INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Ryn2011]

Hey everyone! I am new to the group here. I live in southern Indiana and just finished putting together the coop. I went ahead and went with a small one (3 boxes) to attach to a larger run. I have a space that is about 25ft long and 3.5ft wide that runs along the side of the garage. I'm going to chicken proof the rest of the yard so I can let them out to free range.
I picked up 6 Cornish Crosses for meat and I have 6 more Barred Rocks on the way. Right now they are stationed in the garage in a pumpkin box while I work on the run and configure coop placement.

 

[Indyshent]

Hey everyone! I am new to the group here. I live in southern Indiana and just finished putting together the coop. I went ahead and went with a small one (3 boxes) to attach to a larger run. I have a space that is about 25ft long and 3.5ft wide that runs along the side of the garage. I'm going to chicken proof the rest of the yard so I can let them out to free range.
I picked up 6 Cornish Crosses for meat and I have 6 more Barred Rocks on the way. Right now they are stationed in the garage in a pumpkin box while I work on the run and configure coop placement.View attachment 1179503 View attachment 1179504 View attachment 1179505 View attachment 1179506

Welcome to the thread!

I've got six Cornish cross and still have 4 of the 6 barred Rocks I picked up earlier this year. The Rocks have been very sweet young ladies so far. Cornish crosses are super lazy but easy going usually (they have the survival instincts that urban legends gave lemmings though, so watch out).

I've got a bunch of other birds too, partially because I'm working on making a new breed, and mostly because I'm addicted to poultry.

 

[Nyla]

I was told that it's a pure Blue Andalusian pullet... I didn't believe them on it though. Also they are all 2 months supposedly. They aren't as big as my chicks were at 2 months. I hatched Meyer Hatchery eggs in January and at two month my chicks were pretty big.

Yup that little gray one smacks of testosterone, doesn't he? Not seeing anything in his feathers that smacks of manliness, but that comb and wattles...

Welcome to BYC!! Glad you joined us! Your coop is fantastic! Looks like the work of a pro! And adorable chicks! Can't wait to see the barred rocks!

Hey everyone! I am new to the group here. I live in southern Indiana and just finished putting together the coop. I went ahead and went with a small one (3 boxes) to attach to a larger run. I have a space that is about 25ft long and 3.5ft wide that runs along the side of the garage. I'm going to chicken proof the rest of the yard so I can let them out to free range.
I picked up 6 Cornish Crosses for meat and I have 6 more Barred Rocks on the way. Right now they are stationed in the garage in a pumpkin box while I work on the run and configure coop placement.View attachment 1179503 View attachment 1179504 View attachment 1179505 View attachment 1179506

 

[kanina]

Was a pretty epic weekend in our yard. Thought a tarp was a great idea to keep the ladies out of the snow though winter so we put it up Saturday. Thought we angled it correctly for drainage and all my calculations were a lie. I basically nearly destroyed my run. We got a ton of rain over night from the storms and it all gathered in the center. Which pulled my walls in and began to collapse them.

Being the big girl that I am, I couldn't get in to make a hole in the tarp to drain it out. Luckily DH managed to squeeze in and we were slowly able to drain it out. One corner of the wall is slightly damaged, but the nice thing about wood and moisture is you can work to bend it back. [insert bawling embarrassed emoji here].

So we're back to the drawing board on how to afford to cover the run this year, and its looking like its not going to happen. So I'm trying to research solutions for all my winter worries of chickens and snow and

My Silkies are ever adorable, and Rhea my EE hen is laying double yolkers about once a week, I'll have to take a picture of the new one we have. The Marans aren't laying, but we put lights out finally hoping to help stimulate them. I wanted to get an LED light bar to put in the coop, but I couldn't find any outdoor safe ones, I found a nice florescent but I hate florescent lights. So we ended up buying party lights, they look almost like Edison bulbs. I'll have to try to get some pictures tonight after dark. Looks like a party patio.

Anyone have solutions for the wetness in runs? I've put in a few bales of straw, but it always manages to disappear into the dirt and we're back to a muddy mess again.

 

[kanina]

Hey everyone! I am new to the group here. I live in southern Indiana and just finished putting together the coop. I went ahead and went with a small one (3 boxes) to attach to a larger run. I have a space that is about 25ft long and 3.5ft wide that runs along the side of the garage. I'm going to chicken proof the rest of the yard so I can let them out to free range.
I picked up 6 Cornish Crosses for meat and I have 6 more Barred Rocks on the way. Right now they are stationed in the garage in a pumpkin box while I work on the run and configure coop placement.View attachment 1179503 View attachment 1179504 View attachment 1179505 View attachment 1179506

Great looking coop. Sounds like you have a great

The OE died, and while I was burying him, I realized the dog had pushed a huge hole through the run. Put a chain link fence section over the hole, and it's in place as good as I can get it for now. Brought the other guy in and gave him a bath. Not seeing any huge outward injuries, but we'll see over the next few days how bad off he actually is versus how good an actor he is.

Ick. Sorry for the loss. I've got a few OE in the bator due in a week. What breed is your dog?
We've been lucky with our dogs and chickens. The chihuahua, Ellie, is afraid of them, and Thea likes to chase Ellie on occasion. Chickens chasing dogs is pretty entertaining. The pom, Toby, could care less either way, but he does enjoy running at them and then abruptly stopping. The mutt, Gaia, her prey drive kicks in sometimes and she starts chasing them, but has yet to put one in her mouth. She goes toward them to investigate, they freak out and the chase begins. A simple holler of her name and she turns back around.

 

[Indyshent]

I was told that it's a pure Blue Andalusian pullet... I didn't believe them on it though. Also they are all 2 months supposedly. They aren't as big as my chicks were at 2 months. I hatched Meyer Hatchery eggs in January and at two month my chicks were pretty big.




Welcome to BYC!! Glad you joined us! Your coop is fantastic! Looks like the work of a pro! And adorable chicks! Can't wait to see the barred rocks!

If it starts getting dark shoulders, it's definitely a guy. I would think they'd get stiff tail feathers by now if pullets, and its tail is shapeless still. Leghorns tend to feather quickly and get bright combs, regardless of gender, but guys do tend to get bigger brighter combs a little earlier still. The stance is pretty manly too.

How were they sexed that the seller is so sure? It might be a pullet still (been surprised before).

Was a pretty epic weekend in our yard. Thought a tarp was a great idea to keep the ladies out of the snow though winter so we put it up Saturday. Thought we angled it correctly for drainage and all my calculations were a lie. I basically nearly destroyed my run. We got a ton of rain over night from the storms and it all gathered in the center. Which pulled my walls in and began to collapse them.

Being the big girl that I am, I couldn't get in to make a hole in the tarp to drain it out. Luckily DH managed to squeeze in and we were slowly able to drain it out. One corner of the wall is slightly damaged, but the nice thing about wood and moisture is you can work to bend it back. [insert bawling embarrassed emoji here].

So we're back to the drawing board on how to afford to cover the run this year, and its looking like its not going to happen. So I'm trying to research solutions for all my winter worries of chickens and snow and

My Silkies are ever adorable, and Rhea my EE hen is laying double yolkers about once a week, I'll have to take a picture of the new one we have. The Marans aren't laying, but we put lights out finally hoping to help stimulate them. I wanted to get an LED light bar to put in the coop, but I couldn't find any outdoor safe ones, I found a nice florescent but I hate florescent lights. So we ended up buying party lights, they look almost like Edison bulbs. I'll have to try to get some pictures tonight after dark. Looks like a party patio.

Anyone have solutions for the wetness in runs? I've put in a few bales of straw, but it always manages to disappear into the dirt and we're back to a muddy mess again.

Sorry your weekend was crummy, dear.

More pictures might help. Could you make a roof frame to cause the tarp not gather water there?

 

[kanina]

If it starts getting dark shoulders, it's definitely a guy. I would think they'd get stiff tail feathers by now if pullets, and its tail is shapeless still. Leghorns tend to feather quickly and get bright combs, regardless of gender, but guys do tend to get bigger brighter combs a little earlier still. The stance is pretty manly too.

How were they sexed that the seller is so sure? It might be a pullet still (been surprised before).



Sorry your weekend was crummy, dear.

More pictures might help. Could you make a roof frame to cause the tarp not gather water there?

I was going to take pictures but my phone was in the house and I was in such a panic to get it fixed. We're going to let them get through this year uncovered, then next year do something. I just don't know what yet.

My biggest focus is figuring out how to get rid of this mud so I don't lose to frostbite this winter. Maybe sand?

 

[Nyla]

What I like to do for my ducks is, I put a layer of sand, then I lay down a layer of hay about 2-3" deep, then I take wood chips from a tree grounded up or mulch lay that over the hay. I do this at the beginning of Spring,Summer, fall, and Winter. I have well over 60 Muscovy's! I've noticed during winter, it produces heat. I decided to try turning it and mixing up the run last winter. As soon as I shoveled one scoop, steam came up from where the scoop was. I put my hand in it and it was slightly warm! My ducks light to dig under it.
But I'm sorry about what happened to your run! I hope you have a better time!

I was going to take pictures but my phone was in the house and I was in such a panic to get it fixed. We're going to let them get through this year uncovered, then next year do something. I just don't know what yet.

My biggest focus is figuring out how to get rid of this mud so I don't lose to frostbite this winter. Maybe sand?

 

[Leahs Mom]

@kanina

I've found that the best way to keep the run healthy and dry is a deep litter in the run. I've done several posts on this throughout this thread so you could search my name and "litter" in the search thing and find them.

The deep litter keeps the ground healthy and the water will soak right in like there hasn't even been a rain. Here are a couple of quotes from former posts. It is cobbled together from several of them so forgive any repatition.

You can use the wood shavings right from your coop. When you clean it out, put them right out into the run. The birds will have a great time spreading them out for you. Keep putting more on each time until you have a nice deep litter built up..


PS: I do not recommend sand. It has a good potential to be a vector for disease. I can comment on that more if desired. I've run into more people that have had coci and other medical issues with sand in the outdoor runs. Not to mention the work to keep it clean.

Also, please be aware that if you have wood chips delivered from outside your own home to use as part of your deep litter as I noted below, be sure that the tree trimmer will not bring any yew (poisonous). My tree guy also knows that I don't want any chips from yards that have had chemical input on them as well. You must let the wood chips "cure" and not use them right from the trimming. Note that I let my piles cure until they have worms and other life in them.


*******
From Prior Posts:
I use deep litter in the run. I primarily used wood chips from a tree trimmer but you need to let them cure in a pile - don't use them green. They will often bring them free for the asking.

Additionally, all of the litter from indoors goes right out onto the deep litter. It makes the most amazing, healthy soil under there that you'll ever see. Very healthy for the birds and they can scratch through the mulch and find tons of worms and bugs to eat.

Here is a photo from one of my previous posts. If you scroll to the top of this page and click on "search" you can put in my name, check mark "this thread" and search the word "chip" You can see several posts about the deep liter. It is absolutely the most healthy ground you'll ever see if you deep litter the outdoor run.


This is a photo of one of my wood chip piles from several years ago. The pile had set long enough that it was full of tons of redworms so on occasion I would put the electronet over there so they could dig through it to eat. To make the deep litter, I just wheelbarrowed it over to the kennel run.

If they dig through the piles, they will spread them all over the run. They love doing it, so don't spread it out yourself!








Here you can see them working to spread the chips in the kennel run. I don't spread chips ever. Just put them in a pile and put the helpers to work.

You never have to clean it. You just keep adding more to it and what's inside your coop put right out onto it.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/content/type/61/id/5373331/
No more slimy, unhealthy, disease-breeding soil! And no more puddling.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/content/type/61/id/5373331/
Every once in awhile I'd go out with a shovel and the birds would come running. I'd turn over some of the soil - which is wonderfully composted and full of worms. They'd know there would be an easy feast if I had the shovel in my hand. Then they'd dig through and spread it all out again.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/content/type/61/id/5373331/
One year 2 of my daughters came and we spread back the topmost chips and they dug soil for new raised bed gardens. It was the best-smelling healthy soil I'd ever seen in person and made great garden beds. We took 2 pickup truck bed loads out and it was still left with healthy soil and wood chips afterwards.

 

[kanina]

@Leahs Mom
Awesome, thanks for the search tips. I find it more confusing than it really is now that its broke down.

@Nyla
Starla's gone missing tonight. I've been letting them free range in the afternoons and she seems to have taken off. I didn't notice until after dark when I went out to lock them all up. I'm heartbroken and hoping she shows back up tomorrow since this is where the food is. I don't know how she managed to clear the fence, I just checked her wings the other night. We looked everywhere we could think of but its just too dark.

Since I haven't shared any pics for awhile:
Here's my muscovys:
Java

Starla

Salt and Java. Guess I don't have any new ones of Pepper.

Butternut

Nyx

They love love love to go out and forage. First ones out, second to last ones in.

Kronos and Blue

Molly - Fun Story - Molly is a legacy. My grandma got back into raising chickens due to her friend Molly. So her first chicken starting back up was named Molly. Molly was the best hatcher, so down her line after she was gone, another chicken got named Molly. My grandma's last two Black Maran have been Molly. So, because grandma can't have chickens right now, we of course had to name our black maran "Molly"

Rhea, currently my only layer since everyone else has froze up for winter. Thea is her sister and is several shades darker. But she's shy still so she didn't come out for photo day.