INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Delawaremommy]

@DelawaremommyI wish I had seen this when I was still in Plainfield this am. As I might have caved! Did they have any welsummer chicks? Are the CW pullets or straight run?

pullets

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

So.... do  you have a roo in that group (I confess, I didn't look closely enough to know that )  Maybe YOU could start offering eggs or chicks for sale!

It's something I've been contemplating, only because I would love to see more of them out there and have a potential source for them should something happen to mine, but I'm not sure how comfortable I am with the idea. I would have to cleanse the eggs and perform a soak on them, then hatch them out in a sanitized incubator into quarantine conditions in order to feel even remotely okay about selling them even with full disclosure about the state of my flock, and even then I'd be iffy about it... On one hand, it isn't as if my flock is carrying anything world-ending, but on the other hand... they're still carriers, and I don't have the set up available to get some generations gone by in my eventual goal of breeding for resistance. Let's just say it is a future goal, but it's a long, long ways away. :/

@pipdzipdnreadytogo
 what is the genetics of silked cochins?  Is that what I have with my Silkie Cochin mix boy? He sure looks a lot like yours!

And your one EE looks like she has some frizzle feathers on her neck- but that is it!

Well... It's complicated.

The gene is the same in that it appears to be the same allele at the same locus and when crossed to Silkies will behave as the same gene, producing silkied offspring, but it arrived in Cochin bantams in a different way than it did in your boys. You see, from my understanding, this is a relatively common mutation in several breeds. That isn't to say that it pops up just willy-nilly for anyone, but it happens with more frequency than the average mutation. It has shown up in Ameraucanas and Svart Hona as well as bantam Cochins. The difference is that these are PURE specimens of their breeds. They have NOT been crossed to a Silkie at all; a hand full of individuals just grew out expressing the gene for silkie feathers. That is one big reason why they're so rare, the other big reason being that there just doesn't seem to be much interest in them or the 'woolly' (silkied) Svarts; the Silkied Ameraucana project took off and you can find them with relative ease, but finding Svarts or Cochins is another story entirely! Now, you could probably 'make' the silkied version by crossing Silkies and Cochins, given enough time and many generations of crossings to breed away from the Silkie crest, dark skin, and extra toe, but it would be an incredibly time consuming project to undertake!




As for my EE girl with the curled neck feathers, that would be Merlin. Not sure what causes it, but when I look at those feathers up close, they look like they've been damaged at the base somehow, though they always grow in the same way. That's what causes that almost frizzle-like curve to them, though. However, they curve to the side rather than bending up like a frizzle's feathers do. Mom jokes all the time about her 'Farrah Fawcett' hairstyle. I must admit... there is a bit of a resemblance.

 

[Mother2Hens]

@Mother2Hens

Tell me about your frames. Looks like it might be chickweed under there? So do they just harvest as it grows up tall enough through the frames, or do you move the frames when and let them graze a little bit then put them back?

DH made them four years ago, and they've stayed in the same place year 'round. The main reason he made them is because after year one of having chickens, we had no grass left in their fenced in part of the backyard!

As you mentioned, the chickens just eat short pieces at the tops and the greens keep growing.

For those of you who aren't familiar with grazing frames, the advantages are preventing chickens from pulling grass out by the roots. Not only will that remove what was once known as your lawn, but eating long blades of grass can cause an impacted crop. An "impacted crop" happens when long pieces of dried grass or straw clog the path from the crop to the stomach.

I had planted various grasses and greens, but I worried about what chemicals might be in grass seeds. Plants have to grass-like to grow through hardware cloth. I found a company online where I bought organic seeds specifically for chickens. The seeds are mostly different varieties of clover. The weird thing is that the first planting resulted in some flowers, and I could tell after a few weeks that I needed to replant. Since my second planting last fall, I have not had to add any more seeds! In fact, the chickens had greens all winter long—it was mild enough that the plants survived. I ordered "Peaceful Valley Omega-3 Chicken Forage Blend" from www.groworganic.com. $25 incl shipping for 5 lbs., and I've used very little of it.

I probably should plant some chickweed, too, because the next door neighbors have a large, lush patch of it. When I take the chickens out in the back past the fence, they race over to the neighbor's patch! The grass is always greener...

My husband and I recently purchased an Inn. We are located in Nashville, Indiana. Thinking about raising chickens and offerring guests farm fresh eggs for breakfast.

Welcome to the Indiana Thread! We're glad you joined us— I've been back and forth lately, so Welcome to everyone new! For anyone interested in our great group, Click here to see our Indiana BYCers Members' List, Events, Topics & Links

 

[Faraday40]

@pipdzipdnreadytogo
This year DD wanted to see if she could hatch store bought fertile eggs. The biggest challenge has been finding them. Five years ago Trader Joes & Whole Foods used to sell packaged eggs marked 'fertile.' They still do out west, but not in IL. We were able to find store quail eggs & saw some bull's eyes in them. (Then we had to track down someone who raised quail.)

So DD's hatching backyard, farmer's market, & store eggs in both chicken & quail eggs. For the chickens, we bought shipped eggs, washed them & then put them in the fridge for 24-48 hours before warming up & incubating. This is the closest we could get to store eggs. One grocery store would special order fertile eggs from their local supplier. They were basically being sold as hatching eggs & received special treatment. Since that was not the purpose, we decided to simply buy breeds we wanted. With shipping & washing, it's probably just as rough - if not more- than grocery store eggs.

The new spin for us is the quail. They're similar but different. Like the small size, very little noise, take up little space, & many eggs. They grow very fast, so eat & poop a whole lot. The kids trained a few that we kept. They are nice, but they don't interact like chickens. Also our chickens free range, so their eggs taste better than our quail eggs. If I could not have my chickens, I'd have lots of quail.



I also want to add how much I love your silkied cochins

 

[flyladyrocks]

I am hesitant to order the one on amazon. Usually those shirts are 100% cotton, not true to size and are uncomfortable. The store I work at makes really soft t-shirts, fit true to size & do not shrink. The owner is willing to work with me on creating a similar design. It will have to be a bit different than the one I posted as it is not his design, he cannot copy it. I'm meeting with him tonight, I'll talk to him then!

 

[Granny Hatchet]

Pictures of my silkied Cochin babies from last weekend. Here are my girls, Abra:



And Rowena:




And the boys, just as wiley as their dad is!

Lucky, trying to look cute:



Ramsay:

\

Rigby:




I'd been busy, so they hadn't been outside in a while, It was a shocking experience, apparently.

The boys loved playing in the box, though. Rigby in the box and Ramsay outside of it. They were trying to chest bump, I guess. Look at those fuzzy hackles!




My sweet Abra getting her hugs:




And one last bonus picture of Ramsay getting hit in the face with his own wattle. It was a windy day.

Rigby sure looks glad his wattles aren't as big as his brothers'.

Ive never seen them, They are gorgeous ! A ton easier to sex then silkies too I imagine.

 

[tmarsh83]

ugggggggggghhhh....

I was out with the birds last night and grabbed the one BR that doesn't mind being handled. Once I had her I got looking and I think I have a leg mite issue. Doing some more checking tonight, but ugh. Was proud that I hadn't had to deal with anything like this to this point...now i'm just growly...

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

@pipdzipdnreadytogo

This year DD wanted to see if she could hatch store bought fertile eggs.  The biggest challenge has been finding them.  Five years ago Trader Joes & Whole Foods used to  sell packaged eggs marked 'fertile.'  They still do out west, but not in IL.  We were able to find store quail eggs & saw some bull's eyes in them. (Then we had to track down someone who raised quail.)

So DD's hatching backyard, farmer's market, & store eggs in both chicken & quail eggs.   For the chickens, we bought shipped eggs, washed them & then put them in the fridge for 24-48 hours before warming up & incubating.  This is the closest we could get to store eggs. One  grocery store would special order fertile eggs from their local supplier.  They were basically being sold as hatching eggs & received special treatment.  Since that was not the purpose, we decided to simply buy breeds we wanted. With shipping & washing, it's probably just as rough - if not more- than grocery store eggs.

The new spin for us is the quail.  They're similar but different.  Like the small size, very little noise, take up little space, & many eggs.  They grow very fast, so eat & poop a whole lot.  The kids trained a few that we kept. They are nice, but they don't interact like chickens.  Also our chickens free range, so their eggs taste better than our quail eggs. If I could not have my chickens, I'd have lots of quail. 



I also want to add how much I love your silkied cochins

Sounds interesting! And a good excuse to get more birds. So regarding the quail, when you say they don't interact like chickens, do you mean they aren't as friendly as the chickens? And can they not free-range at all or do you just prefer not to free-range them? Not to bombard you with a bunch of questions or anything.

And they are a lovable bunch, aren't they?

Ive never seen them, They are gorgeous !  A ton easier to sex then silkies too I imagine.  

Oh, yeah! Ramsay has been crowing since he was 4 days old--yes, four DAYS--and another one started at about a week of age, though I don't recall if it was Rigby or Lucky. I could really tell that three were boys by 4 weeks old because these boys already had red combs and wattles! Here is their 'album cover' shot at 4 weeks old--Rigby, Ramsay, and Rowena.

Edited to fix a smiley

 

[Leahs Mom]

I thought quail would just fly away if they were let out.

 

[Faraday40]

Sounds interesting! And a good excuse to get more birds.

So regarding the quail, when you say they don't interact like chickens, do you mean they aren't as friendly as the chickens? And can they not free-range at all or do you just prefer not to free-range them? Not to bombard you with a bunch of questions or anything.

And they are a lovable bunch, aren't they?

I love his expression!!!!

I think you've just given me a new fav pic!

Yes, DD's a smart girl & knows that her parents are more likely to say "yes" to hatching more chicks if a science project is involved! She finally hatched a silkie & I've got some penciled rock eggs that may hatch.

Quail can be held on a lap & do enjoy cheek rubs, but they're also a little jumpy. Ours don't run away if you approach slowly, but they also don't drop whatever they're doing & run up to greet like our chickens do. DD has taken them into the grass & played with them. They stay near her but just don't seem as social. I'd be afraid to free range because I do not know if they'd be smart enough to return. They'd be OK in a tractor or other outside, predator-proof enclosure. I do like our male quail "Albert." He's the only one that will jump into my hand. I haven't fully decided where we're going with quail, so we're building a 2 level rabbit hutch for them this summer. We had extra males, so I also know that their meat is delicious & ready to process at only 6-7 weeks after hatch. I honestly don't mind if a chick is male or female, because it will be enjoyed either way: meat or eggs. I wanted the kids to have a rabbit.... but feel it's too much to have adult chickens, baby chicks, quail, 2 dogs, rabbits, and all the summer pets (like monarch butterfly project, swallowtail project, tadpoles, praying mantids, & whatever other crawly critters the kids find). I also must tend a garden & teach summer science camps. The agreement is that Mom does not have to do more than collect the quail eggs and we'll evaluate in the fall. For now they're in an old rabbit cage in the garage.