INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Nyla]

So it's Official. I want chickens again. So now I'm trying to find someone willing to sell laying hens. I don't want any older then 1 year old.. I want them for egg production.. Anyone know of someone selling any?

 

[JanetMarie]

Ermagersh! Those pictures are so cute! I used to write and draw a lot of fantasy and science fiction and do lots of world building, but in doing such, I too have made a few four-legged birds. My favorites so far are the "cowlies", which are highly magical, highly intelligent, deeply distrustful (verging on paranoid), light sensitive, four-legged ravens that have the back end of a ball python for a tail and love eating pickled eyeballs. They're a lot of fun to throw into stories and DnD campaigns.

I've never heard anything about Silkies tasting weird, but they do cook a funny color and can look patriotic if served with red beans and white rice I figured we'd barbecue them to make the blue tone a bit less noticeable.

Where are the pics of these "cowlies"?

 

[kanina]

Had a million projects I needed to do and got to none of them.

Was super sick Saturday morning so I didn't make it up to visit family, but I did manage to get wood for my duck house I'll be working on all week. They've been sleeping under the house, in the protected area, but with temps dropping, they need a place of their own. I'm making a 4x4 dog house with a 2 foot breaker wall by the door, and the roof will be on hinges. Pretty excited, hopefully DH loses his attitude and we can get it done this week.

Still have 6 Ameraucana chicks and we've been working on ever improving their brooder. Need to add a roost, a solid wall, hardware cloth the door and close a couple holes mice could potentially get in.

Speaking of mice, they're migrating inside for the winter and I can't find where they're coming in. We've killed/trapped two so far, but I still can hear them in the living room. Any tips on that? I'm nearly ready for a cat, but DH hates cats.

Next project is a hatch. I've got my incubator set up for testing and my eggs on standby to go in. Surprise surprise the built in thermostat and hydrometer are trash. We've got a nice one DH has to run and get the other piece for and we'll be more ready. I need a true reading on the humidity because right now its showing 85% and I don't know how to regulate/bring it down since you just pour water in the bottom. But with a working hydrometer, it may be where it needs to be. Tips, tricks, ideas welcome.

I'm going to hatch a combination of Welsummer crosses, Legbar crosses, Maran crosses, Olive Eggers and Ameraucanas. I have two and a half dozen to go in. I figure whatever happens happens, its a trial run. Grandma got a dozen from a lady that has a good assortment but they're covered by two different breed roosters, then I have a dozen and a half from my girls. I'm a little excited.

 

[JanetMarie]

I've found that it's better to use damp sponges rather than pouring water in the bottom of the incubator. I just set the sponge in the center where the temperature is not the same as the perimeter. My incubators are the Little Giant with the heating core that goes around the perimeter.

I've found that I believe to be accurate, is using a digital thermometer/hydrometer, that I place on the turning tray in line with the eggs. It rests about 1/4 from the top of the eggs. As the tray tilts the temp. reading changes.

Before more detail, what type of incubator are you using?

 

[kanina]

I've found that it's better to use damp sponges rather than pouring water in the bottom of the incubator. I just set the sponge in the center where the temperature is not the same as the perimeter. My incubators are the Little Giant with the heating core that goes around the perimeter.

I've found that I believe to be accurate, is using a digital thermometer/hydrometer, that I place on the turning tray in line with the eggs. It rests about 1/4 from the top of the eggs. As the tray tilts the temp. reading changes.

Before more detail, what type of incubator are you using?

It is the "Pro Series Circulated Air Incubator Model 4200" by Farm Innovators

 

[hbrown322]

Boy you'd had a busy & productive day!



Has anyone here processed silkies? Do they taste any different?

I just processed mine Saturday. We will be having them for dinner tonight, I’ll give you an update tomorrow!

 

[Faraday40]

I just processed mine Saturday. We will be having them for dinner tonight, I’ll give you an update tomorrow!

Please include some pics if you remember. Is the meat black or just the skin?

 

[hbrown322]

The skin is a dark blue. The meat looks to be regular colored. But I’ll take some pictures when I get home. I’m making spatchcock, so we’ll see how it turns out!

 

[JanetMarie]

It is the "Pro Series Circulated Air Incubator Model 4200" by Farm Innovators

Same basic design as my Little Giant, but mine is still air, so details about temperatures will be different.

My advice is to read the included instructions over twice, or more if needed, and keep it in a room where the temperature can be regulated. Also, take detailed notes so that if you have a good hatch, you can duplicate it in the future.

You have a nice assortment to hatch. Keep us posted on how things are going.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

So it's Official. I want chickens again. So now I'm trying to find someone willing to sell laying hens. I don't want any older then 1 year old.. I want them for egg production.. Anyone know of someone selling any?

Nyla, I see them listed on Craigslist quite often. Where in Northern Indiana? You can msg me if you don’t want it posted publicly.