INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Soon2BChixMom]

I found chicks at big r. Lol!

Cute!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Well, new guy has made it through his first day on our hobby farm! I supervised some time outside the run (there's a fenced in area separating an area around the run from the rest of the yard, though the dog had to come in a few times anyway because she's masterful like that). While Pancake and Sweetie had to test him out and make sure he wasn't too uppity and knew his place, nobody hurt him, and within a few minutes, they pretty much ignored him. Penny and Jake seemed to have missed having more chickens around. He seems to like Penny, and I've often seen him in really close proximity to her, and she doesn't seem to mind him being there--even though she's broody and sometimes nips me--and I hand-raised her! I'm taking that as a good sign.

So far, the only name that's availed itself might be Ambrose Burnsides. Might come up with something else later, but I think he could get worse if I keep looking for names. Have to see how he turns out as he settles in.

He's getting around much better, and I spotted him all over the yard, coop and run, so he's not letting his feet interrupt his plans to get around. Glad to see that he's more curious and less afraid of the outdoors as time goes. He didn't voluntarily leave the coop, but I brought him outside where he and the turkeys could regard each other with a lot more room to maneuver, and things went swimmingly.

I've seen turkeys and roosters really, really not get along before, and these guys haven't hazed him anywhere near as much as I thought they might (they're a pretty tame lot as turk-turks go). My mom was over and thought Pancake was going to hurt him, but I had to keep reassuring her that if Pancake was going to hurt him, she'd do it. She's not a combative personality, so it kind of surprised me that she periodically made like she was going to peck the top of his head--never so much as pulled a feather on him, mind you, but she let him know where he stood, just the same. As hazing can go with new flockmates, and especially as hazing can go between species, this was super tame--downright *nurturing*. It was seriously more like she was trying to artfully arrange his feathers than hurt him, and the vast majority of the times she made like she might arrange said feathers, she didn't even touch him.

Turkeys that mean business have a different manner, and they don't play around with it--they'll straight up go for blood and try to kill a rooster, if they feel threatened seriously. I've never seen a tom hurt a rooster, but hens can be sensitive and seem more likely to feel threatened (and react "accordingly"). This guy's too submissive to give them the wrong cues that might lead them to feel legitimately threatened. There's a language barrier between chickens and turkeys, and some birds have an easier time learning to "talk turkey" than others, but from what I've seen, it often comes down to who's going to give first between dominant hens and stupidly hormonal roosters who don't realize that the smallest turkey hen is still much bigger than they are and might just stomp him to death. That's not to say that turkey hens never lose those stare downs because I'm sure it's happened before. Thankfully, I've never kept birds with those kind of pyrotechnic personalities before, but I've heard lots of horror stories, so I try to keep my eyes out just in case anybody feels the need to surprise me by developing a... particularly ballistic streak.

Kate's been hoarding turkey eggs--and she's doing the broody squeal! It's adorable! I haven't had the honor of hearing that much, even though I've been nipped by some other broodies and seen a few puff up at me manhandling them and the babies. She's so dinky and cute!

Maple was scoping a nest box earlier, so I'm hoping she's going to get laying. Sweetie might have laid her first today for the year, too (in the old pheasant enclosure! I have no idea how she even fit through that little door!).

Little miss Kate is by far the best broody I have ever had. It will be interesting to see her hatch turkeys! I would think 3 eggs would be about all she could handle maybe 4.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

New pics and vids up of my Muscovy ducklings, Blossom, Lil' Bean, Java Joe, and Mocha.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-new-muscovy-ducklings.1228627/page-9#post-19766505

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

They are precious!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

So the last couple weeks I am seeing a trend with the turkey toms. It started with them attacking my DDs great Dane. Sweet, lovable calm dog. Since then, They have went after my goats, and the cows! 3 of the toms are not pets, and can be aggressive. They are going across the road to the park, and visiting neighbors now also. Not ok so they are freezer bound very soon. They actually went after my neighbors 200lb mastiff!
My concern is for the oldest guy, "Thanksgiving" who is a real pet. His name came from the day he was born and not his purpose! 16 months old about and was raised by @Indyshent. We changed his name to Tank, he is a big fella. He is a heritage standard bronze. I am looking at re-homing him. Great hawk alarm, follows you everywhere and loves people hugs! I have 2 people already speaking up for him... but in case it won't happen please pm me if you are interested. Again, he is a pet. He will help prevent hawk attacks to a free range flock, and likes to oversee chickens. It would be a terrible loss to process him.

 

[faerydust16]

It's sad how many people buy rabbits and chicks as Easter gifts and don't realize how much work they are.
I want to put a sign up that says "all Easter gifts welcome here. Easter gift sanctuary."

Oh and someone told me that white chickens are the most aggressive.

True or false?

 

[Faraday40]

Oh and someone told me that white chickens are the most aggressive.

True or false?

Our sweet Princess Lay-a was white. Laid eggs like a champ too. Not skittish but not a lap chicken. She was our flock leader & still laid well at almost 6 yrs old....... until a hawk attack in January. Sadly she had to be put down.

 

[Indyshent]

So the last couple weeks I am seeing a trend with the turkey toms. It started with them attacking my DDs great Dane. Sweet, lovable calm dog. Since then, They have went after my goats, and the cows! 3 of the toms are not pets, and can be aggressive. They are going across the road to the park, and visiting neighbors now also. Not ok so they are freezer bound very soon. They actually went after my neighbors 200lb mastiff!
My concern is for the oldest guy, "Thanksgiving" who is a real pet. His name came from the day he was born and not his purpose! 16 months old about and was raised by @Indyshent. We changed his name to Tank, he is a big fella. He is a heritage standard bronze. I am looking at re-homing him. Great hawk alarm, follows you everywhere and loves people hugs! I have 2 people already speaking up for him... but in case it won't happen please pm me if you are interested. Again, he is a pet. He will help prevent hawk attacks to a free range flock, and likes to oversee chickens. It would be a terrible loss to process him.

If you and Brad don't want to keep him, we can take him back and see how it goes.

It's sad how many people buy rabbits and chicks as Easter gifts and don't realize how much work they are.
I want to put a sign up that says "all Easter gifts welcome here. Easter gift sanctuary."

Oh and someone told me that white chickens are the most aggressive.

True or false?

Totally false. Color in chickens is the same as with people and every other animal. Person probably just met some mean Leghorns and thought it applied to all of them.

Some breeds are more predisposed to aggression, but that has to do with breeding and socialization and not feather color. Same thing with dogs. If aggressive animals breed, the trait is more likely to persist. If animals are poorly treated and socialized the trait is more likely to show up and persist.

Also, birds can be aggressive selectively. Game fowl tend to be very protective of hearth and home, defending the flock against all kinds of threats and the gene pool against foreign roosters, but they won't necessarily be aggressive with people at all.

Most human aggression I've seen is actually from breeds that shouldn't have an aggressive bone in their bodies (always the fault of poor breeding, raging adolescent hormone stage, and/or an owner who doesn't know how to curb the aggression or lacks the resolve).

 

[Leahs Mom]

Happy Easter Everyone!

 

[Faraday40]

Happy Easter!

Besides hatching chicks & spring cleaning, we prepped for Easter by baking treats and visiting the annual Egg Hunt. (Held inside this year because of rain, so it was a little crazy.) DD brought her silkie & entertained the little ones while waiting for their turn inside the gym. DS scored big on eggs. (He didn't have much competition b/c many stayed home.) At home we baked hot cross buns, boiled & decorated eggs with stickers (since their natural colors are so pretty), and then shared our treats with the neighbors. Last night we made Easter bunny cookies. They look adorable. The hardest part was getting the kids (and DH) to wait until Easter. The Easter Bunny was very tired last night ....ZZZzzz

Up early for church and then our traditional big brunch. We cooked bacon and crepes in addition to the hot cross buns & HB eggs.



Rice Krispy treats (made on Thus, gone by Thurs night LOL)

Our town's Creepy Easter Bunny

The cute 3-D bunny cookies. Each one has 2 small cookies for ears and another medium cookie for the face, all on top of one large sugar cookie head. DS wanted to write his name on his, but I told him we'll know. Can you spot the 3 he made? (The 3rd one DD helped him.)