INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[pbirdhaven]

Well, when it rains, it pours! I have a third refugee to the house. This time, it's my baby, Frou-frou!

I went out to take pictures of the girls and found a big, nasty wound on the back of her neck. I have no idea how it got there or how long it's been there! It doesn't look like feather-picking or cannibalism, so I'm thinking she may have been scratched by something and kept itching it and making it worse. I just feel wretched for not noticing sooner, my poor baby!

We've dressed the wound and she's sitting in a laundry basket on the couch beside me. (Yes, I'm making sure she can transition to the warmth this time.) She's acting fine thus far, save for being a bit stiff in her neck, and she's honking at me like she's not sure why I'm so upset. I just would be devastated if something happened to her.

My beloved Frou-frou.



Edit: Sorry, y'all. I lost it a bit there. I think I've calmed down now.

Healing thoughts for Frou-frou.

@jchny2000 the quote didn't post, but I'm sorry to hear about your losses. It's hard anytime, but when it's a special bird....

So far no losses to the cold. I had a couple of tarps come down with this last snow and some unhappy peeps under them. Thought I had angled them enough but this one was so wet and heavy. Nobody hurt, though, and all have been re-rigged. Generally if I just unfasten the low side of the tarp the precip will either run off or can be knocked off easily. Have to rethink my tactics.

 

[bradselig]

3rd hatch of the year underway! 3 white silkies and 2 white showgirls out with one more pipped! One of the showgirls is even homozygous for the NN neck gene. So I hope it's a roo so I can put it over my white Silkie hens and hatch 100% showgirls this year!

 

[bradselig]

I also caved when I went to rural King today. Had to take advantage of their "free" chicks! Picked up 2 brahmas and 4 silver laced wyandottes. The wyandottes weren't free though as they were sexed pullets. I was next in line to have them box up chicks but had a line cutter and took the majority of the brahmas lol. They also have their 7# feeders for $3.99 which was the main reason I went.

 

[raisinemright]

Had to add a second birthing pen in the garage/maternity ward! Our 4yr old Dixie is due tomorrow and she is showing signs today. I'm betting on twins with her. Any takers?? Lol

 

[ellymayRans]

These are pics of my Golden Cuckoo Marans breeding pair as requested by @racinchickins. The hen and a pic of her egg far left. This is from today which I also found this little pipsqueak egg too! Lol thought I'd share.

The cock is single barred as I bred my hen to my Black Copper Marans roo in order to improve the GCM egg color. As you can see her egg color is in need of improvement! I had also hoped to add shank feathering but only got a few..better than none I guess. They are still a work in progress.

 

[Leahs Mom]

So DH got our taxes done and I've been green lighted to spend some on an automatic door for the coop

only because it benefits him. Anyway what do you all have? What do you like/ not like? I had thought about building one at one point I just don't have the time or energy to do it right now

BTW I haven't seen Hoosiercheetah recently.

I have 2 of these doors on my hen shed. They work by TIMER..not by dawn to dusk. I like that because I have control on when they open and shut. And they're made right here in INDIANA! Good folks.

http://www.automaticchickencoopdoor.com/

 

[pbirdhaven]

3rd hatch of the year underway! 3 white silkies and 2 white showgirls out with one more pipped! One of the showgirls is even homozygous for the NN neck gene. So I hope it's a roo so I can put it over my white Silkie hens and hatch 100% showgirls this year!

I'm jealous!

I've usually hatched several by this time and don't even have my incubator fired up. It's too cold in the shed, so would have to bring it inside and not sure I could carry it myself. The weight isn't too bad, but it's awkward (Sportsman).

But congrats on your hatches anyhow! And

for the showgirl cockerel.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Hmmmmm cheesemaking and fermenting feed classes.... I teach both. Hmmmm

 

[ellymayRans]

Lockdown for my shipped NN eggs. Out of 15, 11 made it to lockdown. Woohoo! Only a few with funky air cells so hoping that the majority hatch ok. Out of 8 of my own silkie eggs only 2 made it to lockdown. Now out of 8 that the silkie is brooding herself, I candle today and only veining in 2 of those. Hmmm.

I can tell the 2 are from the same hen. Just not sure which one and makes me wonder why only 1 of the girls is getting mated. Or maybe it's a fluff problem. Anyways, doing some fertility hatching for them. Glad I did.

Oh and excited about these NN, they are blue and barred!!

 

[ellymayRans]

EMU eggs are chugging right along. I will be doing a "wiggle test" on day 33-35. I'm only on day 2! Hahahaha! This is going to be torturous!

I figure hatch date will be around 4/11