INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[browncow15]

@jchny2000 how old are guineas when you process? I had a couple last year that didn't work out due to my housing setup. I'm hoping to get some tractors put together this winter and scrounge up enough money for electric netting so I can move my chickens through my field after my cows next year. I'd love to be able to get some guineas out with them.

Awww! My baby!! Did you try Craigslist? I've gotten $25 for all the extra boys I had, like 4. That would be better for him and you. Post photos and talk up his good points, what a deal $25 is when they usually go for double that as chicks, state fertility if known (and the boys need to be trimmed to hit 100%), they make great flock art, etc. I bet he'll sell in 2 or 3 weeks. Honest!

I haven't tried craigslist yet. To be honest it makes me nervous to sell there. I really don't want to process him but I don't have room in my coop over winter.

ETA: does anyone know about chicken ordinances around the north and west side? Fishers, Carmel, Zionsville, Brownsburg? I know Avon allows them.

 

[Faraday40]

I have a theoretical question for the group. I know that all domestic dogs are a risk to poultry in theory. Do any of you have experiences with pitbull or pitbull mix dogs and chickens and our cats? Are they better, worse, or average as predators? The pet pits I saw as a vet were awesome with people, intelligent, calm, and well-behaved. Never treated a single one for fighting, not even pet dog tussling. I do know they would be killing machines if they're fighters. A classmate's brother was killed by one that broke its chain and bit through his femoral artery. He died quick.

My husband and I have been talking about getting a dog for a few months now. I think it's because we have empty nest syndrome! Anyway, the dog would mostly be indoors anyway, partly because it's a pitbull and I don't want to frighten my neighbors. But also because I want it to be supervised. I would like to acclimate it to the chickens if that's doable. Our cats will be very PO'd at us but they'll get over it. This is a young adult female that we are considering. What do the rest of you think?

Am I asking for trouble? I'd like to think the occasional presence of the dog outside and the dog leaving scent markings of all varieties might help deter other dogs as well as the coyotes we have in our area. I am not worried about the dog breaking into our coop and our birds never get out of the yard at all anymore since we put up the bird netting. We would like to get a dog at some point, and will, but most of the time when I know somebody has a dog for adoption its further away. This one is close. If we like her, I'd like to give her a trial run.

I know ACC in Indy is giving their dogs away because they have a distemper outbreak, and most are pits or pit mixes, but those are more likely not to have a good history, esp the males.

I believe one of our dogs has some pitbull in his mix. He LOVES to chase & eat bunnies, squirrels, etc. It took some training for him to leave the chickens alone. The moment chickens entered our lives, we kept giving him the "leave it." command. For the 1st 6 mo w/ chickens, every time he simply looked toward them, we said "leave it." (It took 6 months before I'd allow him to be near the flock w/o a human.) After 3 years, he's never attacked any. They share the backyard but he doesn't really protect them. He'll bulldoze his way through the flock if chasing a rabbit away - which sends the flock into a tizzy. He'll also gobble up any scraps I threw out for the chickens - they certainly don't like that! Our dogs are house pets, so they only spend maybe 1-2 hours outside. If I see a hawk or hear the bluejays & roosters making noise, I let the dogs out. They are a deterrent - but not protection.

With any dog, the individual personality & temperament mean more than the breed. Our lab mix never showed any desire to hunt but the playful pitbull sees chasing furry creatures as a game. (He never chased birds, so that could be part of the reason for our success.) I recommend avoiding any type of sight hound. We had a sweet Whippet (like a Greyhound) that was gentle with any creature I held in my lap- until they ran. He simply couldn't help chasing after any fast moving object. Balls & Frisbees were fun, but he had the speed & agility to catch wildlife on a regular basis.

 

[daskhan]

Well yes, they are loud, and that's another plus for me. I am in cornfields, woods and have predators I want to know are around. Guineas warn me of any current risks.
I am not in town, and my one neighbor also keep geese, much louder. I post thoughts to help others who are making homesteading decisions, and to try to help others who are keeping multipurpose birds. I do not recommend any pheasant type fowl in town aside from quail. Guineas would not make a neighbor happy, of course..
Not everyone has neighbors, however. And not all neighbors feel a loud bird is an issue, just like my neighbor and I feel. Last month, my guineas attacked a red tailed hawk going after their gosling and saved her. Our flocks comingle, share the pond and creek, and coexist. We discuss our flocks and other livestock prior to purchasing them, we try to be neighborly and considerate of each others families. I have lived here since 2003 and always have a good relationship with them.

Even though it came off like I was being negitive I actually allowed you to point out another possitive that being that they are good watchmen

 

[daskhan]

I have a theoretical question for the group. I know that all domestic dogs are a risk to poultry in theory. Do any of you have experiences with pitbull or pitbull mix dogs and chickens and our cats? Are they better, worse, or average as predators? The pet pits I saw as a vet were awesome with people, intelligent, calm, and well-behaved. Never treated a single one for fighting, not even pet dog tussling. I do know they would be killing machines if they're fighters. A classmate's brother was killed by one that broke its chain and bit through his femoral artery. He died quick.

My husband and I have been talking about getting a dog for a few months now. I think it's because we have empty nest syndrome! Anyway, the dog would mostly be indoors anyway, partly because it's a pitbull and I don't want to frighten my neighbors. But also because I want it to be supervised. I would like to acclimate it to the chickens if that's doable. Our cats will be very PO'd at us but they'll get over it. This is a young adult female that we are considering. What do the rest of you think?

Am I asking for trouble? I'd like to think the occasional presence of the dog outside and the dog leaving scent markings of all varieties might help deter other dogs as well as the coyotes we have in our area. I am not worried about the dog breaking into our coop and our birds never get out of the yard at all anymore since we put up the bird netting. We would like to get a dog at some point, and will, but most of the time when I know somebody has a dog for adoption its further away. This one is close. If we like her, I'd like to give her a trial run.

I know ACC in Indy is giving their dogs away because they have a distemper outbreak, and most are pits or pit mixes, but those are more likely not to have a good history, esp the males.

My experience is dog is a dog..it's the owners that are the problem I have three pit mixes and non bother or even care the chickens are there cats a lol different but mainly because they tease the dogs train the dog to be around cats and birds and you will have no problem it's all up to how and how well you train them generally older dogs that haven't been trained to be around them is a bad start

 

[daskhan]

Just to let ya'll know just in case... I have a friend that has an Uncle that has 100 MFD + chicks for sale.  He wants 2.00 for the adults of all ages, and .50 for the chicks. I normally wouldn't do this without pic's but the man has cancer and cant get outside anymore.  So If anyone is interested let me know and I will go get pic's and try for more info. Also I am going to look at a bunch of Silkies tomorrow, or should I say today.. lol.  I will get pic's, he is selling all of them and going to stick with the bigger birds, he says just lose too many to wildlife. 



 On another subject, I have 19 hens and pullets, in one winter coop. Do you think that would be enough to keep 3 roosters from killing each other. None of the Roo's are mean. and I try to have at lest 6 hens per. so that would work, but I never have them all in the same coop, but this year I have less chicken then normal but more breeds ( hope that made sense ) next spring I want to separate them into breeding pens, but for this winter I want most in one coop to save on heated water electric and supplemental lighting, but if I do it, that will put all the Roo's in the same coop. It's an 8x10 coop, with a porch and my snow free zone I make every year so they can get out and stretch. 

Also has anyone ever put insulation of any kind on the OUTSIDE of a Plastic shed? If so what did you use and how did you attach it? We bought a shed off E-bay and turns out it is plastic!! never said anything about being plastic and the pic's of it didn't look plastic and I'm worried it just wont keep the birds warm.  There will only be 8 birds in it. 


 Thanks for letting me pick your brains, again... 

What are mfd? Anytime someone is selling something I'm interested specially if it will build my flock/business specially that cheap...
Also if your selling the silkies I need silkies too please let me know what colors/types I want all but need a buff silkie hen or three prices would help pm me pics and prices

 

[kittydoc]

unfortunately no, 4 days is not nearly sufficient. 30 days is the minimum for an effective quantify, and that is 30 days symptom that if any sort of treatment becomes necessary you rest the clock once the bird has recovered as long as the illness was not one of the big no's.

As a veterinarian, I completely agree.

 

[kittydoc]

@jchny2000 how old are guineas when you process? I had a couple last year that didn't work out due to my housing setup. I'm hoping to get some tractors put together this winter and scrounge up enough money for electric netting so I can move my chickens through my field after my cows next year. I'd love to be able to get some guineas out with them.
I haven't tried craigslist yet. To be honest it makes me nervous to sell there. I really don't want to process him but I don't have room in my coop over winter.

ETA: does anyone know about chicken ordinances around the north and west side? Fishers, Carmel, Zionsville, Brownsburg? I know Avon allows them.

I've used Craigslist for years. Once in a while I get a bad vibe just from an email. If I do, I don't further respond. Meet in a public place. Lots of police stations allow transactions there, Zionsville in town does not allow roos (10 hens). I believe Carmel allows 3 or 4 hens, Rural Zionsville, where I live, has no limits. Fishers allows them, but I'm not sure of the details. I sold straight run chicks to a lady with acreage in Fishers and she had checked. I sold most of my roos either in Indy or outlying small towns in rural areas. They will come to you, esp for a fairly rare bird like a Jubilee Orp.

 

[ellymayRans]

I have a theoretical question for the group. I know that all domestic dogs are a risk to poultry in theory. Do any of you have experiences with pitbull or pitbull mix dogs and chickens and our cats? Are they better, worse, or average as predators? The pet pits I saw as a vet were awesome with people, intelligent, calm, and well-behaved. Never treated a single one for fighting, not even pet dog tussling. I do know they would be killing machines if they're fighters. A classmate's brother was killed by one that broke its chain and bit through his femoral artery. He died quick.

My husband and I have been talking about getting a dog for a few months now. I think it's because we have empty nest syndrome! Anyway, the dog would mostly be indoors anyway, partly because it's a pitbull and I don't want to frighten my neighbors. But also because I want it to be supervised. I would like to acclimate it to the chickens if that's doable. Our cats will be very PO'd at us but they'll get over it. This is a young adult female that we are considering. What do the rest of you think?

Am I asking for trouble? I'd like to think the occasional presence of the dog outside and the dog leaving scent markings of all varieties might help deter other dogs as well as the coyotes we have in our area. I am not worried about the dog breaking into our coop and our birds never get out of the yard at all anymore since we put up the bird netting. We would like to get a dog at some point, and will, but most of the time when I know somebody has a dog for adoption its further away. This one is close. If we like her, I'd like to give her a trial run.

I know ACC in Indy is giving their dogs away because they have a distemper outbreak, and most are pits or pit mixes, but those are more likely not to have a good history, esp the males.

I only know of the BYC member birdman55 who has 2 that are great with his birds. Then again training and all dogs are different. .

 

[daskhan]

As a veterinarian, I completely agree.

So even though it was sallyindiana who I assumed was a highly trusted member I should still seperate for 30 days? Is that because I shouldn't trust people in general I assumed she wouldn't sale me a sick bird or atleast warn me if something was up or is it something like flocks seperated by an hours drive could have completely different anti bodies that could effect each other negatively I'm just trying to figure out if the source is trusted is 30 days really necasary or should I do something like trusted source1-2 days non trusted 30-45days

 

[ellymayRans]

Our flock is in a chain link enclosure. We have cats and dogs in our enclosed backyard, but they are separated from the chicken enclosure by the chain link fence. We have 2 outdoor cats; one of which routinely walks across the top of the chicken enclosure. The chickens know our cats and make the 'OMG run for cover' sound if another neighborhood cat is around but not when ours hangs out on top of their fence watching them. We have several dogs. Two of which are pit mix littermates we've fostered since they were Parvo-recovering 4-wk olds. baby Charles baby Vegas Charles, male, 60 pounds Vegas, female, 50 pounds We have other dogs and none of them bother the chickens. Our chickens are used to our dogs, and do not get alarmed by them. The most annoying things the dogs do: the beagle sticks her nose through the chain link squares to try to eat chicken poop, and the pit-mix puppies sometimes charge the fence to watch the chickens fly all over the place. The chickens are wise to this game and don't respond every time. The pit mixes stay outside the chicken run gate when we're going in and out of the run, and they also stay outside of the chicken coop people door when we go inside. If the chickens were out, I'm absolutely certain the dogs would chase them and 'play' roughly (aka non-survivably) with the birds. Though we've always raised them together, the birds and pit mix have been separated by a fence. Our pit mix puppies were shown the 'chicken rules' by not only us and correction, but by the other dogs that already know the rules. I can't say enough good things about co-mingling dogs, cats, and chickens. Squirrels, however, are a totally other matter.

Beautiful dogs!