INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[ellymayRans]

Enjoyinging reading. We still are chicken-less. Changed mind on breeds and trying to decide--- have any of you had Dominiques? Trying to find about their temperament more. The thread doesn't say a lot but they are also hard to find. Then there are two checking on more to varying the flock... Trying to find if either are size of Domiques... One is Cream Brabanter but they seem too rare to find, the other is Cream Legbars.

Any feedback?

Ah decisions. We have kids visit and they enjoy collecting eggs, holding chickens and learning about them. We are hoping for a calm breed too. We sell their eggs to help pay for their food too.

In the past we had different types....( barred rocks, ameraucanas, white leghorns, buff orpingtons... Are some) we wanted to try something different, not sure if we can get them.

One of my first chickens was a Dominique. Loved her! She was my pal..loved helping me pull weeds..etc..great layer. I lost her to a predator years ago. She was the leader of the flock back then and she was not very friendly to newbies. Definitely had bully tendencies..but nothing out of the ordinary.

 

[ellymayRans]

I raised up a set of dominiques from Meyer Hatchery.  They ended up being a bit smaller than the hatchery barred rocks but they took about a month to 6 weeks longer to get to the point of laying.  I sold most right as soon as they got to the point of laying so the largest egg I saw was a pullet egg and it was a small to medium egg.  I know a guy who just went on and on about how great the dominiques were so I tried some.  This guy had raised his in KY and said they were quite popular there.  The only thing I can think of is the quality I paid for.  I paid for hatchery stock and perhaps the guy that convinced me to try the dominiques had true bred to the standard / heritage dominiques.  I know there is a great difference from my heritage RIR and the hatchery RIR. 

If the same is true for the dominiques, then I recommend looking and thinking really hard about what one hopes to get from their chickens.  If it is a large number of eggs, hatchery birds are typically really good layers but their eggs might be a bit smaller or a shade difference in color when compared to the same from a heritage bird.  I have found heritage birds to be calmer in most cases. 


Children like color and naming birds.  Keeping this in mind, I would think children would like a varied flock more than a flock of 1 breed.   Eggs of varying colors is a big hit with children too.  Differences between the birds is special to children too, so a crested hen or a feathered footer might just make one child's day.  Then there are the chickens that just look so different from the average chicken that children must love or hate them at first glance.  Silkies and modern game chickens come to mind first.  Silkies come in a wide range of colors like orpingtons do, but silkies are much smaller and require much less food. 


See lots to think about when choosing a flock.  A list of priorities kind of helps but not always, sometimes it is easier to just go out there and get a great variety and see which ones become the favorites.

 

All very good points and well put!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I'll be less active for a while, but wanted to ask people to pray for my family. My sis went to the ER gasping for air & then into ICU on Thurs. My dad (age 85) had to drop her off so he could get home to care for my mom - with pneumonia. He currently has bronchitis himself. Thurs night, my mom stopped breathing. She went to a different hospital by ambulance & is still in ICU & not responsive. The three live together & all caught something. Life is changing fast. We need prayers during this difficult time.

Oh my, prayers to you and your family!

 

[chickiebaby1]

I'll be less active for a while, but wanted to ask people to pray for my family. My sis went to the ER gasping for air & then into ICU on Thurs. My dad (age 85) had to drop her off so he could get home to care for my mom - with pneumonia. He currently has bronchitis himself. Thurs night, my mom stopped breathing. She went to a different hospital by ambulance & is still in ICU & not responsive. The three live together & all caught something. Life is changing fast. We need prayers during this difficult time.

Prayers being sent.

 

[flyladyrocks]

Wow. So sorry and keeping you in my prayers. There is a really nasty respiratory virus that we are still battling here. I've been hearing from friends all over the Midwest who are getting it and its not flu. DH has been to ER 3x in past 2 weeks (including last night). Praying forfull recovery for your mom, dad and sister

I'll be less active for a while, but wanted to ask people to pray for my family.  My sis went to the ER gasping for air & then into ICU on Thurs. My dad (age 85) had to drop her off so he could get home to care for my mom - with pneumonia.  He currently has bronchitis himself.  Thurs night, my mom stopped breathing.  She went to a different hospital by ambulance & is still in ICU & not responsive.  The three live together & all caught something.  Life is changing fast.  We need prayers during this difficult time.

 

[chickiebaby1]

Got me a new little girl today at the Poultry Show in Bloomington, she is just beautiful!!!!

Meet Lana

 

[ChicagoClucker]

Got me a new little girl today at the Poultry Show in Bloomington, she is just beautiful!!!!

Meet Lana

She is beautiful! Congrats

 

[iamfivewire]

Lana is a pretty chickie !

 

[flyladyrocks]

Im not sure how many chicks you have, but you could just let her raise them. She will keep them warm enough. Save your power bill too lol. Bring her into the inside brooder with them for a couple days to make sure she truly adopts them, then when it warms up in a few days put them in the outside brooder with her.

 

[leslea]

Hum if you had that yellow powder which stops dogs'nailsfrom bleeding if clipped to short, that would work maybe. Feel bad for her (and you)

Thank you.

I got some pics today, but my phone is dead.

We figured out she got in a fight with one of our dogs, defending her nest. He has a scratch to his eye.

I got her to eat a little egg today. Will keep checking on it, poor thing.