INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[JanetMarie]

Anyone go to swap meets this last year? Dh has finally agreed to a new species, Emu! Yep am gonna do it! My question is, has anyone seen any at swap meets? Or know of breeders locally?

I believe I've seen emu hatching eggs for sale on this forum.

 

[MikeTodd]

I have a friend who got his Emus from the Kankakee Fairground Fowl/Bird swap in Kankakee, IL.

 

[Indyshent]

[COLOR=8B4513]@HoosierSilkie ~ I've been catching up on posts and had to respond to this. I was just at RK on the eastside of Eville and took a few photos of chicks—including the "Ameraucana-Araucana strain" as[/COLOR] @Indyshent [COLOR=8B4513]mentioned. That term posted over the brooder, and I knew the brownish ones were EEs, but wondered what the yellow ones were. I assume they're a different EE color combo, but their markings didn't look similar—not chipmunk looking. Anyone have a guess?[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]It looked like they were just getting things set up for Chick Days. As annoying as our RKs are here, I must say that they take care of the chicks. I haven't seen pasty butt or any issues over the years. And when a young girl was petting some chicks, an employee was immediately there telling her not to touch (they had lots of signs). [/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]They also had Light Brahmas (I inserted grown hen photo, just fyi).[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]I'd love to have a Dark Brahma hen some day —triple penciled feathers are gorgeous! [/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]Here's an online photo:[/COLOR]

The Dark Brahmas from RK that I've purchased in years past have been marked as Light Brahmas or found in assorted straight run bins. They look kind of like Silver laced Wyandotte chicks with fuzzy feet, and both genders feathered slow. Three of the coolest chickens I've ever known were Dark Brahmas from RK, but don't expect the triple lacing to come out all that wonderfully because the ones I had were male line, I believe. silver penciled is a gnarly color to breed for so only one gender is show quality from any given line (but dang! Aren't the ladies show stoppers?!) The EE in that bin are BOs. I ran into so many mislabeled bins at the Martinsville RK last night, so it may be problems in stocking or shipping to blame. They had BOs in with the Australorps, Wyandottes in with most of the other breeds, Australorps in bins they weren't labeled for... it was crazy. I'm not even thinking about getting chicks unless they're bantams, Leghorns, quail or pheasants. Then, I'll think about it and probably still not get them.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@jchny2000
May I ask what your purpose is with the emus?

Meat? Eggs? Just for Fun?

And...
I know nothing about emus. What kind of temperament do they have? Are they friendly? (Don't think I"d like to tangle with one of those face to face if it got mad at me! )

Curious if they might be a hawk deterrent?

How do you house them? Winter/Summer

(ETA...Now that you've mentioned them I need a full education...

)

 

[ellymayRans]

Anyone go to swap meets this last year? Dh has finally agreed to a new species, Emu! Yep am gonna do it! My question is, has anyone seen any at swap meets? Or know of breeders locally?

Fun!! So exciting! I have seen a CL add sometime ago that raised them in Shelbyville. The guy I got my Pied peachicks had a pair.
I don't go to swaps but would like to. If you decide to and need/want a partner in crime let me know I'd be thrilled to join you.

All the research I had done when having a go with hatching eggs, which were not fertile or were scrambled, seems your best bet is raising from a very young chick. They can be hand raised to be similar to a dog. Obviously they can be nasty and dangerous due to their size.
Males hatch the eggs and make the nests and are Very protective of chicks.

Now I did come across this quote from a fellow BYCer
"but unfortunately they would probably see his ducks as invaders. Mine got along great with all our other poultry for quite awhile (they were raised with them).. now they only tolerate ONE Muscovy drake.. if any of the other birds venture anywhere into "their territory" they immediately chase it down and proceed to try to stomp it to death." Something to consider if your other birds would have access to their "area".

Lots of great reads out there on them.
http://www.sugarmapleemu.com/page.cfm?pageid=12

http://countrysidenetwork.com/daily/poultry/poultry-poultry/raising-emu-good-pets/

 

[ellymayRans]

@jchny2000

May I ask what your purpose is with the emus?

Meat?  Eggs?  Just for Fun?

And...
I know nothing about emus.  What kind of temperament do they have?  Are they friendly?  (Don't think I"d like to tangle with one of those face to face if it got mad at me!    )

Curious if they might be a hawk deterrent?

How do you house them?  Winter/Summer

(ETA...Now that you've mentioned them I need a full education...  )

Most raise for meat (lean/beef substitute), oils and leather.
Large fenced area (120'+) preferred 6' tall.

That's what I found.

Interested to hear Janet's plans.

 

[ellymayRans]

Had a Bourbon hen in the pool the other day. Luckily I was home. Freezing water and almost done for when I saw her. Fortunately two days recovery and she's back out with her flock. I've been rotating the two turkey pens each day for free range time (Bourbon Reds and Narragansett). Can't wait for Spring!! All will be laying and raising me some dinners!!

Still searching for a Midget White hen for my lone MW tom but hopefully by the summer I'll have tracked one down.

 

[LOTR2283]

I was just looking for other poultry enthusiasts here in Indiana. i am in West central Indiana. I am currently preparing for a run at Rhodebars, but I love all poultry.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I was just looking for other poultry enthusiasts here in Indiana. i am in West central Indiana. I am currently preparing for a run at Rhodebars, but I love all poultry.

You found it! Good to have you

 

[MikeTodd]

Holly cow! 17 eggs again today. These girls are unstoppable (for now)!