecting your poultry:
The USDA is encouraging “small flock producers to keep their birds sheltered/separated from wild birds, especially from wild waterfowl.”
Indiana’s Emergency Poultry Disease Plan states: “Isolate your poultry and poultry facilities from direct or indirect contact with other domestic and wild birds and mammals. Also, control rodents and insects on premises. Poultry raised under the USDA Organic standard must be kept indoors during avian hunting seasons. This includes all months from September through May.”

The ISPA is the Official State Agency for the NPIP and works closely with USDA Veterinary Services (VS), and the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH or the State Veterinarian). Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns. Our mission is to help you protect your flock from disease.

Thanks,

Paul
[][][]

Paul Wm. Brennan
Executive Vice President
Indiana State Poultry Association
915 West State Street
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2054

Ph: 765-494-8517
Fx: 765-496-1600
inpoultry.org

Haha we think alike. As soon as I hit post yours came up too lol

 

[birdman55]

have a merry Christmas everyone

 

[Granny Hatchet]

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!! Hope everyone has a great one

 

[minmin1258]

I saw the other day where a couple people posted pictures of ornaments they've either made or purchased. Was going to share pictures of the ones I make every year but was soooooo busy with dinner plans and last minute arrangements I didn't get any pictures. So since today was anything but busy I took pictures. If anyone is interested in purchasing a couple let me know, as I said I make them every year.

They can be personalized for hobby, name or just seasonal.