INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[bradselig]

6 quail have hatched so far. Can't wait to see if anymore hatch while at work

 

[Carole AM]

I haven't been on here in FOREVER it seems. Looking for a few eggs or chicks in the Naked Neck variety. I'm in Goshen, and still have a small mixed flock of bantams.

 

[CluckAcres]

Polish are a high maintenance breed. Pull the crest up into a topknot and tape it with masking tape or surgical tape; that will keep it out of the water and dirt. I keep my Polish in separate coops from the others, cut an opening in the wire, and wire a chick waterer to the outside so that only a portion of the base is in their reach. It's important to keep the crests clean and dry.

'nuther note: Polish should have their crests washed at least once a month. What looks like a lot of dirt in there are actually crest mites and must be washed out; I use the Adams flea shampoo that also kills lice. When you rinse it out, it looks like a lot of dirty water, but if you look, you'll see the tiny bugs. Every 3 or 4 months I apply 1/2 ml of Frontline spray to the base of the skull; this seems to be the only thing that helps control the crest mites. Untreated they can cause anemia and possibly kill the bird. Silkies can pick these varmints up from the Polish as well. I don't shampoo the silkies unless I see a problem except when going to a show; then they get a total bath anyhow.

You must not of seen my previous post about my polish. lol He is in a pen on his own because he had no crest for awhile except he had just a little bit in the front. He got it all pulled out and its now growing back but the feathers havnt popped out yet. So I wouldnt be able to pull them up. Thats why i said there is nothing i can do for it.

 

[Crafty chick]

How many do you have in the incubator cluckacres?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Princess died :'( I guess the others attacked her cuz her comb was bloody

I tried my best to prevent that they looked like they we getting along but I guess they weren't

R.I.P. PRINCESS JEWELS

Sorry to hear that. It's so upsetting when an animal dies.

You said you thought she might have had pneumonia...what makes you think that? Are you able to - or know someone that is able to - do an "autopsy" to see what might have been the problem?

 

[oldrooster]

Yeah outside, wanted a light yellow, and white. I checked out the habitat restores, but they are all atleast an hour from me.

try your local solid waste department for the county (your local cities and towns may or may not have something similar) here in monroe county (among others) have recycling centers and trash transfer stations some locations have paint recycling for either free or cheap.....

 

[SallyinIndiana]

If you are wanting cheap paint, try calling some local house painters. Most painters have left over paint. You could pick up partial gallons and mix to get one color.

 

[Crafty chick]

Old rooster, we have one. I've been checking a couple times a week. I'll try that Sally. You always have great ideas for me.

 

[oldrooster]

ok cuz im hoping to get some this spring does rural king sell them?

might be special order, it might depend on management if they get some with chick order and even then it might be just a short time span of their entire "chick season" if they did. other big boxe stores (tractor supply orshileners etc) are hit and miss and follow the same type pattern easier to go in and ask..... But dinky's auction barn would have some show up I am sure, but when and how much the bidding goes for who knows????

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

OK as promised, my "short version" Hope it makes sense...
Fermenting Feed
This is my short version of how I ferment feeds for my different animals. Supplies you will need:
Plastic NOT METAL Buckets with lids
Heavyweight strong slotted plastic spoon
UNpasturized Apple Cider Vinegar, with "mother"
Grain (cracked corn, wheat etc.)
Regular feeds (What you normally feed your animal)
plastic or rubber feed bowls/troughs

Buckets & lids, You can get FREE ones from your grocery, deli or bakery. Meijer, Kroger, IGA, Marsh etc. Just ask at the counter. This way, you get "food grade" plastic. The number of animals you feed will decide how big your buckets need to be. I feed around 40 birds. Its taking about 4 gallons of ferment, but i do have large fowl, such as geese. I feed pigs, currently about 4 gallons of ferment a day. I only have 1 dog, so its just a little 1 gallon bucket for her, and stray barn cats, i use a 2 gallon bucket. Start with 1 bucket for grain.





Mine is a 5 gallon bucket, but I have a lot of critters. Fill it 1/2 full of grain. Add water with 1/8th cup of ACV per gallon. This will be the last time you need the ACV in it, unless it starts to smell "off". mix well, stir up a few times a day. If you have a spot by your furnace, or a warmer room, it will work better. The grain ferment serves 2 purposes. The birds will enjoy it just like scratch. The liquid ferment juices it makes, the "mother" will ferment your other foods. Its your "starter", just like sourdough. 3 to 4 days, it gets bubbly when you stir and kind of greyish or milky on top. It will have a sourdough smell. I do mix 1 part fermented grain to 3-4 part allflock feed for all my birds also. So the grain is helpful for me.
Label each bucket and lid! I have gotten feeds mixed up before i did. Just write on them while still dry with a sharpie type permanent marker. OK, now we are ready to ferment. Take a bucket large enough to give you a 2 DAY supply of food. you need enough room for it to swell, expand and breathe. The bucket should only be 1/2 full with the dry feed in it. add a cup of ferment juice on the feed. add lukewarm water and stir. you want it moistened, think mashed potato or thicker. If it gets too dry, add a little more water. Too moist, add a handful dry food. You will eventually get a "feel for it", my critters seem to like it thicker, and its less messy that way. The other animals such as chickens, pigs, dogs, cats etc. Each different animal feed gets its own bucket. I pull out that days food, add dry to replace it, top with water. You always have some left in the bucket so its always fermenting. Fermentation on pig and fowl feed is fast, usually 2 days. The dog and cat food seems to take longer. Once the smell and the bubble is there when you stir, its all ready. I use rubber bowls for the livestock, and dog/cats. I have PVC pipe troughs for the fowl. Never use metal, the chemical reaction may cause chemicals to leach from the metal to the food.

I did try FF on my alpaca. They were mildly interested in the beginning. They since prefer the dry pellet, and i do feed that to them. Have not tried goats yet or cows... hmm.
Please post or email me if you have any questions. Be happy to help!