INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[kittydoc]

I finally got my lab results from the state lab and all samples were clear for Mycoplasma, AI, typhoid and pullorum. The lab was off by one digit when they entered my zip code, so it's probably in dead letters in Thorntown...which is not where I live. ISPA emailed the report to me.

For Mother2Hens and others interested, if a single egg tests positive for AI, the state lab will contact you to do blood tests on your flock to identify positive birds and what strain is present. Further action depends on those results. I didn't ask, but suspect the same thing happens if they find any eggs positive for Mycoplasma or PT. For those diseases, it is recommended to cull all positive birds I believe. Probably mandatory for PT. Mycoplasma can be treated but not ever cured. I know culling positives is highly recommended. AI is the only one that results in culling your whole flock if it is HPAI. Not sure what happens if it is regular AI, but suspect culling individual infected birds is involved at minimum.

On a happier note, new babies are hatching today! More lavs, black lavs split to lavender, as well as some "project" English blues and blacks with 50% chance of being split to lav. Those would be sold with full disclosure to people who are not breed/show folks, just Orp lovers who want them in their flocks to be pretty. I won't be doing this breeding again. Next year I'll have a blue roo to use instead of Cogburn!

 

[browncow15]

Ok. I really need to downsize! I have a breeding trio of blrw available, single cream legbar hen, english mottled orpington hen as well as 3 younger pullets and 2 black split for mottled pullets, possibly started partridge brahma trio, possibly some buff/buff barred bantam Cochin breeders, and possibly partridge bantam Cochin breeders.

I'm planning on keeping all silkies and showgirls at this time and my lavender barred bantam cochins. Also the barred rocks and silver barnie bantams.

If anyone is interested please let me know. I also have chicks available in most of those as well as showgirls.

Wish I had some more room here. I'd take those BLRWs and the Legbar off your hands!

 

[daskhan]

How dirty are your eggs or are you saying you are washing all eggs regardless of whether they are dirty or not?  I ask because if eggs are routinely coming in dirty there are ways to address that at the source to prevent dirty eggs and eliminate the need for cleaning.  If you are routinely getting dirty eggs a couple of simple steps will likely reduce that. 

It is actually very true that leaving the protective "bloom" on the eggs is best.  It isn't the crap and mud that you want to leave on there (again, there shouldnt' be much crap or mud on them to begin with) - it's the bacterial bloom that is deposited on each egg by the hen's body.  There are ways to clean eggs that are dirty and leave the bloom intact, or at least mostly intact. 

Generally by crap I mean stuff on the egg... No I don't routinely have poo or mud on the eggs unless it's a rainy day... But I wash the eggs no matter what because I have picky eaters one of who already refuses to eat the eggs due to them not being "processed"

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Ok. I really need to downsize! I have a breeding trio of blrw available, single cream legbar hen, english mottled orpington hen as well as 3 younger pullets and 2 black split for mottled pullets, possibly started partridge brahma trio, possibly some buff/buff barred bantam Cochin breeders, and possibly partridge bantam Cochin breeders.

I'm planning on keeping all silkies and showgirls at this time and my lavender barred bantam cochins. Also the barred rocks and silver barnie bantams.

If anyone is interested please let me know. I also have chicks available in most of those as well as showgirls.

I sent someone your way. Not sure if she followed through but if you have a unique breed that lays and lays, that is what she wants.

I have so many tiny chicks growing out, I really don't need more but of course your BLRW and CCL are so tempting. Once I start culling if you still have them, I just know it will be a battle of self control.

Of course if you want to trade for some Black sumatras, let me know.

 

[chick rookie]

Do you really get a better hatch rate with a broody? (That's DD's experiment this year, so I'm very curious on the topic.) In the 1st trial they were about the same %. So far on her 2nd trial, both the incubator (one clear) & broody (one crushed) are each down one egg. (Broody has less eggs, so her % will be lower this time.) We threw a dozen shipped eggs into the incubator, but decided not to count any of those. All 12 arrived with rolling air cells. I let them sit for 2.5 days, then didn't turn them for the 1st 2-3 days of incubation. Surprisingly 2 are developing (today= 10) but the air cells did not firm up / reattach. I figured the incubator was their best chance b/c of the severe air cell damage. If you think broody, please share why.

I like broodys.. they know what to do when to do it, and they take care of the chicks after hatch too ( mostly some hens just aint cut out for it ) last year and this year broody vs incubator rate has got to go to my Broodys at 100%, don't even want to talk about my bator, but in all fairness this is my first year with an incubator.

Check the eye carefully and make sure that it's not a parasite in it. I lost a great little cockerel last year thinking it was an infection and treating him with antibiotics until a knowledgeable friend looked at it. He showed me how to treat it, but it was too late for that bird. A white polish hen also developed one, but I was able to treat her from the start and eventually got the worm out. Treatment is disgusting. She is blind in that eye but survived and lives happily with her mate. They have given me some chicks this year.

I hear you! Jennings County clay mixed with chicken poop and soured pellets that they've scratched out make a smelly mess. My chickens are wearing their hip boots and some are walking on stilts.

I opened the worst pens and let them come out to have some respite from the mess. They have ways to get up out of it, but who wants to sit on a perch or in a doghouse all day? I was worried about the roosters fighting, but they seem to be so happy to be out on the grass that they have called a truce.

I know about stink.... I clean every day its not raining right now due to the wet sticky mess... I really wish I could put sand in all my runs...

I'm selling eggs at 2.50 a dozen and only get about 9 sells a month if I'm lucky... Are we talking chicken or turkey?

I was selling for 1.75, not trying to get rich just don't want to waste the eggs. now I'm at 2.00 and still sale out. my feed cost went upso my prices went up, but not by much, DH drives for a local feed center so we get it at a discount.

We live in Indianapolis, 6 miles from downtown, and have 8 hens. We have several regular customers at my job and I sell our eggs to them for $4 per dozen any time they're available.
It's really small scale, but we have a waiting list.

The down side is DW gets frustrated with me when I sell too many eggs, not leaving enough for our consumption...

I try to encourage folks like ChickCrazed and others to sell their eggs, but in truth, it is a bit of work. It pays for feed costs, though.

I do that to DH all the time, he gripes at me " whats the sense in having chickens if I cant eat the eggs cause you sell them all" ?... lol

Although I agree it's actually said if you keep the crap and mud on the eggs it "protects" the eggs. Although I don't know how true that is and I always clean my eggs as soon as I get them inside

I actually have people that wont buy the eggs if I have washed them, but then I have people that wont buy if I don't... personally I don't wash till I get ready to cook them.

How dirty are your eggs or are you saying you are washing all eggs regardless of whether they are dirty or not? I ask because if eggs are routinely coming in dirty there are ways to address that at the source to prevent dirty eggs and eliminate the need for cleaning. If you are routinely getting dirty eggs a couple of simple steps will likely reduce that.
It is actually very true that leaving the protective "bloom" on the eggs is best. It isn't the crap and mud that you want to leave on there (again, there shouldnt' be much crap or mud on them to begin with) - it's the bacterial bloom that is deposited on each egg by the hen's body. There are ways to clean eggs that are dirty and leave the bloom intact, or at least mostly intact.

so how do you clean the eggs without taking to bloom off??

Also want to mention...

Poison Hemlock popping up across Michiana

Toxic to people and animals

I have that in my goat pasture. Have for years, guess they just don't eat it. How would I get rid of it safely?

Anybody interested in a quad of hatchery Welsummers? Roo is bigger than expected and gorgeous, completely non-aggressive, but he crows really loud... and might be touched off by thunderstorms, if this morning is any indication. He's been crowing A LOT this morning (starting around 5:30). Sweet bird. Doesn't like being picked up, will eat from my hand, but won't peck. Gets along very well with my other roosters. Top cock of the yard. Ladies are all sweeties, get along with everyone, neither top nor bottom of hierarchy, and quiet. Roo and oldest hen were purchased Feb 7 of this year; the younger two hens were picked up several weeks later. All are from RK in Martinsville. Once I figured the trick to sexing them at hatch, they all conformed well. Oldest hen should be laying soon. I was really hoping to see some pretty eggs this year, but my boy's just too loud, and I'm too behind on bills to purchase a No-Crow Collar. If interested, I can throw in a young splay-legged Pekin drake who has deeply bonded with the younger two hens. They're best buddies, and I'd hate to break them up (of course, I hate to part with any of them).

Of 20 chickens, I wound up with 9 roos, and now five of them are crowing. The Brahma (the one that crows right now) isn't too bad, but the two EEs and mille fleur D'Uccle are pretty loud. They're just not as loud as the Wellie, who's perfected the fine art of maximum volume in the past week. He's super loud, and they're just loud. Given my "spare" EE, if interested, I'll let whoever wants one pick of either. They're both goofy guys. One crows "better" than the other (who sounds really awkward and kind of coughs his crow). the coughing one has no muffs or beard, has skinny tail feathers and likes to dance and "fight" around the yard (doesn't hurt anyone or even look like he's trying to). That one's #2 around the yard (#1 being the Wellie who is bigger, louder, older and very capable of bloodlessly putting down insurrections and has a best friend/eternal rival relationship with #2). #3 would be Blackbeard, the bearded, muffed EE who crows pretty well but not particularly often or as loud as the Wellie and never fights with anyone (doesn't even like manly staring competitions). Blackbeard was the first to crow (8 weeks), and Cordon Bleu (#2) was the first to try mounting a hen (10 weeks). Both EEs were pulled from a pullet bin at the Bloomington RK on Feb 14. Don't like being picked up but will eat from my hand. Cordon Bleu likes to roost on the back of lawn chairs while I'm sitting on them. blackbeard is voracious concerning oranges. Sweet birds and always a delight to have around the yard with their goofy antics.

Also have a partridge Plymouth Rock and no other Rocks, if anyone's interested. He's ultra-gorgeous. Taking forever to get proper butt feathers, but he was early to get the beetle sheen and absolutely covered in bars of sheen on a background of deep red. A stunning boy, very quiet so far, HEAVY for no bigger than he is (he weighs more than most if not all of my boys so far--very muscle-y under his fluff). Absolutely nothing wrong with him; I just have a surplus of roosters and no other Rocks. He's about three months old and has not crowed yet.

Oh, and 20+ ducks. Please, for the love of everything holy, I need to find another home for some (or all) of these ducks. They're eating a ton of food, but it's actually the noise that bothers me. I have really close neighbors, and it seems like right about everything that moves sets off a quacking storm with these ladies. A few are somewhat friendly with me, but the whole truth is that the lot of them are scared to death of being picked up and panic on a dime. As much as I want to keep a few of them for the kids' sake, they're just too loud and messy for my tiny yard in this kind of number. Swedish black, Pekin, Rouen and mixes (Pekin drakes over all of the above), plus a Khaki Campbell hen and Indian Runner drake. Last two belong to my kids, but they're not friendly enough to be proper pets, and the hen is the single loudest duck I've ever heard. Tiny thing, but, holy crap, does she honk. All the time. Oldest ducks are a little more than a year old; youngest hatched last week. One of them gives me giant eggs that weigh more than my banties every couple days. Eggs are delicious and great for baking.

sending you a PM





Still behind on post but I have to go start my feeding before it gets so hot I float away in my own sweat have a great day everyone.

 

[leslea]

Morning, all.

I know I am preaching to the choir here, but I am so frustrated, I need to vent. And HOPEFULLY y'all can help me settle a mystery.

This is re: my order this year from MyPetChicken.com. Last year's order included an unwanted rooster and a sickly chick, but I took all that in stride, accepted my refund and ordered again this year. It has been a total disaster!

I ordered:
2 Oliver Eggers
2 Buff Silkies
2 mystery fancy marans
All female

They called and said Olive Eggers were a no go, so I replaced them with Salmon Favorelles and got a partial refund.

I received:
2 Buff silkies (one male, sick, died ; one female, never acted right -- acted dizzy, even after vitamins and doing my homework on BYC; attacked by my dogs, but may have been a mercy killing)
2 mystery fancy marans (one male, a so far likeable rooster, but the jury remains out while he matures ; one pretty splash marans pullet that seems to be the only thing on the list to work out)
2 mystery buff colored chicks (at least they are both female, but I can't tell if they are Orpingtons, Wyandottes, or something else)

Because I got so upset in April when the customer service people from MPC accidentally emailed me an internal email calling me a liar re: the sex of one of the silkies, my husband agreed to handle the issue of the refund over the rooster. While he had them on the phone, he also mentioned that our "Salmon Faverolles" do not look like SFs. They told him to send a photo of the SFs. He sent a photo and they wrote back, "That is a hen. We can't refund you for a rooster bc you have a hen in this photo."

He is getting as aggravated as I have been. We sent them a video of the rooster crowing, and in the video, you can see one of the "SFs" with him.

I think they are Buff Orpingtons, but I honestly have no idea as they are not a breed I have researched. Someone elsewhere on BYC said Buff Wyandottes if they have a rose comb.

Honestly, I want to cry.

I wanted green eggs. No green eggs? Then I wanted SFs. SFs are so cute. These are def not SFs and all we get is a hassle from MPC! I will never *ever ever ever* bother with anyone who says they can sex chicks again. MPC/Meyer doesn't seem to even get the right breeds into the box. I guess I was lucky last year to only have one dead chick and one male! And I thought that was bad luck!

*takes breath* Thanks for listening. Here are some pics if you want to help me ID what breed chickens I have, so I can figure out what their care/needs might be.






VIDEO

*******************

@bradselig I messaged you re: your CCL last night. It would be nice to get one chicken this year that is what I wanted...

In other birdy news, my guinea has been on her clutch for almost 3 weeks. I'm starting to think if she hatches any keets, I won't be able to part with them. I am starting to care too much!

 

[chick rookie]

Morning, all.

I know I am preaching to the choir here, but I am so frustrated, I need to vent. And HOPEFULLY y'all can help me settle a mystery.

This is re: my order this year from MyPetChicken.com. Last year's order included an unwanted rooster and a sickly chick, but I took all that in stride, accepted my refund and ordered again this year. It has been a total disaster!

I ordered:
2 Oliver Eggers
2 Buff Silkies
2 mystery fancy marans
All female

They called and said Olive Eggers were a no go, so I replaced them with Salmon Favorelles and got a partial refund.

I received:
2 Buff silkies (one male, sick, died ; one female, never acted right -- acted dizzy, even after vitamins and doing my homework on BYC; attacked by my dogs, but may have been a mercy killing)
2 mystery fancy marans (one male, a so far likeable rooster, but the jury remains out while he matures ; one pretty splash marans pullet that seems to be the only thing on the list to work out)
2 mystery buff colored chicks (at least they are both female, but I can't tell if they are Orpingtons, Wyandottes, or something else)

Because I got so upset in April when the customer service people from MPC accidentally emailed me an internal email calling me a liar re: the sex of one of the silkies, my husband agreed to handle the issue of the refund over the rooster. While he had them on the phone, he also mentioned that our "Salmon Faverolles" do not look like SFs. They told him to send a photo of the SFs. He sent a photo and they wrote back, "That is a hen. We can't refund you for a rooster bc you have a hen in this photo."

He is getting as aggravated as I have been. We sent them a video of the rooster crowing, and in the video, you can see one of the "SFs" with him.

I think they are Buff Orpingtons, but I honestly have no idea as they are not a breed I have researched. Someone elsewhere on BYC said Buff Wyandottes if they have a rose comb.

Honestly, I want to cry.

I wanted green eggs. No green eggs? Then I wanted SFs. SFs are so cute. These are def not SFs and all we get is a hassle from MPC! I will never *ever ever ever* bother with anyone who says they can sex chicks again. MPC/Meyer doesn't seem to even get the right breeds into the box. I guess I was lucky last year to only have one dead chick and one male! And I thought that was bad luck!

*takes breath* Thanks for listening. Here are some pics if you want to help me ID what breed chickens I have, so I can figure out what their care/needs might be.






VIDEO

*******************

@bradselig I messaged you re: your CCL last night. It would be nice to get one chicken this year that is what I wanted...

In other birdy news, my guinea has been on her clutch for almost 3 weeks. I'm starting to think if she hatches any keets, I won't be able to part with them. I am starting to care too much!

I'm gonna go with BO's and a BR, the splash ??? Sorry you are having so much trouble.

 

[leslea]

I'm gonna go with BO's and a BR, the splash ??? Sorry you are having so much trouble.

Thanks!

The roo is a Golden Cuckoo Marans (he was supposed to be a she). The splash is a marans. It's just those Buffs.

A friend brought up what Meyer carries, so I checked their site. They have Orpingtons and Chanteclers, and the buffs look like they could be one or the other. Hoping for Chanteclers, I guess.

 

[leslea]

Well, there is a lot of disagreement about the breed of roo. The hatchery says Cuckoo Marans, and most chicken keeper say BR.

The final verdict on the buff "Salmon Faverolles" is that they are Chanteclers.

Supposedly a refund for those final 3 screw ups is on it's way.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Well, there is a lot of disagreement about the breed of roo. The hatchery says Cuckoo Marans, and most chicken keeper say BR.

The final verdict on the buff "Salmon Faverolles" is that they are Chanteclers.

Supposedly a refund for those final 3 screw ups is on it's way.

Its a close call on the CM compared to the BR. The biggest difference I have found when reading online is that the barring is more uniform in heritage BR compared to Cuckoo Marans. Not that it makes a big difference for you right now as it is clear,y a male chicken.
I've had good experiences with both Meyer and Ideal but that is when I order directly from them.
IMO it is very possible that the middle man or mypetchicken is somehow making a mistake is submitting the order. Just a guess here but that site but have some pretty big orders most weeks. Its possible that if the order is submitted using item numbers that something was transposed or not legible if handwritten. So maybe check item numbers for the chickens you wanted and see if they are close to either of the buff item numbers.

As for getting 1 male out of 6, that is only slightly outside of the industry standards. The basic promise I have seen posted is 90% sexing accuracy on orders of 10 or more.
Here is what I tell people when they call me asking for started pullets and want a 100% promise of no roosters:
In order to promise you 100% that you will not get a rooster, the pullets you buy need to either be laying or 7 months old. Some 7 month old heritage breeds are just getting to POL.