INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Indyshent]

Similar to peas, it's important to properly socialize and tame them. I'm anxious and excited. I've done a lot of reading as I do before making any rash decisions!! Lol! But proper pen and right upbringing it could be quite the experience! She sent 6 eggs though! Eeek! So I may have to absolutely break down and build that extra large Coolerbator like Now!! Anyone want to come help!! Hahaha! Geez! What have I done! I seriously can't stop laughing at my craziness!

Have you seen the emus at the Indianapolis Zoo? You can pet them. I haven't met a mean emu yet (stupid, yes, but not mean). They like they're space, but can get used to far smaller enclosures than I would thought healthy (and they're fine with it!). Much smaller and sweeter than ostriches (would not have those things near my house), but if I had the space, I'd love to have some emus. They're such cool birds

Congratulations!

 

[ellymayRans]

Have you seen the emus at the Indianapolis Zoo? You can pet them. I haven't met a mean emu yet (stupid, yes, but not mean). They like they're space, but can get used to far smaller enclosures than I would thought healthy (and they're fine with it!). Much smaller and sweeter than ostriches (would not have those things near my house), but if I had the space, I'd love to have some emus. They're such cool birds Congratulations!

Thanks! They're coming from CA so I don't have high hopes for them but my aunt is going to take any duds after being emptied and present at show n tell to her second grade class.

Again I've read a lot of promising stories about their personalities. I've not personally been around them though. Definitely would always steer clear of the Ostrich! They scare the bagebies out of me!! Lol! I had read a lot about Peas too before getting them and with proper training the scary stories that some had worried me so I started with just one. Now I have 5 and they are amazing and very responsive to the right environment and care.

I really hope I am able to hatch at least one. Much easier to work with and focus on. Very much like a dog IMO.

 

[Thriftymom6]

@Mother2Hens
I really love them too. I have a pair, had a trio we lost one of the hens. This has been a year of learning. Most have done really well. But we have lost a few. I think I like chickens with less comb like orphingtons and cochins, even the bielfelders, because they are cold hardy. We had some frost bite for the first time this year. This makes me sad to see. We tried the no heat thing but we won't do that again. It was on the huge combs of the CCL roosters. We put medicine on it and it's healed now but I hate to see that ! Ironically the breeds I thought I would like are just okay. And I've found other breeds we happened on that seem to suit us better due to disposition and other reasons. My fav's so far are those above and marans, and modern games. I may sell my breeders of some nice polish bantams. Great breeding stock. I have a pair of cuckoo WC non bearded the male is double barred, a WC blue male and black female. And a couple black WC cockerels. We will see when 4H comes around...

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Is anyone else noticing an uptake in egg production? I was down to just one or two a day, and the last 5 days have averaged six a day. There were 8 eggs in the nest boxes yesterday! Looks like some of the vacationers are back on the job. Just a few dozen more that need to get with the program......

mine are doing really good. That said, I have no clue how many is here lol am buried in layers!

Seriously my regulars including the EE are laying now. Half or better of these golden comet lay daily. We are adding eggs up really fast. I took in around 20 last month, they have been pretty good latyng hens so far.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

try to catch up more tomorrow keep dozing.. goodnite all.

 

[Mother2Hens]

@Mother2Hens
I really love them too. I have a pair, had a trio we lost one of the hens. This has been a year of learning. Most have done really well. But we have lost a few. I think I like chickens with less comb like orphingtons and cochins, even the bielfelders, because they are cold hardy. We had some frost bite for the first time this year. This makes me sad to see. We tried the no heat thing but we won't do that again. It was on the huge combs of the CCL roosters. We put medicine on it and it's healed now but I hate to see that ! Ironically the breeds I thought I would like are just okay. And I've found other breeds we happened on that seem to suit us better due to disposition and other reasons. My fav's so far are those above and marans, and modern games. I may sell my breeders of some nice polish bantams. Great breeding stock. I have a pair of cuckoo WC non bearded the male is double barred, a WC blue male and black female. And a couple black WC cockerels. We will see when 4H comes around...

@Thriftymom6 This is the third winter that I've had chickens. I've used a little heat in my coop every year, and my avian vet uses heat in his coops. By the way, I bought a Sweeter Heater before Christmas. I remember some discussions about it on the thread, but I would not recommend buying one. I like the idea that it is self-contained and is a safer method for producing heat, but it barely produces any heat! I paid over $100.

As far as planning for the year. I'll have Mottled Javas, Cream Legbars, and American Bresse chicks available this year. I finally got the groups separated, and I'll start saving eggs in March.
@racinchickins Just hope that Wade doesn't decide to have a Chicken Mixer again while you're out-of-town!

 

[Acornewell]

Our newest addition I brought home today. She's in quarantine for the next month getting her weighed and wormed tomorrow. She's pretty docile which I hope is nice and not a product of her being ill. They never wormed her and she was being raised with chickens.

Oh my goodness, ADORABLE!

 

[wheezy50]

Yep, they've been doing work these last couple weeks! This is 5 days worth of eggs ready for washin. The EE hens i got last year lay a light greenish blue egg, they are almost identical to my CCL egg color.

 

[pginsber]

I already informed my family that I cannot be responsible for what happens the next time I need to go to Tractor supply. I anticipate "needing" to go in a couple weeks (when chick days start). The thing is, I have said over and over I don't want to get hatchery chicks this year, I want to get them from someone on here, we won't really be ready for chicks til the end of March (need some warmth to work on our coop/run expansion), need to get our tax check (anyone else want to use it all for chicken related things?) . . .

Here's how to have a successful (chick-free) trip to TSC. Make a game out of looking at the chicks in the tubs. Look over all of them in the mixed bins and try to identify what breeds they are. If it's a straight run, watch every chick and try to determine which are males. If they're all pullets, and all the same breed, try to ascertain which ones will be at the top of their pecking order. Once you look at them with critical eye and purpose, it's easier to walk away without one.

Someone slap me! I just accepted 4 Emu eggs!!! I can barely get chicken eggs to hatch. Plus coming all the way from CA... but they were giving them away and I figure if it's even remotely successful it will be worth it. Quite an experience. Or at the very least paid to have them shipped to me to see and touch a real one!! I know, I know, I'm shaking my head too!!

I've re-read your post at least 4 times and I'm still speechless. Perhaps we need to talk about an intervention or the 12-steps program to addiction? ...On the flip side of that...can we come see them when they hatch!! AAACK!!!! I'd love to !!!!

Here is one of my usual crummy videos-- it shows two of the Cochin mystery chickens-- Little Monday and one of the bigger ones. BantamCochinMix? - YouTube

Those are some incredibly fluffy butts in that video!

 

[birdman55]

morning everyone