INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[iamfivewire]

our latest visitor . . . . . . .

 

[ellymayRans]

our latest visitor . . . . . . .

I've lived here all my life, 15 years in this same home. It was approximately 5 years now that I saw my first Oriole flapping at the dining room window. I had no idea what it was so I looked it up, I've always loved birds and was shocked I'd never seen one before. That same year I saw my first ever red tanager. Funny how that is, now ever since the Orioles come back same time of the year, first of May and stick around about a month or so that I notice and then gone til the next year. I've bought feeders for them specifically but never saw them use them. Saw my first this year last week so they are back. Just beautiful birds.

Thanks for sharing, great pic!

 

[Indyshent]

our latest visitor . . . . . . .

I've only seen one in my life, and only seen two blue birds and two gold finches. My grandma used to have raspberry finches all over, but I haven't seen them in at least fifteen years.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Update:
This afternoon my hen is looking better. When I got home she was in the barn. I offered her a couple pieces of raw ground grass-fed beef and she took them eagerly. Then went into one of the nest boxes. I though she was just going to hide out in there for a good place to keep to herself.

After being in there for about an hour, she produced an egg.

Still sauntering around slowly, but tail is not drooping anymore.

I also put out a little liquid calcium in some kefir but I don't think she got much of it...think the other birds ate most of it.

In the meantime, I put up a gate panel for the EE to give her a 6x6 area for awhile so my "sick" girl can continue to have some non-stressful eating and roosting.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Look at the difference in the lavenders "tree trunks" for legs vs the chocolate there. ?? Just feel like that tail doesn't lie!!??

Wow, he is going to be stunning! Honestly his color is unusual.. possible creme? Can't wait to see him grow up!

Quote: kefir is an excellent idea! And of course the raw meat is a huge boost.

@jchny2000

How are the buckeye "chicken nuggets" doing?

I am so glad we did this, Strong, hardy & healthy babies!!!!, very social chicks. They are climbing all aver my hands when I check food and water. No loses or weakness, and wow do they grow fast.

Change in flock dynamics is the biggest cause of illness I've seen yet. Each will take the stress out differently, with some becoming ill eventually. Wyandottes and turkeys seem to take loss especially hard, but any bird can be visibly stressed by the loss of a flock mate (esp if they had been brooded together). Ones most likely to become grievously ill, however, are birds at the bottom of the pecking order, which can be kept from normal functions by higher ranking members (particularly in the wake of a change in flock dynamics, such as the removal of dominant birds).

I have found if the most dominant hen is removed, dynamics change with in a couple days. Removing the problem birds for 2 weeks, then reintroducing really changes things. Rarely will that hen regain her status. My GLW girls were always dominant. Once I sold that flock, The rest of my birds really came alive. Aggressive birds of either gender just have no place here anymore, aside from a normal pecking order.

OH... and yes, bottom of order.

I'm hoping the penning of the mean EE will help settle things down for this girl and give her time to adjust.

Totally agree with what you are doing.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

our latest visitor . . . . . . .

Goodness, he is stunning! I have never seen one up close.

Update:
This afternoon my hen is looking better. When I got home she was in the barn. I offered her a couple pieces of raw ground grass-fed beef and she took them eagerly. Then went into one of the nest boxes. I though she was just going to hide out in there for a good place to keep to herself.

After being in there for about an hour, she produced an egg.

Still sauntering around slowly, but tail is not drooping anymore.

I also put out a little liquid calcium in some kefir but I don't think she got much of it...think the other birds ate most of it.

In the meantime, I put up a gate panel for the EE to give her a 6x6 area for awhile so my "sick" girl can continue to have some non-stressful eating and roosting.

Wonderful news. Hopefully she will recover quickly.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote: @jchny2000
I put the chicken nuggets right out into the new 6x6 chick-safe pen in the barn. A little more than half of it is housing the bigger sfh chicks and divided off a part for these little kiddos. The Buckeyes have a Premier heat plate. The bigger kiddos have the "home made heating pad brooder".


The older kids likely wouldn't have needed the heat pad at their age (4.5 - 6 weeks) except that the barn pen wasn't finished until Sunday so they've been in about steady 50-65 F. temperatures until I put them out there. So gave them the heat pad when they went out for the cold nights. They don't use it at all during the day.

I really LOVE the heat plates and now the pad. They get their regular day/night cycle...sleep soundly all night long from hatch.

Here are a couple pictures of the older chicks (Swedish Flower Hens) and the heat pad brooder that I took today. I didn't get a lot of photos of the kiddos - was just trying to get a photo of the heat pad setup.


Standing on top of the heat pad brooder.



Here's what the heat pad brooder looks like (poor photo). In the next few days I'll post some photos showing how I made mine.




Do we think this is a boy? This chick is the most friendly and forward of the SFH bunch. Always comes to meet me, on my shoes or in my hand. If I sit down, it jumps right up onto me. If it IS a boy, I hope he keeps his friendly demeanor! If I reach down, it always wants me to pick it up and isn't afraid or stand-offish at all.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: @jchny2000
I put the chicken nuggets right out into the new 6x6 chick-safe pen in the barn. A little more than half of it is housing the bigger sfh chicks and divided off a part for these little kiddos. The Buckeyes have a Premier heat plate. The bigger kiddos have the "home made heating pad brooder".


The older kids likely wouldn't have needed the heat pad at their age (4.5 - 6 weeks) except that the barn pen wasn't finished until Sunday so they've been in about steady 50-65 F. temperatures until I put them out there. So gave them the heat pad when they went out for the cold nights. They don't use it at all during the day.

I really LOVE the heat plates and now the pad. They get their regular day/night cycle...sleep soundly all night long from hatch.

Here are a couple pictures of the older chicks (Swedish Flower Hens) and the heat pad brooder that I took today. I didn't get a lot of photos of the kiddos - was just trying to get a photo of the heat pad setup.


Standing on top of the heat pad brooder.



Here's what the heat pad brooder looks like (poor photo). In the next few days I'll post some photos showing how I made mine.




Do we think this is a boy? This chick is the most friendly and forward of the SFH bunch. Always comes to meet me, on my shoes or in my hand. If I sit down, it jumps right up onto me. If it IS a boy, I hope he keeps his friendly demeanor! If I reach down, it always wants me to pick it up and isn't afraid or stand-offish at all.




Goodness yes, cockerel for sure! He will be stunning, his color and type is promising. Imprinted roos just seem to be easier to manage as an adult. Key thing is other roosters around if possible. If not, just make sure he understands those are your hens and he is just allowed to help watch them!
I like the heat pad idea a lot! I agree, I only have 1 brooder left using a heat lamp. I have it wired down so tight its a pain to change bulbs, but I know its not falling off. My big metal brooder has heat thats mounted to the frame of the top, its been awesome. just clean the tray a couple times a week. I life safe, simple and easy arrangements so I have more time to make sure the babies are human imprinted.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Thanks guys, our group of friends is so supportive and helpful of others. Its good to have friends that understand our birds are pretty special to us all. Loss is so traumatic especially when its a predator. Totally unexpected. Retiring that coop and looked hard at the rest today. repaired anything that was a possible risk.
I had a great day with lots of sun. Ready for all this rain to settle down and see the ground dry out a little. Had a lot of scraps from an uncured ham I am slow roasting overnight.. making a large batch of pulled pork BBQ. I always cook a large amount of a meal, freeze up what we haven't ate in 2 days. Weekdays are so busy it saves me a lot of time for food prep. Gave all my coops a great treat of the fat trimmings etc. and oh my, it was on! Since each flock only gets free range time once a week now, I am supplementing their diet any way we can. Using a lot more mealworms than I normally do in warm weather months.
Had a good evening visiting with our cow neighbor Jack. He stopped in to check on his heifer (Fancy is her actual name) and she wouldn't come to us lol! I brought out some carrots and everyone finally came running. Fanny is mothering her, constantly washing her face and grooming her. Jack said its going very well, better than he had hoped. He has also kept hogs several years. I love to learn from others and he is just a treasure chest of info, wonderful person to know. Jack enjoys sharing and teaching friends what he has learned from experiences.
Chickens are laying like craziness, even with egg sales I have a lot of excess eggs now. will be freezing them soon for winter use. My hogs love eggs, so anytime I am moving one between the boar pen or farrowing house that's how I move them lol. Egg trail and a long stick to guide them where to go.
My peahen has resumed laying, gathering every egg. Mallards have already stopped laying, hopefully will see another batch of eggs before the laying season ends. My first Scovy hatch is an adorable tiny lavender! doing great. Hoping the next hatch coming up will give her some friends. Turkeys are laying every other day, and had a couple Hollands hatch so far.

 

[wheezy50]

I have a small flock of Mille fleur d'uccles up for rehoming. I got them from TSC back in February, putting them at almost 3 months old. One cockerel and 3 pullets. I haven't been able to take pictures yet but if anyone here is interested in them send me a PM.