INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[leslea]

Okay, y'all, two questions...

First off, how did you integrate your 2nd flock into your 1st flock? I have my 2nd batch of chicks ever arriving soon. I am curious what strategies you've used in the past. I've read that I should wait until they are the same size as my current flock, then take them into the coop at night. Anything else? Should I put up hardware cloth to separate them or anything? I have two guineas who think they are chickens. One of them thinks he is the rooster, specifically, and he really does pick on my smallest bantam hen. I am chiefly concerned about protecting the baby birds from him. Two of them will be bantam silkies, the other four will be LF, so hopefully they will grow to be the same size he is. I've never had LF before, so I'm uncertain of the size comparison, exactly, but I think they will be roughly equivalent.

The other question...

Would you go read my story? I entered the fiction contest here at BYC. I don't know what came over me, but I wrote a story about some of my existing characters. The story is here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...annual-byc-easter-hatchalong/70#post_14981356 The rules said not to have your name on it...I don't know how I can avoid that as my username is my name...but hopefully that won't disqualify me. It's only 500 words, so about as long as a post to Indiana BYC board!

Thanks in advance.

 

[kittydoc]

@ChickCrazed Finally could see veining and eye spots on the Biele eggs! Just had to wait longer than with Orps. Only had 2 clears.

 

[ChickCrazed]

@ChickCrazed Finally could see veining and eye spots on the Biele eggs! Just had to wait longer than with Orps. Only had 2 clears.

Great news!!!

 

[raisinemright]

We have A few of our nubian does up for sale. They are CAE free and de wormed. No issues just down sizing the dairy goats. All 100% registered with papers. From 4 years old to our newest batch of kid does. If your interested let me know I can get picks for you.

 

[chickiebaby1]

Silkie eggs everywhere! My flock is still all together, so these are mystery color eggs. Should come out very pretty though. I also have a bunch of Alpaca yarn left too if any knitters or crocheters need some. Here are some of my birds to show what could hatch from the eggs.

Sent you a pm.

 

[raisinemright]

Silkie eggs everywhere! My flock is still all together, so these are mystery color eggs. Should come out very pretty though. I also have a bunch of Alpaca yarn left too if any knitters or crocheters need some. Here are some of my birds to show what could hatch from the eggs.

I'll take 1,2,3,4&5 please and thank you. Go ahead get them ready and I'll be by this evening to pick them up lol

 

[kabhyper1]

I'll take 1,2,3,4&5 please and thank you. Go ahead get them ready and I'll be by this evening to pick them up

lol

Just wait until yours hatch, you will probably get one of those colors at least.

 

[raisinemright]

Just wait until yours hatch, you will probably get one of those colors at least.

#5 has to be my fav! I'll take just her then

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

All I want to say is, WHAT HAPPENED TO SPRING?! ... Moving on...

Seems like everyone is on broody overload except me! I wouldn't mind having a broody this spring myself. PS: nice haircut

Surprisingly, not as many as usual for spring! Margie spends about one month on, one month off with her brooding all year, but usually by now I'll have at least the Wyandottes and Sebrights considering it as well. They are getting older, so maybe they're just not interested anymore? Not that I'm complaining! And yeah, what you can see if it from under Biddy-bird's butt. Tilde has a knack for picking the popular box, it would seem.

I had my worst nightmare happen yesterday. I had a customer come to pick up her chicks and left to put shavings in the box the chicks were going to be traveling in. I told her to look them over and decide which she wanted, but not to touch them. When I got back she was holding one of them....it got worse. As she was heading out the door she tells me that one of the other chicks she has at home is coughing and rattles when it breathes and asks me what to treat it with.....aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh She had her freaking hands in my brooder! I've been stressing about it ever since. I live so far out in the boonies I hate to have to drive to meet everyone, but after this latest scare I might. At the very least no one will be allowed back in the chick room ever again!

Oh man, nightmare fuel! I'd definitely not let anyone else in the chick room! :/ Some people! What are you going to do with the chicks she possibly exposed to something?

Okay, y'all, two questions... First off, how did you integrate your 2nd flock into your 1st flock? I have my 2nd batch of chicks ever arriving soon. I am curious what strategies you've used in the past. I've read that I should wait until they are the same size as my current flock, then take them into the coop at night. Anything else? Should I put up hardware cloth to separate them or anything? I have two guineas who think they are chickens. One of them thinks he is the rooster, specifically, and he really does pick on my smallest bantam hen. I am chiefly concerned about protecting the baby birds from him. Two of them will be bantam silkies, the other four will be LF, so hopefully they will grow to be the same size he is. I've never had LF before, so I'm uncertain of the size comparison, exactly, but I think they will be roughly equivalent. The other question... Would you go read my story? I entered the fiction contest here at BYC. I don't know what came over me, but I wrote a story about some of my existing characters. The story is here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...annual-byc-easter-hatchalong/70#post_14981356 The rules said not to have your name on it...I don't know how I can avoid that as my username is my name...but hopefully that won't disqualify me. It's only 500 words, so about as long as a post to Indiana BYC board! Thanks in advance.

I go by the 'look but don't touch' rule with introductions. I always keep my babies separated by fence for roughly 4 weeks, depending on how long it takes the big girls to start ignoring them. Never had problems with introductions using this method. And especially with Guineas, you'll want to introduce them gradually. Guineas tend not to receive newcomers well, not even newcomers of their own species in my experience. My Guinea fowl are about the same size as my LF hens, maybe a bit larger, so yes, the sizes should be similar once they're grown. I love your story! So sweet! I thought about entering, myself, but what I wanted to enter with was too long and I didn't feel like editing it down. Oh, well. Good luck! Edited to clarify

 

[bradselig]

Ugh, came home to the silkies I just moved out huddled in the corner of their pen covered in snow. Stupid birds!