INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[twoacrefarm]

I'm looking forward to catching up on the posts I've missed this past week! I better get to bed so I can play with my new babies in the morning!

OMG! your daughter is doing awesome with Bubbles and Trouble! I loved the video! Thanks for sharing!

 

[ellymayRans]

Do PeaFowl need a lot of room? How do they fair free ranging where there might be predators? We live on one acre surrounded by 200 that is commercially farmed. I have lots of trees they can roost in but my coop is not big enough to accomodate one.

It really varies. I have only 1 acre and live in a cul de sac rural small neighborhood. I'm surrounded by woods. All of my birds, turkey, ducks, chickens, guineas and peas all free range. None of them "leave". Now I have had them venture to the neighbors on very rare occasions. I did put a 6 ft welded wire fencing through the backyard tree line because the neighbor on the other side (8 acres) feeds strays and my birds love cat food so it was too enticing for them once one figured it out they all were going for an afternoon snack. The fence stopped that.

My experience is mine wouldn't sleep in a coop. I did get the male at a few years old and had a female first. I trained him for about a month and then used her as bait to keep him around and that's been a few years now.

If you get them young. At least under 4 months of age and work with them for a month or so diligently with treats, etc. I believe they will stick around as long as they aren't alone a lot and aren't "neglected" with human interaction. Also make to female ratio needs to be preferably 3 hens to 1 cock. As for pen space they recommend 100 sq. ft. per bird. Because of the males train that space should have a width of 10ft and height of 6ft. With some form of shelter. It could be as simple as a lean to like for goats etc. oh and they are very loud for almost 3 months straight with random loudness the rest of the year! Lol!

I think it helps here that the mature trees and underbrush are so thick around us that it serves somewhat like a fence. I think open landscape is an open invitation to explore and therefore some either may get lost, wander too far and/or get spooked and just keep going.

It's a gamble for sure if you choose to free range them. I work from home 3 days a week so there's almost always someone here. I constantly throw out treats and if my male wanders I realize it pretty quickly and he will come running when called as he knows that I've got something for him. I have (1) 4 year old male, (1) 3 year old hen, (3) young males 1 is 2 yrs and the other 2 are 1 year. I had 2 other females and 1 killed by an owl, the other died after getting her head stuck in some fencing. It's a horrible ratio. But 2 my hen raised and the other I hand raised. So they do not wander at all. Now when they start getting mature at 3 ish I may have a problem. I will probably be selling my hand raised and my hens black shoulder boy by then. My 2 yr old male is a white. I would like to get him a white hen. The 2 I got as babes both ended up males of course so I sold the other.

Now the new chicks. I haven't a clue of their sex. Obviously hoping for all girls!!

I hope that answered some questions for you.

 

[Leahs Mom]

The heat finally arrived today up here in my part of the state. Just sitting outside I'm soaking wet.

Birds seem to be doing well. Have 2 wading/drinking pans out with the main flock and a pan and waterer with the 11 week olds.

 

[MikeTodd]

Enjoying the first fruits of our labor! The pickle factory is open! Today we are canning Garlic Dill Pickle spears and Bread N Butter pickles!

 

[Crafty chick]

Miketodd- we made 47 quarts of garlic dill pickles a couple years ago. I'll be ready in a couple days to start again! Very Worth the Work!

 

[Mother2Hens]

OMG! your daughter is doing awesome with Bubbles and Trouble! I loved the video! Thanks for sharing!

You probably meant to say that to @Faraday40

I compiled this from several online sources as well as from our members' tips (that I can recall at this time!)
Keeping Your Chickens Cool Unlike humans, chickens don’t sweat, but like humans they depend on evaporation to stay cool – by panting. As they pant, moisture within the chickens’ lungs evaporates and is moved out of their bodies. This is also why it’s harder for them, like us, to stay cool when it’s humid.
The best way to know if your chickens are getting too hot is to watch their behavior. Are they panting? Are they hanging their wings out a little distance a way from their bodies? These are early signs that they’re having to work harder to stay cool. If they’ve become listless or their breathing has become labored, then they’re experiencing heat stress – that’s harmful to them. Hens that aren’t able to stay cool enough will slow and stop their laying, and chickens that get too hot or stay hot for too long can die from heat stress.
Put water in a shaded area. Keep it cool by adding frozen plastic bottles of water. Chickens will drink more water if it's cool.
Put a frozen gallon jug of water in front of a fan.
Provide shade for your chickens if you don't have trees, shrubs, etc. Outdoor furniture and umbrellas are beginning to go on summer clearance! Check out solar canopies and shade tarps that reflect the sun. It's a good time to find FANS on sale. They use little electricity, and a breeze under the wings can make a big difference.
Use a hose to spray a shaded dust bath area.
Make a wading pool using a baking dish, etc. (thanks, @Leahs Mom !)
Make sure your coop doesn't crowd your chickens and that there is plenty of ventilation. Put an inexpensive thermometer inside.
This link has some interesting info that I had not heard before—like not giving your chickens vinegar water and extra treats (some exceptions) during severe heat. There's also an electrolyte recipe and emergency directions for an overheated chicken.The Chicken Chick: Chicken Heat Stress, Dehydration and ...

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Someone dropped a kitten off at the end of our driveway 2 days ago.... we live on a U.S. highway. It didn't have a chance, it probably got scared and ran the wrong way. Thanks people, my kids get to see a decapitated kitten everytime we leave or come home. They probably saw we had kids and animals, and figured it would be a good home. We would have gladly taken it, if it hadn't gotten hit.

It makes me so angry! After animal control, it was years before I even wanted a kitten again, I saw so many needlessly put to sleep. Now if I do take one in, its a stray. And it WILL be neutered! I am terribly sorry your children had to see that tragedy.

The heat finally arrived today up here in my part of the state. Just sitting outside I'm soaking wet.

Birds seem to be doing well. Have 2 wading/drinking pans out with the main flock and a pan and waterer with the 11 week olds.

Its horrible. I have hosed the hogs down several times today, and the other livestock. Goats hate it but its better than heatstroke! My big sow doublestuff is due in 2 weeks, I feel awful for her! Had a Lavender orp showing signs of heatstoke today, got her cooled down and she is much better.

 

[HelloChickies]

Hello @ellymayRans , you are living my Peafowl Dream!

I'm hoping I can get set up for a few birds in the next year or so!!
I couldn't free range them because of predators.... so if I had a run that was 6 feet high and about 15x30, a male and 2 hens would be happy? You say they don't go indoors, so if they had a nice lean-to like you describe, they're OK in our Indiana winters? I was wondering about that, because I don't have a barn. Your post got me excited again. lol

 

[ellymayRans]

Hello  @ellymayRans
, you are living my Peafowl Dream!    I'm hoping I can get set up for a few birds in the next year or so!!
I couldn't free range them because of predators.... so if I had a run that was 6 feet high and about 15x30, a male and 2 hens would be happy?  You say they don't go indoors, so if they had a nice lean-to like you describe, they're OK in our Indiana winters?  I was wondering about that, because I don't have a barn.  Your post got me excited again. lol 

Mine sleep on our roof all the time..winter, 8 inches of snow -20 degrees, bad storms when i thought I'd be seeing peas flying off of the roof! These are the India Blue varieties of course. They come in so many colors! The greens would not without sufficient heat and shelter.

The demensions sound good, it would need to have a top as peas would just fly out otherwise.

Putting a high roost in the lean to is also a must and they will love it! Let me know when you're in the market, i may be able to hook you up.

 

[Faraday40]

DD wanted to make a crayon melt for an art project. She thought it looked like a crying rainbow - which then reminded her of the "Rainbow Bridge" poem. So she turned her canvas into a memorial for our beloved Cuddles. I still miss my sweet Cuddles, but I'm proud of my compassionate little artist. I doubt the judges will understand, but I know some people on this thread will.