INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Andrew10]

I remember when you were looking for New Hampshires and having a hard time finding them. I'm glad you eventually got some!

I saw some at the poultry show in Colombus today. They were prettier in person than ones I've seen on the internet. Beautiful rusty orange color!

I saw this posted on Facebook one time, and saved it in case I need to have some birds processed:

View attachment 1375401

P.S. You should probably keep a back up roo, if you can manage it.

I will probably take them to J and M. And keep a backup roo. P.S. Thank you for remembering about me looking for new hamps.

 

[Finnie]

I will probably take them to J and M. And keep a backup roo. P.S. Thank you for remembering about me looking for new hamps.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Finally finished this crazy thing! We've been hardening off our seedlings in preparation for their ventures outside.

If anyone thinks they want to build one too, I'd caution them to think twice. Including my lumber base but not the sand and pavers inside floor, it was over 400 pieces. When I opened the box, I almost cried!

It felt like punishment trying to figure out 22 pages of instructions that had no words. I had to re-do several steps because I couldn't tell it was important to assemble something a certain way BECAUSE THERE WERE NO WORDS SAYING IT WAS IMPORTANT!!!

Anyway, except for finishing the paver floor, it's over and I'm grateful. So far, we've used it every day and NEXT spring it will be a godsend!

View attachment 1373221

Thats the exact one I want too. Harbor freight or some where else? I like your paver stone idea!

I remember when you were looking for New Hampshires and having a hard time finding them. I'm glad you eventually got some!

I saw some at the poultry show in Colombus today. They were prettier in person than ones I've seen on the internet. Beautiful rusty orange color!

I saw this posted on Facebook one time, and saved it in case I need to have some birds processed:

View attachment 1375401

P.S. You should probably keep a back up roo, if you can manage it.

They have a good reputation. Well known and very reasonable.

My opinion in taking them somewhere to be butchered and being in a strange place adds to stress and fear before the butchering process, because of the trip going there, being in a strange place, waiting for their turn in line.

We butcher ours at home because it's easier on them, and not easier on us. We get up early while it's still dark, take each one off of the roost carry him, talk to him, pray and thank the Creator for being able to raise that bird and give him a good life, and pray that he has no fear. He goes quickly into the killing cone, and my husband slits the throat with a very sharp knife. He only has a few seconds of knowing something is not right.

The part of the process that got to us both last year, was one rooster was too big for the killing cone, so I took him back out, and my prayer of having no fear was certainly true for him, because he talked about it when we took him back out of the cone. It was heartbreaking. I held him while my husband slit the throat.

The killing part does not get easier.

AGREE 100%. We do everything here, even the cows.That's my reason #1. If that animal feeds my family it deserves to know love and good care, right up to the end. I can "do the deed" but prefer not to. DH is always the one to take the shot. We separate the animal from the herd immediately after the shot and remove it.
Reason # 2 is the butcher shops do not give you 100% back your meat from your animal! Aside from poultry or small animals. Large animals like cows the hamburger is combined. Its usually a large machine and expensive to operate. This was explained to me by a butcher. But I do understand we all have limitations also, like processing a rabbit or a goose is near impossible for me - unless its a wild animal.

That is true. I never thought about that. That is really enlightening.

I mean I have all the skillset to do the butchering. It's the taking life that gets to me. I went to culinary school, have done from start to finish but everything was dead first.

I mean we did lobsters in and the fact we named them made it that much harder.

But I suppose since I do know what I am doing it would be better to do it at home.

Rabbits though I wonder if I can go learn how how do that? To skin them so nothing goes to waste? I've never had the opportunity to start from there. They've always been without fur.

I can do rabbits but it really bothers me. I do hunt rabbit some years but that's totally different meat than domestic. I did a quick google search: https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+preserve+rabbit+skin&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-1-ab
If you want to learn to do chickens or other types of animals we could make an afternoon of it sometime.

The show must go on. Her toe hurt but she managed to dance and did very well.
These two girls really made the show - both on stage & off. In addition to dancing, they were responsible for helping the little ones get onstage to their correct spots.View attachment 1376042 View attachment 1376043

My goodness she is growing up so fast! Awesome for her to follow through! Hope the toe heals fast!

I will probably take them to J and M. And keep a backup roo. P.S. Thank you for remembering about me looking for new hamps.

Congrats on finding them!

 

[Finnie]

If you want to learn to do chickens or other types of animals we could make an afternoon of it sometime.

I really really need to learn to process chickens. Every year I say I am going to learn.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I really really need to learn to process chickens. Every year I say I am going to learn.

You aren't too far from me. I plan to do Cornish cross soon, so we can make a day of it if folks want to come and learn.

 

[faerydust16]

You aren't too far from me. I plan to do Cornish cross soon, so we can make a day of it if folks want to come and learn.

I'll be there! We both need to learn since he's inexperienced. I've been taught to debone whole chickens, quarter them and all the fun stuff. But not the beginning. From start to finish.

Now this will be exciting.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Worked on the southwest pasture this weekend. Our gun range was excluded from the pasture, and we are changing that, gaining another 50 ft x 150 feet of grazing area. We also included the entire creek and feel that will help prevent fox and coyote problems we have had in the past. The creek is very bushy and those predators like brush. If we have a target practice day we can just move the herds out. The chickens/birds can still walk right under the wire, we started free range again since the trees have leaves, yay! Its the guineas turn tomorrow, first time ever except the older hen.
Need 1 more till on the garden, and then I can get the rest of my plants in!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

So... I just ordered 50 Cornish Cross chicken from Meyer Hatchery. Rarely buy hatchery birds but the CX grow fast and get huge from them. Set up arrival date for May 30th! I haven't been able to keep them the last couple years, due to my Moms care and her passing. I learned the best way to raise them is free range once they are old enough. There is no "flip" (heart attacks) and I treat them like a regular chicken. I do take away their feed overnight after 2 weeks. They are really pretty social chickens too, and will keep smaller hens for layers. Lots of double yolkers. The eggs will also hatch from them unlike meat turkeys. This breed is the chicken you buy from the grocery. They don't breed true and are not heritage. The yield in the short 6 weeks is crazy! I let them go to 8 weeks old and many will be 7lb dressed.

 

[gtcakes]

I'm looking for some Bantam silkies and I really don't want to ship from a large farm (like Ideal). Anyone in the Northern Indiana/Michigan area know of any nearby? I'm willing to drive a few hours to get them.

 

[JanetMarie]

@jchny2000 Have you ever let any of your geese hatch muscovy eggs and be their mom?