INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Faraday40]

Updates:
No signs that the fox has returned. I've been having my male dogs, DS, & DH pee all over the backyard. Also I turn talk radio on at night & have 3 solar, blinky, red LED lights nailed around the coop.

The dog definitely got sprayed in the mouth. We removed the worst of the skunk smell on Sat night & he wasn't bad on Sunday. However, the stink is returning & at its worst when he's licking, drinking, or eating. Last time this happened, it took several months for him to return to his normal level of stink. (He likes to roll in and eat poop, so he really only smells good right after a bath. ) How can such a pretty dog always smell so bad?

Darth Layer is still with us, but I am not optimistic. She looks miserable & is not eating/drinking on her own. i fear botulism or a fall. The kids said she fell out of a tree late last week but was running around with the flock on Sat. All of a sudden on Sunday morning, she looked like she only has hours left of life. I tube fed her a few times to see if it would help. No other chickens are acting sick.

I know she's depressed & molting, but her head is always down & she's not walking much. She's thin & pale. DD is feeling very sad. Darth Layer is her orig fav. I too am feeling bad.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Poor birdie!

 

[Nyla]

23 new ducklings hatched! 11 hatched a couple days ago and 12 hatched today! All were hatched by mama's. Didn't know the 12 hatched today until my lovely Zoe Deiced to attack me when I went to get the feeder! She is my profile picture. She wouldn't stop attacking me and chased me. So this frustrated me and I took all the 23 ducklings! There is still the 5 ducklings that hatched this month on the 10th still in there. So that makes it 28 ducklings!
Really can't wait for the Animal Swap in Rensselaer, Indiana on September 17th!
Who else is going? I'd love to meet all fellow BYC members!


**EDIT***
Turns out my Pocka hatched her 13 ducklings today too!
Just caught all of her's so now I have 36 ducklings in the brooder!
-The reason I take them, is because I'm going to be selling them at the animal swap and want it easier to catch them and monitor them. And so I can stop being attacked by angry mama's!!

 

[pginsber]

Updates:
No signs that the fox has returned. I've been having my male dogs, DS, & DH pee all over the backyard. Also I turn talk radio on at night & have 3 solar, blinky, red LED lights nailed around the coop.

The dog definitely got sprayed in the mouth. We removed the worst of the skunk smell on Sat night & he wasn't bad on Sunday. However, the stink is returning & at its worst when he's licking, drinking, or eating. Last time this happened, it took several months for him to return to his normal level of stink. (He likes to roll in and eat poop, so he really only smells good right after a bath. ) How can such a pretty dog always smell so bad?

Darth Layer is still with us, but I am not optimistic. She looks miserable & is not eating/drinking on her own. i fear botulism or a fall. The kids said she fell out of a tree late last week but was running around with the flock on Sat. All of a sudden on Sunday morning, she looked like she only has hours left of life. I tube fed her a few times to see if it would help. No other chickens are acting sick.

I know she's depressed & molting, but her head is always down & she's not walking much. She's thin & pale. DD is feeling very sad. Darth Layer is her orig fav. I too am feeling bad.

Thinking of Darth and your family

 

[RoseHaven]

Updates:
No signs that the fox has returned. I've been having my male dogs, DS, & DH pee all over the backyard. Also I turn talk radio on at night & have 3 solar, blinky, red LED lights nailed around the coop.

The dog definitely got sprayed in the mouth. We removed the worst of the skunk smell on Sat night & he wasn't bad on Sunday. However, the stink is returning & at its worst when he's licking, drinking, or eating. Last time this happened, it took several months for him to return to his normal level of stink. (He likes to roll in and eat poop, so he really only smells good right after a bath. ) How can such a pretty dog always smell so bad?

Darth Layer is still with us, but I am not optimistic. She looks miserable & is not eating/drinking on her own. i fear botulism or a fall. The kids said she fell out of a tree late last week but was running around with the flock on Sat. All of a sudden on Sunday morning, she looked like she only has hours left of life. I tube fed her a few times to see if it would help. No other chickens are acting sick.

I know she's depressed & molting, but her head is always down & she's not walking much. She's thin & pale. DD is feeling very sad. Darth Layer is her orig fav. I too am feeling bad.

I'm sad for you...

 

[Faraday40]

With great sadness I must tell you that our beloved Darth Layer (aka Darthy & DL) passed away today. She has always been a flock favorite and a sensitive, loyal, loving bird. She is now at peace and joins her sister Cuddles.

Who knew that this fun "science experiment" would give us a flock & change our lives?
Although we've had many chickens, Darth Layer, was something special.


She perfected her art of Photo-bombing. (Taught by Precious who is still our undefeated champ.)


Darthy was one of the original "treat monsters" and ALWAYS one of the 1st hens to come running when called. She loved to jump up into the air to catch a high flying treat. She also always had a look about her - like she had a secret. Although most people think of me as an owner of impressive Lav orps, it's the black iridescent shine of DL's feathers that was truly impressive. And of course the name: Darth Layer has its own share of great stories.

We have a white hen: Princess Lay-a, so when a black orp hatched, we joked about how it was the opposite, so we nicknamed it "Darth Layer." We always joked how she used "the force" to make us give her treats and sang the Imperial March (Darth Vader's tune) whenever we shared a funny story about her.
(Clucking: Bawk, Bawk, Bawk, Ba Ba Baaa-wk, Ba Ba Baaa-wk....)
BTW- Cookie also hatched with Darth Layer. We didn't intend to keep a bantam with LF, but she had a lot of spirit and stayed close to her sister & protector: Darth Layer. DL's sidekick, Cookie, later earned the nickname - "the Bantam Menace" and we no longer worried about little Cookie getting bullied.

Below: Cuddles, DL, & Cookie when they 1st saw snow & were not impressed. They didn't leave the run until it all melted.

Most importantly, Darthy was the heart of the flock. When chicks grew older & left by their mama, DL would look after them to make sure they were OK and ease their transition. When roos would be rehomed or hens sold to new homes (even if a bully) DL would notice & get depressed. She stopped laying for 6 months when her other sister & buddy, Cuddles, died. Darthy enjoyed snuggles and her favorite person was my DD.

DD is now crying & will be for several days. When school started DD plastered her locker with multiple chickens pics - many are of Darthy. Her teacher requested each child bring in a photo from the summer for a class project. She brought in a pic of herself with 2 silkies & DL in her lap. That is how I will remember DL= snuggled up in DD's arms while reading a book, watching TV, or relaxing under her tree.

RIP my sweet Darth Layer.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@Faraday40
A beautiful tribute to a beloved pet.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Ours consists of chicken and dog care. We had dog care all sorted out, and then got a call last night that we never even asked and they don't want to anyways. So now we have to sort out our three dogs and we leave in three days. Several people have suggested kenneling but we're pinching pennies to even go. As it stands right now, it looks like we're taking them with which means no auctions and no casino. And then fighting all the kids off at the reunion. I was on the verge of tears last night and am strongly considering rehoming one of the dogs. I'm just so overwhelmed with the entire situation.

It hard, we know. Very important to take time for you, and your family. I don't leave the house often. My friendships suffer, social life. Take a hard look. I love every living critter out there! But you have to take time away once in a while. No critter is more important than family. And your own sanity/peace of mind.

Thankfully we did get some rain last night and pending rain today. its been so dry. Woke up at 2am to some strong thunder claps, as I started to drift back to sleep I remembered the babies never went in the coop to sleep Had to wake DH to go out with me mid storm and rescue them. They were huddled in a corner trying to stay dry but poor babies.. I felt absolutely terrible. We were soaked to the bone but so were they and it was a coooooooold rain. We got them in their house and managed to get the light on for warmth and to dry out. We checked them this morning before leaving and they seem to be dry. Very shaken, but dry.

Its ok. You're human! So many of us has had an oops.

Updates:
No signs that the fox has returned. I've been having my male dogs, DS, & DH pee all over the backyard. Also I turn talk radio on at night & have 3 solar, blinky, red LED lights nailed around the coop.

The dog definitely got sprayed in the mouth. We removed the worst of the skunk smell on Sat night & he wasn't bad on Sunday. However, the stink is returning & at its worst when he's licking, drinking, or eating. Last time this happened, it took several months for him to return to his normal level of stink. (He likes to roll in and eat poop, so he really only smells good right after a bath. ) How can such a pretty dog always smell so bad?

Darth Layer is still with us, but I am not optimistic. She looks miserable & is not eating/drinking on her own. i fear botulism or a fall. The kids said she fell out of a tree late last week but was running around with the flock on Sat. All of a sudden on Sunday morning, she looked like she only has hours left of life. I tube fed her a few times to see if it would help. No other chickens are acting sick.

I know she's depressed & molting, but her head is always down & she's not walking much. She's thin & pale. DD is feeling very sad. Darth Layer is her orig fav. I too am feeling bad.

With great sadness I must tell you that our beloved Darth Layer (aka Darthy & DL) passed away today. She has always been a flock favorite and a sensitive, loyal, loving bird. She is now at peace and joins her sister Cuddles.

Who knew that this fun "science experiment" would give us a flock & change our lives?
Although we've had many chickens, Darth Layer, was something special.
She perfected her art of Photo-bombing. (Taught by Precious who is still our undefeated champ.)
Darthy was one of the original "treat monsters" and ALWAYS one of the 1st hens to come running when called. She loved to jump up into the air to catch a high flying treat. She also always had a look about her - like she had a secret. Although most people think of me as an owner of impressive Lav orps, it's the black iridescent shine of DL's feathers that was truly impressive. And of course the name: Darth Layer has its own share of great stories.

We have a white hen: Princess Lay-a, so when a black orp hatched, we joked about how it was the opposite, so we nicknamed it "Darth Layer." We always joked how she used "the force" to make us give her treats and sang the Imperial March (Darth Vader's tune) whenever we shared a funny story about her.
(Clucking: Bawk, Bawk, Bawk, Ba Ba Baaa-wk, Ba Ba Baaa-wk....)
BTW- Cookie also hatched with Darth Layer. We didn't intend to keep a bantam with LF, but she had a lot of spirit and stayed close to her sister & protector: Darth Layer. DL's sidekick, Cookie, later earned the nickname - "the Bantam Menace" and we no longer worried about little Cookie getting bullied.

Below: Cuddles, DL, & Cookie when they 1st saw snow & were not impressed. They didn't leave the run until it all melted.

Most importantly, Darthy was the heart of the flock. When chicks grew older & left by their mama, DL would look after them to make sure they were OK and ease their transition. When roos would be rehomed or hens sold to new homes (even if a bully) DL would notice & get depressed. She stopped laying for 6 months when her other sister & buddy, Cuddles, died. Darthy enjoyed snuggles and her favorite person was my DD.

DD is now crying & will be for several days. When school started DD plastered her locker with multiple chickens pics - many are of Darthy. Her teacher requested each child bring in a photo from the summer for a class project. She brought in a pic of herself with 2 silkies & DL in her lap. That is how I will remember DL= snuggled up in DD's arms while reading a book, watching TV, or relaxing under her tree.

RIP my sweet Darth Layer.

I am so sorry. RIP sweet girl, you were loved.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I adore my guinea fowl. Yep they can be noisy! Eat all the ants, bees, spiders, ticks and any other bugs they can find. Being gone days at a time this last year, my flock dwindled to a pair. My silly, brave and stupid cock decided to fly into the road and was killed. He had been here almost 4 years. My Guinea hen had 5 viable eggs in her last nest! They hatched. I also have 36 eggs from a breeder in Corydon, due mid September. Feeling hopeful about next spring. My hen lives with our turkeys, she is the boss. Of course a Dundotte, ugh. I love the natural pearl color the most.
A flock of guinea will kill a hawk, snake and really harass any predator that's after your chickens. They are not a bird for suburbs, too much noise! We do process our extra boys and oh my... I stopped keeping pheasant after comparing the flavor of meat between the two species. I rarely need to process fellas, someone usually wants them.

 

[RoseHaven]

@Faraday40
So, so sorry about Darth Layer.