INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Chaneys Ranch]

Today's harvest less what we ate...

I like the Pontiac red not that impressed with purple majesty potato. Remi my dog chose red potatoes 100% and was stealing them from the harvest basket! I learned a longtime ago to trust my dogs instincts.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

off to check on my girls-cows again and then off to bed.

A broody mom with her two chicks were getting into our garden and digging up the onions and celery.

The spot they were getting in was on the gate where our Big Bun had chewed a large hole in the poly fence.

I repaired it with chicken wire fencing yesterday.

I have hopefully the garden far enough away and hot wire around it. We have groundhogs so I have to prevent them eating our food. Poultry and waterfowl will also wipe out vegetables quick.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

I go out at night with a UV flashlight and pick off those bugs. Chickens gobble them, hate them the get huge and kill my plants.

I got these during the day. I fed them to the ducks and chickens, though mostly it looked like they just ran around with them playing keep away. .

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

I started late march indoors on a heat mat. 1st year I did that and am sold. Been doing a garden 6 years now and am so pleased.

Orps are very docile and Cochin.. BLRW are great if heritage. Ameruacana are also quite calm.. Steer far away from Australorp terrible roosters. Very aggressive. I have kept 4 and every one was awful, better take a stick to push him away. Walk out there see how he acts. I have taken in a lot of free roosters that were nuts once they came here. I have 2 adult roos 4-5 years old I hand picked for breeding.

Good tips. Thanks!

 

[Faraday40]

Remi my dog chose red potatoes 100% and was stealing them from the harvest basket! I learned a longtime ago to trust my dogs instincts.

I can't do that with my dog. He likes to eat poop!

I go out at night with a UV flashlight and pick off those bugs. Chickens gobble them, hate them the get huge and kill my plants.

Does the UV light make them glow? If so, it could be great fun for the kids!

I got these during the day. I fed them to the ducks and chickens, though mostly it looked like they just ran around with them playing keep away. .

I trained mine to eat those pretty green Japanese beetles on my berries & fruit trees. I may lose a little bit of low hanging fruit to the hens, but they certainly keep the beetle numbers down.

 

[Finnie]

@jchny2000
I was thinking about your dilemma not being able to get the wood chips and wanted to put this out there as an alternative for your GARDEN. Ruth Stout uses Hay - at least 8" deep - then as it goes down, keeps adding.

You'd have to be sure they hay you get is NOT SPRAYED with anything but especially herbicides as it will kill your garden.

It's the principle of BTE except using hay in the place of wood chips.

Here is one of her books - very entertaining - and written in the 50's I think. I very much enjoyed her writing style and her common sense and ideas.

View attachment 1454846

https://www.amazon.com/Gardening-Without-Work-Aging-Indolent/dp/1626549532

As soon as I read this post of yours back on the 3rd, I went right to Amazon to order it. I actually ended up getting this version:

It came yesterday and I am on chapter two. Love it!!
I am not a real big veggie eater, but this is making me want to get some hay and start a garden. (Mostly I plant flowers, and weeds grow instead.)

You all were talking about how early/late you planted your tomatoes this year. My two are still in their pots waiting. I think they would have more tomatoes than they do if they were actually in the ground

Chocolate orpington

Ooh! If you have a chocolate rooster and no chocolate hens, all your chicks will be sexable by color at hatch! Maybe not planning to hatch? Aw c'mon, just try it once!

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Maybe my girls are too old for a new rooster to be introduced. They are soon to be 2 and 3 yrs old. I don't want to stress them out.

 

[pginsber]

I am considering getting a rooster and not sure which to look at.
There are some in my area that are cockerels and some that are 1 yr old.
The breeds are:
Black blue Ameraucana
Blue lace red wyandotte
Chocolate orpington
Barred cochin
They are all saying they are friendly. They look healthy in pics too - but once I decide which one - what should I look for?
I want a friendly enough one - doesn't have to be a lap rooster, but one I can pick up to check when needed.
Suggestions? Opinions?
Thanks!

We have an extra roo that we’d consider rehoming to a good home. We have an Aracauna and a Barred Holland.
We have raised them both from chicks; Wall-E (Aracauna) is 2, sweet, and Mayya (Barred Holland) was born in February this year and just crowed today.

 

[JanetMarie]

Maybe my girls are too old for a new rooster to be introduced. They are soon to be 2 and 3 yrs old. I don't want to stress them out.

Since they've been without a rooster they won't appreciate one now. I made that mistake before.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Since they've been without a rooster they won't appreciate one now. I made that mistake before.

I am sure. Lol I have read on another thread that I started the older gals can teach the new cockerels to behave.
I am still debating. The hubby says I don't need another bird.