INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[wheezy50]

Got a couple shots of the Buff Orphs today, do they look like roos to you? They are about 7 weeks old.

 

[wheezy50]

Took some pictures of the bantams today!

I know the one is a frizzle but not sure about the others. Any ideas on breeds and or sex? They all have feathered legs and came from TSC. About 5 weeks old now.

 

[Crafty chick]

Wheezy~ 1,3,4,5 look like girls... cute frizzle, you got lucky if she is a girl. Seems like out of the bantam chicks I got from TSC only 2 or 3 are girls.

 

[animallover2202]

Miss Oreos neck is doing alil better

 

[instar8]

Is it hard to raise your own mill worms? Can you do it in the winter?

Super easy! I used to raise them for my reptiles and fish. You do need a container that will let in air, but keep the adult beetles from escaping into your house...and setting up in your pantry! I fed mine wheat germ, oatmeal and cornmeal, which is also the bedding, and put in some fruit and veg for water. Since I was feeding them to reptiles, I added mineral powders, which i suppose would be good for chickens, too. They'll keep going for years, just take out the adults and put them in a fresh batch of food/bedding now and then.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Someone on one of the other threads had asked the difference between Blue Kote, NuStock and Vetricyn. Since there have been a few questions regarding what first aid items are used for what, thought I'd post this here too. Hope it will be helpful to someone!
_______________


BlueKote is antibiotic and antifungal. It gets it's blue tint from the gentian violet which is anti-fungal and is used in medications for oral thrush in babies (among other things). It stains everything quite "purple-blue"... It's definitely harder to observe any changes in the wound due to the color it puts on. The color takes a long time to wear off, but it can also be advantageous in that it kind-of camoflages the red of the wound so it's not screaming "pick me"! The bottle I have is the consistency of alcohol - very liquid. (Blue Kote is on the list of "Banned and Dangerous Substances" for animals "intended for food"...not sure how it affects eggs.) http://www.drugs.com/vet/blu-kote-can.html http://www.drugs.com/vet/dr-naylor-blu-kote.html

NuStock is antibiotic and antifungal. STINKY! Greasy consistency. More "natural" ingredients. Does a good job on a lot of things if you don't mind the smell. Wood shavings, etc. would have more of a tendency to stick to it. Good for vent gleet, scaly leg mites, killing nits on the feather shafts, and just plain good general first aid. This link shows how some folks have made their own "home made NuStock" just so you can see the ingredients. I haven't made my own, prefer to buy it.

Vetricyn is comparable to Dakin's solution.

 

[ldymelissande]

I thought it would be a good idea to throw a flat sheet down on the floor and set up my sons old
playpen system so the chicks could run around a little while I cleaned the brooder today. I
didn't know I would be the one running around chasing the chick. The one that has been fighting pasty butt,
slipped out through the corner crack and ran like a maniac around my kitchen with my son in pursuit. They
were trying to fly up and climb out. These stinkers fly so much better than I would have thought possible. I got them April 5th.

oh, and is wing flapping and chest bumping a normal chick behavior, or is it sign of a roo?

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Thanks for that, Leahs Mom! I didn't know Blu-Kote was banned for use on animals meant for food! I've used it a lot on my laying hens and there weren't any changes in the eggs, appearance wise or anything. Not sure if it did anything to the eggs at all. We ate them and we're fine.

 

[strssdmom]

***HELP***

Today is the roosting bar installation day and I am SECOND guessing everything I know about roosting bars.

Here are my questions...

1) If using 2x4's for roosting bars should you put them with the 4" side up or the 2" side up? or make them adjustable to switch back and forth for the different seasons?

2) How far off the ground should the lowest (first) bar be?

3) How high is TOO high for the highest bar?

4) What amount of spacing should you have between bars so they don't poop on each other?

Thank you!

 

[bloonskiller911]

***HELP***

Today is the roosting bar installation day and I am SECOND guessing everything I know about roosting bars.

Here are my questions...

1) If using 2x4's for roosting bars should you put them with the 4" side up or the 2" side up? or make them adjustable to switch back and forth for the different seasons?

2) How far off the ground should the lowest (first) bar be?

3) How high is TOO high for the highest bar?

4) What amount of spacing should you have between bars so they don't poop on each other?

Thank you!

I put my roosts 4" side down, when I use 2x4's (I prefer to use rounded limbs of a good size) so they don't have to grip the little side the whole time and it is easier on their feet. my lowest bar is 3 foot off the ground, all my large fowl can easily jump that high, and about two foot between each bar with a 6 to eight inch depth slant. my roosts go about 8 foot high by my hens fly all they was to some of the at 10 feet. sometimes they get pooped on, if they do they will move!! have fun with this, you'll stress yourself to the point where you think the chickens are a hassle. this is only how I do it and by no ways that absolute best practice for everyone. enjoy your chicks/hens.