INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Soon2BChixMom]

Thank you. Yes, Mr Dummy was that rare perfect rooster & friend. Our 1st roo was a sweet, gentle EE but crowed way too much. We kept him for 18 mo, but he never settled down & ALWAYS CROWED. Our 2nd roo was the only aggressive one we ever owned. (Technically more unpredictable since he wasn't always aggressive) However the kids were afraid of him, so he had to go before he decided to attack one of them. I was about to give up on the idea of having a roo, but Mr Dummy-Pants seemed nice enough. We also kept his twin brother as a back up & 18mo later, still had 2 perfectly wonderful roos. We had other roos come & go, but Dummy was always the flock leader..... and pretty much became our backyard pet. Through the years, he brought us entertainment and affection. The hens adored him and all our other cockerels learned from him. He is missed. Our backyard feels practically silent now. I suppose it could be the heat, but egg production declined since the day he passed. Life is now different.

Awe.

 

[Faraday40]

It was a HOT one today! (about 95'F) Hard to believe it snowed last month....

The Spitz & Dom were fine, but the poor Orps were not happy.

This orp & dom are BFFs. The dom wanted to play, but the orp just wanted to lay around.

.... and here's Poof-Poof! Take a close look at her unusual comb. She has 2 sets of Vs (front & back) Has anyone seen this before?

 

[Faraday40]

Almost forgot...
Here's DD & her silkied serama - now named "Teddy Bear" or just "Teddy." DD wants to keep him of course. I sure hope he does doesn't crow loud or frequently. So far (12 wks old) no attempts.

Does anyone know what age the small breeds start laying (seramas & OEG)?

 

[slutter]

I’ve had chickens for a few years now, and have a few of this breed and a few of that, and I’d like to get a small breeding flock of a breed. I’m thinking black copper Marans, anyone in Indiana, preferably northern breed them? If so message me, thanks!

 

[Faraday40]

Gardeners:
Today was spent putting in a new garden. I kept trying to hire someone but 3 times it got cancelled. Once was illness, & once was weather, but the best was my nephew who simply didn't show up 4 weeks ago. I had arranged to pay him & borrow a tiller from a friend. Later that day he showed up at my dad's house in Naperville (for a free Sunday dinner & to visit his girlfriend who lives down the street.) He explained to my dad (not to me?!>??) that he's working a lot lately & too tired. (Not too tired to visit his girlfriend ---- but must have been way too tired to return my call the night before or even call that Sunday to cancel. Millennials! LOL) If I didn't get the ground tilled this weekend, it would be too late to get a garden started.

So I decided to rent a very powerful, self-propelled, rototiller and payed a friend to transport it here & back. It was not fun working in 95'F in direct sun, but I DID IT! I tilled my current garden & also turned the nearby grass into an expanded garden. Not bad for a middle aged woman!! I was very grateful that it was self-propelled. I doubt I could have otherwise done it by myself. DH tried but he couldn't take the heat & I didn't want him passing out. I won't have time (or $) to fence the new portion yet, so I'm hoping tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, & squash are not appealing to the chickens. Before I plant, does anyone have experience with these veggies vs chickens? I have little circles made out of fencing to go around each plant. It will support the vines & protect the base. Hopefully it will also prevent beaks & claws from digging up my plants.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

I’ve had chickens for a few years now, and have a few of this breed and a few of that, and I’d like to get a small breeding flock of a breed. I’m thinking black copper Marans, anyone in Indiana, preferably northern breed them? If so message me, thanks!

I don't know, but you aren't far from me.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Gardeners:
Today was spent putting in a new garden. I kept trying to hire someone but 3 times it got cancelled. Once was illness, & once was weather, but the best was my nephew who simply didn't show up 4 weeks ago. I had arranged to pay him & borrow a tiller from a friend. Later that day he showed up at my dad's house in Naperville (for a free Sunday dinner & to visit his girlfriend who lives down the street.) He explained to my dad (not to me?!>??) that he's working a lot lately & too tired. (Not too tired to visit his girlfriend ---- but must have been way too tired to return my call the night before or even call that Sunday to cancel. Millennials! LOL) If I didn't get the ground tilled this weekend, it would be too late to get a garden started.

So I decided to rent a very powerful, self-propelled, rototiller and payed a friend to transport it here & back. It was not fun working in 95'F in direct sun, but I DID IT! I tilled my current garden & also turned the nearby grass into an expanded garden. Not bad for a middle aged woman!! I was very grateful that it was self-propelled. I doubt I could have otherwise done it by myself. DH tried but he couldn't take the heat & I didn't want him passing out. I won't have time (or $) to fence the new portion yet, so I'm hoping tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, & squash are not appealing to the chickens. Before I plant, does anyone have experience with these veggies vs chickens? I have little circles made out of fencing to go around each plant. It will support the vines & protect the base. Hopefully it will also prevent beaks & claws from digging up my plants.

Yeah, I till my garden every year and am getting tired of it. But, might have to resort to it because, I didn't really research for an alternative sooner. Do you have any chicken wire to put around the new plants?

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Almost forgot...
Here's DD & her silkied serama - now named "Teddy Bear" or just "Teddy." DD wants to keep him of course. I sure hope he does doesn't crow loud or frequently. So far (12 wks old) no attempts.

Does anyone know what age the small breeds start laying (seramas & OEG)?
View attachment 1406191

Its been a while but it seems like OEG start earlier. I think mine were more like leghorn, 19-20 weeks to lay. I had standards and bantams, much the same.

Gardeners:
Today was spent putting in a new garden. I kept trying to hire someone but 3 times it got cancelled. Once was illness, & once was weather, but the best was my nephew who simply didn't show up 4 weeks ago. I had arranged to pay him & borrow a tiller from a friend. Later that day he showed up at my dad's house in Naperville (for a free Sunday dinner & to visit his girlfriend who lives down the street.) He explained to my dad (not to me?!>??) that he's working a lot lately & too tired. (Not too tired to visit his girlfriend ---- but must have been way too tired to return my call the night before or even call that Sunday to cancel. Millennials! LOL) If I didn't get the ground tilled this weekend, it would be too late to get a garden started.

So I decided to rent a very powerful, self-propelled, rototiller and payed a friend to transport it here & back. It was not fun working in 95'F in direct sun, but I DID IT! I tilled my current garden & also turned the nearby grass into an expanded garden. Not bad for a middle aged woman!! I was very grateful that it was self-propelled. I doubt I could have otherwise done it by myself. DH tried but he couldn't take the heat & I didn't want him passing out. I won't have time (or $) to fence the new portion yet, so I'm hoping tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, & squash are not appealing to the chickens. Before I plant, does anyone have experience with these veggies vs chickens? I have little circles made out of fencing to go around each plant. It will support the vines & protect the base. Hopefully it will also prevent beaks & claws from digging up my plants.

WTG! I have a crappy little tiller I can barely run anymore, we are going to just buy a pto driven cultivator. DH turns the ground with his tractor twice a year, we add manure every fall. And ugh, the heat has been awful! If they don't find the garden you are fine. My garden is way over on the north end of the yard, they won't go that far. (I hear ya on some of the millennials lol I have one nephew, geez) The way you caged the plants in you probably are ok too. All of the veggies you mentioned mine love, but they get all the extras I don't have freezer space for.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Sooo DH and I are at our campground this weekend. Private gated camping, quiet and no hassles. Everyone knows everyone, looks out for each others kids. Lot of long term friends here. 5 minutes from Brookville Lake, we love it. Celebrating our 18th Anniversary May 28th! We met here 19 years ago-same date, got married a year later here too . My DB is taking care of my critters and looking after our Dad so we could get away. Bonus, DH's boss texted him tonight and said work is slow so take Tuesday off too ! Very grateful because we are repairing the roof and really needed the extra time. Our camper is 24 years old now, and we are likely replacing it in a couple years.

 

[Pollitos6]

Hello,

Could anyone tell me if you think my chicken is a hen or rooster? I named her Lola, but I might have to name him Lolo? I am new at this and I am confused. Maybe I just need to wait until they get a little older and see, but I welcome your opinion .