INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Faraday40]

The kids are feeling better (We had strep for Christmas & Flu for New Year.), so we finally took a few Christmas pics. Guess which bird DD had to pose with?

Of course we had to include her chicks

My fav pose:



Then DS had to pose with his Chizzy & Poof-Poof



We're still very sad about the loss of DD's 1st beloved silkie, Gilfie. It's been a month and DH & I have decided to let DD hatch some silkie eggs. Next month is DD's birthday, so hopefully we can find a source for eggs. I might also like to attempt to get a couple Modern game bantams, but a few silkie eggs take priority. PM me if you may know of any breeders.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Ugh. Some of the younger and smaller birds, plus the CX are now presenting respiratory problems since the sub-zero temps started. They act cold too. Put down fresh bedding but can't remove old poo. Put in more heat lamps and closed off some of the ventilation because hordes of sparrows invaded and have been pooping everywhere--especially in the water.

Tried a new horizontal waterer, but the bowls of water froze after the stupid sparrows splashed the water everywhere and capped in the cups.

Generally, I wouldn't close off any of the ventilation so long as the coop was dry, but several of the otherwise healthy birds have been shivering. Respiratory problems seem to have started with very young and poorly feathered birds. Coop is still dry. Didn't notice any ammonia fumes, but cold air makes my nose run, so I'm wondering if they might be having similar issues due to cold and dust.

How are your birds doing?

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

I'm extremely horrible at buying something, loving it, selling it later for more Muscovy's , then buy it again....

Like chickens, I bought them as eggs hatched them raised them, then sold them to make room for more Muscovy's.
Just bought some chickens again!
Same thing happened with quails!!!!
Just bought 124 hatching eggs and 23 day old chicks from my Friend who sell $1 hay bales for bedding!!!
But this time I'm not over whelming my self with quails.
(Had over 600+ Quails Last time )
Only doing 20 females and 4 males per type.
Types I will be getting:
Celadon Layers
Silvers
Pharoah
Italian
Texas A&M
Rosetta
Tuxedo

Why muscovys vs another duck?

 

[Indyshent]

How are your birds doing?

Most are seeming a little better. All of their medicine had frozen, and we haven't had running water since Christmas. Yesterday, it finally ran, but a pipe burst and another spigot started spraying uncontrollably... so we're back to not having water and living out of buckets.

Starting school again today.

 

[kanina]

Why muscovys vs another duck?

Because Muscovies are the BEST!!! Lol, I say this as if I'm not considering adding Calls to my circus. I got muscovies at the recommendation of @Nyla and a few others. They're quiet, disease resistant, self reliant, and not water mutants. I love how Java (my drake) meets me at the gate everyday ready for food. Abigail and Susan are still more hesitant but the way they squeak just melts my heart.

The kids are feeling better (We had strep for Christmas & Flu for New Year.), so we finally took a few Christmas pics. Guess which bird DD had to pose with?

Of course we had to include her chicks

My fav pose:



Then DS had to pose with his Chizzy & Poof-Poof



We're still very sad about the loss of DD's 1st beloved silkie, Gilfie. It's been a month and DH & I have decided to let DD hatch some silkie eggs. Next month is DD's birthday, so hopefully we can find a source for eggs. I might also like to attempt to get a couple Modern game bantams, but a few silkie eggs take priority. PM me if you may know of any breeders.

I believe, not sure, Keysey Acres in Lafayette, IN have silkie hatching eggs. And Calico Daisy Acres seems to always be posting new silkies, but they're in Ohio. They're both on Facebook.

Ended up getting some hatching eggs Saturday morning and started them Saturday at 4pm. 6 Lavender Orpington from a Hatching House line and 6 Fibro Fly Ties from a Betteridge line. The Fibro Fly Ties are a cross of Ayam Ceramis and Genetic Hackles.

 

[kanina]

Most are seeming a little better. All of their medicine had frozen, and we haven't had running water since Christmas. Yesterday, it finally ran, but a pipe burst and another spigot started spraying uncontrollably... so we're back to not having water and living out of buckets.

Starting school again today.

Oh no! Is that something house insurance can cover? I wish I was closer so I could offer you warm showers! Best of luck this semester!!!

 

[kanina]

OOOh we changed up our food this weekend. Stephanie at Coomer Farms aided in my attempt to convince DH to change up our food. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I've been running on insanity lately. We've been using Dumor purely out of convenience. We keep discussing a feed mill, and then go to TSC because its quite literally around the corner. I remember last year when we took on my grandma's chooks my grandpa reminded me about this time that the birds didn't like the TSC food and to get it from Rural King. Pfft, birds eat what they get, right? Right? WRONG lol They weren't laying, just like my girls aren't laying and haven't laid any of the three times they've gone on Dumor layer... Come on Kanina, get it together. When we've gone through a no lay period in the past I've dropped back down to finisher and things go back to normal. I choose finisher because I'm generally out of chick food as well and this way I can feed both without feeding layer to the chicks.

DH set out on a mission to find a better feed since the ducks could use something better, and the drake and roosters don't need layer. We decided on an All-Flock from RK, which would be $8+ less a month (provided my feeding estimates are correct) even though the drive is much longer (3 miles vs 23 miles). Then Stephanie told us about a feed mill in Matthews, IN which we're going to check out in the coming weeks. They have some great egg laying recipe, I don't remember what she said the specific name was. She also mentioned that she mixed black oil sunflower seeds and SuperKibble in with it and her girls are laying great. It looked like she didn't even have supplemental lighting, *gasp*

So yesterday I mixed 100# of Nutrena All-Flock with 6# of black oil sunflower seeds, and 1/2# of cat treats (I couldn't find the SuperKibble and they're super high in protein like the kibble). I thought about adding some oats, but I like giving them a bowl of warm oats as a treat (like Quaker Quick Oats). We'll see when the ladies will start laying again. Its been three weeks and my egg supplies are completely diminished. What am I supposed to eat with my bacon and toast???

What is everyone else using? Any suggestions on feeds?

 

[JanetMarie]

Why muscovys vs another duck?

Because they are awesome!

More specifically, they are intelligent, quiet, and I love their mannerisms. The males whisper, and wag their tails a lot, the girls chirp and make other quiet noises, and they all talk together wagging their tails, and bobbing their heads.

Their eggs also are better than other duck eggs (in my opinion). Muscovy eggs have a very thick yolk that you can pick up raw with a fork, and the white is so thick you have to scrape it out of the shell.

 

[JanetMarie]

I'm extremely horrible at buying something, loving it, selling it later for more Muscovy's , then buy it again....

Like chickens, I bought them as eggs hatched them raised them, then sold them to make room for more Muscovy's.
Just bought some chickens again!
Same thing happened with quails!!!!
Just bought 124 hatching eggs and 23 day old chicks from my Friend who sell $1 hay bales for bedding!!!
But this time I'm not over whelming my self with quails.
(Had over 600+ Quails Last time )
Only doing 20 females and 4 males per type.
Types I will be getting:
Celadon Layers
Silvers
Pharoah
Italian
Texas A&M
Rosetta
Tuxedo

Are you going to keep them this time?

 

[Faraday40]

Because Muscovies are the BEST!!! Lol, I say this as if I'm not considering adding Calls to my circus.

I'm not a duck person, but those calls are simply adorable!