INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[AATH]

I haven't been on here for quite some time now.. About a month To make a long story short I lost two chickens one to natural causes and a rooster to freezer camp (actually belly camp). Any who I need two more hens to complete my flock. I don't care what kind just need 2 hens. I would like them to be over 2 mo old. I would especially like some that are close to laying. If anyone can help me out please call or text me 3172704691. I'm not having any luck on Craigslist Thanks!!

 

[animallover2202]

Dad got some 7dust and I'm dusting my flock tomorrow will it be just 1 treatment or 2???

 

[Too Fast]

Wow! That's what I get for being busy. Finally got caught up on all the posts...

First off, so sorry to everyone who is still losing birds. I feel so sorry for you. I know how I felt when I thought Annabeth was gone and I was absolutely miserable! Hope you are either able to stop the predators and/or figure out your mystery illnesses.

Second, welcome to all the additional Hoosiers! As M2H already posted I help out with the members list. Feel free to either PM M2H or myself and we will get you added. If anyone has any flock changes or updates I'll take care of you as well!

M2H~ I hope you get your poor girl sorted out. Don't feel bad for not noticing anything sooner. You pay great attention to your girls and it is evident in every post how much you love them!

We got to spend some more time on the coop this weekend. Finally got the run 95% of the way done. At least enough the the guineas are able to go outside now. The run is 8' X 20' completely enclosed with 1/2" hardware cloth. Wow, that stuff gets pricey fast!!!! We buried the cloth down a foot all the way around, but only 6" underneath the coop. We are planning to build out around the coop with pavers for added security. Trying to find some bright turquoise paint for the run door. Really the only thing left is to put on shingles and siding and build out the nesting boxes on the back side. Since the oldest girls are only 15 weeks old we still have a little time to get that done. Once that is all done I want to spice up the inside of the coop a little, but again, that's more for fun that functionality.



We let the guineas out into the run with the chickens yesterday and they couldn't have been happier. They get so upset every morning when the chickens get let out and they have to stay in it was nice to finally be able to give them a little more freedom. Hoping that they just continue to follow the chickens around and learn from their example.

Can anyone tell me when roo's typically start attempting to crow. I heard an odd noise from Carl the other day and not sure if they poor guy was attempting to crow or had a bug in his throat.

Second question.... I've read that it's not healthy for Roo's to eat layer feed and the guineas need to be eating game bird feed. I'm not sure how to regulate this all now that they are all together. When I put out game bird feed the guineas the chickens eat it, the guineas are eating the chick starter, and Carl just eats everything. How do the rest of your regulate food for mixed flocks?

Quinstar, that's a nice looking coop so far. When you have it finished, you will be proud that you didn't make any compromises. You will have happy chickens who will give you plenty of eggs! I am a little worried about how far the hardware cloth is buried. Everything I read before building said to make sure it is at least 2 feet down, or about 2 feet out horizontally. We did the 2 foot horizontal thing, and have found no evidence of digging creatures yet. Also I agree about how fast that price adds up for the hardware cloth! We were going to do the whole run like that until it was priced out, then decided 2x4 wire is good enough. But now, our 18 week old chickens are roosting outdoors, I'm worried about racoons or something getting them while they sleep close to the 2x4 wire. Oh well.

And I agree. Really, 42 posts since this AM!!!!!! Very active thread.

 

[Too Fast]

to those of you that are new, and our Indiana thread

toodlesmom
browncow ~Congrats on your first egg,
Kasey
Miller Birds
You will find we are a little "chatty"

That should be *we are a little bit clucky*!

Chick chick chick chick chicken, lay a little egg for me!

My hubby was SO excited to come out with me to check for an egg yesterday (he usually couldn't care less about my animals) At first we thought we didn't have one, then he pointed to a brown blob on the roost and says what's that?

our second egg didn't have a shell and was broken.

Sometimes the beginner layers lay shell-less eggs, so don't fret about it.

 

[bradselig]

I have 3 tolbunt polish eggs externally pipped! They are in lockdown with a batch of ccl eggs. I'm really hoping or a good hatch with these eggs!

 

[bradselig]

Wow! That's what I get for being busy. Finally got caught up on all the posts... First off, so sorry to everyone who is still losing birds. I feel so sorry for you. I know how I felt when I thought Annabeth was gone and I was absolutely miserable! Hope you are either able to stop the predators and/or figure out your mystery illnesses. Second, welcome to all the additional Hoosiers! As M2H already posted I help out with the members list. Feel free to either PM M2H or myself and we will get you added. If anyone has any flock changes or updates I'll take care of you as well! [COLOR=800080]M2H~ I hope you get your poor girl sorted out. Don't feel bad for not noticing anything sooner. You pay great attention to your girls and it is evident in every post how much you love them![/COLOR] We got to spend some more time on the coop this weekend. Finally got the run 95% of the way done. At least enough the the guineas are able to go outside now. The run is 8' X 20' completely enclosed with 1/2" hardware cloth. Wow, that stuff gets pricey fast!!!! We buried the cloth down a foot all the way around, but only 6" underneath the coop. We are planning to build out around the coop with pavers for added security. Trying to find some bright turquoise paint for the run door. Really the only thing left is to put on shingles and siding and build out the nesting boxes on the back side. Since the oldest girls are only 15 weeks old we still have a little time to get that done. Once that is all done I want to spice up the inside of the coop a little, but again, that's more for fun that functionality. We let the guineas out into the run with the chickens yesterday and they couldn't have been happier. They get so upset every morning when the chickens get let out and they have to stay in it was nice to finally be able to give them a little more freedom. Hoping that they just continue to follow the chickens around and learn from their example. Can anyone tell me when roo's typically start attempting to crow. I heard an odd noise from Carl the other day and not sure if they poor guy was attempting to crow or had a bug in his throat. Second question.... I've read that it's not healthy for Roo's to eat layer feed and the guineas need to be eating game bird feed. I'm not sure how to regulate this all now that they are all together. When I put out game bird feed the guineas the chickens eat it, the guineas are eating the chick starter, and Carl just eats everything. How do the rest of your regulate food for mixed flocks?

Coop looks great! How old are the guineas now? What is the protein % of both the chick feed and game bird feed? What if you just mixed the two feeds together at a 1:1 ratio? Honestly you'd probably be fine just feeding one feed or the other. I've heard of people using high protein starters for their chicks and people using chick starter for their keets. I think the higher protein would definitely be better for the keets but don't think it would hurt the chicks. Regarding the Roos eating layer feed, I'm to too worried about this. If you are use a flock raiser feed and put a dish of oyster shells for them to eat when hey need it.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

ok, so what is the difference when incubating duck eggs instead of chicken? I know they incubate for 28 days instead of 21 but is there anything else I should be aware of. I have a duck egg in my incubator with chicken eggs. they hatch on Wednesday and the duck egg isn't due for another 10 days after that. so far I have been treating it the same as a chicken egg. it's got great veining in it, so I no it is progressing. any tips would be appreciated

for lockdown on duck eggs the temp is lowered 2 degrees and the humidity is on the high end of the 65- 80% range. I read that on one of the incubating charts on here. Not sure how you will turn the duck egg during the chicken egg lockdown though.

I haven't been on here for quite some time now.. About a month To make a long story short I lost two chickens one to natural causes and a rooster to freezer camp (actually belly camp). Any who I need two more hens to complete my flock. I don't care what kind just need 2 hens. I would like them to be over 2 mo old. I would especially like some that are close to laying. If anyone can help me out please call or text me 3172704691. I'm not having any luck on Craigslist Thanks!!

I have chicks and will have 1yr old laying hens in October / November.

Dad got some 7dust and I'm dusting my flock tomorrow will it be just 1 treatment or 2???

I would do it twice but not back to back, maybe a week or a month apart. just in case any eggs don't get killed by the dust.

 

[CRSelvey]

Thanks! You should definitely post pictures! Ours always looks like a construction zone. It's funny cause the chickens like to roost all over the sawhorses and tools. They have definitely gotten accustomed to the sound of the saw.

Ours do that too! My DH thinks they are inspecting his every move. It's pretty funny. For not liking them much we joke that he's turning into the chicken whisperer

 

[racinchickins]

I have 3 tolbunt polish eggs externally pipped! They are in lockdown with a batch of ccl eggs. I'm really hoping or a good hatch with these eggs!

Where did you get your ccl eggs from? I picked up 4 pullets and a cockerel about a week old from a lady in Illinois last week as well as some eggs to hatch. Hopefully better luck hatching this time around.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

My hubby was SO excited to come out with me to check for an egg yesterday (he usually couldn't care less about my animals) At first we thought we didn't have one, then he pointed to a brown blob on the roost and says what's that?

our second egg didn't have a shell and was broken.

That does happen a lot in the beginning. Just make sure they have oyster shell available they will be fine.

Hi everyone! I'm from Porter County, Indiana. I have 15 chickens and 3 ducks and right now I'm stranded inside the coop because its pouring out here. I knew I should've brought and umbrella.

I'm selling a bantam barred rock rooster, a male Saxony duck, and a female saxony duck. If anyone wants any of them please PM me.

I am also looking for a welsh harlequin female duck and a Cayuga duck if anyone is willing to part with them.

Welcome to our thread!

Finally, I have finished painting the inside of the coop. What you can't see in this view is the vent that runs the length of the roof for circulation. There is a 15" shelf above the window for holding the shavings or other chicken stuff. The roost is about 18" off the floor and the floor will be covered in sand when its all done. There is another freestanding roost that everyone seems to like better, but I took it out while I was painting.

There is a cupboard under the wall flap for small stuff so it stays clean and the "barn" doors open for cleaning.

I'm still not done with the nesting boxes, but they are just wash tubs I found at target that will have shavings or something soft inside. We still haven't got the lid on correctly, so for now its just holding small tools. I'm keeping it covered when the chickens are inside.

That's all for now, but its so exciting to see it finally coming together. The end is near. If you have any suggestions or see something I need to fix, please let me know.

It looks great! I think you will be very glad you painted too, really brightens it all up.