INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

When you first said you had a cracked egg, my thought was "oh noooo" like there was something wrong, then I realized that I'm a ding dong and you had something really right!! Congratulations on all your little babies. Even if they aren't splashes, its still pretty exciting that it worked. Fingers crossed for you next time.

lol.Cracked was the only word i could think of.It was kind of like a cliff hanger lol. Thanks

 

[Old Salt 1945]

I have 12 Buff Orpington's 2 1/2 months old running in the chicken yard.
I have 8 Indian Runner ducks 1 1/2 months old in the yard.
I have 4 Guineas 1 1/2 months old in the yard.

I have 27 chicks 1 1/2 months old a mix of SLW, GLW, Jersey Black Giant, Buff and Blue Cochin) that I would like to let run in the yard, but the size difference is so much that I am concerned for the chicks' welfare.

I'm thinking of putting a half dozen chicks out into the yard with the others to see what happens. I have a butterfly net to catch the chicks if things go south.

What do y'all think?

John

 

[HouseKat]

Like Quinstar says, about 6-8 weeks, after they are fully feathered.. It is summer, so that should be fine. However, now it is 5-7 weeks, since you already have them coming and they are hatched?
Our first night, the temp dropped to about 40 degrees. We worried, but also had a very secure heat lamp in the coop. They survived just fine.

Building a coop is like retirement, the time to start saving/planning is yesterday.

They will ship to me as day old chicks sometime in the next few weeks, I'm waiting to hear back about the ship date now.

 

[HouseKat]

They will ship to me as day old chicks sometime in the next few weeks, I'm waiting to hear back about the ship date now.

I just got a call from Cackle Hatchery - the chicks will be here Friday! Looks like I have less time than I thought! I think I have everything that I need, I'll check after work tonight, and set things up tomorrow.

 

[Mother2Hens]

If you have more money than time and want something that looks nice, consider getting a storage shed with windows. Then all you have to do is cut a pop door, add nest boxes and roost and a fence. Done.

John

HouseKat~ I agree-- the cost of materials plus time spent is always much more than anyone thinks! It can be a fun project if you have lots of time. As CCChickins mentioned, no matter how much time and thought goes into the design, it seems like most people say that there are things they'd change.

Old Salt~ Glad to hear Millie is doing better!

CRSelvey~ Another common occurance I've noticed on this thread and have experienced myself is that everyone loves their little surprise cockerels' personalities, but it doesn't take long before they are constantly attacking the hens (poor hens can't even relax), crowing all hours of the day, and acting more and more aggressive. If I had a lot of land, a rooster would be nice. I know they have good characteristics and they are gorgeous. I hated to see my hens constantly looking over their backs. It was funny, though, when one of my young cockerels tried to jump on my full grown Jersey Giant's back-- She catapulted him off so fast that he didn't know what happened! He stayed away from her after that-- she just gave him "the look" and he'd mosey on by.

Do you have any way to separate the healing hen from the roos? You could always have Brad's Bird Bus pick up your roos on Friday.

 

[racinchickins]

I have 12 Buff Orpington's 2 1/2 months old running in the chicken yard.
I have 8 Indian Runner ducks 1 1/2 months old in the yard.
I have 4 Guineas 1 1/2 months old in the yard.

I have 27 chicks 1 1/2 months old a mix of SLW, GLW, Jersey Black Giant, Buff and Blue Cochin) that I would like to let run in the yard, but the size difference is so much that I am concerned for the chicks' welfare.

I'm thinking of putting a half dozen chicks out into the yard with the others to see what happens. I have a butterfly net to catch the chicks if things go south.

What do y'all think?

John

When I recently moved some smaller birds out with the bigger birds, I put them in a big dog crate I had located within the big chicken run. This allowed everyone to get used to each other. After 4 or 5 days, I got careless and forgot to close the crate door when I was changing water. The smaller chicks wandered out of the pen, and were somewhat mixing with the older birds. No real issues, though the smaller birds tend to stick together and stay a bit away from the older ones unless food is involved. The older one's will definitely send a peck the younger ones way if they get in the way. But no serious attacks.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Millie (my labrador retriever) is recovering well from her dog attack. The infection is subsiding. She will have a couple of small scars, but otherwise fine.
She went for an ATV run with me several times since then. The ear has risen back up on her head, no longer drooping like it did.
She is MUCH more leary about running up to other dogs wanting to play. If the dog is barking, she gives it wide berth.

John

I have 12 Buff Orpington's 2 1/2 months old running in the chicken yard.
I have 8 Indian Runner ducks 1 1/2 months old in the yard.
I have 4 Guineas 1 1/2 months old in the yard.

I have 27 chicks 1 1/2 months old a mix of SLW, GLW, Jersey Black Giant, Buff and Blue Cochin) that I would like to let run in the yard, but the size difference is so much that I am concerned for the chicks' welfare.

I'm thinking of putting a half dozen chicks out into the yard with the others to see what happens. I have a butterfly net to catch the chicks if things go south.

What do y'all think?

John

Glad to hear the dog is doing better. You have a lot of birds. Is there a way you can set up a small area near the coop that only the small ones can enter, kind of a safe place for them to hide? I'm getty ready to mix in my 7/8 week old chicks with my full grown hens, I just keep delaying. Right now they can see each other but not get to each other.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

I have 12 Buff Orpington's 2 1/2 months old running in the chicken yard.
I have 8 Indian Runner ducks 1 1/2 months old in the yard.
I have 4 Guineas 1 1/2 months old in the yard.

I have 27 chicks 1 1/2 months old a mix of SLW, GLW, Jersey Black Giant, Buff and Blue Cochin) that I would like to let run in the yard, but the size difference is so much that I am concerned for the chicks' welfare.

I'm thinking of putting a half dozen chicks out into the yard with the others to see what happens. I have a butterfly net to catch the chicks if things go south.

What do y'all think?

John

I think it really just depends on the temperment of your older chickens.I would of never put chicks in with my old flock(the one that got attacked), because I had quite a few hens who did not get along with newbies or youngsters.And I have a mean rooster so I still won't put my chicks in with him, because I have a feeling I would have some dead chicks.I seperate all of my chicks into age groups.All in different pens.I have my adults, then ones that are about 3 months old, some that are about 2 months old, 1 all by himself that is a month old(he has a mirror to keep him company), and 3 day old chicks.I am getting eggs to hatch soon and when they hatch the 3 day olds that are in the brooder will be moved to a grow out pen and the new chicks will go in the brooder.By that time the 3 month olds and probably the 2 month olds will be in with the adults. I just have some adults that dont have the best attitudes so I will never mix my chicks in with them so I have never tryed it.I'm sure someone has before and can tell you how it worked out for them.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

I have been told a few different methods to fix my chicks feet and legs so I went out to get it and bring it in so that i could fix it up.Sadly I went out their and it was dead.I had just checked on it a few hours ago and made it get some water but it didnt want any food.At least next time I know what to do if I have a chick in a similar situation.

 

[jsummers]

Sounds like something i have done! I had to call the cops on myself because someone was accusing me of neglecting my birds! Lol apparently i wasnt supervising them well enough!