INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Brat Flock]

Again, appreciate all the feedback everybody.

The cool thing about livestock is there are so many choices everyone can find something they like. A niche. For me, the bantams and silkies don't scratch an itch. Appreciate them, but not what I picture when I close my eyes and picture birds in my yard.

I'm still in phase one. Production mode. Just learning the craft. As a hunter it equates to just filling your tags. I can certainly see after a few years wanting to move onto phase two, focusing on a breed and working on an improvement plan. Or a more mature approach to hunting, going after specific animals.

Every addiction has its phases. I'm enjoying this chicken math entry phase quite a bit.

I went through phase one rather quickly. All the way to having birds shipped from all over. I have Sulmtaler chicks that just arrived and have had, during the last year, no less than 20 breeds. I have settled into Black Copper Marans, Araucanas, Cream Legbars, Bielefelders. I have some Sulmtalers if you would like some chicks. They are straight from Greenfire.

 

[tmarsh83]

I went through phase one rather quickly. All the way to having birds shipped from all over. I have Sulmtaler chicks that just arrived and have had, during the last year, no less than 20 breeds. I have settled into Black Copper Marans, Araucanas, Cream Legbars, Bielefelders. I have some Sulmtalers if you would like some chicks. They are straight from Greenfire.

I've got to get the new coop built before I'm ready to add anything. Going into my trade show season for work as well so I'm not ready to take anything on quite yet. Are you in NEIN?

 

[Brat Flock]

I've got to get the new coop built before I'm ready to add anything. Going into my trade show season for work as well so I'm not ready to take anything on quite yet. Are you in NEIN?

I am in southern Indiana.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: Its been about a year ago now, early fall. These little hawks are so aggressive! After that incident I decided it just wasn't safe for bantams here. I just adored the silkies, d'uccles and the game bantams, but can't stand seeing them locked in a cage all day either.

We have decided to get our numbers down before winter. We're not a farm, so if my DD decides to hatch in spring, then we must get rid of some chickens in the fall.
We're across the border in IL - near Chicago.

We have a loving, hardy, strong layer available. "Honey" is definitely a spoiled "pet" Comes when called & will cuddle if you pick her up. She's a mix (or hybrid) & just under 2 years old.


We also have 2 Bielefelder pullets available. Hatched April 12, 2015 and already laying.
I'd love for them to go to a home with a handsome Biele roo, but any loving home is welcome.



PM me if interested in prices or want more details.

Lovely!

Just want to talk a couple things out with people that know far more than me and can point out the error of my ways...

New coop design is almost complete (will share when drawings are finalized so you can tell me what I'm forgetting), and I have been researching quite a bit exactly what birds I want to add in the spring as I grow the flock. I want dual purpose birds, as once the ladies have moved beyond their use as layers I plan to pressure can them, so I'm looking at the heavier breeds. I like the idea of a mixed flock at this point. Not planning any breeding or hatching, just a nice mix of birds for laying. I'm semi-collaborating with my neighbor (who supplied my starter birds this year) on planning our spring order of chicks. He gets his chicks every spring from Murray McMurray and has had extremely good luck with healthy, productive birds.

At current I have the leghorn and ancona.

My short list is:
Cuckoo Maran
Delaware
Australorp

Also considering:
New Hampshire
Sussex
GLW

Anybody see something glaring where I've missed the boat with my choices/thinking?

I really love the Orpingtons! Good layers, great personalities. Lots of gorgeous colors. Even the roosters are very social.
GLW-Be very selective, I kept GLW 2 years. Hens were stinkers, roosters always wound up human aggressive. I finally got fed up and rehomed them, and my entire flock demeanor changed overnight.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

My Heritage RIR hens have as much meat as a hatchery RIR rooster if not more.
But Indy makes a good point most hens from a hatchery just are not going to have enough meat to be worth the hassle of processing. And that will leave you with birds to put down at some point. What I recommend doing is getting to the connersville show if possible or any other show that is close to you. you won't believe your eyes at how big the heritage buff orphington chickens get. There will be other large breeds there too. Pick one or two of those breeds you like and talk with their owners about getting some chicks or even started pullets. Because honestly if you are not breeding them, started pullets don't cost that much more than heating and feeding a set of straight run chicks. Now if you want to keep the breeds pure buying a good show quality rooster can be pricey.

I was really impressed with the Buff Orp roos you raised, nice meaty birds. Plucked really easy by hand.

 

[tmarsh83]

I've pretty much heard negative about wyandottes from all but one person I've talked to about them.

Off the list with thee!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I've pretty much heard negative about wyandottes from all but one person I've talked to about them.

Off the list with thee!

@SallyinIndiana has a nice line of BLRW, friendly roosters. She could give you more info on them. I suspect they are likely a breeder and not a hatchery line.

 

[CharlemagneRoost]

Again, appreciate all the feedback everybody.

The cool thing about livestock is there are so many choices everyone can find something they like. A niche. For me, the bantams and silkies don't scratch an itch. Appreciate them, but not what I picture when I close my eyes and picture birds in my yard.

I'm still in phase one. Production mode. Just learning the craft. As a hunter it equates to just filling your tags. I can certainly see after a few years wanting to move onto phase two, focusing on a breed and working on an improvement plan. Or a more mature approach to hunting, going after specific animals.

Every addiction has its phases. I'm enjoying this chicken math entry phase quite a bit.

I am in NEIN - went to the recent Lebanon show and had to explain to everyone what I had for sale: Cemani, fibro phoenix, fly tie fowl, and barred phoenix. I am selling out of the Cemani to concentrate on fibro Phoenix and Ohiki. Still have my pair of barred phoenix and a pair of fly tie available.

 

[CharlemagneRoost]

Wish I could have a chance to buy before the culling began

I will send you a PM with info on what I have left.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote: I have posted a couple ads on craigslist and I have a facebook farming page. However I don't have a web page. I keep telling people that the chickens are a hobby so I don't want to put too much non chicken time into it. And right now I have just the right amount of business per year. Well maybe i could have used a few more rooster customers but I'm basically where I want to be at for the winter for roosters with the exception of a few that were hiding when I rounded up the free rangers to sell off as chicken dinners. I still have some pullets left but nothing like the number I started out with this spring.

Quote: I have gotten my BLRW chickens from Brad who got them from 2 different breeders at 2 different times. I crossed the lines and let be whatever happened. I like the breed but I'm not really breeding them to standard. I just pick my largest favorites friendliest ones for the past two seasons and breed those. The first breeding season I only had the one hen so there was not much of an option. Its been my slowest breed to take off just because I started with only one hen and she went broody that first season too.
Now my HRIR those I'm trying to get close to the standard.