INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[SallyinIndiana]

Just thought I would stop in a say hi!

Our 4H fair is this week and dd had a great time showing our BR roo. He is hatchery stock so not show quality but I figured for the mini 4-H they don't judge the birds but rather teach kids about chickens and what a poultry show is like. The judge was just lovely, he explained what he was looking for in the different birds and breed standards. It was a very educational time. We are excited about buying some show quality birds for next year!

I do have a question, if we want to raise show birds from chicks when would be the best time to get them for next years fair (about this time next year)? We are planning on going to the Lebanon show in October to look at all the different breeds so that dd can decide which breed she would like to get.

And a picture of my daughter with her favorite girl Garnet (production red).

For the RIR breed you need them at least a year old some say 15 months for the boys. I will have extra Heritage RIR roos from Ron's line available about the time of the show. They were born March 30th or April 28th depending on who becomes the extras. I plan to be at the show in Lebanon as well. I'm not showing any birds but I will be there.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

I will be at the show in Lebanon too. I will be showing as long as I have no suprise attacks, of course buying, and maybe selling depending on how many chickens I want to get rid of at the time (as of right now there arent any but we will see as it gets closer).

 

[Quinstar]

So, while I research where to get some local grain to make my own food I found this http://www.scratchandpeck.com/products and a place in Chicago that sells it. I have to drive to WI this weekend to pick up dog food and go through Chicago anyway so I'm going to pick up a couple bags. It's $32 for a 40lb bag, which is pricey, but it looks quality. Has anyone ever used this food?

 

[Too Fast]

My neighbor up the road has chickens for a couple of months now and apperantly the hatchery sent him a roo I heard it for the first time yesterday, thought Hmmm that sounds like s roo up the road as I was going to town. When I got back yes I heard him loud and clear it put a smile on my face because 2 of the neighbors I have trouble with over stupid little stuff hate roosters.....

Nice! I like that kind of payback, especially if someone is stupid for no reason.

 

[Too Fast]

I am currently having an issue with three chickens sleeping outside at night and I know their pen is not super secure for attacks, trying to make the tough decision of closing the coop door at night and leaving the three to defend for themselves or leaving it open to they can hide but risking my entire flock while doing so.
Due to the design I have I have to go through the coop to climb through the door to enter the run, doing so causes them all to act like fools and head outside. Making it then a challenge of popping them all back in, going outside to close the door and keeping them all inside while doing this with shear will power.

Thinking as you have all the experience.... You would love to come trench the run out and show me how it's done right..... right...I'll pay you in eggs

Ha! More eggs right now is all we need, we're getting 3-4 per day. Until someone around here decided to put the egg basket on top of the fridge door, when it was opened next, it fell and broke 4 out of the 5. Not sure who put it there (me?), but I didn't open it!

You don't have to trench it out. I started that, said no way in this clay soil, then found out all you have to do is lay it out horizontally 2 feet. Smooth as gravy then. Our chickens are roosting a lot outdoors lately, in their secure run, but it needs some welded wire around the area where they roost outdoors to keep raccoons out of reach. But still, I'm wondering who the fools are at your place. The chickens just wanna run free, and you like crawling thru their coop lol.

Wow! I switched to TSC layer at $12/bag from the $17/bag chick starter to avoid the extra cost. Figured they can make up the difference on grass, bugs, kitchen garbage, and stale donuts.

I am putting a Japanese Beetle trap in the chicken yard. If you cut out the bottom of the bag, they fall on the ground for the chickens to eat. The darned thing attracts them from miles around.

John

Now that sounds like entertainment. I'll have to get one of those traps soon, the beetles are coming already. Free protein that way!

 

[Too Fast]

I came home yesterday afternoon to find these two hanging out together. My rooster Firecracker has taken in the new frizzle I acquired from a friend. Eating out of the same bowl and everything. He's such a big softy.

Nice that he took her as a friend so fast. I've heard so many bad things about introducing new chickens to the flock it worries me a bit. We are most likely getting a faverolles next week.

Your firecraker looks just like my Zien lol. execpt he looks a little bigger and has more arch in his tail



This pic is from a few months ago. He is a little bigger now and his feathers look better. He had just dried off from getting wet even though it dosent looked like it rained in the pic.

Your rooster and Julie's look fantastic. This is what I think of when I picture roosters, all proud and strutting.

 

[julie0477]

I haven't posted in a while because seeing how many new posts I would have to read is intimidating! =] I hope everyone is doing well. Have fun incubating Julie! I hope to start incubating before fall arrives (quail). Right now I'm in the planning process of my little quail pen. I'll post pics when it's finished.

thanks!!!

 

[julie0477]

Your firecraker looks just like my Zien lol. execpt he looks a little bigger and has more arch in his tail This pic is from a few months ago. He is a little bigger now and his feathers look better. He had just dried off from getting wet even though it dosent looked like it rained in the pic.

Ha! They do look alike! Mine is two years old and lost some tail feathers with a recent bout of mites. I think he lost them when I was washing him (that was fun lol-- actually not as bad as I imagined, catching him for said bath was most entertaining and could also account for a few of the feathers). He's so laid back and friendly. By far my favorite rooster to date. If/when I ever lose him I'll definitely look for another like him.

 

[JAG0105]

WOW ! What a beautiful Bird...

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

WOW ! What a beautiful Bird...

Thanks! (i assumed you were talking about mine since it was in the post above)

Ha! They do look alike! Mine is two years old and lost some tail feathers with a recent bout of mites. I think he lost them when I was washing him (that was fun lol-- actually not as bad as I imagined, catching him for said bath was most entertaining and could also account for a few of the feathers). He's so laid back and friendly. By far my favorite rooster to date. If/when I ever lose him I'll definitely look for another like him.

Mine is 2 years now too! Ironically mine just got lice, thankfully I have him in a coop that only have 3 other chickens.I have more chickens but they are in different pens really far away from each other. I have to clean out the coop and use some sevin dust on him. I'm just glad he has something that can be taking care of fairly easily.I hope they go away fast because he is entered in a show in august. He is nice once I get ahold of him. But he is mean when he is in the pen. Dont get me wrong he is a great rooster, he protects his hens very well. He is also pretty. But he has attacked me before a couple of times. I have a scare on my leg where he got me with his spurs. He is the only mean roo I have. I normally dont tolerate mean roos, but he is realy good at protecting and taking care of his hens, i show him, and he is nice once I catch him. I got him when he was a little over a year old and the people I got him from didnt treat him very well, I think that is why he has an attitude which is prefectly understandable considering that. He is way niocer than when I first got him though.