INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Finnie]

I would be interested to see how your rose comb red dorkings work out for you in the next couple of years. I decided to try my hand at some Redcaps (from MMH). Probably a dumb idea because everything I can find about them is all doom and gloom. But one place suggested crossing them with rose comb red dorkings and then breeding them back to redcap type. If I can even keep a flock going in my limited setup.

(Hope the @ thing works. My phone will only let me type before it, not after it.

)

@racinchickins

 

[pginsber]

Still missing our hen Peanut.

I put a gamecam on the coopyard and saw nothing of interest trying to get in, but there was this:

 

[racinchickins]

@racinchickins

Do you process extra cockerels? At what age?

I usually try to do it around 20 weeks. They seem to be all bone and not much meat before then.

I would be interested to see how your rose comb red dorkings work out for you in the next couple of years. I decided to try my hand at some Redcaps (from MMH). Probably a dumb idea because everything I can find about them is all doom and gloom. But one place suggested crossing them with rose comb red dorkings and then breeding them back to redcap type. If I can even keep a flock going in my limited setup.

(Hope the @ thing works. My phone will only let me type before it, not after it.

)

@racinchickins

They are actually a project for me too. I plan to breed them with my Cream Legbars to try to get a rose comb version of the legbar. The single combs just don't do as well in the winter, and I'm hoping it will help make them a little more winter hardy.

 

[Greenthumb83]

We have cockerels that are 15 weeks now and was wondering what to feed them as they finish up. I have read to boost protein and I have also read some use only scratch the last couple weeks. I can see how both could work...but they are totally opposite lol. They will be going in the tractor in the next week or two, so I will be able to change their food without it affecting the other chickens.

 

[Finnie]

[@=/u/207045/racinchickins]@racinchickins[/@][/quote]
They are actually a project for me too.  I plan to breed them with my Cream Legbars to try to get a rose comb version of the legbar.  The single combs just don't do as well in the winter, and I'm hoping it will help make them a little more winter hardy.  
[/quote]

That sounds like a great idea. Are you going to post them on the Cream Legbar Hybrid thread? I bet the intermediary birds will be beautiful. Did I tell you about Westley grating his comb off on the bird netting last winter? It wasn't frostbit, but apparently it was cold and stiff enough to just shred off like cheese! Thankfully it didn't bleed and it healed well. Single combs are a definite worry in the winter.

 

[tmctlt]

For anyone in or around the Avon area that would like a few cockerels from @jcnhy2000's stock I have (2) Easter Egger's and (1) Lavender Splash Sumatra and (1) White Leghorn from @racinchickens stock. We are not planning on breeding in the near future so we just don't want / need roosters. Let me know if interested and I'll send some pics via text ALL are very nice looking young roos

Paul

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote: I don't know if there will be enough meat on the SFH at 20 weeks. They are a pretty light bird. Boys are 15 weeks now and pretty light. I'll see.

Are you able to use them for anything besides soup at that age?

 

[Faraday40]

a TARDIS chicken coop!
Is it bigger on the inside? If so, that's exactly what I need!

 

[tmarsh83]

2016 is a dumpster fire.

But my first "little" laid the last two days. MMH Marans. First egg at 16 weeks 6 days. Second egg much more uniform.

And my Cochin roo, biggy, covering hens and finally crowing some. Handsome fella.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Another busy week, lots of good progress on several projects. Working with a neighbor for a month now on new poultry housing. After finally installing electric fencing and a large pasture, I am seeing huge improvement on predator issues. Next project is fencing and adding another layer of hot wire around the coops. We hope to have at least 3 acres of pasture by fall for open grazing. Setting up paddocks to allow our land to reseed and grow. My birds already comingling with the livestock, win/win all around. Chickens are still laying very well! Having the goats and donkey able to be on pasture around my coops is a huge improvement too. The guineas love keeping flies off Daisy, the cows and my goats, its too funny to watch.

@Indyshent

I had1 more vet to chat with over Fanny's options. Called for another opinion before I let her go. My sister and another good friend gave me the vets info. I have someone lined up for a cow/calf swap. This vet also tells me the same options she has been given already. That makes 5 vets and 3 cow neighbors I have discussed her options with. Read a ton of homestead forums and blogs. I just can't prolong this, my heart is already broken over her situation as is. I have let my emotions postpone things too long already. I owed it to her to make a careful decision based on several opinions. I also had to know there is no possible chance she can be helped to live a long life.

First time disbudding our goat kids Saturday. Big thanks to @jsummers and her DH for helping with this, its not for faint of heart, for sure. I am pretty tough on such things and it was hard for me. Its a safer option for keeping them for the owner, and prevents heads stuck in a fence! Horns can harm other livestock too, seen it myself. Our plans are to add a new buck next year, and the bucks will pasture with Moose our bull. My adult goat buck, Bocephus has massive horns, very sharp edges from his scraping trees. He is mostly social unless he is in rut. Those horns tell me I have to disbud any future goat stock I keep.
Off to catch up on our thread!