INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Chaneys Ranch]

Hi guys

Have had an incredibly busy week! Hope everyone is well and safe from all this weather. Welcome to anyone joining our thread!
Managed to step on a nail last night during all this nasty weather. Some updates happening here...
Sugar kidded, ~TWINS~ and blessed us with our first buckling, already spoken for. His name will be Blaze or Star, future owners are undecided lol. Also a doeling! He will leave when weaned. During the birth, I discovered a broody duck in the goat house, with a mountain of eggs, hatching! So I have 21 muscovy ducklings

totally unexpected! This is a hen I thought was missing, she was tucked far under the sleeping platform my goats have in their shed.

Guinea keets galore, and am seeing an unusual chocolate color in the keets. 15 left today and can't wait to see how they look as adults. They are coming from a pearl cock over lavender hen. Going to look up color genetics later.

Still have broody turkeys arrgh! I gave my MW hens duck eggs to hatch. Took away the golf balls a long time ago. Didn't work! Taking them off the nest, nope. Confining in a crate, nope. My bourbons have eggs due, hoping for a hatch soon.
Off to catch up on our thread!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Sad day today. I can honestly say after all the years of raising birds and even most of our other critters I've only cried 2ce maybe. I'm not sure why but I'm just kinda knumb to death. Don't get me wrong. I get sad and more of a desperate feeling when I've experienced loss in the past.

I cry more at movies than real life experiences for some reason.

I was awoken by my DH yelling for me with such desperation saying Oh No, Oh my gosh over and over and that I had to come in the living room. I immediately looked out my bedroom window thinking the pool had caved or something because of how awful he sounded. As I'm coming down the hall to him he says Oh Mandy, Dale has your peachick. Yeah, my sweet pea was killed by my own cat! I had it in a large box and I've only had 1 of our cats (we had 5) kill a small chick that I had in a small box on the ground that I didn't know he would do that. We have chick's all the time. Inside and outside. Bantams..etc

Let me tell you; I held that baby and cried my eyes out. I have been so distraught all day. I had such high hopes as my second had hatched yesterday and luckily it was still in the bator fluffing up.

The final count though is 1 lone pea for the moment. It's got a ticking to its breathing and I question that it will pull through it all. The other 2 eggs 1 died before it internally pipped and the other had externally pipped but died before zipping.

Sorry, long post I know. Just so consumed with grief really.

Oh my, I am terribly sorry this happened. Please, don't worry about long posts, part of healing is talking it out.

 

[Mother2Hens]

I am getting chicks for the first time. They are not vaccinated. What diseases and illness are prevalent in our area, Mooresville, In (central Indiana). Should I buy vaccines for 6-8 chicks? Also what first aid, medicines, and sickness supplies should I keep on hand? Thanks!!

Welcome Cristina Smith!

At the bottom of my post, you'll see a link to our members' list and a link to Indiana BYC'ers Members, Events, & Links Click on it and scroll down to find a First Aid Kit recommended by one of our members. You are smart to keep some supplies on hand in case of emergency. On that link you'll also find general info about our thread as well as other helpful links. As far as vaccines, I'll let others advise you about what they do.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I am really curious to find out what the ramifications of the Avian Flu will have on the summer/fall chicken swaps and meets. I usually post upcoming events, but kind of think all of them are cancelled until the ban is lifted. Has anyone heard about this yet? Don't want to add events if people can't attend. We haven't gone to any this spring and have been practicing strict security.

Helped shear my cousin's 3 alpaca this past weekend. We can't believe how much fiber we got and how tiny they look now! Before and after pics below.





Moved the chicks hatched in March to the outdoor coop, and they got a little grass time over the weekend. Kind of afraid to let them out a lot with all the wild birds flying around.



The honeybees are doing really well, we started the year with 5 (having lost 2 over the winter), sold 3 and with all the swarms are now up to 6. DH made a special frame to hatch queen bees. The workers have taken to caring for the frame already and we are hopeful to have 20 new queens in the next 2 weeks. Takes 16 days for them to go from egg to queen.

LOL its pretty amazing how much they shrink when shaved!!
That's very cool, thanks for posting about the bees!
The events posting will probably be minimal to none, am guessing until the AI threat is over. Lets hope we hear good news very soon.

On a different note, I had a broody BJG that hatched and raise chicks last year and has gone broody this year, she started out with 13 eggs under her. on day 10 I found a empty shell with just a golf ball size whole in it at the front of her brooder, but that same day I found a black snake not too far from her brooder, so I thought it had found a way in and it ate the egg. 2 days latter I found her eating one of her eggs, I thought it might have been a protean thing, so I started feeding her red worms and live meal worms, I found no more shells so I THOUGHT I fixed the problem. Today ( day 20 ) she was off the nest eat and I saw only 3 eggs left in her nest, so she is still eating the chicks shells and all cause there are no left overs in the brooder. So I booted her back out with the others and put the last 3 eggs in the incubator.
My biggest problem is what do I do now?
I have eggs in the bator already that are only on day 17, so I need to turn them but if I keep opening the bator to turn them is it going to mess up the 3 I just put in that should hatch today or tomorrow???? Please someone tell me what to do cause I just don't know. this is my first incubator hatch.

One less day turning wont harm them, many people stop turning earlier than day 18. The opening of the bator at this stage is more of a problem.
Thats a very disturbing habit with the hen, I would not let her brood again for sure.

A trip south would definitely fix my problems but I don't have any time to get down there until July. Plus I hate to transport chickens to terribly far. North side of Indy is probably my limit that's about 2 and a half hours one way. Maybe less now with the bypass in Kokomo.

I am just NE of Indy, so possibly we can work towards a July date and chicken/turkey train to meet here. @SallyinIndiana has the Turkey breed type you are looking for also, and some lovely chicken breeds. We do meet up occasionally so we may get something worked out yet!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I think my predator is a rat! So far it's eluded my traps but I found this this morning.

No idea where the eggs she'll came from.

Droppings

And this is how it's getting through my wall!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeppers have to agree. Squirrel traps work great for them!

If you live in Indianapolis take note!

Anyone wondering what has happened to Indy Rezone? I check about once a month or so - when I remember. Since the public meetings last year there has been nothing. The website disappeared, there is only the .gov draft from last June: http://www.indy.gov/egov/city/dmd/planning/services/current/Pages/ordinance.aspx and there have been no updates posted about a revised draft.

Wish TV did a short piece that says they are hoping to send Indy Rezone to Council next month. The piece focused on vacant houses but anyone who remembers the draft knows that it had a huge impact impact on poultry and goats amongst other things. It's been awfully hush, hush, with no info since last summer. What exactly is going to council? Here is the article:

http://wishtv.com/2015/05/26/city-planners-hope-to-send-indy-rezone-to-council-next-month/

If you live in Indy please keep your eyes and ears open and post anything you find out! Last year the public meeting locations were announced and then changed at the last minute. We need to see the draft before it goes to council, and not at the last minute!

Great post, and thanks for the reminder!

Quote: OH yes, my boys (I no longer have) came all the way from Columbia city. We had just got the suburban, Loaded them in the back. Took me a full day to clean up after the ride and my DH was not pleased ROFL! The windows were solid green in the back, eeew!

On a happy note I candeled the eggs I set last week and all but 2 are developing!! One appeared to be clear and the other had a blood ring.

hatching vibes!!!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: Oh, my.....
My barn cat who is now a housecat..(too old to be out now, Dad says lol) has never bothered anything but mice, luckily! She won't touch even a quail chick, very strange. One of the cities I covered for Animal Control had a leash ordinance for cats.. seriously!
I guess its how you are raised and culture different folks are familiar with. For me, cats are sure a valuable asset outside.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

My latest and now only peachick. Day 3 and it's really doing great now. Flapping about and drank on its own last night.

I taped it's legs because it was on its belly a lot with its legs spread. I didn't like that. Too worried how that would affect the babe.

So..here's to hoping for a girl!

Precious!
Better to be safe! If i have any doubt on legs, they get taped. So far we have been lucky this year and no leg issues.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Wanted to drop in to share a few pics. Below are some of DD's chicks.

May turned out to be another hard month. (April Mom died unexpectedly from a cold or flu) Since then, my sis was put on O2, Dad's cold/ respiratory issues haven't resolved, my sis in law has severe bronchitis, & my bro will be declaring bankruptcy. At our house, DH had hernia surgery. He's recovering slowly, so I've been busy trying to keep the house & kids going. Meanwhile my own blood work has been abnormal for more than 10 months. My doc is sending me to a hematologist/ oncologist. Of course with all these sick people (& my kids who bring all kinds of germs home), it's still possible that my body is literally always fighting off infections. If anyone has had such an appointment - & a good outcome - please PM me with your story.

The chickens give me that bit of support. I enjoy the peeping in the house & the calls the hens make as soon as they spot me coming. DD still talks to the chicks & makes them follow her around the house.

7 week old chicks; eggs from Chickcrazed & Kittydoc






Some 1-2 wk old mixes (The incubator was empty, & some eggs accidentally found their way into it.)



Here's the challenge. Boy or girl??
Dad = Lav English Orp Mom = Easter Egger with pea comb & puffy cheeks
8 weeks




Because of the wide comb, I thought boy. Now the comb looks pale for an 8 wk old. It also looks kind of dainty. Especially when it's next to my 7wk old orp cockerel! (below) Should I stick with my orig male prediction?

Hope all is ok for you, hang in there. Caretakers get pretty worn down at times.
IMO Thats a pullet for sure! Look at the neck, tail feathers.. dainty legs.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Bittersweet day today! We sold all 3 of our horses... We just didn't give them the attention they needed or deserved and to be honest our farm is going in a different direction than horses. This is not a situation like we bought them and then figured out we didn't want them anymore. They kinda came with our farm that we bought from my in laws. Our oldest horse was as old as my oldest child so they have been a part of the family. It was a hard decision to make and it took us a year to make it.
The good news is they went together and to a good training facility that will use them as they were meant to be used. And our other livestock will now have the barn space and pasture.
Feeling sad but relieved this evening... Kabhyper1 can tell you that although these horses were not broke as they should have been they were very special and great horses.

Applause to you for caring enough to take the time to decide if its right. And to make sure they went to a forever home as well!

Behind on posts again--can't seem to keep caught up.
A week ago I posted that I was having my flock tested because of an unusual number of deaths. The vet from BOAH came last Saturday and I got the results Tuesday. Clean!

The vet commented that he would rather test 20 false alarms than find one positive.

YES!!!! Awesome news!

I am getting chicks for the first time. They are not vaccinated. What diseases and illness are prevalent in our area, Mooresville, In (central Indiana). Should I buy vaccines for 6-8 chicks? Also what first aid, medicines, and sickness supplies should I keep on hand? Thanks!!

Welcome to our thread

!
The state board of animal health has great resources and info. The only vaccine I know of is mareks, and that has to be given early in life, @kittydoc can explain more. How old will your babies be?

 

[CristinaSmith]

They will be 2-3 week old silkies.