INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[tmarsh83]

So we have a final answer on my Moms rotator cup surgeries for both arms. Been to so many Drs this summer it would make your head spin! Its a NO. She is in too poor of overall health and the surgeon, Cardiac Dr, and Urologist, others looking at her case felt the risk is too high. Mom will have pain management control and thats all they will offer. I have got 2nd and 3rd opinions from different networks. Bottom line, she has also chosen its not worth the risk. She has asked i please not push it anymore.

Mom turned 80 on the 23rd and my Dads 82. With some other difficult events that's taken place this week I have focus my time for them. We will be getting out of most birds if not all and hogs. Life events and priorities I just have no choice. Keeping cows and goats for now. Plenty of hay and water will provide for those species overnight when we are away.
Will still be here and contribute to the thread when able. I am just a PM away, or a text for those folks I know very well.

Well that sucks. And I'm sorry. And I hope things improve.

 

[racinchickins]

So, these chicks are getting pretty big (won't let me get a good picture of them, the buff is the size of a robin, the Wellsummer and Blue Orp are the size of fat wrens). When do I move them up to the grower feed from the starter feed? I've been giving them yard time with the hens (in a cage) when I wake before noon (insomnia, amiright?!

). I don't know their exact ages but the buff brahma has to be the oldest. When is it time to move them to the coop? 3 months? Older? Younger? We're aging them by their purchase date, (whatever last Saturday was lol) don't want them hurt, especially Iris (blue Orp) so o want to get some opinions. I've had conflicting ones and would like 3rd, 4th, 5th? 10th opinion lol

As far as switching from starter to grower, I'd wait until they are completely feathered in. If your brahma is anything like mine, it will take forever, they feather in slowly, but it is worth it in the end as they may be my favorite chickens.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@racinchickins
Why is brahma your favorite?

 

[Indyshent]

@racinchickins
Why is brahma your favorite?

Racin is right about them. They feather slowly but are worth it.

What's not to love about Brahmas? If you have a muddy yard, feather-footed breeds might not be for you because they're prone to mites and frostbite on their toes (the feathers keep mud and ice close to the feet--seems counter-intuitive, but it's true). Late maturing. Our hen was laying around 7-8mos but laid quite often (she just hid all her eggs).

BUT, they have pea combs so their combs don't get frostbite. They are super fluffy, huge, sweet-natured, easy-going birds who don't lay as bad as you might think. Wonderful, wonderful temperaments. Tame super easily. Giant lap birds. The less popular birds are best because, unfortunately, hatcheries go for numbers rather than type on light Brahmas, so you get smaller, meaner ones more often with hatchery LBs. Dark Brahmas from RK even have been exceptionally wonderful birds. I had two roosters and one hen, and my kids could pick up any of them. Roosters tolerated each other with a bare minimum of fighting and were pretty gentle with the hens despite being three times bigger than most of my girls. Protective, alert roosters, too; my first DB alpha roo gave his life for his hens.

Half-breeds with Brahmas grow faster and get huge as well, so by all means, eat the crossbreeds. I have several EE/DB crosses here, and no matter how flighty the moms were, the daughters tolerate people and handling much, much more.

 

[Indyshent]

So we have a final answer on my Moms rotator cup surgeries for both arms. Been to so many Drs this summer it would make your head spin! Its a NO. She is in too poor of overall health and the surgeon, Cardiac Dr, and Urologist, others looking at her case felt the risk is too high. Mom will have pain management control and thats all they will offer. I have got 2nd and 3rd opinions from different networks. Bottom line, she has also chosen its not worth the risk. She has asked i please not push it anymore.

Mom turned 80 on the 23rd and my Dads 82. With some other difficult events that's taken place this week I have focus my time for them. We will be getting out of most birds if not all and hogs. Life events and priorities I just have no choice. Keeping cows and goats for now. Plenty of hay and water will provide for those species overnight when we are away.
Will still be here and contribute to the thread when able. I am just a PM away, or a text for those folks I know very well.

If I can do anything, let me know.



***
Radiologist refused to talk to me. Doctor's office has been either having issues with fax machine or with personnel. They finally got the results of the ultrasound last night, but refused to talk to me about it either. Receptionist was going to pass it on to my specific doctor/NP. Hopefully, I'll find out today--right before the dreaded organic chemistry exam. I'm so screwed. Not expecting good news at all with the way everyone's passing me around.

Even if it's not cancer, I still need to rehome some birds. Insurance is too expensive, but we can't afford to cancel it at this point either. $500/mos for a $3000 deductible on me. Crazy. If it is cancer, I may eventually be looking to downsize even more severely or possibly get out of poultry. Whatever it is is progressing very quickly, so I feel more and more horrible every day. Can't eat very much, can't sleep much, in constant pain. Prayers are appreciated.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@Indyshent

Hoping for the best.... and praying for you.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
Couple questions for you both:

I usually avoid feather footed breeds because my range. Have you had any problems with that?

Have either of you raised them for meat? Results? At what age do you process?

 

[pattyhen]

Indyshent prayers going up for you. May god bless.

 

[Indyshent]

@Indyshent Hoping for the best.... and praying for you.

"Complex cyst" I'll need to see an ob/gyn for any further info. Can't tell if it's cancer or a really weird cyst

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote: Thanks for the update. Hope to see something encouraging from the ob/gyn.