INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Leahs Mom]

I agree on the droopy comb. I had one hatchery rir girl that was like that. Her comb was large enough that I wasn't totally sure she was a "she" until she laid an egg

 

[Leahs Mom]

@jchny2000
I love the picture I get in my head when I think about your dad on the 4-wheeler! (And the photo on fb )

Tell me how you do your hay.
Do you just pick it up with the leaf catcher then let it dry somewhere ~or~ Do you have a baler?

Thank you. Dads doing ok, he is getting outdoors a lot more. I get my "keep busy" from him. He has learned to ride the 4 wheeler to collect hay! We mow a couple of the non pastured acres and pick it up with the "leaf catcher". Amazing seeing my 83 yr old dad on my 4 wheeler, just grinning!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Anyone have any great ideas of places to go in the Cincinnati area? (In KY is fine.)

I love foot hills, waterfalls, etc. Historical stuff. Secluded cabins....

 

[Faraday40]

View attachment 1105805 My golden buff/golden comet/red star (whichever name you prefer) has a droopy comb. She looks healthy & is acting healthy. I believe she is the only one of my pullets that has started laying. She is my first red star, so I'm not sure if this is normal or not.

I think her side comb is cute & adds personality. As long as she's healthy & produces eggs, all is great. I have a mutt hen with a sort of pea comb to the side - like a French baret hat.

 

[hbrown322]

Thanks guys!!!

 

[nenebynature]

Wonderful! Thank you for sharing!!

 

[JanetMarie]

Muscovy ducks has claws and will use them. They also hiss and chirp instead of quacking. They wag their tails and bob their heads as great-tings. They lay an egg every day non stop for about a month then take about a week off. They forum strong bonds if raised from a duckling. I have one who roosts outside my bedroom window every night and wakes me up every morning by tapping on my window with its bill. They are very interesting birds! Are you wanting Muscovy's?

I have Muscovies. Jchny2000 commented on a post that Muscovies are cleaner than other duck breeds, and since I don't have any other breed of duck I asked her what she meant by clean.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Are these meal worm beetles? (the potato is cut in half) I found them inside my shed with my hay bales. I've had them in a container for over a month and still no meal-worms..
View attachment 1105728 View attachment 1105729 View attachment 1105730

Yep you got the beetles. Be paitient, the life cycle is 12 weeks.

@jchny2000
I love the picture I get in my head when I think about your dad on the 4-wheeler! (And the photo on fb )

Tell me how you do your hay.
Do you just pick it up with the leaf catcher then let it dry somewhere ~or~ Do you have a baler?

No Baier yet. Yep we just use the leaf catcher. DH uses the bush hog mower attachment. Mows non pastured areas. Usually I use the leaf catcher to gather the cut fields. With 5 cows, 5 goats, we are not at a point of storage yet. We cut about 2.5 acres the rest is pastured.

Anyone have any great ideas of places to go in the Cincinnati area? (In KY is fine.)

I love foot hills, waterfalls, etc. Historical stuff. Secluded cabins....

The falls are pretty, Hoosier state forest also. Agreed, love the gnarly deep hills. I enjoy most finding abandoned homes and exploring. Dangerous! You see a lost family's history its very humbling. I often travel off the beaten path, and find history in the woods. Cincinnati I cant help so much, but sharing within a few hours away.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I have Muscovies. Jchny2000 commented on a post that Muscovies are cleaner than other duck breeds, and since I don't have any other breed of duck I asked her what she meant by clean.

They are. They will roost like a chicken. That means easy poop control! They do dabble like an average duck. Small lots/land will be decimated. I have 5 acres with a pond and creek, so my property is not effected by ducks or geese. Waterfowl will impact confined areas.Think before buying, do I want to shovel wet shavings. Do I have a pool/pond and enough land to support root damage? Dabbling includes eating roots of the plants. Reseeding can get expensive, consider it before you keep waterfowl of any type.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

So I just typed a huge post.. its gone. Trying again.
Waterfowl in most cases can really tear up your lawn. They need a LOT of water. Most "dabble" meaning chewing at the dirt, eating plant roots, along with bugs, gravel for the crop. Any water puddle will entice them to do so. Think about this when considering waterfowl. The Muscovy, and Chinese goose have shown me both are less invasive than other breeds.