INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[daskhan]

How do you get each breed to stick with their breed I have a few breeds together and they don't give a **** who they are next to , all to young to mate but I fear my pure bred rare breeds will be making mixes in the future
I've heard that a lot of members breeds stick together so to speak

 

[Indyshent]

How do you get each breed to stick with their breed I have a few breeds together and they don't give a **** who they are next to , all to young to mate but I fear my pure bred rare breeds will be making mixes in the future
I've heard that a lot of members breeds stick together so to speak

In the wise words of The Offspring, "You have to keep 'em separated." You will get mixed breeds; it's inevitable. Make separate pens and stick 'em in there when you feel like hatching eggs. You'll want to wait three weeks or so to hatch any eggs because the little wigglies keep pretty well once they get in a hen.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

How do you get each breed to stick with their breed I have a few breeds together and they don't give a **** who they are next to , all to young to mate but I fear my pure bred rare breeds will be making mixes in the future
I've heard that a lot of members breeds stick together so to speak

I think the old saying you are looking for is birds of a feather flock together. For the most part I have fount that works true for species not breeds. So ducks like to be with the ducks while turkeys really prefer the turkeys and chickens like chickens regardless of size. If you are wanting pure breeds you will need at least one breeding pen for each breed, a layer pen for the backup hens and a pen for the back up roosters. If you have plenty of hens you might be able to combine the backup pens into one pen but you will need 6-8 hens for each rooster.
Then if some of your breeds are blue feathered you may want more than one breeding pen to influence the percent of blue and splash offspring.

Becoming a breeder is not cheap. It takes time, effort, space, and money. Also lots of planning. I really recommend you search on this site for various breeding pen setups that you like and can make. Once you know how many pens you can fit on your property then consider the breeds you want and get the best stock you can find. Show quality and healthy. I would not recommend grabbing up craigslist chickens then trying to think of how you can pen them and get your hatchery going. The bulk of your money that gets put into starting a hatchery will be for the various coops, the incubator, and the hatcher. The birds individually are going to be the cheaper part of the business in the long run. Get them slowly. start off with 2 breeds and make sure you can breed them to standard or it will be a waste of money to buy the rare birds.

 

[browncow15]

for the feathers, check for lice, the birds will pull out their own feathers if lice are bothering them.  Its getting to that time of year that there is not as much dry dusty area.  And roosters here tend to be the first to slack on their dust bathing. 

Thanks! I looked them over cause it's been awhile but not the issue

Thanks, we have been at it a few years now. There are many members that are good friends, and this is my "extended family"!


With both things, feathers and egg eating happening I feel like its a protein issue. A good temporary boost would be raw liver, or even chick food. I see this happening every fall, early winter in some of the older birds especially.

Wow no kidding! I am sure liking steel toes now, cows are heavy!
I see that in the roosters too. They are more concerned about standing guard over the hens while they dust bathe. The better roosters as far as flock guardians seem to be most prone to leg mites and feather mites. I have an old truck cap I keep in the main coop run, add sevin dust to it on a regular basis. its really helped prevent mites here. Thats saying a lot considering they have 5 acres to free range and exposure to wild birds.

I have some beef liver I'll see if that helps. They are on an 18% all flock feed, but I do have some older birds too. It must have been you I got the truck topper idea from! I put one out in their run for shade originally but it's making a nice rain shelter today!

Slightly off topic but I have 1/2 a beef not claimed that we are processing in January. If anyone is interested in buying freezer beef PM me for more details!

 

[amwchickin]

@jchny2000 you asked about which breeds I'll be keeping after the move:

I have some EE's, Wyandottes, Welsummers, Mille Fleurs, RIR, a Barred Rock, Sumatras, Ayam Cemanis, and a small variety of roosters I am taking with me, along with some Birchen Marans and Sulmtaler chicks I got from @Brat_Flock this weekend (moment of weakness).

My parents (who started the whole chicken thing, but I took over and got #crazychickenlady with...) asked if I was going to leave any at their place. I chuckled and had a Ha! I knew it, you do love them! moment and figured out which ones I could part with.

I have decided to leave them the leghorn girls (because my dad prefers white eggs, even though I have explained the whole color doesn't matter thing) and a few roosters that I don't want to get rid of, but don't want to take with me either.

I am leaving Chewy, the Black Cochin Roo I got from @ChickCrazed a couple years ago. He is like a puppy...literally hanging out with the dogs for protection. The poor boy doesn't have a mean bone in his body and the surplus of roosters I have had lately has been tough on him. My mom has fallen in love with him and he gets special treats and gets to go in the garage a lot to hang out while we're in there working.

All in all, I have around 40 birds that will be having a big change in the next week!

As for what I am hoping to acquire after the move: more Leghorns, Swedish Flower, Lavender Orpington, more Marans, Cream Legbars, and there are many more on the Bucket List! And then hopefully more turkeys and maybe some peafowl...

ETA: What I am most excited about is that I will be able to have my dog/child live with me. She was mine since the day she was born, but I couldn't have her in my apartment. For the last 2 years I have had to look in her sad eyes as I left to back to my home and she stayed with my parents. I can't wait to let her snuggle with me every night!!!

 

[ChickCrazed]

@jchny2000 you asked about which breeds I'll be keeping after the move:

I have some EE's, Wyandottes, Welsummers, Mille Fleurs, RIR, a Barred Rock, Sumatras, Ayam Cemanis, and a small variety of roosters I am taking with me, along with some Birchen Marans and Sulmtaler chicks I got from @Brat_Flock this weekend (moment of weakness).

My parents (who started the whole chicken thing, but I took over and got #crazychickenlady with...) asked if I was going to leave any at their place. I chuckled and had a Ha! I knew it, you do love them! moment and figured out which ones I could part with.

I have decided to leave them the leghorn girls (because my dad prefers white eggs, even though I have explained the whole color doesn't matter thing) and a few roosters that I don't want to get rid of, but don't want to take with me either.

I am leaving Chewy, the Black Cochin Roo I got from @ChickCrazed a couple years ago. He is like a puppy...literally hanging out with the dogs for protection. The poor boy doesn't have a mean bone in his body and the surplus of roosters I have had lately has been tough on him. My mom has fallen in love with him and he gets special treats and gets to go in the garage a lot to hang out while we're in there working.

All in all, I have around 40 birds that will be having a big change in the next week!

As for what I am hoping to acquire after the move: more Leghorns, Swedish Flower, Lavender Orpington, more Marans, Cream Legbars, and there are many more on the Bucket List! And then hopefully more turkeys and maybe some peafowl...

ETA: What I am most excited about is that I will be able to have my dog/child live with me. She was mine since the day she was born, but I couldn't have her in my apartment. For the last 2 years I have had to look in her sad eyes as I left to back to my home and she stayed with my parents. I can't wait to let her snuggle with me every night!!!

Yay Chewy!!! He is the bomb with his junk in the trunk and his wookie noises. He can always come back and live with me!

 

[amwchickin]

@ChickCrazed Chewy is such a joy! When I drop scratch for him, he gets all worked up with his wookie noises! Although, anymore, he prefers to be hand fed....

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I have 2 lionhead does for sale about 12 weeks old.$25 each. Non pedigreed but come with papers and ear tattoos. They are broken blues. Please email [email protected] for faster response.

I love how sweet and social your rabbits are.

Well now that I'm all caught up.... lol
We worked on the shed coop Sunday from 9 am till 1 am trying to get it all done before this rain hit, Have I mentioned ( never again!! ) , We only stopped 1 time to eat at about 5, and then right after we fed the critters and then right back to work. We had 3 work lights going ( our neighbors just loved us I know.. lol ) BUT we didn't get it done, neither one of us could go on... we were just too wore out and sore and had brain trauma from all the confusing instructions!!!! So with only the roof and the doors remaining... we stopped and tarped it off so the rain wouldn't get the inside wet, and went to bed for 2 hours before DH had to get up and go into work.

We both have decided that we are too old for this late night working stuff!!!!
Then yesterday DSS came to help clean the garage and driveway area, we had a roll off brought in, we thought 1 would do it, but NOOOO we need another!!! I am so wore out, I was in bed asleep t 8 pm last night, and that aint me at all... I sitting here right now at 7:49 am ready to go BACK to bed!!
Today I can relax, tomorrow the 2nd roll off will be here and back to work I go. Had no ideal we have collected so much JUNK over the past years.
Having to last of the hay we " think " we will need for winter delivered this week first day it's not raining..?? My coops are ready, The shed coop being the last.

My LaMancha doe lost her baby and we are having a heck of a time keeping her away from our billy. We didn't want her bread anyway so ...

Also tomorrow I have to take my 2 female dogs in to have them fixed at 8 am and pick them up at 5 pm. Will be another day I'm ready to fall down tired.

Am so sorry to hear your doe lost the kid. I hear ya, I have started working on winterizing, and downsizing here. Put 8 more roosters in freezer today.

Quote: Wow, sounds good! I am getting hit and miss on eggs now.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

@jchny2000 you asked about which breeds I'll be keeping after the move:

I have some EE's, Wyandottes, Welsummers, Mille Fleurs, RIR, a Barred Rock, Sumatras, Ayam Cemanis, and a small variety of roosters I am taking with me, along with some Birchen Marans and Sulmtaler chicks I got from @Brat_Flock this weekend (moment of weakness).

My parents (who started the whole chicken thing, but I took over and got #crazychickenlady with...) asked if I was going to leave any at their place. I chuckled and had a Ha! I knew it, you do love them! moment and figured out which ones I could part with.

I have decided to leave them the leghorn girls (because my dad prefers white eggs, even though I have explained the whole color doesn't matter thing) and a few roosters that I don't want to get rid of, but don't want to take with me either.

I am leaving Chewy, the Black Cochin Roo I got from @ChickCrazed a couple years ago. He is like a puppy...literally hanging out with the dogs for protection. The poor boy doesn't have a mean bone in his body and the surplus of roosters I have had lately has been tough on him. My mom has fallen in love with him and he gets special treats and gets to go in the garage a lot to hang out while we're in there working.

All in all, I have around 40 birds that will be having a big change in the next week!

As for what I am hoping to acquire after the move: more Leghorns, Swedish Flower, Lavender Orpington, more Marans, Cream Legbars, and there are many more on the Bucket List! And then hopefully more turkeys and maybe some peafowl...

ETA: What I am most excited about is that I will be able to have my dog/child live with me. She was mine since the day she was born, but I couldn't have her in my apartment. For the last 2 years I have had to look in her sad eyes as I left to back to my home and she stayed with my parents. I can't wait to let her snuggle with me every night!!!

Thats so good to hear! You will love turkeys, and peas are a lot like turkeys just prettier. They do have a pretty loud call they make so hopefully minimal neighbors, or neighbors that are ok with them. I love your bucket list. I plan to add more leghorn next year, they are awesome layers. Golden comets lay very well too.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I am flat wupped from the last few days. Getting lots of things done towards winter. Have another load of hay coming Thursday, and that will be it until spring. Have more coops built and bought a few so I can get more of my breeds separated.
I will have 2 "feeder pigs" for sale if anyone is looking, PM for price. Both are Yorkshire barrows. (neutered males, Yorks grow fast). Around 35 pounds.
Downsizing, so if anyone needs Muscovy drakes, please PM also. 2 extra Rouen drakes, 1 Silver Appleyard drake. Have at least 1 EE rooster super cheap to who needs one, both muffed and bearded, feather legged due to the dad being a BCM. He may produce olive egger chicks. Several Sumatra roosters, BLRW roos and heritage RIR roos.