INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[ellymayRans]

Happy Friday!!

 

[chick rookie]

My own coop is a plastic shed i converted and i didn't insulate or heat it. this will be its second winter and i had no problems last year. i don't think you'll have any troubles as long as you have good ventilation.
if this link works here are photos i've post previously of my coop. yay it works you just have to scroll down to my post https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/730582/indiana-bycers-here/32530

I saw that when you posted it, thought it was a very nice coop. I didn't know it was plastic. Yours is allot bigger then the one I am getting, it's just a 4 x 6. So you didn't have any frost bite or any other weather related problems? Well maybe this wont be the disaster I am afraid of.

It's in the feed I give them... It's not fully garrenteed just says it build there immunity against it and 25% of chickens could still get it

I feed medicated for the first 2 weeks in chicks, then I switch them to non-medicated. My vet says its best to let them build their own immunity to things. The first 2 weeks is just to let them get stronger. Thats just the way I do it. and 99% of the time it works.

This is a suggestion - take it for what it's worth.

The medication in the feed is a thiamine blocker. If you use a medicated feed at all, it should only be for a short period of time as thiamine is needed for proper development. Chicks/chickens with a thiamin deficiency develop lameness which can become irreversible.

Please consider removing the medicated feed for the health and long-term well-being of your flock.

Had an owl harassing the Peas on the roof the last few nights...always something around here..but anyway last night and tonight the momma and babies are sleeping on the railing along with Rocky and the turkeys. .first pic is the babe peeking out on the right, as she hides back under mommas wing the "little IBBS boy?" peeks out. So lovely! We're having our Friday "Nightcaps" enjoying the view!

I know NOTHING about Pea fowl so this is just a question, sorry if it comes off stupid but I have seen and heard others talk about how their Pea Fowl sleep outside. Will they not sleep in a coop or anything? What keeps them from getting killed by predators? Are they just too big nothing wants to mess with them? I have too many stray dogs and Coyotes to leave anything outside at night, my LGD's and the other dogs pretty much keep things away but they come inside, they aren't outside dogs, which gives plenty of opportunity for the bad critters to come to dinner.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

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 am not going to make very many people happy right now. I have to state what I know as truth, and from 5 years in animal control. Pitbull, and the general breed has been severely inbred, misbred, and trained to be "bad dogs" unfortunately here. There are good dogs and mixes in family situations that never show a problem. Most that are in a shelter are not from a good, responsible breeder working to correct those problems.
I took animal attack and bite reports, seen adults and children maimed and worse killed, it was pretty horrific. Pit bulls were #1 in bites, #1 in animal attacks to owners, the entire 5 years I was there. This tells me its a problem. Not every pit, or pit mix is bad. I kept a mature male fella at the shelter that was male aggressive since all of my staff were women, working all hours of the night. He was strictly trained and managed by my staff. He had to leave also, became a problem at 3 years old. Nero was neutered. Suddenly became aggressive to all human contact overnight. I made the call myself. Am still am sick over his loss I just adored him..
My point is, so many homeless dogs need help. Dogs and cats are euthanized by the billions every year because someone Didn't care enough to neuter, spay..Lots of safer livestock guardian breeds or companions to chose from. I am so very sorry if I have offended anyone. I have to be very honest on this, after seeing children killed by a family pet, it makes you speak up.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

@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.
Quote: These were first hatch so maybe 4 months, 5 at most. Guinea are like a wild game, so there is no time restrictions.. older is better. I am now hatching any eggs we get going forward, DH was really pleased.

Quote: If you regularly swap.. like monthy its not as big an issue but 30 to 45 days is best for unknown sources. @racinchickins I have no problem just adding his birds here. We both have so many of each others flocks, the gut flora and health is very similar. Same with @wheezy50 @SallyinIndiana and other folks I know from our thread and personal friends too. When you add a bird.. do I know them personally: if no, 30 days quarantine at least. If its a swap meet, show.. seriously 45 days.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Ugh!!! Why??? I swear they just love styrofoam?!?!

Edited to add: this is the work of my lovely Peas!

Every species here think its candy. I am really glad its not harmed anyone. We get stuff thrown along the edge of the road all the time.

Well I shared my story with @jchnny2000 but on Monday while at work something got one of our turkey Tom's. I found the feather trail/pile which was small at that. But according to my neighbor it sounded like it was around noon. I set up a game cam yesterday at that same path and only had about 20 pics of a squirrel a few of my dog and then a coon at about 630 this morning.
Now these guys aren't small...

Coyote or human. A fox isn't taking that big a bird for sure.

On another type of sad side note..my baby is growing up! Rocky is no longer coming to the door of an evening to sleep inside. He has chosen to sleep on the deck railing with the turkeys these last few nights. He sleeps right at the foot of the big plastic owl I have slipped onto a tiki torch. Lol. Probably the best place for him. He's not quite 5 mos. old. Such a stinker!!

I loved that age and miss mine so much. I wish my hill neighbor would have discussed with me before giving my peas away, but thats how it goes.

Can you believe these guys have eaten our habenaro plants almost bare!

yes i can. Anything you really like they will help you eat!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote:
Another restraint that folks don't need. I hope the new electives understand kids want to continue to learn self sustainability.

 

[daskhan]

Fun night with DH! Deck dancing, a bit of homemade beer with Bo Burnham and Allison Krauss! Lol! We're quite diverse!

You know those two? I listen to him all the time lol

 

[ellymayRans]

You know those two? I listen to him all the time lol

Well I have to admit years ago my now 20 year old son introduced me to Bo B. and I loved it. High school party has to be my favorite. Lol! Plz don't judge! Hah! We're fun...swear it! But I am a huge fan of Allison and Norah Jones but on the same note add The Beatles and System of A Down. Just us!

Very diverse. Graduated early 90's and love the good ol' 90's along with the 70's as my parents were very young parents. Way of the world.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Had an owl harassing the Peas on the roof the last few nights...always something around here..but anyway last night and tonight the momma and babies are sleeping on the railing along with Rocky and the turkeys. .first pic is the babe peeking out on the right, as she hides back under mommas wing the "little IBBS boy?" peeks out. So lovely! We're having our Friday "Nightcaps" enjoying the view!

Love him!
Owls are easily scared off and hate humans. be out there one night and they will leave, just "make yourself big" and wave arms yell and scare them.

Does anyone know any good poultry shows in Indiana

http://www.poultryshowcentral.com/

 

[ellymayRans]

I saw that when you posted it, thought it was a very nice coop. I didn't know it was plastic. Yours is allot bigger then the one I am getting, it's just a 4 x 6.  So you didn't have any frost bite or any other weather related problems? Well maybe this wont be the disaster I am afraid of.  

I feed medicated for the first 2 weeks in chicks, then I switch them to non-medicated. My vet says its best to let them build their own immunity to things. The first 2  weeks is just to let them get stronger.  Thats just the way I do it. and 99% of the time it works. 



I know NOTHING about Pea fowl so this is just a question, sorry if it comes off stupid but I have seen and heard others talk about how their Pea Fowl sleep outside. Will they not sleep in a coop or anything? What keeps them from getting killed by predators? Are they just too big nothing wants to mess with them? I have too many stray dogs and Coyotes to leave anything outside at night, my LGD's and the other dogs pretty much keep things away but they come inside, they aren't outside dogs, which gives plenty of opportunity for the bad critters to come to dinner.     

My momma hen has taken her surrogate babe's in the coop when there was bad weather but her babe's were hatched around 7/4 and we haven't seen bad weather here...other than that yes they sleep on the roof tops. Not a stupid question at all. Mine have been very different. Mine have never slept in the tree tops like most others I've read about. We have many high peaks on our house and each has their own "space" there. During storms I would have thought I would see them blowing through the front yard...nope..still there. Really only a Great Horned Owl would do them damage up there. At least the adults. And we have them. Over our years of having them which has only been 3 but none have had any predator issues. They fly..and I mean fly! Trees have too many opportunities due to climbing criters. I'm glad they don't choose them but they seem to be very perceptive and realize what's safe during specific encounters or surroundings. That's my best guess.