INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[vickichicki]

Bantams for me means more chickens ... bad idea. However it means I can have the breeds I want with less space, although the consequences are smaller eggs and a small dinner if we decide to butcher them, as mentioned by Rooster.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote:
Has anyone used the bands successfully? If so which one did you use? We tried and after a while they started falling off or sliding down over a toe so we took those off. I was trying to color code my hens by age. I had my first batch as red and now there are red bands all over our run. Since we are converting to heritage RIR I'm not too concerned about the current bands. However I would like a nice easy way to identify my new birds.

 

[Mother2Hens]

Sally~ We used small zip ties to tell our flock members apart when our flock originally consisted of 6 RIR (thanks to Rural King, 5 were cockerels!) The first few minutes they pecked at each other's "bracelets," but they adapted quickly. As they grew, we just put new ones on.

Animal Lover~ Don't use cedar shavings in the nesting boxes, use pine or something else.

jchny~ Have a great weekend! Re: your turkeys that you love so much . . . I have a feeling you won't be having turkey for Thanksgiving! haha

 

[Little Ameraucana Mom]

Has anyone used the bands successfully? If so which one did you use? We tried and after a while they started falling off or sliding down over a toe so we took those off. I was trying to color code my hens by age. I had my first batch as red and now there are red bands all over our run. Since we are converting to heritage RIR I'm not too concerned about the current bands. However I would like a nice easy way to identify my new birds.

I've also had the leg bands fall off, seem to fall of certain breeds worse then others. Don't want to toe punch as I've seen those all ripped out, and since we show we can't have that. I've never tryed the wing bands and never seen a bird with them on, so not sure about them, Anyone tryed them.

 

[me me me]

Animal lover or anyone interested in DE method
From what I've read cedar can harm chickens pine is a safe alternative and straw.
Diatomaceous earth is used in pest control (fleas ants) and for its absorbency but don't over use because dry dust can be bad for lungs. I use diatomaceous earth with calcium bentonite (bentonite is absorbent and reduces food born illness caused by mold and bacteria). Only use DE with a bedded dirt floor as it must have enough moisture to keep dust down.

 

[vickichicki]

Has anyone used the bands successfully? If so which one did you use? We tried and after a while they started falling off or sliding down over a toe so we took those off. I was trying to color code my hens by age. I had my first batch as red and now there are red bands all over our run. Since we are converting to heritage RIR I'm not too concerned about the current bands. However I would like a nice easy way to identify my new birds.

I know it is only temporary, but DH marked the toes of the chicks with nail varnish so he could identify his favourite. It lasted quite a while. Alternatively, would wire ties work? Obviously with enough growing room, but if they are done growing, as long as there is enough room to snip them off if needed.

 

[mcurry]

Since bantams were mentioned, Do the bantams lay eggs?? Are Bantams basically just smaller versions of whatever breed of chicken you want?

They will lay, but the eggs are smaller. And you're right just smaller versions.

 

[mcurry]

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Might not be this, however, anytime I feed my chickens cracked corn they sneeze and hack.  I assume it is inhaling the tiny particles up their noses.  Water can cause that too.. The nostrils being to close to the end of the beak means a good head dunk and they are breathing it in.


Hopefully someone else can chime in here and offer some suggestions.

Thank you! I'm going to pay attention to her eating/drinking. She's just so tiny that sometimes she gets her whole head wet trying to drink. She falls in the waterer on occasion. Partly why we call her nerd. Lol I switched feed recently too. Worth a look into. My gut really says it's not illness, but the newbie in me is scared to overlook it.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

chicken wire is a big no no while it keeps chickens in it does not keep critters out. You do not want to loose a chicken to a raccoon, opossum, skunk, weasel. welded wire or woven wire should be used in a run or on window openings they are stout enough to keep the critters out. If you had a barn or large coop and wanted to keep chickens out of an area and you knew the environment was critter proof that is what you use chicken wire for. there are lots of threads on coop construction on here with some interesting materials used and stuff you might get free or cheap that you wouldn't think of. look under coops tab, also under forums tab there is a coop and run design and predators and pests listed under the raising backyard chickens, and managing backyard flocks might yield an idea or two if you wish to raise different birds in the same coop like turkeys also and also if you wish to have a breeding program.

I was just about to say this--glad someone else did! Use chicken wire at your own risk unless you've got it reinforced well with welded wire!

Has anyone used the bands successfully? If so which one did you use? We tried and after a while they started falling off or sliding down over a toe so we took those off.  I was trying to color code my hens by age.  I had my first batch as red and now there are red bands all over  our run.  Since we are converting to heritage RIR I'm not too concerned about the current bands.  However I would like a nice easy way to identify my new birds.

I have never used actual leg bands, but I had success using differently colored zip ties as leg bands. Just replace them before they get tight against the leg until the bird is done growing, and then they should be good. I used these on a couple sets of birds I got and most of them I ended up cutting off years later as I didn't need them anymore.

 

[mcurry]

My ladies are nosey today. I could cuddle them to bits. Sorry, but I love my chickens lol