INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Chaneys Ranch]

Well aside of selling hatching eggs my flock is officially closed. Not taking any chances bringing in new birds.

Its in Missouri now along with Minnesota. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/deadly-bird-flu-strikes-poultry-turkey-farms/

Its pretty scary. Going to start researching a lot more about it myself.

 

[kittydoc]

I'm just glad that I don't have anything coming in except hatching eggs from about 10-15 miles away, plus a couple of Dorking chicks ordered from Iowa.

I STRONGLY recommend that everyone take advantage of ISPA's avian influenza FREE screening program! You send them a dozen assorted eggs, and they'll send you the test results. It does NOT mean you are free of AI, but it helps the state keep track of it so that if it does get here, hopefully it will be EARLY and before a zillion birds have to be destroyed. I don't know how close you have to be to an infected farm to be subject to mandatory culling, so it really is in everyone's best interest to participate in the screening. Better to know sooner rather than later, after you have unusual numbers of dead birds (which for some of us may only be one or two chickens or ducks).

They send you the return box, packaging, egg carton, forms, and include all the postage. It costs YOU nothing! Here's the link for how to participate:

http://www.inpoultry.org/documents/T-12.pdf

 

[kabhyper1]

Good idea Kittydoc! I would also add that anyone going to fairs, shows, chicken fest or even visiting another farm or farm store this year practice strict biosecurity until this threat has passed. It should always be practiced but right now more so than ever. It would be a good idea to invest in Oxine if you havent already. Be careful everyone! This is not something to brush off.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

We are also discussing alternate ideas for this years chickenfest, due to the concerns of the spread of AI. Will update more as we are closer to the planning stages.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Much better day today. Mom is feeling a lot better, glad we got her in and started on antibiotics.

My pond is no longer frozen over, and got my first good, unfrozen goose egg from my oldest embden hen today. Luckily I had a fake eggs ready, and as soon as she was off the nest I swapped it! She decided the barn lean to is better to brood under, ummm not happening. I have several fake eggs ready to replace the real ones. The gander is keeping very close tabs on all three hens, and no one is going near them! He is quite impressive storming towards any bird coming within 20 feet of his ladies. Chinese are fighting and being ganders, but the hens are not laying yet.
My mealworm farms all survived the severe temps. Very surprised! I will be pulling all my bins, cleaning them up and probably adding more for this coming winter. I am really low right now, they don't seem to reproduce in colder temps. tossed in some squash peelings and they all came to the tops of the bins.
tossed several mealies to my tilapia and it was a feeding frenzy

They are getting big, I hope to have them out to the barn by June. Males are a deeper color, almost a charcoal and getting bright red tails.As usual, so far out of 30 fish, only 3 appear to be boys, ugh. Guess my hen luck is going to apply to fish too. I am going to pick a trio for my 75 gallon tank for permanent breeders. As fast as they grow up, I may try to do another round before winter. One male is already"defending" an area he has staked out as his territory. I will move it to a corner tomorrow when I clean so he has a corner to himself. Huge lil guy, and probably the male I keep.

.

 

[lbaur2]

Hey all I am new to actually posting I normally use byc for info but I figured it was time to introduce myself. I "breed" sizzles, paint silkies, assorted d'uccle, and silver phoenix. I also keep a verity of different breeds as well as 2 geese, 12 turkeys, 3 pheasants (2 red golden and 1ringneck. ISO male RG)I am down to 5 ducks and 0 guineas!!
boys from the paint pen.


black d'uccle roo


black hens from the paint pen.


sizzles just for fun.


emu egg due in about 10 days.


few of the phoenix the others seem to live on the roost.


my lemon millie fluer hen mid moult at a show.


white d'uccle roo (he has filled out well since this pic)


one of my favorite silkies a lavender cuckoo




few of the turk-turks

I will end the pic spam now

 

[ellymayRans]

Hey all I am new to actually posting I normally use byc for info but I figured it was time to introduce myself. I "breed" sizzles, paint silkies, assorted d'uccle, and silver phoenix. I also keep a verity of different breeds as well as 2 geese, 12 turkeys, 3 pheasants (2 red golden and 1ringneck. ISO male RG)I am down to 5 ducks and 0 guineas!! boys from the paint pen. black d'uccle roo black hens from the paint pen. sizzles just for fun. emu egg due in about 10 days. few of the phoenix the others seem to live on the roost. my lemon millie fluer hen mid moult at a show. white d'uccle roo (he has filled out well since this pic) one of my favorite silkies a lavender cuckoo few of the turk-turks I will end the pic spam now

Gorgeous flock! Welcome to our big happy BYC family! I also have EMU eggs incubating! Fun! You will certainly have to post pics of the hatch! Let us know how it goes! Never worry about too many pics! We love them. The more the better!

 

[ellymayRans]

Speaking of pics. I've been trying to take some of the chicks to enter in the Easter HAL contest but none seem good enough! Lol! I only get to submit 2! How can I pick just 2!

I'm waiting on these silkies and new MF Cochin to hatch. Candled the 10 shipped MF Cochin eggs, I had slipped them under my broody to see how they faired with her vs my incubator and only 4 are developing. Surprised though since all of their air cells were in great shape. The two silkie eggs she was sitting on I stuck in the incubator at lockdown. They are at day 21 tomorrow. I bought a Brinsea 20 Eco this past week off a fellow BYCer. Giving it a go and will be using it for the Easter HAL also! I was going to build another Coolerbator as the other one is occupied by the EMU eggs. I have all the materials but the cooler. I'm just holding off at this point since I really don't want to be hatching out mixes.

Here's a few chick pics!

 

[ellymayRans]

I went outside just a bit ago trying to get one of the cats up so I could lock up and found a Marans egg sitting in what snow is left along the side of the house! They've taken a break again so it was a surprise!
I hate that pics just don't do them justice!!

 

[Mother2Hens]

Originally Posted by ChickCrazed
Exterior shot of the coop (white) and front two runs. This is also the designated chicken yard.

ChickCrazed ~ You've done a great job!

@acornwell Thank your DH for sharing this link: http://www.ispot.tv/ad/7aer/geico-free-range-chicken-song-by-roy-orbison Some of those Geico commercials are dumb, but this one is excellent!

@ellymayRans Hope your hen is doing well! Sounds like you went right into action caring for her prolapsed vent-- very impressive.


Btw, the oldest cochin-olive egger hen that I'll be returning to you is a part-time broody. The past week or so, she'll sit on eggs a few times a day for an hour. I think she has ADD. If something interesting distracts her, she has no qualms about leaving the eggs.

@bradselig gqf is a smart business for having good customer service! I'm glad it all worked out for you and your thousands of chicks-to-be.
@PeacefulWalls Re Pippin ~ Hope your kids break their legs -- or something like that!

@pipdzipdnreadytogo Feel better soon! At least you have a good Chicken-Nurse, Miss Frou-Frou.
@Indyshent Sorry to hear about your Brahma chick!
@jchny2000 Glad that your mom is responding to the antibiotics!