INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[HoosierSilkie]

I have my silkies separated for breeding and could hatch for you. I don't have any hens available though.
I have Blue, black and Partridge. They are laying and I have a Partridge going broody!! SMH! Haha!
I can send you pics if you want

Just let me know if you decide.

Edited to add I'm located in Martinsville.

Thank you! I'm open to raising chicks, but I worry about my roo trying to hurt them. I don't have a way to keep them separate for very long. I have an old bathtub that I can keep them in until they're big enough to hop out. How old do you think they would need to be before I could put them in the coop with him? He'll be a year old in April, so he's fully grown. I was really hoping to find a hen or two for him. He's getting rather cranky being by himself!

 

[Indyshent]

Thank you! I'm open to raising chicks, but I worry about my roo trying to hurt them. I don't have a way to keep them separate for very long. I have an old bathtub that I can keep them in until they're big enough to hop out. How old do you think they would need to be before I could put them in the coop with him? He'll be a year old in April, so he's fully grown. I was really hoping to find a hen or two for him. He's getting rather cranky being by himself!

Don't worry about him. I've only had two male birds that ever hurt babies--and I've had A LOT of boys here. At one point, there were nine full grown roosters and numerous cockerels here, and one buff Brahma would go after "teenaged" pullets. My young tom went after and tried to mate some baby turkeys this spring at the height of their breeding season and accidentally killed a couple (son't know which were done in by him and which were the fault of a psychotic neighbor child, but I did see him on one occasion try to have his way with one that way too young, so I know it can happen).

Lessons learned:

1) If the species has a dedicated time to be breeding, immature specimens should maybe be placed in after peak hormone period. Chickens aren't generally so much worse at one time (depends on breed mostly, but Silkies aren't one of those bad breeds about it). Turkeys and Muscovy ducks are about the worst offenders for this type of seasonal activity that I've seen, concerning aggression/accidents. Haven't seen muscovy drakes go after immature hens, however. I've heard game breeds and Sumatra are pretty bad in the spring, too, but they're generally nicer to their girls and harder on other guys, from what I've seen.

2) Roosters and drakes, when significantly crowded and facing enormous competition from other males for a limited supply of ladies are far harder on the hens and are more likely to target girls which are too young and inexperienced. This isn't guaranteed to happen, but it is more likely when lots of boys are around and there isn't enough space or ladies for them. Rape-y behavior is more likely in this circumstance too because lower rung roosters feel like they have to get it quick before head roosters beat the crap out of them.

Silkies aren't generally bad with babies, though his lack of adult company might be the problem point. I've known a number of Silkies to be very good with babies and really appreciate the company. Some are great "dads" and act almost like broody hens in raising babies. Even with stiff competition, my Silkie rooster was the sweetest thing and good with his girl. It might depend on your boy, but I'd go ahead and let him see them through a partition so he can get used to the babies without being able to harm them. Supervise visits until the babies are old enough to take whatever punishment his affection might deal them, should he get amorous, but I wouldn't worry excessively about it. Silkies aren't such enormous birds that they would inflict the kinds of damage heavier, gnarlier species/breeds might (like turkeys. oh my goodness, the carnage that can happen when their mating goes wrong). Your boy is undoubtedly lonely (like my tom was) so he needs to be able to see some other chickens around or he could even get sick and die or develop strange personality traits. Any company is better than nothing at this point, so just get him some friends.

 

[HoosierSilkie]

Don't worry about him. I've only had two male birds that ever hurt babies--and I've had A LOT of boys here. At one point, there were nine full grown roosters and numerous cockerels here, and one buff Brahma would go after "teenaged" pullets. My young tom went after and tried to mate some baby turkeys this spring at the height of their breeding season and accidentally killed a couple (son't know which were done in by him and which were the fault of a psychotic neighbor child, but I did see him on one occasion try to have his way with one that way too young, so I know it can happen). 

Lessons learned:

1) If the species has a dedicated time to be breeding, immature specimens should maybe be placed in after peak hormone period. Chickens aren't generally so much worse at one time (depends on breed mostly, but Silkies aren't one of those bad breeds about it). Turkeys and Muscovy ducks are about the worst offenders for this type of seasonal activity that I've seen, concerning aggression/accidents. Haven't seen muscovy drakes go after immature hens, however. I've heard game breeds and Sumatra are pretty bad in the spring, too, but they're generally nicer to their girls and harder on other guys, from what I've seen. 

2) Roosters and drakes, when significantly crowded and facing enormous competition from other males for a limited supply of ladies are far harder on the hens and are more likely to target girls which are too young and inexperienced. This isn't guaranteed to happen, but it is more likely when lots of boys are around and there isn't enough space or ladies for them. Rape-y behavior is more likely in this circumstance too because lower rung roosters feel like they have to get it quick before head roosters beat the crap out of them. 

Silkies aren't generally bad with babies, though his lack of adult company might be the problem point. I've known a number of Silkies to be very good with babies and really appreciate the company. Some are great "dads" and act almost like broody hens in raising babies. Even with stiff competition, my Silkie rooster was the sweetest thing and good with his girl. It might depend on your boy, but I'd go ahead and let him see them through a partition so he can get used to the babies without being able to harm them. Supervise visits until the babies are old enough to take whatever punishment his affection might deal them, should he get amorous, but I wouldn't worry excessively about it. Silkies aren't such enormous birds that they would inflict the kinds of damage heavier, gnarlier species/breeds might (like turkeys. oh my goodness, the carnage that can happen when their mating goes wrong). Your boy is undoubtedly lonely (like my tom was) so he needs to be able to see some other chickens around or he could even get sick and die or develop strange personality traits. Any company is better than nothing at this point, so just get him some friends. 

Thank you! That's great advice. I just went to Rural King and picked up a couple Araucana pullets that were discounted because they were older. Hopefully, they'll get big enough fast enough to provide him some company. At least he will be able to see them. I'll try to get him some silkie ladies eventually.

 

[Indyshent]

Thank you! That's great advice. I just went to Rural King and picked up a couple Araucana pullets that were discounted because they were older. Hopefully, they'll get big enough fast enough to provide him some company. At least he will be able to see them. I'll try to get him some silkie ladies eventually.

Couple points:

1) RK doesn't sell Araucanas. They sell EE (Easter Eggers) by another name. For the life of me, I have no idea why their supplier hatchery insists their birds are purebred "Ameraucana-Araucana strain". That's a mutt, not a purebred bird. However, I have had quite a few EEs from RK over the years, and I think they're marvelous girls (and boys) who are sure to brighten your days with their wonderful eggs and quirky personalities.

2) If you know what you're looking for, Silkies can be found in miscellaneous bantam bins at RKs through the state and occasionally in Silkies only bins (almost always white). Just look for dark skin and five toes on their little feathered feet and you're not likely to go wrong. They're generally the first breed that gets snatched out of those assorted bins though, so get there early and have the staff give you alerts or just try to order through them to save on shipping.

I really miss my silkies. They've all been tremendously fluffy, sweet birds, and it's hard to beat them for cute factor.

 

[MikeTodd]

Ok. So the wife brought up the ideas of rabbits again after reading her gardening book ( The Quarter Acre Farm) and how good their poo is for fertilizer. Does anyone have any leads on where I can get some rabbit meat for us to try?

 

[Mother2Hens]

Updating Members' List
Hi everyone— as soon as I told @jchny2000 and our thread that I'd volunteer to update the Indiana Members' List, our Welcome Letter and Page, etc., I was handed a huge work project! I keep thinking each day that I will be done with it! Well, I'm hoping to wrap it up by tonight, so I hopefully I can start doing our members' revisions/additions tomorrow.

If anyone would like to be added to our Indiana Members' List, please PM me with your information.
If you'd rather not list your city or any other category, that's fine. Here are the categories:
Screen name, County, City, Breeds, Color/Variety, Size: Large Fowl (LF) or Bantam If you're a Breeder, NPIP Tester, your Facebook ID or your website (if applicable), and Comments.
Confused? Here's our current list that I will be updating: Members' List

 

[Indyshent]

Straw bales
BBS OEGB show lines
Gray call drakes
St. Croix hair sheep
Look like heritage RIR roos
4 chicks on Indy west side. Looks like someone dragged home some babies from RK and got caught by an unhappy spouse or parent. Looks like a SLW, barred Rock, Australorp and can't see fourth. $3ea or or all 4 for $10
Marans and Ameraucana chicks
5 Free Australorps
Black Orpington roo, supposed to be split to lavender

 

[HoosierSilkie]

Couple points:

1) RK doesn't sell Araucanas. They sell EE (Easter Eggers) by another name. For the life of me, I have no idea why their supplier hatchery insists their birds are purebred "Ameraucana-Araucana strain". That's a mutt, not a purebred bird. However, I have had quite a few EEs from RK over the years, and I think they're marvelous girls (and boys) who are sure to brighten your days with their wonderful eggs and quirky personalities. 

2) If you know what you're looking for, Silkies can be found in miscellaneous bantam bins at RKs through the state and occasionally in Silkies only bins (almost always white). Just look for dark skin and five toes on their little feathered feet and you're not likely to go wrong. They're generally the first breed that gets snatched out of those assorted bins though, so get there early and have the staff give you alerts or just try to order through them to save on shipping. 

I really miss my silkies. They've all been tremendously fluffy, sweet birds, and it's hard to beat them for cute factor. 

Here are some pictures; please tell me what you think they are! (When I say I got a couple, I mean I got six. My chicken counting always seems to get me in trouble with the hubby!

)

 

[weezerfish]

I made a thread about this, but does anyone have external nest boxes? Like where the hen would come in and out from outside the coop?

I bought a chain link dog kennel last summer at an auction that I used to expand my run. It was still set up complete with a plastic dog house inside it. At the time, I didn't really want the dog house but loaded it up anyway. When my pullets first started laying shortly after that, they were laying under my raised coop and not in the nest boxes. After crawling under it a time or two on my hands and knees to retrieve eggs, I put the dog house in the run with a plywood divider to create two nesting areas. I threw some wood shavings in and they started using it immediately and exclusively. The roof lifts off easily, so its easy to get the eggs out. The only issue I have with it on occasion is rain when the wind blows it in through the front opening. Sometimes it gets wet in there and I have to replace the wood shavings sooner than I'd like. I was anticipating having issues with snow drifting into it so I quit using it at the beginning of December. At that point, the ladies began using the next boxes in the coop. Haven't had an egg outside the doghouse or nest boxes since they first started using the doghouse. Just looked through all my pics and couldn't find one. I grab one tomorrow and post it.

 

[pginsber]

Here are some pictures; please tell me what you think they are! (When I say I got a couple, I mean I got six. My chicken counting always seems to get me in trouble with the hubby!

)

HoosierSilkie:
These are easy--
THEY'RE CUTIES!!!