INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[faerydust16]

Sorry I just wanted to rant and I realized it's on a public board I probably shouldn't do that

 

[HamsterStyle]

Here's a new one on me, any thoughts? Had a neighbor ask me what breed of chicken lays a red egg. I thought of Marans of course, but she said its red not brown. So i googled it, can't find anything.

Maran is the only thing I can think of. Did they see a pic of a maran egg?

 

[Faraday40]

Here's a new one on me, any thoughts? Had a neighbor ask me what breed of chicken lays a red egg. I thought of Marans of course, but she said its red not brown. So i googled it, can't find anything.

Maybe a Welsummer. It's more terracotta with speckles - like a red clay pot. Not really dark brown like the Marans.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Sorry I just wanted to rant and I realized it's on a public board I probably shouldn't do that

I am sorry to hear what your family is going through. Its impossible for anyone to give good advice without knowing the situation personally, even then... I would definitely consult an attorney specializing in family law.

Maran is the only thing I can think of. Did they see a pic of a maran egg?

Yes! I pulled up pics of Maran and Welsummer. She is working towards that colorful egg basket idea.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Sooo looks like I am buying goslings very soon. Some of my geese are 6 now, and egg production is very low to none. If anyone wants to get in on an order let me know. Best price I have found looks to be around $15 per gosling. I've had no luck finding a local breeder for Brown Chinese.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Chicken nipples!!!

They sell them online (ebay & amazon) as well as at farm stores. The ones in the pic are the cheaper vertical ones which I buy for under $1 each. Basically grab some plastic container from your recycle bin & drill a hole in bottom to fit the nipple. Screw in or push in the nipple. (There are 2 types. Push in kind is easier for thin disposable plastic. Screw in type is better for buckets that have thicker, firm plastic.) Make a way to hang it. I usually drill holes at top & bend some clothes hanger wire. If you have a sealed container w/o any air holes, you'll need to drill a small hole to release air pressure (prevent a vacuum) Otherwise, the holes made to insert the hanging wire are enough. We make several of these. They're cheap & great for brooders. I can't stand how messy the standard waterers get and don't want my babies drinking poopy water.

Here's DD making one for her quail:View attachment 1353027View attachment 1353028
View attachment 1353029 View attachment 1353030



For the winter, we use the nicer horiz nipples. Mostly because we have a bucket & heater to prevent water from freezing. The horiz leak less & they don't freeze up as easily. They cost a little more, and since we're always giving away waterers we simply buy the reg vertical ones in bulk.

Great post~

 

[Faraday40]

Today I taught a couple preschool classes. DS was supposed to come along & help. (Besides getting out of school for 1+ hour, he gets to go back to see his former preschool teachers every spring as my assistant.) Then my poor kids developed sore throats last night. Neither seemed better this morning, so they both stayed home. Boy was DS disappointed! Just got back from the doc's & both have strep. UGH! At least I'm glad they stayed home to prevent spreading.

As you already know, I did a few test hatches and discovered some fertility issues with my orpingtons. So when I loaded up the 3 classroom incubators, I added plenty of extras to make up for all the clears I experienced at home. Teachers/classrooms usually have lower hatch rates anyway, so I set 4-5 doz eggs (expecting only about 1/2 of them to hatch). I just finished candling all 3 incubators. Gulp! There are 42 developing eggs!!! I think I'm going to be sleeping out in the coop when DH notices all those chicks returning here. They should hatch Tues & Wed next week. For the 1st weekend, the teachers fight over who gets to chick-sit. After that first week, the schools return the chicks to me.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Today I taught a couple preschool classes. DS was supposed to come along & help. (Besides getting out of school for 1+ hour, he gets to go back to see his former preschool teachers every spring as my assistant.) Then my poor kids developed sore throats last night. Neither seemed better this morning, so they both stayed home. Boy was DS disappointed! Just got back from the doc's & both have strep. UGH! At least I'm glad they stayed home to prevent spreading.

As you already know, I did a few test hatches and discovered some fertility issues with my orpingtons. So when I loaded up the 3 classroom incubators, I added plenty of extras to make up for all the clears I experienced at home. Teachers/classrooms usually have lower hatch rates anyway, so I set 4-5 doz eggs (expecting only about 1/2 of them to hatch). I just finished candling all 3 incubators. Gulp! There are 42 developing eggs!!! I think I'm going to be sleeping out in the coop when DH notices all those chicks returning here. They should hatch Tues & Wed next week. For the 1st weekend, the teachers fight over who gets to chick-sit. After that first week, the schools return the chicks to me.

WOW 42! That's a whole lotta chicks! Hope the kids feel better soon.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Here's a new one on me, any thoughts? Had a neighbor ask me what breed of chicken lays a red egg. I thought of Marans of course, but she said its red not brown. So i googled it, can't find anything.

If Marans and Welsummer eggs are not what she's thinking of, there is a hybrid called the Cherry Egger. I'm really not sure what color eggs they lay, but I'm pretty positive that red, as in RED red, is not possible from chickens. Maybe a pinkish, reddish brown, but not red red. There is an egg color chart that's been going around for years that shows red as well as like a super dark blue (think BYC's background color) as possible chicken egg colors, neither of which are possible, so maybe she saw that?

Today I taught a couple preschool classes. DS was supposed to come along & help. (Besides getting out of school for 1+ hour, he gets to go back to see his former preschool teachers every spring as my assistant.) Then my poor kids developed sore throats last night. Neither seemed better this morning, so they both stayed home. Boy was DS disappointed! Just got back from the doc's & both have strep. UGH! At least I'm glad they stayed home to prevent spreading.

As you already know, I did a few test hatches and discovered some fertility issues with my orpingtons. So when I loaded up the 3 classroom incubators, I added plenty of extras to make up for all the clears I experienced at home. Teachers/classrooms usually have lower hatch rates anyway, so I set 4-5 doz eggs (expecting only about 1/2 of them to hatch). I just finished candling all 3 incubators. Gulp! There are 42 developing eggs!!! I think I'm going to be sleeping out in the coop when DH notices all those chicks returning here. They should hatch Tues & Wed next week. For the 1st weekend, the teachers fight over who gets to chick-sit. After that first week, the schools return the chicks to me.

Well, at least there should be plenty to go around for that first week...

 

[Faraday40]

WOW 42! That's a whole lotta chicks! Hope the kids feel better soon.

Well, at least there should be plenty to go around for that first week...

Yes, there's going to be a lot of chicks here in 2 weeks. I usually sell the chicks to cover my time & expenses. Last year it was a little over 30 and it took me about 3 weeks to sell them. This year I lined up a couple 4H families who have agreed to take care of some overflow as well as a few friends who will simply take any extra chicks if I find myself with too many.

What I'm really hoping for is a good broody hen volunteer to help me out. My silkie is still caring for her two 7.5 wk old chicks, and Cookie has her 6 chicks (4 wk old silkies & a 1 week old orp). That leaves me Trouble (my fierce sebright who only does things on her terms) and 2 LF orps (who could certainly cover a whole bunch of chicks) Let's hope the weather gets one of them in the broody mood.