INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

We hatched Aracauna eggs from a breeder last year. Got 3 and they all turned out to be roos. It's really a numbers (odds and percentages) game if you're going to breed the birds because you can't really know what an individual's genes might throw out. One of the birds is great with double tufted with dark legs and pea comb while the other has an unacceptable huge comb and wattles but absolutely gorgeous coloring. It all depends on what kind of project you're working in IMHO. For us, they're pets. Our operation is small and we're not breeders. 

I'm not being a stickler or anything. 90% of my flock is from the feed store or directly from a hatchery. I love and cherish these birds, but I would not place any of them in the same ring as birds of the same breed from a high quality breeder background. But at least overall, they actually resemble the breeds they are supposed to be, something that cannot be said for any of the British Araucana ads that I've yet to see posted here. The reason I post is to educate. Just like I post when people talk about their feed store 'Americaunas'. And it's the exact same thing--an Easter-egger may have the general shape of an Ameraucana, but there's more to it than shape. I have nothing against Easter-eggers, just like I have nothing against lesser quality birds, but it isn't right to call them something they're not. And it's especially not right to sell them as a 'good looking' specimen when they are that poor of quality IF they're even truly the breed they claim them to be. This is especially the truth for the Araucana derivative breeds, which already have enough trouble with identity as is. Heck, I hesitate to call the Blue Ameraucana I got from Meyer Hatchery a true Ameraucana, even though she truly is one, for this very reason! So many people are ripped off by people representing their birds as something they're not, and that is what I disagree with.

 

[Faraday40]

@Faraday40

I'm having a really good experience with my new cockerel. This is the first time I've had Buckeyes so I'm not sure if it is just the personality of the breed or not. HOWEVER...

I'm doing something different with this boy because I have the space this year to do it. He was not mature for breeding before the snow and cold set in. My birds pretty much stay inside the barn when it's snow out so I didn't want him to be coming of age while the ladies were confined in close quarters with him. So...

I put him in his own 6x12 area that is penned off from the girls but part of the larger kennel pen. He's been in there by himself in communication with everyone else, and sleeping on his own little roost with one of their roosts just across from him on the other side of the kennel fence.

Since it's been warmer, they've been getting outside and let him out with them. I thought he might be just crazy and want to mate constantly, but he is actually rather 'chill". He's not mating constantly. He does in moderation, but not like other cockerels I've had that were mating every minute!!!!! (literally)

So I'm wondering if "forced abstinence" has helped him with being more laid back about it all...he knows he can live without it! Or if it's more like a Buckeye personality. I'm leaning toward thinking it's because he's been penned and is having to communicate with the girls through the fence and hasn't had free access. I'll see how he does as spring comes in.

That's an interesting idea. I have a chicken tractor for daytime use. Perhaps I'll start putting Mr Horomones in there. The boys sleep together in the garage every night. The flock order has recently changed - as in last week they were having spats & now they're adjusting to the new order. Before that, the young cock was kept in check by the old man. About how many hens can an English orp keep fertile & happy?

When I had 8 hens & 1 EE roo, he was mating too often & the hens had bare backs. He could not stay. That roo probably needed at least 12 hens!
I then grew out my orp & he could not keep all 8 hens fertile - but he was a gentleman. I decided to keep his brother as well & the 2 boys happily shared 12 hens.
I then rehomed the bro to keep a son. The father allowed the son to mate as long as the hens didn't squawk. For the past few days, the son is in charge & he's chasing his father away. I'm hoping its temporary & the young roo will mature & act more like his father.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Getting kind of frustrated by the 'multi quote' feature misbehaving. I think I managed to get everything I wanted to reply to this time...

That is such a sweet picture.  She looks so hugable.  

Oh, she is! She's the main reason why Dorkings are my favorite breed. Such sweet, docile, loving hens they are.

Elly even stops me for cuddles if she thinks I need them. This is her, "Cuddle Time" look.

The first incubator I purchased was plastic, and I don't remember the company name, but it was recommended to use bubble foil insulation around the outside of it, which only confused the incubator's thermostat.  The heating element was a light bulb.  It also had a fan which seemed to dry up the humidity too much inside.  The turner was rough on the eggs.  I made the mistake of not keeping the incubator in a room with a steady temperature, and the incubator temperature would have severe spikes, and would not turn down!  I would have to unplug it.  At hatch time there were deformed chicks, which of course had to be killed, and ended up with 5 healthy chicks out of 18 eggs.

I threw that incubator away. 

I now use a still air Little Giant model 9200 that has the heating coil around the perimeter with a turning tray that tilts the eggs from side to side at a very slow pace.  When I needed a second incubator I purchased the newer model with the heating element in the center, and the temperature wasn't staying regulated, so I took it back and exchanged it for the last older model.

The first hatch with the Little Giant, I kept in a temperature controlled room and ended up with 13 chicks out of 15 fertile eggs.  I kept a log with drawings to do everything the same, and as long as the eggs are good, have great hatching success.

I read about the Colloncas, and the other South American breeds on BYC, and one of the reasons for becoming a member was to track the South American breeds to see if I could someday obtain one.  The Colloncas is actually the breed I wanted most, and it happened after some time, that someone close has some!  They are a different class than the modern chicken breeds.  They are one of the parents of the Araucana, and come in different colors, and don't have tufts.  There is no SOP.

Since they are monogamous (and I'll know for sure after experience) I believe they can be kept in pairs, and the roosters get along with each other as long as they have grown up together.  That seemed to be true, because the ones I saw where I picked up the hatching eggs, had two roosters and two hens together.  Their offspring was one rooster and one hen, that has to be kept separate from the parents.  Possibly if the moms and dads raised the chicks they could be all kept together.  I'll find out hopefully.

Colloncas sound fascinating. All I know about them is what was put in the Breed Focus thread for them. I'm very interested to hear how monogamous they are once you have a flock of them!

Those Coloncas and Aracaunas just make me feel like something's wrong with their back side!!!!!

I think I'd miss the beautiful rooster tail feathering.

That's kind of the conclusion I came to with Araucanas. They were on my list, but I just don't think I can do the rumplessness. Now, Naked Necks on the other hand...

 

[Leahs Mom]

@pipdzipdnreadytogo

If you get naked necks, you'll have to take up knitting to make them scarves for the winter.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

@pipdzipdnreadytogo If you get naked necks, you'll have to take up knitting to make them scarves for the winter.

Haha, yeah! They're kind of a guilty pleasure of mine. Mom thinks they're ugly, but there's just something about them I'm fond of. And then there are the scaleless gene chickens. I don't know why, but I must have one. Not my picture, obviously, but look at it. Look at it in all its glory.

Talk about having to take up knitting.

 

[Nyla]

Wanting to order Female Muscovy's from https://www.freedomrangerhatchery.com, but you have to order 15!! I only want maybe 4. To order them all females, its $131.25. I am looking for someone to split the order with! I live in Griffith, Indiana. Once ducklings are delivered, I could take the ones I want and then drop them off at the persons house who wants to split the order! But the splitter has to pay $90 for the other 11 ducklings and gets any extras! You don't have to pay until I bring them to you or you can come pick them up! Either way! Must live close for me to drop them off!

 

[JanetMarie]

@pipdzipdnreadytogo That's why I post also that there is not such thing as "hatchery RIRs" and others, to educate people. Because of hatcheries the false breeds are being called by the wrong names by people, and misspellings like "americaunas". I don't think there is anything wrong with hatcheries calling them what they are, because most people don't want to breed according to the SOP, but simply want backyard birds.

Also, you need to stop posting pictures of your adorable Dorking (just kidding). It is a breed I considered before, and decided against it because I could never butcher extra roosters.

ETA: I'll keep everyone posted on the Colloncas.

 

[hbrown322]

My mom bought my two girls a xylophone for Christmas. They love it!! It's so funny to watch them play with it. I get 5 more chicks in a couple of weeks and can't wait to grow my flock!!

 

[Chickens4lifee]

A few pics of the Mille Fleur Cochin trio.
They need some work. I'd like to see more black on the hens and more white on the roo. Hoping this trio will compliment each other. Roo is from a different line.

The girls.

Then my black Cochin crew. The frizzled girl in the back right is the blue egg layer.
I have a pullet now with them. Hatched with a group when hatching the now infamous "frizzled duo" mother2hens has been showing off!

Now this little guy from the same batch has a floppy comb which I've never gotten before now.
I don't think he'll ever grow into that!!!

So that's a small part of the clan here!

Omg I just got a millefluer cochin trio too and mine are great for show I'm supper happy I found a few.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

@pipdzipdnreadytogo   That's why I post also that there is not such thing as "hatchery RIRs" and others, to educate people.  Because of hatcheries the false breeds are being called by the wrong names by people, and misspellings like "americaunas".  I don't think there is anything wrong with hatcheries calling them what they are, because most people don't want to breed according to the SOP, but simply want backyard birds. 

Also, you need to stop posting pictures of your adorable Dorking (just kidding).  It is a breed I considered before, and decided against it because I could never butcher extra roosters.  

ETA:  I'll keep everyone posted on the Colloncas.

Exactly! I know of 2 big hatcheries, Cackle and Meyer, that now sell their Easter-eggers as Easter-eggers, and I would assume they haven't lost any sales for it. Actually, it would be interesting to find out what their sales have been like since they changed those names in their catalogs... I might have to find that out for my own curiosity.


Heehee, yes, come to the Dork side... You simply cannot resist the sweetness... I've had limited experience with the roosters, but the only one I had was a sweetie, so it probably would be tough to butcher them... Speaking of, if anyone is interested in a Dorking rooster, I am getting straight run Dorking chicks in a couple weeks...

My mom bought my two girls a xylophone for Christmas. They love it!! It's so funny to watch them play with it. I get 5 more chicks in a couple of weeks and can't wait to grow my flock!!

That is so adorable! My girls look at stuff like that, and then give me dirty looks like I was supposed to be giving them something edible.

A few pics of the Mille Fleur Cochin trio.
They need some work. I'd like to see more black on the hens and more white on the roo. Hoping this trio will compliment each other. Roo is from a different line.

The girls.

I don't know how I missed this post before, but Gorgeous birds! I wonder how well the Mille Fleur pattern would do with silkied feathering...