INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Phew, you're away for a few days and you have 100 posts to catch up on! You'd think this was an active thread!

Anyone else's chickens molting? I've got a couple of lt brown leghorns that look awful! And out of 26 laying hens I got 5 eggs yesterday hopefully I will keep a few laying through winter since I keep picking up new egg customers!

Yeah, about half of my flock is in various stages of molt. I'm still getting about 8 eggs a day, though, so that's something! I've been thinking about freezing eggs. I think I'm just going to have to get up the gumption to do it and figure out what works.

I need help sexing 2 of my silkies. I hatched them from eggs I got from @kabhyper1 back in April so they are now almost 24 weeks old. I keep going back and forth because they have decent sized combs, but big round puff balls and they are of good size. So should it be Jethro and Tony, or Ziva and Zoe? I'm really confused on this one because they have not started laying eggs or crowing yet?

They look like boys to me, too. I'm far from experienced with Silkies, but their coloration is manly and the second one has a masculine shape to me.

Yes, my first processing. I have an appointment in colfax to have it done for me. I have naked chickens everywhere as well. I'm still getting one egg a day from someone......and the freaking Hedemora is broody again over that one egg. I am prying her angry self off of it every freaking day. She is on the list to get processed as well..... I can't deal with perpetual broodiness.

So, not to distract from your frustration, but how is your Hedemora's temperament other than her broodiness? I've admired them for a long time, and I can deal with broodiness, I just can't stand flightiness and hand-shyness, personally... Also, hugs about your decision with your horse. That's a tough decision to make after that much time.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

So, this has been a hectic week! I spent most of the week fighting with a lab report that no one knew how to do and none of the instructors were willing to give much help with. Then, the rest of the week was devoted to CRAMMING! I did only have two tests, not the three I originally thought, but the one for Functional Biology was over so much material that I didn't think I'd ever remember it all, and, well, I didn't. But I feel okay about how I did on it. We'll see when the grade comes back! The German test was a cakewalk by comparison, at least, which was good because between lab reports and cramming all the functional biology stuff in my brain, I hadn't had much of a chance to study for it.


Meanwhile, since I didn't get the chance to post it here when it happened, I learned the value of a good rooster over the weekend! I was cleaning the coop Saturday when I heard the alarm call from outside. Didn't think much of it because the girls tend to overreact to little birds flying over, but then I noticed that they were flooding into the coop, so I decided to check on things outside. I stepped outside in time to see my Silkie boy from Kab, Reuben, standing guard while the hens ran for cover, all the while a hawk was swooping overhead. He didn't even run until he saw me come out to chase off the attacker! I was so proud! And then, as if that wasn't enough, he was the first to come out after the hawk was gone, and he spent the day standing protectively over the girls while they scratched! So he is definitely in the flock from now on, as long as he doesn't mistreat my girls while he's there.

He has also started mating the hens as of a couple days ago, though he's not, err, very good at it yet. I'm keeping my eye out for bullseyes in our eggs, though. I'm thinking it may be worth trying to get some sons out of him, just in case he ends up giving his life in the line of duty, as it were. And Silkie mixes are cute.


And, well, that's about all going on over here. I have a light weekend ahead of me, so I'm feeling a lot more relaxed than I was last Thursday.

 

[daskhan]

Is this normal I'm rescuing him tomorrow and know he will be here either way but I was resently told silkies shouldn't have wattles or comb... So is he mixed?

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Pet or hatchery quality Silkies are often clean faced. Check out my boy in the post above yours. My understanding of the genetics behind bearded chickens is that it's dominant, meaning that it is feasible for a clean-faced bird to come out of bearded parents if both parents are not pure for beards. And since hatcheries are typically not picky about the quality of their birds, as long as they put out plenty of offspring, this happens quite frequently from hatchery birds. However, it happens sometimes as well with top quality stock because it's hard to tell when a bird is pure for beardedness, just like some of the highest quality Wyandottes can throw the wrong comb type. So long story short, yes, it's normal in a sense, but he wouldn't be considered a show quality specimen.

 

[Indyshent]

It's really kind of hard for me too, I look at the tail, if they have ribbon like feathers ( don't know how else to describe them ) then they are Roos. And the hear feathers look more like a mo hawk, where the hen is more rounded and no ribbons in the tail.

@chickiebaby1 the top one looks to be a roo and the other looks to be hen to me. but like I said to @daskhan Its always hard for me to tell for sure.

I ditto this. Tony and Ziva.

I've had seven silkies this year (down to three because of some unknown predator, I think). Girls have even fro-puffs (think fluffy golf balls in place of their noggins). Boys have less even fluffiness to their heads and tend to have streamers on their faces and tails (not true feathers, just longer, stiffer bits of fluff that stick out funnily). If their heads look different, they're different sexes.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Here's a question for those of you who take credit cards for payment. I remember a while back Brad & several others talked about it, but I don't have hours available to search for that conversation! I'm not very familiar at all with what's out there, etc. I've heard of the Square thing. Wondered if anyone has actually used it or something else, how it works, do you like using it, etc. I don't need it for my chicken stuff, but I'd be interested in having some way for customers to pay during craft bazaar season. I had a number of people ask me if I took credit cards last year and lost some sales because they didn't have enough cash!

Paypal has something like that now, or another option is Quickbooks. There are some programs out there now that even work with smartphones. If I reach that point, I trust PayPal 100%. I have used it for like 12 years now. Have had 2 issues and both times, they swiftly refunded and fixed the problem (eBay). It keeps your financial info separated from the transaction completely. I have had more issues with our banks regarding security than PayPal. Last year alone, had my credit card number stolen twice, and had to deal with that. Never had a single fraudulent incident with PayPal, ever. Its all I use now when I make online purchases or pay folks for eggs, birds etc unless I can pay cash in person.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

So, this has been a hectic week! I spent most of the week fighting with a lab report that no one knew how to do and none of the instructors were willing to give much help with.

Then, the rest of the week was devoted to CRAMMING! I did only have two tests, not the three I originally thought, but the one for Functional Biology was over so much material that I didn't think I'd ever remember it all, and, well, I didn't. But I feel okay about how I did on it. We'll see when the grade comes back! The German test was a cakewalk by comparison, at least, which was good because between lab reports and cramming all the functional biology stuff in my brain, I hadn't had much of a chance to study for it.

Meanwhile, since I didn't get the chance to post it here when it happened, I learned the value of a good rooster over the weekend! I was cleaning the coop Saturday when I heard the alarm call from outside. Didn't think much of it because the girls tend to overreact to little birds flying over, but then I noticed that they were flooding into the coop, so I decided to check on things outside. I stepped outside in time to see my Silkie boy from Kab, Reuben, standing guard while the hens ran for cover, all the while a hawk was swooping overhead. He didn't even run until he saw me come out to chase off the attacker!

I was so proud! And then, as if that wasn't enough, he was the first to come out after the hawk was gone, and he spent the day standing protectively over the girls while they scratched! So he is definitely in the flock from now on, as long as he doesn't mistreat my girls while he's there.



He has also started mating the hens as of a couple days ago, though he's not, err, very good at it yet.

I'm keeping my eye out for bullseyes in our eggs, though. I'm thinking it may be worth trying to get some sons out of him, just in case he ends up giving his life in the line of duty, as it were. And Silkie mixes are cute.

And, well, that's about all going on over here.

I have a light weekend ahead of me, so I'm feeling a lot more relaxed than I was last Thursday.

Oh, definite keeper, and what a good boy!

Is this normal I'm rescuing him tomorrow and know he will be here either way but I was resently told silkies shouldn't have wattles or comb... So is he mixed?

Show quality won't but yes they CAN have them. EE can have them also. Its just not a desired trait in some folks eyes. I have had several here, some did have them. I just know the quality of @kabhyper1 birds, and know they won't have waddles. She is breeding to standard, and beyond.
He is a handsome fella! Silkie roosters are usually a very good flock roo, just watch out for aggression if he is the only rooster you have. This is Butters, he was our first silkie rooster. Once he had hens, He became a lil tyrant! You did not dare pick up one of his ladies with out his attacks on your shins, lol. He went with DD when she married and moved.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

So I was really pleased looking over my newly molted LO adult hen, and my Black orp fella from @kittydoc thats maturing so nicely! Have been integrating him with my LO cockerels and he has become the alpha cockerel in the group. My adult hen and any pullets he is around adore him.
Had a very upsetting loss today, saw turkey vultures aka buzzards circling overhead.. so I started looking around. They know and seem to smell if something has died. Its really creepy when they come, they will circle, and will all but land even if you are standing outside. Ugliest birds you will ever see, just huge. Since we process on a fairly regular basis here I am used to seeing them. Finally found my LO pullet that had broken her neck under a tree by the parking area of our driveway. Not sure if she was perching and fell, made a bad jump.. no idea. So we have one mature hen left, plenty of roos however. DD is bringing any pullets she has back to me and they are getting locked up again. Appears they just do not do well free ranging. I may not keep the breed next year unless a coop is built specifically for them. I am using a different LO rooster this year since my big fellas eyes are so wrinkled and "squinty" looking, trying to improve the eyes in my line.

My little White Holland turkey hen is already squatting! She drops to the ground as soon as I come anywhere near her. Not a good thing, my MW tom is already strutting for her, forget it buddy!

I know one Holland is a tom for sure, he is trying to gobble and the neck is super long, nice dewlap developing.. #3 has me on the fence, she is big as the tom but acts hen, has the mohawk stripe down the back of the neck... not sure yet.
Have yet another MW hen trying to build a nest in my old coop. I am swapping duck eggs with what she lays, lol. We can always hatch more ducks and they are hardier than poults outdoors. Setting about a dozen more turkey eggs tonight in the bator, Bourbon and Midgets. Leaving plenty of space for my JMF quail eggs next week

 

[pbirdhaven]

I need help sexing 2 of my silkies. I hatched them from eggs I got from @kabhyper1 back in April so they are now almost 24 weeks old. I keep going back and forth because they have decent sized combs, but big round puff balls and they are of good size.

So should it be Jethro and Tony, or Ziva and Zoe?



I'm really confused on this one because they have not started laying eggs or crowing yet?

It's really kind of hard for me too, I look at the tail, if they have ribbon like feathers ( don't know how else to describe them ) then they are Roos. And the hear feathers look more like a mo hawk, where the hen is more rounded and no ribbons in the tail.

@chickiebaby1 the top one looks to be a roo and the other looks to be hen to me. but like I said to @daskhan Its always hard for me to tell for sure.

Silkies can be tricky. Two or three years ago I showed a "pullet" all spring--had a lovely vaulted skull and a lower profile; during the summer, "she" started crowing and developed the rooster comb. None of the judges caught that she was a he, and I had also conferred with a top silkie breeder, who thought pullet as well.

 

[flyladyrocks]

Yep - once again just dropping in to update everyone in Indianapolis about Indy Rezone. Sigh. Backyard CHickens has become a luxury I don't have the time for. Tired and stressed would be the words that best describe me. I have even had very little time for much needed chicken therapy sessions!

Here is the Indy Rezone Update:

The time to act is NOW! The Economic and Metropolitan development committee will "discuss" Indy Rezone for the third and quite possibly last time this next Monday Sept. 21. at 5:30, Room 260 of the City County building.

Why is discuss in quotes? Because so far there has been little to no actual discussion. July 27, Committee Chair Leroy Robinson made it clear that they really didn't want any comments that day, they were just introducing the proposal. Aug. 31, the meeting began at 5:30, at 8:39 when they finally got to Indy Rezone (the last topic to be discussed), most people has already left, including many of the councilors on the committee AND they said we needed to be out of the building (a school) by 9:00, or 9:10 at the latest. Oh, and did I mention before discussion happened there was a presentation? (let me insert here a big thanks to @Dreamwalker and her man for coming and sitting through that eternal meeting to offer moral support!)

Honestly, I am tired, frustrated and discouraged. I'm just a homeschooling mom. I don't blog - I don't even have a facebook account so I most certainly don't have a following and I don't have a much influence on anyone other than my family. It seems like Indy Rezone is an inevitability. Most people have no idea it is happening or that there will be MANY additional zoning regulations or they just don't care. At the meetings there have been LOTS of people opposing other items on the agenda, but hardly any with concerns over Indy Rezone.

Once again, I ask, "How in the world does creating more ordinances on Urban farming make us more sustainable?". Why does an Urban garden on an abandoned lot need soil testing? Why must it be officially registered with the city or have 36 inch high fences - and what inner city neighborhoods have the money to do those things? That is one example.

Another example? You WILL NOT be able to have Guineas or Turkeys. You are limited to Chickens, Ducks, Quail and pigeons and can only have 12 unless you get a special license. You will be limited to 8 rabbits. NO intact male goats or sheep, and you can only have 3-4 depending on lot size.

The thing I have wanted to say at these meetings and have yet to be able to say - Many ordinances are petty and restrictive and limited in their ability to be enforced. Such as (drum roll) Indy Rezone. Do you know the only time code enforcement comes? When someone complains!! If you have an ornery complaining neighbor they will be in your neighborhood often.

The new projected date for Indy Rezone to go into effect is April 1, 2016 - to see how you can find out more about Indy Rezone scroll down to the end.

Two main points of action:
1. Attend the committee meeting Mon. Sept. 21 at 5:30 PM in Rm 260 -and if at all possible be willing to speak - you may only have 2 minutes - arrive early if possible and make sure you sign the list saying you want to speak. Even if you come late and don't get on the list, you should be able to speak but it is good for them to have a starting place for the number of people interested in speaking.

2. E-mail and /or call the counselors on the committee ASAP, let them know why you are unhappy. It seems like the best way to hope it will be at least scanned through is not a running paragraph, but a numbered list of your objections. The contact info below is from http://www.indy.gov/eGov/Council/Committees/Pages/metro.aspx

Leroy Robinson - Chair - (317)329-0923- [email protected]
Zach Adamson 317-683-9224 [email protected]
John Barth 317-902-1453 [email protected]
Ginny Cain Phone: 317-823-2460 [email protected]
Will Gooden 317-319-4398 [email protected]
Jeff Miller 317-490-5588 [email protected]
Mary Moriarty Adams 317-359-6940 [email protected]
Vop Osili (317)332-0877[email protected]

Indy Rezone can be seen here: http://www.indy.gov/egov/city/dmd/planning/services/current/Pages/ordinance.aspx
Note presentations from the previous 2 committee meetings and scroll down to bottom of page for the livestock license link

1. Agricultural uses, Farmers Market, Garden as Primary use (Pg. 483-486)
2. Personal Garden, Personal Livestock (pgs. 526-528)
3. Personal Livestock License Draft: http://www.indy.gov/eGov/City/DMD/Planning/Zoning/ordinances/Indy%20Rezone%20Docs/Personal%20Livestock%20License%20061715.pdf
4. The only thing that would be considered “Grandfathering in” what you currently have/are doing- Applications and Nonconformities begins pg. 118.

If any one has any questions, you can ask and I will try to answer - BUT I am getting away from it all, a much needed retreat away from everyone and everything including the internet so any response will likely not happen until Monday. I can't even remember the last time I got away from it all without DH and/or the kids! Before I was married?? Now Someone other than me has to remember the chickens need food and water for a few days!