INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote:
I keep thinking I want the brooder too but the boxes are free and the brooder stack is anything but free. The floor space savings would be a great benefit though. Someone sells the grated flooring so I have thought of making a homemade brooder stack. For now I think the hatcher would be my next big investment. It can help keep the chicks sorted by breed till I could mark them. If I am able to add Rhodebars and bellies to my flocks, I would have to have a way to keep the chicks sorted.
I do have one of the metal brooders but it is not a GQF. It is ok for the first 10 days or so. After that many of my chicks want more head space. And the water jar that came with it just does not work well at all.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Well, rats, it's cold again!

We've got some snow and drifting going on as well. Hope everyone's keeping warm! I had to cover some vents to keep snow from blowing into the coop. Here's hoping that doesn't cause my girls any issues!

I went out to get the girls in for the night and was suddenly aware that my Marans, Frou-Frou was missing from the coop! Fortunately for me, she replies when I call her name, so I quickly located her. She was 'snowed in' in a doghouse about 30 feet from the coop. I say 'snowed in' because the rest of the hens would have walked through the maybe-inch of snow that was there (and, indeed, some had, at least judging by the footprints), but not my Frou-Frou! I had to carry the darling to the coop to bed, because she simply couldn't find her way home.

I was getting the girls to roost and as there always is, there was some squabbling over who sat where. While rearranging a few girls on the roost, there was a sudden commotion up a few perches caused by the goofy golden Campine, Ihi, and just as suddenly, I ended up with a Campine tucked neatly under one arm.

Though a bit inconvenient, I thought it was sweet that she knew to come to me to protect her.

I got a whopping 3 eggs today! (Well, there were a few more, but the littles have been laying eggs on the shelf instead of in the nests, and they have also been perching there, so...

) Looks like young Kit-kit the Dorking is coming back into lay and she's been very, very squat happy as a result!

Less than 8 weeks until spring, y'all! I'm really looking so forward to it!

Back to teens here too, and yuk, snow! Stay warm everyone.

Is it legal or illegal to kill an opossum in Indiana?
Clearly letting a dog do the killing would not be a legal issue but what if I wanted to trap and do away with one or two.

Also do these critters travel in packs like wolves or are they loners?

Some DNR districts may ask you to get a trapping license, much like for fishing. It used to not matter, but laws change so much. We get them here too, and I trap em and say goodbye. Usually, babies will travel with mom on the back, but rarely will you see them in a "pack" situation unless the mother was killed.

If anyone on here is interested, I have 2 drake ducks to rehome. One khaki Campbell and one Pekin, both around a year old. Unfortunately, these guys hens were lost to predators and I don't think I'm going to get more waterfowl right now. Let me know if anyone wants them.

I can take them in a few weeks once I get our pens better established for breeding. Please take other folks offers and keep me as a last resort.

Hi all. I sure have missed this place. Had alot of stuff happen at the end of 2014 and just getting things settled again. Hoping this year will be better, so far it has been ok. I owe apologizes to a few members for up and disappearing. I am so very sorry. Just not been a good time, I'll tell ya if it weren't for bad luck I wouldn't have any luck at all. But as I said things re starting to settle down finally.
We have had several Coyote attacks including 1 on me. If it weren't for 1 of my LGD"s I hate to think what would have happened. Poor boy he had to be put in a kennel and watched for 14 days, That was hard on both of us. But when he got home the ol'man fixed him a stake!! We both still have wounds but they are healing. Had to go through Rabbies treatments, stitches and alot of red tape. the Coyotes and coons have Distemper around here. NOT a fun thing, I have had to shoot so many that were sick and bringing it to my property that it is down right depressing. I have had 2 horses colic and recover, lost 2 goats and their kids to complications during labor, they were 2 of my best. Had 2 kids born alive in December ( total surprise ) 1 doe that was suffering from seizers, took her to the vet and her glucose level was so low it didn't resister. So she was on an I V for 1 hr at 1 day old, poor girl, and then had to be tube fed for 4 days, but she is growing and healthy now.
! hour after she was born another nanny gave birth to a little billy, well not so little, almost lost them both due to his sz. I pulled him and the vet came to check on him and mom and said it was amazing I got him pulled without killing 1 or the other them, and actually told me to stop feeding them so good when they are pregnant, I over fed and the kid grew too big....... never heard of such, but hey ok... due to weather and " just plain bad timing " I missed getting the 2 disbudded, so I will have to deal with horns now, I hate horns!!
On happier notes, the new silkies I got from a member are doing great. Have lots of pic's I will share in a smaller post.. lol My BJG momma hen hatch 6 only 3 made it past 1 week and 1 of those was lost to that dang Falcon, all my kids have been on lock down all winter because of the stupid bird ( thank god for deer netting ) or I would have lost alot more as it is I have lost 6 to the falcon, 3 the coons, and 4 to coyotes.
Lost my favorite Roo to who knows, he was just dead one morning, no wounds, no signs of illness nothing.
Baby girl ( my hen with the broke leg that never healed ) died.
A friend had a dog that was having problems giving birth so I went to help she lost 2 before I got there, all the pups were born breech all 12, but they lived and all already have new homes, including the 1 I kept ... lol And get this mix: Pit and GP....
I hope everyone had a great Holiday season. I'm so glad I'm back. o my computer blew up is why I wasn't on I got on a few times at my mothers but didnt have time to post anything just read a few post. I have a new laptop now so look out y"ll have to put up with me again... lol
Quote:
Wow and Wow! Glad you are ok, and terribly sorry for all your hardships and losses. I hope this is a better year for you.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: They are super slow starters from what I understand, but a very pretty pinkish egg.

just finishing up a hatch (will prob keep the incubator going thru tomorrow tho) - 3 iowa blues, & 4 ea of EEs + chanteclers so far

My first attempt at dyeing our alpaca yarn. I still have a bunch of undyed left if any one is interested. Not chicken related but a few friends onhere have bought some, so I wanted to share.

Colors are lovely, especially your blue!

Update on my roo "situation" (one guy attacked his "brother"). I'll try to make this brief.

So I had to remove the injured roo (very bloodied comb and swollen face, so much that he could barely open his eyes) and treated him with penicillin by injection for 4 days. By then, he seemed to feel better, so we decided to put him back in with the four pullets, and remove the "offender" to Chicken Jail for a while.

Within a few days, the injured roo started breeding the girls (which the dominant "brother" had largely prevented previously). We left the formerly injured roo alone with the girls for another few days. "Offender" stayed in Chicken Jail 7-8 days total.

We tried to put "Offender" in with our general layer flock, which has two lavender Orp cockerels just a little younger than the Jubilee boys. Unfortunately, that plan did not work at all. DH said the lav roos, who get along very well and are sweet boys with us, ganged up and seriously attacked "Offender" Jubilee. Back to chicken jail for "Offender," for one more night.

DH and I decided to reintroduce "Offender" back with his brother and the pullets. The formerly submissive/injured roo immediately postured in multiple ways that he was in charge here now, but nothing serious or injurious. DH watched them for a while before leaving them alone, and we checked them several times that day to be sure neither was injured. To our great relief, harmony has been restored. They've been together about 3-4 days now and have resumed getting along. I am not sure who is getting the lion's share of breeding now (they are most active first thing in the morning when they are turned out into their run), but I don't care as long as things are peaceful. I examined both carefully today, and neither has a new mark of any kind on him.

I'm still interested in selling the one that was initially dominant, not because of this incident, but because the boys are practically identical and I don't need two Jubilee roosters. My flock is NPIP certified and both roos were individually tested negative for pullorum and typhoid.

I publish this for the benefit of other small flock owners who have an incident like this one in the future. We changed the social dynamics of the situation when we removed the dominant roo and let the less dominant roo establish himself as "the boss" for a bit. When we returned the dominant roo about a week later, he had to accept the lower spot. This saved either from winding up at the dreaded Camp Amana (though that would have been a costly meal of coq au vin with a Jubilee roo!), or having to house them separately for an indefinite time. I really appreciate everyone's comments. It made me realize that we had to try something pretty fast or it would never work out.

Great news! This is whats worked for me. It changes the pecking order in most cases. Sometimes, it creates other issues but normally resolves it for us here.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

new peafowl as of today






and one of the new pheasants after I wormed him

All gorgeous!

soap update. All of the bars are now un-molded. They are clearly getting harder. They are still quite soft. I tried a completely different soap recipe tonight, it will be a while before I can even try any of these bars out. It will be March before I can start using these homemade soaps. By then I'm almost positive I'll have made several batches just to try different combinations. So far I'm not adding fragrances or colors, that will have to come after I choose a basic recipe or two as a favorites. Then again some of the recipes I'm looking at would just be ones to use up oils I have around the house. Wouldn't it be funny if one of those tuned out to be a household favorite?

definitely following this!

Tonight was the night that validated me keeping a chicken first aid kit.

I went out to get the girls in to bed and Violet, my Bielefelder, was tucked in a corner of the coop with goop hanging in her vent feathers. I saw a pinkish hue to it and immediately thought prolapse. Chicken under one arm, I hurried to the house, called to mom for help, and told her to go get the kit while I started to wash Vi off in the bath tub. Easy to locate, clearly labeled, mom had it there in minutes.

As it turned out, it was only a partial prolapse. That was the good news. The bad news was that it looked like she had a jelly egg that burst and was stuck. I washed her rear end off, gloved up, and gently removed what was left of the egg. Before I could get lubricating gel on my hand and ready, Violet fixed the partial prolapse on her own. She then promptly pooped, which I am sure was a relief, as I have no idea how long she was stuck up like that.

I dab-dried Violet's then soggy vent feathers, then sat her on my lap while I tried to dry them the rest of the way with the blow drier. She looked around the bathroom, preened a bit, basically was acting totally fine at that point. Since her rear end was pretty damp still and it's supposed to be pretty cold tonight, Cubby got a roommate. I unfortunately don't have any other pens to use because the duck coop isn't finished (just needs some hardware cloth on the vents), so the ducks are still occupying the spare dog crates I have.

First aid kit supplies used: flashlight, scissors, vinyl gloves, lubricating gel (which was only kind of used). The soap, blow drier, and cloths I used to clean her up and dry her aren't in the first aid kit, but were handy in the bathroom (and Vi seemed not to mind the warm blast of air on her soggy butt

).

That was my excitement for the day.

Edited for wording.

Wow, scary! Lucky for her you are a good chicken mom and noticed the issue.Totally agree on the first aid kit too. I usually clean it out in February so its coming time to toss out of date stuff and replenish.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: Although the days are getting longer, they aren't getting much longer very quickly. This will start to accelerate in Feb. But don't count on the little bit more of daylight now triggering anyone to start laying or pick up on their laying. That will happen more likely in March or April. What you are probably seeing is the girls bodies recognizing they need a break from laying and it's perfectly natural. I take the attitude that any eggs I get from the girls right now are a gift, but I will be keeping an eye on who starts laying when, especially with my breeds that I intend to breed from. Early laying is definitely a trait to encourage.
Agreed 100%, I have several pullets laying but am not hatching those eggs. I have learned to wait for hen eggs for healthier, robust chicks. My LO are pretty steady since my hens are 2 years old, but some of my adult breeds are still slow to none like the EEs. March seems like everything starts taking off for sure, including the scovies and guinea.

Quote: I would LOVE to do that! Once we get a date, will see what can work out for parent care, I want to take a long weekend and have a good time. My oldest DD is hoping to have time off to come, she has been part of our poultry journey too, just doesn't like the computer so much lol.

https://indianapolis.craigslist.org/grd/4852888475.html

Says Alpaca but if any of you in search of turkey's...(also rehoming an Alpaca) They are moving and rehoming Royal Palms, Standard Bronze, Chocolate and Blue Slate

Wow, good price on adult turkeys! The alpaca boy may need someone with experience handling him, especially if he isn't gelded.

 

[ellymayRans]

I placed an ideal poultry order to be shipped March 4. I know I'm not the closest to you, but im sure I can call and add them to it.

It's funny that thus is brought up as I've been thinking of adding salmon faverolles to my flick this year. I think I know of a local breeder. May have to hit her up!

Sending a PM

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: Loved all the pictures!

So who else is testing fertility?!! any luck? my new faverolles are doing great and Serama are doing their job as always!!

I did great on our first hatch, 1 dud! Will be locking down week 2 tomorrow, and very excited to see what I have.
So far, I am only hatching LO, they are laying regular and cooped separately from the main flock.

Quote: Wonderful news

Quote: That would be so much fun. We could scare the hawks away together too like a bunch of nutty chicken people.

Guys, I have a flock of 24 birds needing a home. The owner is out of town for a new job 4 days a week, and can no longer keep them. They are golden comet, EE and a few other assorted birds. Oldest birds are around 2. Possibly 1 or 2 roosters, the rest are all adult layers.
They are free, pickup only. Have always been cooped, not free ranged. I can transport to my house to pick up here, he isn't home to pick up there.. Please send me a PM if interested.

If it comes down to it, I could let them live with my goats until a permanent owner could be found. The only issue with that is there is no net so they would need to learn free ranging rather fast.
The owner knows I will do our best to place them, but he realizes I free range 24/7 also. I have had a few pms already, one is closer to you.. will pm once details are clearer.

saw this and just had to share. Who's excited for new baby chicks.....

and

tooooo adorable!!!!

Speaking of chicks.

I know I posted this before but if anyone has plans to place an order for chicks I would really like to add a few to your order!! I want to add a Trio of Salmon Fav to my lonely hen!! I just love them and she's going on 5 years old and I don't ever want to be without them.

Please remember me if you do. Thanks

I will. So far our plans are BB turkey and CX chicken on orders, but if we add any heritage I will holler.

 

[PeacefulWalls]

Gotta share pics of Maggie's chicks! I love the second pic -- it looks like the chick is trying to tell momma something!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

johnny you ever get a home for them birds.....?

Possibly but there are 24. They have to be moved pretty fast, I just don't have room here. Were you interested in any?

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: I am sold on the sportsman, and hatches are so much better using a separate unit. If the house wasn't so terribly dry I am sure it would be fine.

Gotta share pics of Maggie's chicks! I love the second pic -- it looks like the chick is trying to tell momma something!

I loved watching the mothers and chicks last year, I have a small handful of hens I will let brood again.