INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Mother2Hens]

I took a few photos of my hens in the snow. The Orpingtons from @kittydoc hadn't seen snow before and didn't want to leave the coop. Haha I had to rake a path for them to take a walk.

@pipdzipdnreadytogo ~ You know how to chase away the winter blues! Looks like lots of fun.

Silkied Cochin Bantams sound wonderful, too.


@Faraday40 ~ Your Crested Cream Legbar is beautiful! I like that she has a more "sensible" crest, so she can see.
@Indyshent So sorry that you are going through such a terrible ordeal trying to find answers for your health issues. Very frustrating, but I can tell you have tenacity and that's a good thing. Keep us posted.

Originally Posted by Lengerich Farms

Hello all, I hope your new year is better than ours. We've had a tumultuous turn of events that may end up in my having to give up my flock. The morning of the 1st, my mother in law passed away. She had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer two weeks before Christmas, and had just started treatment. The lucky thing is that she went instantly, before she even knew it.
Because of this we may have to move to Greenwood, as my father in law cannot afford to keep the house on his own. I have seen that Greenwood has a ordinance against "barnyard fowl", but I've seen through my googling that in 11-13 there was a substantial push to change this ordinance, but I can't find if it's changed or not. I would like to keep my girls, they've been very cathartic for me, and have been great producers. If need be, I'll have to find a home for them, 13 in all. If anyone knows if any things changed in Greenwood, or a direction to look in, I would be very appreciative.

@Lengerich Farms ~ I'm sorry to hear what you are going through.
Forgive me for the following unsolicited advice—it's just my opinion based on life experience... Don’t make any rash decisions about moving. It’s likely that your father-in-law is emotionally unable to make major decisions following the sudden death of your mother-in-law. All of you need time to process what happened and explore all options. Hastily moving your family in with him would be a huge adjustment for everyone. And your hobby of raising chickens provides you with a daily dose of joy and well-being. Hopefully, time will help sort things out more clearly. Best wishes.

 

[Mother2Hens]

The surface of the shower tension rod was a little slippery, so I cut up an old sheet and wrap some of it around the rod and covered it with painter's tape. I figured it would work for short-term use.


I made a couple of other options for Frieda to choose. Please don't report me to the health department! LOL

I’ve housed Frieda in the “basement suite” with the two Black Bantam Cochin Frizzle pullets from @ellymayRans . After the frizzles figured out that giant Frieda had no interest in pecking them, they’ve been amiable roommates. I’ve spent a lot of time observing Frieda, cleaning up messes, and providing room service. DH has had morning duty since he’s up early for work. He turns on their lights and radio, then feeds and observes them. He always reports, “I think Frieda is looking a little better today.” lol He’s kept my spirits up, though. I remain cautiously optimistic that Frieda will recover fully.

So guess what I noticed this afternoon outside? My 4 1/2 year old Silkie, Smalty was pecking the centers out of a rolled up swimming pool solar blanket! The “blanket” is basically a huge roll of bubble wrap, and it’s so wide that we store it in a covered area that the hens can access. In all these years, Smalty or any of the other hens ever touched it. Why do they suddenly make these strange decisions? Frieda sat on a foam perch for six months before deciding to eat some of it!

Originally Posted by ellymayRans

I do love hatching!!

My hatching goals this year:
Pairing my new Black and Blue Copper Marans Roos to my old gals as I lost my good Marans Roos this summer.
AMs (cuckoo, lavender cuckoo and blue)
Mille Fleur Cochins
Silkies
Turkeys

(Bourbon Reds, Narragansett and on the search for a Midget White Hen for my Tom)
India Blue Peafowl
Muscovy (Blue Fawns and Chocolates)

Starting over to add:
Russian Orlaf (sp?)
Salmon Faverolles

They are the only 2 breeds I care to add to my flock. I only ended up with a RO pullet out of my bunch from the sand hill order. Very disappointing is an understatement!

If there's any interest I do have Muscovys for sale. I have had a slew of gals hatched from the summer and all but 3 are fully feathered enough to be outside. They are all black Pied or barred. Of course a few males as well but only a few. PM me if you do.

I'm sure I will hatch a few of the other breeds in hopes to add more sizzles, olive eggers and good hardy layers.

What, no Bantam Cochins?? I recommend that everyone get two from @ellymayRans for pure entertainment value. I have to tell you that the two Black Bantam Cochin Frizzles that you hatched for me are absolutely the most adorable things in the world! I have to get a video of them doing their "I'm a fierce pullet" contest where they do the chest bumping and fake lunging at each other. They are hysterical! That's about the only time they face each other because they usually operate as one unit—one dust mop with two heads.
Here's a brief glimpse of them and their large roommate: Frizzle Bantam Cochin pullet and Bielefelder pullet
I haven't let them go outside for a few days because of the extreme temps.

 

[Andrew10]

Yes I only want new hampshire reds. Please send me a PM. thanks for help

Edited by Staff

 

[Andrew10]

...

Hi @Andrew10


Can you let folks know where you're located in a PM.  And do you only want that particular breed rooster? Yes only new hampshire.

 

[Indyshent]

No addresses! Just tell people online general quadrants, nearby cities or the city you are in! It's dangerous to hand out addresses online, @Andrew10. While all the posting people here are great folks, you never know who might be lurking.

Out of curiosity, why only New Hampshires?

 

[Andrew10]

Sorry about address didn't know, l have done a lot of research and new hamp is the best for our needs, thanks for the help im new here

 

[Lengerich Farms]

@Mom2hens
I appreciate your concern. My FIL is a very meticulous, plan ahead kind of guy. We currently don't own our home, we're squatting in my step dads home. The way my FIL is going to set it up, well own our own home. And my wife doesn't want to lose her childhood home. Greenwood still doesn't allow Fowl, but I'm keeping five of my girls. Once we move, I'll try to get the movement for the ordinance to change going again. Seems silly, they have a Rural King and a TSC, both sell chicks and ducks, within city limits, but you can't have either. We won't be moving until may/ June time frame. My aunt is going to take the rest of my girls, but I still need to find homes for both Roos (if anyone is interested wink wink nudge nudge.) That way I still get visitation rights

 

[Faraday40]

Yes, I can relate to the silly village rules. In our town, there were specific rules against keeping chickens, bees, pot belly pigs, pigeons, and rabbits. (Yet, the rules about maintaining chicken coops and animal yards were still on the books.) We had a feed store that sold bee keeping equipment, but bees were illegal. We had a pet store that sold rabbits, but a rabbit hutch was an illegal structure according to the building codes. It wasn't until a friend got a building code citation for her chicken coop and pointed out how it was specifically built following and obeying all the codes in the animal section, that the village board decided to talk about it. It also helped that a chef from the golf club (which generously pays for many village functions) wanted to set up an apiary. The new building & animal codes were fast-tracked. Not perfect but at least they no longer conflict each other. (The village board still outlaws pigeons & pot belly pigs. ????) Yet finally, a little kid in our town may keep a pet bunny !

Like my friend, we were in the gray area. We had chickens long before the new rules came into effect. However, we're very fortunate that many of the neighbors helped build our coop & they even fight over the opportunity to care for them when we're away. They take away our manure for their gardens and are willing to buy any extra eggs. Sometimes DD & DS set up a lemonade & egg stand on the corner. Our 95 yr old widow was a rebel for decades with her backyard honey bees. We appreciated her little pollinators in our garden She started in the 1960s & kept them until 2008, when she decided she was too old.

If you plan to keep chickens secretly, you must at least get support of the neighbors. It makes all the difference.

 

[Lengerich Farms]

@Faraday40

I'm going to talk to the neighbors well in advance, but I'm not particularly worried about them. In addition, where we're going to stick the coop and run won't be visible from the street. My girls are pretty quiet, so they shouldn't be a noise issue. When we stayed with the in laws before we moved here, everyone was happy to get fresh veggies from my garden, so I'm pretty sure they'll be happy to have fresh eggs too. But, unless the rules change, after these girls go to the big flock in the sky I probably won't get more. I'll still have my rabbits, which will be nice, but I'm not taking them all. Being a stones throw from a Rural King will give me an outlet to sell the kits. Over the years my father in law has removed all the trees from the yard, so I'll be able to plant grapes and have them get plenty of sun. Guess instead of birds I'll focus on wine! This won't be our forever home, the wife and I still want to retire to the country. I will have a plethora of animals again, some day.

 

[Faraday40]

We've been wanting a rabbit for years. DD's in 4H & has been begging us for a Flemish Giant. I used to raise rabbits when I was a kid & teen & enjoyed them. I got out of breeding rabbits in college when my schedule got too busy. I miss having rabbits, but worry about taking on too much. We already have chickens, 2 dogs, gardens, & fruit trees. We've been saying "We'll see" for about 3 years. At least no one can say we're rushing into it. LOL She's still asking & even signed up for rabbits in 4H. I think this may be the year.