INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[faerydust16]

I offer chicken rental packages http://farmerbrad.com/rentals

Huh?

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Got a busted lip today after Pancake socked me right in the face while I was trying to lift her over the fence (she'd gotten into the neighbor's yard again). Ursa, of course, had to get into the area of the yard I've fenced her off from, so she had to be super excited and up against the fence while I was trying to lift the turkey over.

You don't think of how powerful a turkeys wings have to be until that kind of force smacks your face. To lift a 20 pound or so bird up off the ground and fly at up to 55 mph, those wings have to be deceptively strong.

Kinda glad it was Pancake and not Jake Jake. She's my biggest, heaviest hen, and she's more likely to freak out with the dog and being lifted up though. Jake Jake has put on a lot of mass so he's heavier than I figured he would grow to be (has the double breast like BB and MW turkeys, and he's bigger than his MW dad. Think Pancake might have been his mom).

Something got into my coop last night and stole off with, broke, and licked out four huge turkey eggs. Pretty ticked about that. Not sure I'll be able to catch that in a squirrel trap and not sure how it got in or out.

Owwch! Possum are notorious for eggs they are lazy. Something is getting my goose eggs, all 4 girls are out for blood. I suspect raccoon.

I offer chicken rental packages http://farmerbrad.com/rentals

Welcome to our thread! You might explain what that means so other folks understand.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Sharing my winter and early spring thoughts lol. During the winter I am youtube-ing everything you can imagine for spring. We have a 5 acre homestead and I want to be reliant on our land. I would say half of our land covers my livestock for pasture, i have begun reseeding annually to provide good grazing. Last year was orchard grass mix.This year we will be planting perennial rye grass. We use rotational grazing paddocks and mobile housing. Electric fence works great on everything! Keep them out of the garden. Keep them off the newly seeded pasture. Keeping everyone safe is my #1 priority. You need to test that fence daily.
This applies to any bird species poultry, waterfowl and livestock. Arial predators like hawks or owls are our only issue with chickens or ducks. Turkey, guinea and geese really help! Early spring, late winter we have issues with small hawk and owls. My geese are more concerned about the goose hens, forget their job. Same with the turkey toms and guinea cocks.

 

[faerydust16]

With those horrible thunderstorms last night I thought we were going to lose power so here's a question since my chicks are still under a heat lamp if we lost power what would you guys do?

 

[JanetMarie]

We use a wood burning stove to heat our home. When I used to use a heat lamp and power went out I started a fire right away, and moved them close to the stove. Since then though I have learned more about more natural ways of brooding...

Since using the chick cave method with the heating pad though (I believe on BYC it's referred to as MHP) I would not do anything. The chicks won't be upset if their 24/7 light goes out, since there is none.

Also, since having broody hens raise chicks, the moms have taken chicks a few days old out into 40 degree weather. They just go under mom to get a warm up.

 

[JanetMarie]

Pet bed warmer that I was able to get on sale in early spring for $10.00! Regular price was $40.00. My camera keeps wanting to go back to 2004 for some reason.

Bubble foil on the inside of the bottom of a pet carrier.

The pet warmer is wrapped in aluminum foil, then a towel, then wrap the towel in Press N' Seal.

Chicks go in the cave to nap, chill out, and go to bed at night. They need their night time sleep cycle to grow up healthy.

They have an enclosure with plenty of room.

This is the easiest way to raise chicks. This was the very first broody hen. She was separated from everyone else, but that isn't necessary. I keep the broody hen and chicks with the rest of the flock now, and just give them their own food and water, and keep an eye on them.

Nap time on mom's back.

 

[faerydust16]

View attachment 1323881
Pet bed warmer that I was able to get on sale in early spring for $10.00! Regular price was $40.00. My camera keeps wanting to go back to 2004 for some reason.

View attachment 1323880
Bubble foil on the inside of the bottom of a pet carrier.

View attachment 1323882
The pet warmer is wrapped in aluminum foil, then a towel, then wrap the towel in Press N' Seal.
View attachment 1323879
Chicks go in the cave to nap, chill out, and go to bed at night. They need their night time sleep cycle to grow up healthy.

View attachment 1323878
They have an enclosure with plenty of room.

View attachment 1323883
This is the easiest way to raise chicks. This was the very first broody hen. She was separated from everyone else, but that isn't necessary. I keep the broody hen and chicks with the rest of the flock now, and just give them their own food and water, and keep an eye on them.

View attachment 1323884
Nap time on mom's back.

I'll have to get the other stuff but I have a pet carrier top I can use yay!

 

[Faraday40]

Did you put a heating pad both on top & under the cave?

I had to do a double take with this pic. At a quick glance, it looked like your buff orp has very fluffy feathered legs/feet. LOL

 

[JanetMarie]

Did you put a heating pad both on top & under the cave?

Yes, the smaller heating pad is on top just for a few days after hatching.

 

[pginsber]

Sharing my winter and early spring thoughts lol. During the winter I am youtube-ing everything you can imagine for spring. We have a 5 acre homestead and I want to be reliant on our land. I would say half of our land covers my livestock for pasture, i have begun reseeding annually to provide good grazing. Last year was orchard grass mix.This year we will be planting perennial rye grass. We use rotational grazing paddocks and mobile housing. Electric fence works great on everything! Keep them out of the garden. Keep them off the newly seeded pasture. Keeping everyone safe is my #1 priority. You need to test that fence daily.
This applies to any bird species poultry, waterfowl and livestock. Arial predators like hawks or owls are our only issue with chickens or ducks. Turkey, guinea and geese really help! Early spring, late winter we have issues with small hawk and owls. My geese are more concerned about the goose hens, forget their job. Same with the turkey toms and guinea cocks.

Late winter, I find myself LONGING for Spring. When Spring finally arrives, it's so easy to get distressed by having so many weather-dependent items on my to-do list.

My dining room table is covered in seedling flats, heat mats, and grow lights.

This year, one of my 4' grow lights died, as did my seedling fan. I bought a new seedling fan that oscillates, but even on the lowest setting, I have to keep it across the room so it won't blow my seedlings over! I've ordered a replacement 4' T-5 grow light fixture that should be delivered this week. My seedlings have all been stretching toward the single grow light fixture that's working and some are getting pretty leggy!

I have also been YouTube-ing over the winter. I plan to build a 6x8 greenhouse kit.

On YouTube, there's dozens of videos about greenhouse kit hacks. Two weeks ago, I started mine in the house. (DW was NOT enthused!) I had aluminum channels, polycarbonate panels, and screws and cardboard all over the house!

Last weekend, the greenhouse base I'd built in the house I took outside to the garden. Without exaggeration, it took me AN ENTIRE DAY to simply fashion a treated lumber base, square and level it, and sit the greenhouse base on it. (I was so grateful that the weather forecast included rain sufficient to cancel my outside work! )

I still have all 30+ of the polycarbonate panels in the TV room, leaning against the wall. I'm praying for decent weather this weekend so I can assemble the frame and install the panels. I'm pretty sure DW will have me outside regardless of the weather!