INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Mother2Hens]

Hi!
I am new to BYC and this board (but I read through the last 10- 15 pages so I am a little caught up). My husband and I are hopefully getting our first chickens tomorrow! A friend's mom is giving us some adult chickens to get us started! And it sounds like she may give us some ducks too! I am excited and nervous because I've never done anything like this before. I am especially nervous about the ducks because I have done a decent amount of reading about chickens, but not much about ducks. She just asked yesterday if we wanted some and I figured since they are free why not? But now I need to do some resarch. We don't have a pond so I think we need to get a kiddie pool. Would a little kids turtle sandbox filled with water be deep enough? We also have an old bath tub that we could possibly convert somehow. Or I could go buy a pool. How often do you need to dump and refill? I am also a little worried about AI, wild ducks wouldn't be attracted to a kiddie pool would they? Sorry, thinking out loud here

.

Anyways a little info about me. I have 3 little kids - 3.5, 1.5 and 6 weeks. (I'm also worried about the kids and chickens not hurting each other. The kids do really well with our cat, but they are still kids and the cat is very tolerant) I live in NE Indiana near Fort Wayne area.

I'm trying to convince my husband we should go to chicken fest, we'll see how that goes

 

[Mother2Hens]

Hello everyone. Just starting our small family flock on our farm near Arcola, in Allen County. I thought it would be great to find others in my area that I might use as a "Mentor." I love this forum and have learn so much already! Jim

I am from Elizabeth In, about 15 miles from Louisville KY. I have been out of chickens for awhile and wood like to get back
into them. I am interested in OEGB, and Silkie bantams. Looking for breeders near me.

Hi! I'm new to Backyardchickens.com but have lurked a bit. I've decided to work on getting the zoning changed in Columbus , Indiana so that we can have a few backyard chickens. I am looking for support , information, history, and oh man, some friends to help with the battle.

Columbus is such a forward thinking city it is time to bring this zoning ordinance from the dark ages up to 2015 and beyond.

Hi!
I am new to BYC and this board (but I read through the last 10- 15 pages so I am a little caught up). My husband and I are hopefully getting our first chickens tomorrow! A friend's mom is giving us some adult chickens to get us started! And it sounds like she may give us some ducks too! I am excited and nervous because I've never done anything like this before. I am especially nervous about the ducks because I have done a decent amount of reading about chickens, but not much about ducks. She just asked yesterday if we wanted some and I figured since they are free why not? But now I need to do some resarch. We don't have a pond so I think we need to get a kiddie pool. Would a little kids turtle sandbox filled with water be deep enough? We also have an old bath tub that we could possibly convert somehow. Or I could go buy a pool. How often do you need to dump and refill? I am also a little worried about AI, wild ducks wouldn't be attracted to a kiddie pool would they? Sorry, thinking out loud here

.

Anyways a little info about me. I have 3 little kids - 3.5, 1.5 and 6 weeks. (I'm also worried about the kids and chickens not hurting each other. The kids do really well with our cat, but they are still kids and the cat is very tolerant) I live in NE Indiana near Fort Wayne area.

I'm trying to convince my husband we should go to chicken fest, we'll see how that goes

 

[kittydoc]

@Proverb31mama , I will just tell you a story that just happened.

A wealthy couple who purchased 7 Orpington chicks from me have just one child, a 5 year-old boy. Somehow, he wound up unsupervised long enough to "give a bath" to the chicks, and 3 of them drowned. They contacted me for replacements and additions. The only reason I am doing so is because I think they learned their lesson (the hard way). It makes me heartsick, but I know it wasn't intentional. I do wonder where a parent or babysitter was, however.

You're going to be stretched pretty thin with three preschoolers. With puppies and kittens, I recommended neither until a child is AT LEAST 3 and preferably 5 years old, for both the safety of the animals and the youngsters. Chicks are even more fragile than puppies and kittens, and they can't run away as fast. Some breeds aren't good flyers, so that's another route of escape gone. I know you said adult chickens, but while they are sturdy (the birds), once you get adult chickens, you will want more, and there's nothing cuter than a young chick. Except your kids!

Adult and adolescent chickens are great pets for older kids. If you go ahead, you will have to use all of your extra mommy senses, plus maintain a high level of security for all. That may mean putting a padlock on your coop so the kids cannot get to the chickens without your or other adult supervision. Chickens can mildly injure children. I was one of those kids, and was scared to death of them from about age 8 until age 50 when we got ours at my husband's behest (and pleading, lots of pleading). Now I love them! But even as a tween I didn't know anything about chickens, and especially about roosters (not to stomp my feet at them to get them to go away--uh, that didn't turn out really well).

I should have started with this, but I'm a veterinarian and a parent. Good luck with whatever you do!!! This is a wonderful resource filled with lovely people.

 

[mdmcare]

@Pyxis
I am going trying to look into every option to find the best solution. Hopefully I can come up with something better then their cruddy advise

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Well just a quick update and a Warm /welcome to any and ALL new Hoosier BYCer's!!!! While initially having a small coup ready for Patricks (racinchickens) Amer. Bresse chicks to be raised in who are doing Very well btw.....I got started on a more suitable coup (10x10) in the lean to part of our barn. And just Wednesday of this past week we moved Lunch and Dinner ( silly names given to them when our daughter asked if I'd named them yet) into their new digs so that our (6) new chicks ( 2 BO's / 2 SLW and 2 BR's ) could move into the brooder coup. And I'm happy to report that ALL seem to be doing well and adjusting to their new digs. Hope everyone enjoys their weekend!!!!!

Great news!

Hi! I'm new to Backyardchickens.com but have lurked a bit. I've decided to work on getting the zoning changed in Columbus , Indiana so that we can have a few backyard chickens. I am looking for support , information, history, and oh man, some friends to help with the battle.

Columbus is such a forward thinking city it is time to bring this zoning ordinance from the dark ages up to 2015 and beyond.

Welcome to our thread!

I introduced my 4 BBB turkeys to my free range flick last night. I hope they do well together. Last years BBB did great with the chickens.

Mine did really well with the free range flock until the turkey hens got older, close to "maturity". I kept them longer than I should have tho! I have 15 BBB growing out, they had the first day of free range today. Went really well, my adult toms were all strutting and showing off to the "babies" lol. The little toms were all copying them, I had tears laughing so hard

 

[kittydoc]

Can I get a PTL for my two Jubilee pullets (at pullet prices) going to a new home on Monday evening? I still have a handsome and large cockerel whom I expect will look like his daddy for sale at straight run prices (hey, I have to feed the guy, and it's STILL a Jubilee Orp!). I had hoped to place them as a trio, but the buyer only wants pullets.

Anyway, my English blue cockerel is growing like a weed, as is his black brother. If anyone is looking for a regular black English Orpington (NOT split) cockerel, let me know. I have the regular blacks (cockerel and pullet) tagged so as they feather in, I can still tell them apart from my black/lav splits. I'm keeping the black pullet for myself. The English blue hens whose photos I posted recently are "the moms," though I suspect all three chicks take after their roo (remarkable similarity in appearance). They hatched from eggs taken after I picked up the girls, and all I remember is their daddy was a nice looking black English rooster. I am trying to find out what breeder/line he is from. The blue girls are from Fancy Chick and Donna Rippy in Tennessee.

Anyway, I thought I'd put some feelers out there. Finding straight blacks isn't as easy as one might think, either. They are necessary for BBS and lav programs, but everyone wants the blues, splashes, and lavenders, so they seem to only be kept in small numbers.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Here is a pic of my now free range BBB! I think they like the freedom. The little gem laying down and three jakes.

Looks just like ours, I just adore turkey poults. They are so sweet!

hello everyone...been a while...thought i would stop in and say hi...hope all is well....here are some pics
was curious...what kind of quail is this...i bought jumbo browns and six of these birds hatched...

this is the jumbo brown

here are the two next to each other

red golden pheasants

peacock carrier wow they work slick...didnt take long to build....and to let out just lift the pvc...less stress on the birds...im sure you will see many more of these popping up...gave away for free two white males, and one male silver pied

peasant eggs anyone...lol they are being donated for egg artwork...to a lady that works with martha stewart

black one we found in the woods , blonde ones we found in the front yard....MORELS in case you didnt know

purple peacock

first egg from the purple peacocks...have three now

hand picked out of the front yard...jummy

well hope everyone enjoyed the pics...see you guys around

you are killing me! Love morels, we found one tiny one, thats it this season. The quail is a golden, here's what they look like as an adult. meet speckles, my moms pet. She is not really that big, i am really small lol.

Hi!
I am new to BYC and this board (but I read through the last 10- 15 pages so I am a little caught up). My husband and I are hopefully getting our first chickens tomorrow! A friend's mom is giving us some adult chickens to get us started! And it sounds like she may give us some ducks too! I am excited and nervous because I've never done anything like this before. I am especially nervous about the ducks because I have done a decent amount of reading about chickens, but not much about ducks. She just asked yesterday if we wanted some and I figured since they are free why not? But now I need to do some resarch. We don't have a pond so I think we need to get a kiddie pool. Would a little kids turtle sandbox filled with water be deep enough? We also have an old bath tub that we could possibly convert somehow. Or I could go buy a pool. How often do you need to dump and refill? I am also a little worried about AI, wild ducks wouldn't be attracted to a kiddie pool would they? Sorry, thinking out loud here

.

Anyways a little info about me. I have 3 little kids - 3.5, 1.5 and 6 weeks. (I'm also worried about the kids and chickens not hurting each other. The kids do really well with our cat, but they are still kids and the cat is very tolerant) I live in NE Indiana near Fort Wayne area.

I'm trying to convince my husband we should go to chicken fest, we'll see how that goes

Welcome to our thread! Ducks are easy, but can be messy.. they like to dig in the mud and find bugs and roots. Aside from that I adore them. the turtle sandbox is perfect. The just need enough water to dunk the head, clear the nostrils and preen in. If you add a little Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) to the water it prevents algae from forming also. Its pretty unlikely wild ducks will go to the "sandbox pond", they avoid humans as much as they can unless you have seen them in your yard often.
Be very slow introducing the kids to the birds, children do love to hug and squeeze. When kids visit here, I us the "shhh" lesson. I tell them the chickens will be afraid so we must be very quiet at first. And when we hold them to be oh so very gentle so we don't hurt them. One little friend Gracie, was terrified of them, so we started with a tiny bantam hen, and she got to hold her in her lap. Diana is a very quiet little OEGB and sat very still, talking away. Gracie was hooked in no time!
We hope you can make chickenfest, its a lot of fun, wonderful friends and a very pleasant family event.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Anyone able to confirm my suspicions that I have 3 cockerels and a pullet? If so, who wants a cockerel or two? Lol

Hate to say it but have to agree with you.

Anybody know of someone in northern Indiana southern Michigan with turkey poults? None of my feed stores are ordering any more or they only can order the meat birds. I'm wanting heritage breeds. But only a few so I can't meet the minimum order at any hatcheries I've seen.

Thanks!

If you don't find any locally, we may be able to work out a "turkey train" to at least get closer to you. @SallyinIndiana @racinchickins and I raise turkeys to mention a few of us.

 

[Creekbank]

Hi!
I am new to BYC and this board (but I read through the last 10- 15 pages so I am a little caught up). My husband and I are hopefully getting our first chickens tomorrow! A friend's mom is giving us some adult chickens to get us started! And it sounds like she may give us some ducks too! I am excited and nervous because I've never done anything like this before. I am especially nervous about the ducks because I have done a decent amount of reading about chickens, but not much about ducks. She just asked yesterday if we wanted some and I figured since they are free why not? But now I need to do some resarch. We don't have a pond so I think we need to get a kiddie pool. Would a little kids turtle sandbox filled with water be deep enough? We also have an old bath tub that we could possibly convert somehow. Or I could go buy a pool. How often do you need to dump and refill? I am also a little worried about AI, wild ducks wouldn't be attracted to a kiddie pool would they? Sorry, thinking out loud here .

Anyways a little info about me. I have 3 little kids - 3.5, 1.5 and 6 weeks. (I'm also worried about the kids and chickens not hurting each other. The kids do really well with our cat, but they are still kids and the cat is very tolerant) I live in NE Indiana near Fort Wayne area.

I'm trying to convince my husband we should go to chicken fest, we'll see how that goes

j

Welcome Mama. I'm south of Woodburn, east of New Haven, if you ever need anything or have questions, get ahold of me. I'm no expert, but have had chickens off and on for years and currently have 43.

Rex

 

[Creekbank]

Anyone near Ft. Wayne that is good with incubating chicken eggs? I have German Bielefelders that should start laying any day now. I have one roo and two hens. I've tried incubating in the past with my styrofoam 'bator
with not a lot of success. I'd split the chicks maybe?