INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[ellymayRans]

Anyone use sand..?
https://indianapolis.craigslist.org/zip/4923786570.html

 

[browncow15]

We started our eggplant seeds three weeks ago. It seems like eggplants take their time sprouting, and are slow growers in general. Last week, we started the tomatoes, cabbage and herbs. I like the seedlings to be at least 4" tall by April when I set them in the greenhouse to harden off, and 9"+ by Mother's day, when we plant them.

Yikes now I feel behind! I started some spinach and kale last week.

@PeacefulWalls I forgot folks don't get to see the Amish as much as we do!!! I think that should be a drawing point for the chickenfest.... Come to Amishland! Come on Friday and visit Amish attractions then stay overnight and go to chickenfest the next day

I miss working up in your area! I did an internship in college with a vet out of North Manchester; we visited a ton of Amish and Mennonite farms!

 

[minmin1258]

Has anyone had luck with the owl or hawk decoys keeping smaller, wild birds away? Ive been having a lot of small "blackbirds" coming thru the chainlink and eating food. I'm hoping the upcoming thaw will move them on to other places, but I've been considering an owl decoy for helping keep them away.

Try putting bird feeders in the front of the house where your birds don't go. It will bring the birds out of the back yard to easier access feed. As long as they are getting easy access feed they won't go t a lot of trouble to try t get it out of your coop.

 

[flyladyrocks]

here is a nice shed if someone is thinking of making a sectioned coop.
http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/grd/4924081329.html

 

[Leahs Mom]

Has anyone had luck with the owl or hawk decoys keeping smaller, wild birds away? Ive been having a lot of small "blackbirds" coming thru the chainlink and eating food. I'm hoping the upcoming thaw will move them on to other places, but I've been considering an owl decoy for helping keep them away.

2 summers ago I had robbins coming into the run...had a nice deep litter in there where they could find worms and the like. I also have chain link dog kennel as the run.

Fixed it by getting a roll of the "bird block netting" and zip tying it to the outside of the run on the side they entered from. An inexpensive solution. Got it at Menards 7 x 100 ft was $`13.99 last year. It's light weight but it does the job.

http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Gardener...1425933528&sr=8-1&keywords=deer+block+netting

 

[PeacefulWalls]

@PeacefulWalls

I forgot folks don't get to see the Amish as much as we do!!! I think that should be a drawing point for the chickenfest.... Come to Amishland! Come on Friday and visit Amish attractions then stay overnight and go to chickenfest the next day

That sounds like a great idea to me!!

 

[flyladyrocks]

Anyone interested in seed or cuttings swapping?

Sure! I have lots of seeds from this year I could share. We have a small-ish garden, and always purchase more seeds than we can use. For example, we like three varieties of eggplant, but we only grow 2 plants of each variety...so we end up with 75+ seeds when we only need 6. The same holds true for tomatoes, squash, cabbage, etc. Here are some heirloom seeds I'd be willing to share.

What types of cuttings are you talking about?

 

[flyladyrocks]

Forgot to tell everyone that I had stellar self control! Went to TSC saturday and did not buy any chicks!! My plan worked. I have carefully chosen what I want and deviating from that plan means I don't get what I want. They didn't have anything I wanted anyway. Lots of ducks, red sex-links and "pullets" - I have no idea what they are though and either did the few workers that were closing Sat. night. They were kinda brown/rust color with light striping down their backs and their wings were a little striped on the ones feathering out. This is a photo from my phone so the quality is not great, but if anyone knows what they are I was just curious. I was at the TS on the east side of Indy, Brookville road. The funny thing is I totally forgot to buy what I needed there. DD wanted to see the chicks and all that cuteness distracted me. Fortunately they are close!

 

[bradselig]

Well again can't say enough good things about gqf! Received my replacement door and back panel today. Was surprised to open it ip to see they upgraded the door to the clear at no additional charge! Got it installed!

 

[bradselig]

2 summers ago I had robbins coming into the run...had a nice deep litter in there where they could find worms and the like. I also have chain link dog kennel as the run. Fixed it by getting a roll of the "bird block netting" and zip tying it to the outside of the run on the side they entered from. An inexpensive solution. Got it at Menards 7 x 100 ft was $`13.99 last year. It's light weight but it does the job.

http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Gardener-6050-DeerBlock--100-Foot/dp/B00004RA0N/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425933528&sr=8-1&keywords=deer+block+netting

I use this for the top of my pens to help eliminate hawk/falcon attacks. Obviously not expecting it to help against ground predators, but haven't lost any to Hawks yet since I've used it.