INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Crafty chick]

Sounds like you've got it all figured out cluckacres!

 

[cwaf]

are you getting the fence for chickens or other livestock? If for the chickens wont they just fly over it? They are only like 4ft tall am i right.

it is interesting because I have a basic, 42 inch chainlink fence in my backyard and only once has a chicken flown over it. I know they all can, (I once saw my 6 month old rooster jump straight up over 6 feet to the top of a netted run area when he thought one of his girls was in danger. She, in fact, was laying her first ever egg and making a HUGE deal of it) because I accidentally scared the jebesus out of them all when i turned the hose on in the garden while they were scratching around! I had to hop the neighbors fence and get her back before the neighbors dogs decided they needed to come out for a snack. Otherwise, only one got out when she found a hole under the fence--twice in the same day. It took me a while to figure out where she was getting out and then I put a stop to that! We shall see how the next generation behaves, but I do not plan on letting them all have the run of the entire yard in the spring, anyway. I am going to hang some cheap deer netting on some electrical conduit for a fence--just like I did in their initial run area. It is lightweight, cheap, almost invisble, and I am only trying to keep the chickens in and not some fierce predator (or cow) out. It allows me to be gone all day and not worry about them getting out and a hawk getting to them.

 

[cwaf]

My GLW rooster, Red has been a sweetheart so far, he is about 9 months old. I still hold him, pick him up... he will hop on my lap.
My Embden gander, Big G is a different story. I have had to pick him up, flip him on his back and pin him on my lap. He is at least 30 pounds, not an easy task for me weighing about 100 pounds lol! He has bit every one of us at some point the last 2-3 months and has flogged my youngest (20)! I snatch his attitude right up and pin him upside down. DH and DDs are now doing it too. its working. I won't trust him around small children. He may wind up in the freezer if the attitude adjustments fail.. we will see. He has been amazing at protecting the flock, i would hate to give him up. On a happier note, his mate, WeeWee was acting odd. would pace into the main coop, run back out and run in again. New honks i never heard out of her before. She had something for me to see, so i caught on and went in there.

Comparing to my GLW and BR eggs...




Side shot...

I was so proud of her, but very surprised she wanted me to see!

Dad said its small, WOW the yolk alone is bigger than a chicken egg. Not fertile yet. I have 4 goose, 2 gander so hoping the fertility picks up quickly.

that is a nice size egg, for sure. Believe it or not, my big Black Australorp layed one probably that same size after not laying for a couple of months. Like yours, I did not have a carton big enough for it so it was eaten the next day. It was a nice double-yolker.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Haven't caught up reading yet but....

Not too long ago one of the cities in the area (South Bend) passed an ordinance allowing chickens. My youngest daughter, who works at, and writes a blog for, one of the local newspapers interviewed me for a "why do you have chickens" post. Wanted to share a link for anyone who might be interested.

If you get a chance to take a look, leave a comment! It's encouraging to know folks are reading as it is a new blog... The blog is very new and they've finally just set up a "subscribe by email" option.



http://blogs.etruth.com/singinginthekitchen/2013/01/29/considering-backyard-chickens/

 

[SallyinIndiana]

I told them not to stoop down to him, I will just have to show them how to defend themselves. They were in the coop watching them from the pop door. That rooster has been territorial of the coop lately. Is there a time frame that he will calm down, or will I have to work on him for a while till he stays away from the kids?

First I made sure my children were not overly brave or scared of the RIR roosters. My RIR roosters are scared of a screaming child so I made sure my toddlers know how to do a nice indian yell. I don't let the children and the roosters in the same part of the yard unless I'm outside too. So far there has only been 1 time when I heard the yell and it was actually somewhat needed. most of the time the children like to practice their indian yell anytime they see the roosters even if the roosters are penned and can't get them.

 

[Crafty chick]

Good idea sally.

 

[bradselig]

Hh

I think I will get with bradselig since he works for lowes and then i will find somewhere else that sells it cheaper then have lowes beat the price by 10% and then use brads employee discount on top of it.       Sounds like a good plan to me!!  Am I right brad?

haha. Something like that! I believe our fence posts are competitively priced as well. I'm probably going to look for slightly used as well as contact electric company for phone poles.

 

[pbirdhaven]

Thanks pbridheaven and cluckacres. I have never ordered either. I wanted to order from Meyer but they don't have what I wanted or slim chance of getting them. I did watch the video, very interesting! And I hadn't looked at Mt Healthy for a while,will ck them out again. So the sale on Feb 9th, is that the place on 46 east of Bushes? Or where is it?

That's the spot!

 

[pbirdhaven]

Pbirdhaven... I am interested in where this sale is also!

Daily's Feed and Grain on east 25th St, by Petersville.

 

[danand]

Thanks pbirdhaven, any idea about times? 9-12? Or? And that was the 9th, right? Also I did order some new babies, from Ideal. For the end of Feb. I'll let everyone know how it works out. 5 Millie's and 3 bantam buff brahmas .