INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

Mosquito Bites suck!

Mosquitoes find me delicious. I get big white welts. They itch like crazy!

I put ammonia straight from the bottle on the affected areas.

Itch gone! Works for me, not so much for my wife.

Try it. Works for bee stings and assorted other bug bites.

John

I might just try that for mosquito bites. I am allergic to bees and years ago my allergy doctors gave me this home remedy because I wil NOT use an epee-pen (not sure how to spell it). they said to use meat tenderizer with water and make a paste out of it. Then ou put it on the bee sting and put a band-aid over it. Unless your like me and cant stand band-aids then just sit there for about 10 mins. It works great for me , makes the swelling go down and not it. Now next time I get a mosquito bite, so probably tomorrow, I will have to try the ammonia. It migt just works, Heck it is wortha try nothing else does.

 

[Mother2Hens]

we have the one red pullet(i call her red pullet because that's what the sign said at TSC. She seems to be the one in charge!) 2 white leghorns, and two ameraucanas. I two SLW that turned out to be roos so I had to find them a new home as our flock is a backyard flock with neighbors around. Next year i plan on getting some orpingtons--hopefully from my sis because she just got a new flock of straight run buff orps and black australorps. She told me they were going to breed them so hopefully i will have some next year! I don't know why we waited so long to have chickens either, but i'm so glad i did as they are fast becoming my pets!!!

Even though I am not an expert, I think your red pullet is a Golden Comet. Anyone else think so? I've only had chickens a year and I have been nuts ever since. My RIR, Nene, (who looks similar to yours except for the comb and tail feather ends) is a character! She is so nosey about everything and has to be right in the middle of whatever is going on. While my other hens retreat when a visitor comes, Nene is right up in their face as though she's asking, "Who are you and why are you here and shouldn't you be leaving?"

 

[Mother2Hens]

So in the last week I have been busy with company and working on the chicken coop. I come back to the world of Indiana chickens and find that you all have not taken a break for the holidays and I'm more than 30 pages behind. WOW. Its so much fun catching up but I still have many pages to go. I really enjoy reading all of your posts.

Yesterday, I had my original 6 chickens and my wonderful husband was about chickened out. He's been building me the coop with the hopes that we can quit talking about them all the time, lol. So, today I was talking to my friend and she said that she and her husband have contained all of their bantam roos and they are finding new homes for them or her husband is going to shoot them and put them in the freezer. Well, I'm on the pet end of chicken keeping right now, so this makes me just a little queasy. I live on 10 wooded acres and I have too many bugs, so I was thinking rather than let them go to "freezer camp" I'd put them to work at my house eating my bugs. Apparently, they roost in trees, won't need a shelter until winter (which seems to be the schedule we are on for the other 6...our coop is taking forever) and they don't eat much. I am now the proud owner of 6 bantam roos and 2 year old Easter Egger hens. It turns out that one of the bantys and one of the Easter Eggers are in love with each other and can't be separated. Since these particular Easter Eggers won't stay in their coop area and fly a lot, they came home too. Am I crazy? Probably, but I still think that they can be useful and none of my neighbors seem to have a problem with crowing. I hope they won't end up food for something, but maybe when the coop is done, I can talk them inside. Either way, its got to be somewhat better than the freezer they were headed for.

Here are the new additions:
I have no idea what kind they are but I think the reds and the black are really pretty.
I think they are going to take over the woodshed. Not sure if its safe from predators, but I hope so.

The hens have had too much attention from the other roos where they used to live, but I am hoping they will get their feathers back here. It would be really nice if they can learn to be friends with my chicks someday.

Progress is messy and slow, but we have screened in windows, steps, siding, nesting box, and half of the roof. We still need to do the attached covered run, add the actual windows, add vents, and finish the inside.The covered run will have a layer of gravel and then about 3 inches or more of sand to keep them dry. I hope we are getting close to the halfway point because two of my chicks are roos and have started crowing in the basement. Its really unfortunate because my husbands office is also down there and he works from home. Its getting awkward trying to explain on conference calls.

I hope you all had a great holiday weekend and thank you for sharing all of your information. I really appreciate all the knowledge.

Those are great photos and look like so much fun! That's great that you have the room to take the dudes, and I love how they hanging out on top of the logs like they are so cool.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Julie, thanks. I am not one to cry but this sure brought tears to me, my poor little Hope was precious and has been a strong survivor for all the challenges she had. The pekins have really stole my heart too. I am so angry I could scream! Bottom line is security, and its my fault. I needed a covered run for them too obviously and I failed. Learned the hard way.

 

[Mother2Hens]

Julie, thanks. I am not one to cry but this sure brought tears to me, my poor little Hope was precious and has been a strong survivor for all the challenges she had. The pekins have really stole my heart too. I am so angry I could scream! Bottom line is security, and its my fault. I needed a covered run for them too obviously and I failed. Learned the hard way.

Last weekend I caught up on all the posts that I had rushed through during my two week work crunch. I remember you mentioning Hope. She was lucky to have you because you didn't give up on her and provided a nice home. Unfortunately attacks happen when land is shared with wild animals who are trying to survive, too. Even in the suburbs. It seems like at least once a week someone reports an attack that results in losses. You can't be everywhere all of the time protecting everyone and everything. Just like my daughter who was almost in an accident with a semi because of two deer crossing the highway...We prepared her for driving, etc., but sometimes the unexpected happens. Luckily all turned out well for her (and the semi and the deer), but we can't protect everyone and everything. We all just do our best. You have done exceptionally well taking care of and loving your creatures. Focus on all of the things you have done for them and know that your mind will be eased when you install electric fencing. Take care. : - )

 

[hogster160]

I know! I have! She is super smart though she can get things from places you couldnt imagine. My main concern is her fetish with electronics and electrical things! I have never had dog or cat that seems to enjoy getting shocked!

How many toys does she have? If she has too many toys, dogs tend to think everything is a toy. All my pups are always started with a crate, a kong, a rope toy and a stuffed toy with no hard eyes/nose or squeakers. Keep her leashed for a couple of days, inside and out, then reward her with a small piece of dog food for good behavior, and the crate for bad behavior. Max time in crate 2 min. She will learn, but its going to take time for the training. As far as the electronics go, pick up all wires and tie them with a bread tie, or zip tie, make them neat and hidden. Its really like baby proofing your home lol. They are babies. My cocker, had her 25 years ago, would always go after my Christmas tree lights. Didn't matter to her if they were on the tree, the house or just in a box. She also love the the tv, vcr and game units cords. Took us a while to break her of this habit, so we decided to start young with the next dog. And the above has always worked. We have since had another cocker, 2 great danes, and yes the rope toys with them sucked lol, a pit bull and a mutt. Good luck!

Deb

 

[hogster160]

Today has been a horribly sad day for me. I am going to be spending tomorrow with my rifle in hand watching my goose pen. Late this morning, I went out to check my geese & ducks, discovered grey feathers everywhere and some very frightened birds. All was fine around 6 am when I checked them. My oldest DD checked at 10am before she went to work, since we had merged the birds we wanted to make sure no one was being picked on. So between 10am and 1145am, something entered the pen, and took my little wry neck goose. Hope is gone

my poor baby girl. I am just heartbroke over it. She was still pretty small, maybe 5 pounds at the most. My geese stayed in the pen this week, I combined them with the babies Monday evening and all was going very well. So tonight, I go back out and feed them, check again... Now my pekin drake isn't out there either!?!?!

I AM JUST LIVID! I am just sick over it, and he was a fairly large duck! This may be a large fox, or possibly coyote? If I have to sit in the middle of the pen all day, this animal will be dispatched! Only evidence is feathers. Last week, my muscovy drake was attacked and had puncture wounds on his neck. Its happening in the late morning hours. I assumed it was because he and the girls were out with the chickens like they usually are. So, I penned all of them up. Every bird here is locked up and not free ranging! I am strongly suspecting a fox, our neighbor on the corner lost his entire duck flock a month or so ago, and saw the creature with the last one dangling from its mouth. By time he got his rifle it was gone. Until I can secure their pen and cover it, they will move back to the main chicken coop, with the enclosed top. Not risking any more of my babies safety. We had purchased wire for electric fencing Tuesday & already bought the charger unit a few weeks ago. Its going to be put up this weekend!
I have always let all my birds free range and my original flock is just pacing at the fence, they don't understand why they cant be out. This last 2 weeks has been terribly dangerous for them, and it will change immediately. they will remain penned until this problem is resolved.

I am so sorry for your loss. *hugs*

 

[Too Fast]

So in the last week I have been busy with company and working on the chicken coop. I come back to the world of Indiana chickens and find that you all have not taken a break for the holidays and I'm more than 30 pages behind. WOW. Its so much fun catching up but I still have many pages to go. I really enjoy reading all of your posts.

Yesterday, I had my original 6 chickens and my wonderful husband was about chickened out. He's been building me the coop with the hopes that we can quit talking about them all the time, lol. So, today I was talking to my friend and she said that she and her husband have contained all of their bantam roos and they are finding new homes for them or her husband is going to shoot them and put them in the freezer. Well, I'm on the pet end of chicken keeping right now, so this makes me just a little queasy. I live on 10 wooded acres and I have too many bugs, so I was thinking rather than let them go to "freezer camp" I'd put them to work at my house eating my bugs. Apparently, they roost in trees, won't need a shelter until winter (which seems to be the schedule we are on for the other 6...our coop is taking forever) and they don't eat much. I am now the proud owner of 6 bantam roos and 2 year old Easter Egger hens. It turns out that one of the bantys and one of the Easter Eggers are in love with each other and can't be separated. Since these particular Easter Eggers won't stay in their coop area and fly a lot, they came home too. Am I crazy? Probably, but I still think that they can be useful and none of my neighbors seem to have a problem with crowing. I hope they won't end up food for something, but maybe when the coop is done, I can talk them inside. Either way, its got to be somewhat better than the freezer they were headed for.

Here are the new additions:
I have no idea what kind they are but I think the reds and the black are really pretty.
I think they are going to take over the woodshed. Not sure if its safe from predators, but I hope so.

The hens have had too much attention from the other roos where they used to live, but I am hoping they will get their feathers back here. It would be really nice if they can learn to be friends with my chicks someday.

Progress is messy and slow, but we have screened in windows, steps, siding, nesting box, and half of the roof. We still need to do the attached covered run, add the actual windows, add vents, and finish the inside.The covered run will have a layer of gravel and then about 3 inches or more of sand to keep them dry. I hope we are getting close to the halfway point because two of my chicks are roos and have started crowing in the basement. Its really unfortunate because my husbands office is also down there and he works from home. Its getting awkward trying to explain on conference calls.

I hope you all had a great holiday weekend and thank you for sharing all of your information. I really appreciate all the knowledge.

Your coop is looking great. Keep working at it, Seems like there are a lot of details, and things always take 4x as long as one would think. I know, I just built a coop/run. I'd think the crowing in the basement would be some serious motivation to get it done. Conference call, indeed!

 

[sirbuster]

Here are some of my turkeys they are doing much better now

 

[PeacefulWalls]

Today has been a horribly sad day for me. I am going to be spending tomorrow with my rifle in hand watching my goose pen. Late this morning, I went out to check my geese & ducks, discovered grey feathers everywhere and some very frightened birds. All was fine around 6 am when I checked them. My oldest DD checked at 10am before she went to work, since we had merged the birds we wanted to make sure no one was being picked on. So between 10am and 1145am, something entered the pen, and took my little wry neck goose. Hope is gone

my poor baby girl. I am just heartbroke over it. She was still pretty small, maybe 5 pounds at the most. My geese stayed in the pen this week, I combined them with the babies Monday evening and all was going very well. So tonight, I go back out and feed them, check again... Now my pekin drake isn't out there either!?!?!

I AM JUST LIVID! I am just sick over it, and he was a fairly large duck! This may be a large fox, or possibly coyote? If I have to sit in the middle of the pen all day, this animal will be dispatched! Only evidence is feathers. Last week, my muscovy drake was attacked and had puncture wounds on his neck. Its happening in the late morning hours. I assumed it was because he and the girls were out with the chickens like they usually are. So, I penned all of them up. Every bird here is locked up and not free ranging! I am strongly suspecting a fox, our neighbor on the corner lost his entire duck flock a month or so ago, and saw the creature with the last one dangling from its mouth. By time he got his rifle it was gone. Until I can secure their pen and cover it, they will move back to the main chicken coop, with the enclosed top. Not risking any more of my babies safety. We had purchased wire for electric fencing Tuesday & already bought the charger unit a few weeks ago. Its going to be put up this weekend!
I have always let all my birds free range and my original flock is just pacing at the fence, they don't understand why they cant be out. This last 2 weeks has been terribly dangerous for them, and it will change immediately. they will remain penned until this problem is resolved.

That stinks! So sorry to hear about the attacks on your flock -- I hope you can catch whatever is preying on your animals. That's one of the few bummers of having animals -- fear of being discovered by humans or predators -- when we lived in town we were always afraid someone would report our 4-H rabbits which for some reason are not allowed & we had...um...a few or so (rabbit math

) for the kids. Now after we moved outside city limits where the animals are legal, there's hawks & owls & coyotes... It's still worth it, though, having the animals -- I love going out to the barn & spending time with them, but hate it when something happens to them. Hope your birds can free range again soon!!