INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Faraday40]

"Ugh more snow!" is exactly what I was thinking this morning.

For us the rabbits are not much of a problem. We have coyotes, foxes, & our dogs to take care of them. (I just can't stop my dogs from eating rabbits!) However, the dreaded squirrels seem to be coming out ahead. As the rabbits get eaten, it frees up more food for the squirrels and their numbers increase. Even my chickens have started chasing the squirrels. Perhaps they learned from the dogs, but squirrel prints are all I found around my coop.

 

[pbirdhaven]

It is funny, my first experience hatching was under a broody. That seemed to go super quick. This time I am staring at them in an incubator and the time is moving so slow!!!! Although it could be a time of the year thing also. I was so busy over the Summer I wasn't dwelling on things like my broody hatching her eggs.

Also HAS ANYONE LOOKED AT THE TEN DAY FORECAST?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? Finally a warm up is on the horizon!!!!!!

But below zero Thursday!

The hawk has claimed its second victim. Poor Violet's heart just couldn't take the stress. She was gone by the time I got home from class. Sometimes this chicken stuff is so hard. My sweet Violet...

Pipd, that is so sad. My heart goes out to you.

Well, it looks like we are just downsizing. Had our family dinner Sunday, my Mom was so upset that I was going to give up the flocks she started to cry. So thats that, last thing I want to do is upset my parents... and my kids are stepping up to help. My nephew also. DDs will be doing more errands and Gramma sitting. My nephew has offered to do the weekly feed run, and take his grandparents to some of their appointments. Guess I need to learn to delegate more and not try to do it all myself

I'm happy for you!

 

[Acornewell]

Ohhhh! My first egg is zipping as we speak!

 

[ellymayRans]

Ohhhh!  My first egg is zipping as we speak!

Woo-hoo! Pics pics gotta post pics!!

 

[Acornewell]

First two have hatched, third is zipping!!! I will post pics very soon!!!

 

[raisinemright]

Walked into TSC to get a few things. Kids home from school out + chick days= you guessed it. More chicks!! This time my daughter bought herself some of the Banty chick mix. We did get 4 obviously silkie chicks and two I have no idea what they will be!

I don't think they are to bad for hatchery chicks. I told myself years ago I wouldn't have anymore silkies!! Oh well they are cute

 

[raisinemright]

Walked into TSC to get a few things. Kids home from school out + chick days= you guessed it. More chicks!! This time my daughter bought herself some of the Banty chick mix. We did get 4 obviously silkie chicks and two I have no idea what they will be!

I don't think they are to bad for hatchery chicks. I told myself years ago I wouldn't have anymore silkies!! Oh well they are cute

Now looking at the black one, is that a silkie also??? Anyone?

 

[kabhyper1]

Quote:
Geez if you wanted silkies just say so lol. No the black one isn't a silkie. Check the toes and skin. Black skin 5 toes= silkie. If its a feather legged chick it's probably a cochin or bantam brahma coming from our TSC. Edit, actually I think the little black one is a bantam EE.. green legs give it away. The chipmunk is an OEGB. She will be really small. The others look to be silkies.

 

[raisinemright]

My son and I put this together.
A PVC goat milking stand.

It works pretty well still need to put the floor on but its sturdy enough a 13yr old wrestling champ can't get out of it lol.

He was nice enough to try it out. The real test of its sturdiness was when I got my camera out!! It held up.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Thanks, everyone, for the kind posts and PMs. Sorry for the lack of personal response, but I did read through everything. Having a hard time with losing my Violet, she was so young and such a big sweetheart. I may have to invest in more Bielefelders. I just loved her so much and I'm really missing her.


Not having enough sleep is not helping my mood, either. But that's probably because my new alarm clock has no snooze button. Have I mentioned the alarm clock? Her name is Frou-Frou.

Just for some smiles, here is Miss Frou a few mornings ago, the little brat. She starts honking around 6:30 - 7 am, but she gets REALLY LOUD as soon as she realizes I'm awake.

"Are you awake yet?"

"Good! Now, about breakfast..."

This goofball actually laid an egg today while I was at class! It's tiny, as always, but it's the thought that counts, right? I had to chuckle about it, too. She is usually so particular about where she lays, she must have had a hissy fit before she finally accepted she had no choice of location!

So sorry, I've had Cooper hawks fly under my aviary netting to get to my chickens. Last summer I purchased some guinea keets and now the 15 guinea fowl have prevented more attacks. They will squawk those hawks away. Keep in mind they are VERY noisy and will squawk at everything including snowflakes.

Pipd- I am so sorry to hear this! How are they getting to them? Ugh Hawks should just feed on mice. Just sayin!

I have a hawk who hangs out every morning until I let the dogs out, one of which (Henry) who chases him away because he does not like anything in "HIS" special tree!

Sorry for the confusion. The hawk hasn't actually caught anyone since Saturday, when it got my little Vespa. Sweet Violet seemed to have been set into heart failure from the stress of the attack, though. That's what she ended up passing away from.

I do have Guinea fowl, but they're a good 50 feet away from the chicken coop. I might have to think about moving them closer, though...