INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Yes, your Road Runner is an Easter-egger. I think they're more fun, though, because they're kind of like the genetic lottery. You just never know what you're going to end up with!


Merl-girl is not particularly fast (probably because she is FAT), but pulls out some amazing ninja super-speed moves when she wants to avoid me. She's the most skittish of the 8 EEs I have--she hates all human contact.

I have two that are very old (8 years as of the beginning of this month) and they're on the slow side. I think they're both getting arthritis in their feet, poor girls. They're more on the shy side.

The other 5 are really fast, but super-sweet and friendly. Betty (my favorite of my EEs--don't tell the others ) lets anyone walk up and pick her up without complaint. The others are a little more shy than her, but don't seem to mind if I walk up to them or pet them.


And no problem about posting the Ameraucana/Easter-egger info. It's something I know, so I was glad to be helpful.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

 

He/ she is around 8 weeks.  I suspected a roo as the comb came in really quick.  As it has grown I am not sure as the comb stopped growing and stayed light coloured.  I will be dead excited if it is a pullet as we were looking at getting rid of 'him' if it was a boy.  He /she is definatly my favourite.

Not to rub anyones nose in it.  With my TSC survivors I think I have mostly girlies.  One obvious roo and the silkie I won't know about until much older.
Waiting to see how the ones I got from Brad go.  Still hard to tell on the lavenders as they are still so small, but I am feeling optimistic on the cochins.

Glad to find a fellow bird watcher.  I understanding spotting something new is always exciting. Or that 'oh what is that' and not having a clue and trying to recollect when you get back home to have a look in the book.  Love taking my wee one to the park so we can see if we spot something new.    Something we are going to be doing tomorrow.

I think that's a girl, then. Usually with the barred breeds, the males will have more white than black and the females will have more black than white.


And yes, I had a moment like that yesterday! Spotted two brownish ducks in someone's flooded yard. One had a white face and they were both visibly smaller than mallards. Near as I can tell, I spotted a male/female pair of ruddy ducks in their nonbreeding plumage. Not totally sure, though, as I saw them for just a few seconds as they flew off. Oh, well.

 

[EmilyOfIndiana]

Hatched some babies today ladies. Seems all I ever get is Rhode island reds though! Or they appear to be Rhodes lol

 

[bradselig]

Ok, picture time! Lol

I had more Orps hatch today. Got buffs/lemon cuckoo, lavenders, and another brown cuckoo/barred. There is either another brown or a black Orp still drying out in the bator. I also picked up 4 naked neck pullets today from Orschelns.

The 3 week old Orps

The barred/cuckoo chicks

Lemon cuckoo?

Buff

Birchen Marans roo. Starting to gettose pretty hackle feathers!

Pan fry chick (possible EE. Thought it was a pullet, but the comb is starting to become more red)

 

[Momma 2 silkies]

Couldn't help myself any longer, I turneres the bator back on early today and have set 15 eggs. My husband is going to kill me but I want to check for fertility with my silkie/ameraucana mixes. The silkie and showgirl eggs in there are just a bonus this hatch. Fingers crosses for a few to hatch this time, I had to throw all the others out lastime.

 

[danand]

Well congrats Emily, at least they hatched!!

We watch birds here too. I've had Ruby breasted Grosebeaks passing thru this week. The males are beautiful.

And on an Owl note. My DH is away for business so my mother-in-law is feeling sorry for me and has me to dinner on Friday nights. Well her table is in front of a deck with patio door facing feeders. So we got to watching red headed woodpeckers last night then had a Barred owl flying around right in fron of us! It was still daylight and we had a great view of Him/her. Sooo cool. Then we went to look at her flower beds and they have a baby Barred owl right behind their house and you could hear him calling mamma. Then..... On my way home as it was dark I had an Owl fly in front of me, think it was a Horned owl this time!! What a night for them!! So it must've been the moon or something!

 

[sirbuster]

I finally got all my chicks together in one box that is big enough for them all there is 29 all together . I can not want to get them out side.
I can have my house back they are following me around and getting out of the box's but I think I have that all fixed now.
I just hope the youngest ones are ok and will make it all night.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: Oh my, best climbers out there! But no worries, your chickens will make the mice disappear in one gulp

the squirrels will likely realize he doesn't want to challenge an angry hen either.

Oooh exciting news... My husband has decided to 'give' me the minibarn for the chickens. He brought home a storage building from the shop and said he can use that and the barn is all MINE!!! Mwahhhhh!!!

The thought of having a dry floor for the chicken is the most exciting thing I can imagine right now. Need to break out a penicl and paper to plan some stuff. Like the ability to section off the chickens and chicks. Going to have to get all modular in there to maximize the space.

Holey Moley... excited about a minibarn... I am easily pleased

MUAHAHAHA I am sooo happy for you! I see an incubator in my crystal ball in your future!!

Quote:

Yep, its official, you need to join chickaholics anonomous

oh wait, you did, and found us ENABLERS!!!

Alrighty.. girl or boy?

I vote PULLET!

I don't have a clear answer on this yet, mostly bc I'm lazy I admit, but do you keep the food/water always outside the coop, always inside, or have some in both places?

Which is better for rodent control, or to keep it away from squirrels/birds etc, or what does everyone do? I know in the winter the water will be inside the coop, with a warmer to keep it from freezing.

No water or food in the coop, and feed outside in the run, same with water. After they roost, I pick up all remaining feed. But mine are not confined at night, they can go into the run freely. Is chain link top bottom sides ect, and buried chain link in the ground every inch woven together

ya I am way overboard but we have most of the common predators here. And a few of the human type too. I like to make things a fortress. winter I used a heated dish, plan to get some more this coming year. I am planning to put flags up to keep wild birds out too, but we have a lot of cardinals!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Lost another chick last night and pretty sure one more will be gone by tonight : (
It will make number 3, all from TSC.. heat is perfect, food and water fresh and clean, eating normally. They just......dropped....they were all just a few days old.... ugh.

So sorry to hear, I would sure call them and complain! The few I got at TSC were pasty, took a week of electrolytes and acv water to get them normal.
Its really made me plan most of my flocks here on out will be from private individuals, not a big box chain store.
Have most of the breeds I am serious about, now just waiting for them to GROW

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote:

Quote: owls can eat chickens.

Quote: bird netting is nice but it won't keep mice out. once your chickens are bigger they will kill mice if they are not over fed. Kind of like a lazy cat will catch a mouse if forced to.

On a different note, we found a cat in our back barn yesterday. It won't come out though not even for food or water. I want to keep it but I need to get it out to take to the vet to make sure it is not a house pet and of course that it has all of its shots.
humane trap for racoons put a can of cat food or tuna in the back behind the tipping device and sprinkle another can down the floor of the trap out the door and a little in front of it.
mini marshmellows, or mini oreos are fantastic on raccoon & skunk, possums too! They just love the stuff.

I'm holding out for the swap at Milton Ky, Mother's Day. It's the closest to me. Can't wait. It's where I got my BO roo and 1 hen lat fall. There was way too much to choose from. From snakes to ponys to peacocks to parakeets to rabbits to chickens and more! Oh and guns too, now how fun is that! And no I wasn't looking at the guns , but it gave a certain ambiance to the place .haha

Sounds like an awesome swap!

SallyinIndiana posted: On a different note, we found a cat in our back barn yesterday. It won't come out though not even for food or water. I want to keep it but I need to get it out to take to the vet to make sure it is not a house pet and of course that it has all of its shots.

Have you tried tuna or something like that to lure the kitty out? I'm glad you want to take it to the vet to be checked, have shots to protect against rabies, etc., and hopefully spay/neuter it. (my soapbox is spay/neuter)

Yes X2, everyone that turns up here, boy or girl gets fixed, then I let them stay. We have a great low cost spay clinic we use over in Noblesville