INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Just a head's up, y'all: Highly Pathogenic H5N2 Avian Influenza found in a wild mallard in Alaska. Not terribly close by, obviously, but worth being aware of. Be careful with flock biosecurity this fall as the wild birds start migrating through!

We've been keeping a record of every egg laid by each hen for the past 4 years. She never did anything with it other than record keeping. She's thinking about doing something with egg productivity - like playing music in the coop or adding artificial lights. Of course she really wants to hatch silkies, so I'm guessing she'll come up with a reason why I'll need to buy some silkie eggs next spring. Meanwhile, DS talked his Cloverbud friends into doing Embyrology. Here is their group project:

Very cool! I love the embryology project, too! Now, you aren't going to deprive your daughter of the materials she needs (AKA Silkie hatching eggs) for her future projects, are you?

 

[Crafty chick]

Oh my, i just typed a whole 4 paragraphs and it deleted it! Anyway, the storms somehow missed our place. My dad saw the tornado that was NE of ft. Wayne. Seems like he and my brother saw several funnel clouds too. My brother is near wabash. I had throw our girls in the barn so i wouldnt have to worry about them that morning. I was at an ENT appt in south end of ft. Wayne when all of the bad weather hit. I had all 3 of our kids with me, and hoped it wouldnt hit there. My husband kept texting me to come home and telling me where the tornadoes were.
So the days it rains i leave my girls penned in a chicken tractor that i move around the yard, but on nice days i let them free range. Well, they have found my tomatoes.... even before i knew they were ripe! I guess they will be penned up til the harvest is done.
I aquired a china hutch that the glass shelves had broken. I made it into an aviary for our parakeet, Kiwi. Then... much like chicken math, we just had to get her a little buddy. She's much happier.

 

[Faraday40]

Very cool! I love the embryology project, too! Now, you aren't going to deprive your daughter of the materials she needs (AKA Silkie hatching eggs) for her future projects, are you?

It happens every year! LOL How do you think she got a Sebright?

When people came by to see her project at county & at state, several asked what plans she has for next year's project. She made a point to mention that she's thinking of doing a project with Silkies. (In other words, she putting feelers out to see who owns Silkies.) That way when I tell her that we don't want to waste $ on shipped eggs, she can come back with local egg sources.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: I considered the lexan, I wonder how it would hold up.

Stock tanks have a drain plug on the lowest point on the side. It will also accept an "in tank" heater in the drain hole. I drain my tanks about once a week, less in the winter. Some folks actually keep goldfish in them for algae and mosquito control. We have a frost free hydrant between the barn and the house. Its a pain with allll the water hose to get to the far ends of the property. Eventually will install 2 more.

@jchny2000
I bought some clear vinyl sheeting (feels like a heavy duty shower curtain). Then we made wooden frames of the sizes we needed. We stretched & stapled the vinyl to the frames & now have crystal clear storm windows to use every year. (Just use screws to put them up.)
You can see how the run's top lattice does not have storm windows


I bought the vinyl sheeting at Walmart in the sewing section. They had some folded in packages for about $8-10. Mine looked like this but the blue was a gold color (thickest variety) We may have bought much stronger than needed, though. The windows have been reused for 3 winters with a 4th on the way. Anyway, it's much cheaper than plexiglass but just as clear. The biggest problem is where to store the frames over the summer.

I do like the idea! Storage is no issue, so I may look into this more.

@jchny2000 - you had mentioned that tarps are too dark to put on your coop walls & restrict light - what about white tarps? They might be a little more translucent than the color ones. Menards store has them (you might have to order them tho - they aren't always in stock in the store like the typical blue ones. We ziptie tarps around our kennel runs for winter - I like to use tan ones - they are are less "tacky" color to look at, although the chickens prob could care less if they are tan, blue, green, or ??)

Going to look at that also! White would be great. I just want them to be able to have some natural light. Being able to see out will help prevent boredom, thats important too.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@jchny2000
Specifically what stock tank do you have that has the drains? Can you get them at Tractor Supply/Rural King?

Also...
Always wondered how you keep a chicken from jumping up on them and falling in by mistake.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

@jchny2000
Specifically what stock tank do you have that has the drains? Can you get them at Tractor Supply/Rural King?

Also...
Always wondered how you keep a chicken from jumping up on them and falling in by mistake.

Here is the type I have:
http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pr...oam-stock-tanks-100-gal-capacity?cm_vc=-10005
When I still had free range chickens, it had happened once with these tanks, and once with the pigs' water container. The hogs have a 55 gallon barrel cut in half. I really have no idea how you would prevent it. Now, my chickens don't free range unless supervised.

 

[redring]

oh! those are very nice chickens! I was just offered some purebred Ayam Cemani and also Svart Hona. Unfortunately for her they got mixed together. I am looking for eggs though and neither breed as cool as they are lay well. I am not ready for breeding yet and unsure I will be into breeding later. Otherwise awesome deal. She told me to name any price. When I looked up the breeds I was shocked at their value. I didn't know chickens were so collecter pieces. Ive been thinking mainly utilitarian. I want happy chickens but useful chickens. On that note. for the breeders, how do you handle breeding several breeds? Can you keep a pen of roosters? Do you pair them into their own pen? I see people talking about mixing breeds so I suppose you have to have the same roo as hen to get a specific breed. Really kinda lost of specifics. ...... and what are side springs? As always thanks all!


oh yah. I had more questions. Ive seen people talking about laying sand on the coop floor. Anyone have pros and cons for this?

 

[Greenthumb83]

Gift from my DH. Love it! <3

 

[Faraday40]

oh! those are very nice chickens! I was just offered some purebred Ayam Cemani and also Svart Hona. Unfortunately for her they got mixed together. I am looking for eggs though and neither breed as cool as they are lay well. I am not ready for breeding yet and unsure I will be into breeding later. Otherwise awesome deal. She told me to name any price. When I looked up the breeds I was shocked at their value. I didn't know chickens were so collecter pieces. Ive been thinking mainly utilitarian. I want happy chickens but useful chickens. On that note. for the breeders, how do you handle breeding several breeds? Can you keep a pen of roosters? Do you pair them into their own pen? I see people talking about mixing breeds so I suppose you have to have the same roo as hen to get a specific breed. Really kinda lost of specifics. ...... and what are side springs? As always thanks all!


oh yah. I had more questions. Ive seen people talking about laying sand on the coop floor. Anyone have pros and cons for this?

If you're just starting out & want great tasting eggs, any common breed or even barnyard mixes will do well. Part of the fun is researching breeds to see which ones will fit your purpose. Most people start out with a mixed flock to see which they like best. (I'll put in a plug for Orpingtons if you want a big, extra fluffy, friendly chicken. Not the best for production, but we're in love with the breed) We have sand (construction grade) in our runs & coop. I like how it is easily cleaned using a kitty litter scooper & stays dry. I spend a few min cleaning it daily & avoid the weekly changing of the litter. I don't know how well sand would work on a large scale (like 20+ chickens), but for us it's great. I dump my chicken manure into our turning composter & am always in search of dried grass & shavings to add. Several people use mulch as a cheap, natural bedding. A benefit of that is that the chickens turn it, so when you remove the bottom layers = instant garden compost.

Sprig = a bump on the side of a comb; it's considered a flaw

 

[Leahs Mom]

oh yah. I had more questions. Ive seen people talking about laying sand on the coop floor. Anyone have pros and cons for this?

@redring

Now this is funny and the way it is with chicken people. Each has their own perspective on these things and often for very good reasons. Some of it depends on the kind of housing, space, etc. So after @Faraday40 posted that they use sand....


I would NEVER use sand.

I use wood shavings inside the barn/chicken house.

And here is why in my situation.

-Sand in coops (and especially) runs tends to be a vector for cocci.

-Sand in coops requires more maintenance with sifting on a regular basis.

-Shavings can be used in a deep litter situation; just put a little more on top as it becomes soiled and rake thoroughly. Shovel out as needed depending on your coop size if you don't have dirt floors. Sometimes it is as long as 2-mos (or longer in winter) before it needs to go out (again, depending on the size of your coop/house).

If you don't have a dirt floor inside, when it's time to shovel it out, put it into your outdoor pen to create a healthy, deep litter outdoors. Keeps the ground from becoming unhealthy, impacted soil with droppings on top that becomes slimy in rain and a vector for disease. The deep litter creates healthy, amazing soil in the pens. (If you don't have pens outdoors, put it on your garden. Does the same there.)