INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[pbirdhaven]

So I stopped in my local Orschlens for feed and bedding and saw this on the bulletin board. Anyone ever participate in this? I'm thinking of doing it.

I've done this. It's a good way to get a free health inspection for certain diseases. You just gather eggs from different pens or breeds that you have to make up the dozen, and they test them. Plus I got an ISPA t-shirt.

 

[vickichicki]

People are so strange now a days. It is clear from the road that we have chickens. Well about an hour a go this unknown car pulls in stops like they are just going to turn around but then drives all the way to my back garage barn. Thankfully my children hear cars in the driveway and run to the windows expecting Grandpa. When it was not who they wanted they come and tell me mom there is someone here for YOU. When I look out there is a teenage boy and girl maybe old enough for a driving permit just walking around my yard looking at my chickens. They were nicely dressed and the car was a newer one. I did not see any boxes or crates so I don't know if they were planning on taking the chickens but I think not. I went out and asked if they were lost or needed directions. They said they just wanted to see my chickens. I nicely tried to explain an extreme bio safety approach to chicken keeping and asked them to leave since my chickens had never been exposed to their germs.
I have to wonder what the police would do if I called in and said I think someone is trying to steal a chicken from me. Maybe they were just hoping for eggs, either way I did not like it. I would have gladly showed them the chickens if they would have knocked and asked.

Well now I feel bad for not coming later. Although maybe with a car in the front they may not have driven in.

Update on the chicks so far. As of right now I removed the eggs and put the chicks in there. Momma was really angry about us checking on the chicks. Think my plan may have worked. Will update you hopefully in the morning.
Thanks once again for the chicks. They are adorable.

 

[vickichicki]

Mother 2 Hens - How are the little ones doing? Need new pictures

 

[Mother2Hens]

So I am saddened to hear about the wild cat being shot. I am a huge cat lover, domesticated and wild. While Deep inside I would love to own one, I know they are wild and it would be silly to think owning one would ever be a good idea. I shall marvel them from afar for their beauty.
As a life-long cat lady, I whole heartedly agree!

On the wild animal line of things. My husband was sent to a retention pond just north of the city on Monday to find a reported alligator on the loose. when we got there, there were about 10 people lining the edge all in search of some lake placid style croc hunting. After a couple of hours with some flashlights and some lengthy walking we did not see anything. DH told the security be would be back in the morning. He had come after dark to avoid people and causing a scene. Was not expecting to see anyone there except the security guard.
Tuesday morning. He arrives to the location... More that 50 people now there, DNR, news crews and another private animal control contractor. After a lengthy discussion with DNR and the private contractor. He ended up leaving frustrated without getting the alligator. DNR can not kill the animal, only a private contractor can. THe other guy said he was going to have to rescue the alligator and euthanize it on site. DH point out with all the news crews out there, enjoy the public relations nightmare on at deal and left.

They did not find the alligator. It even made the news (google alligator, Indianapolis). He got a phone all after yesterday's hoohaw. Can you come and deal with it, quietly and without spectators. So whether there is an alligator or not.. Because someone made it public, it is now going to be a nightmare.

That's another problem with people owning exotic animals that aren't native to the area-- many of these ignorant and irresponsible "pet" owners simply "let them go free" when they realize they don't have the resources to take care of them. Alligators, Burmese pythons, monkeys, big cats, bears, you name it-- are dumped and kill other species (sometimes humans) and disrupt ecosystems.

Mother 2 Hens - How are the little ones doing? Need new pictures
My Lavender, "Violet" and my Jubilee, "Adeline" are growing fast. My daughter took some photos last night, but they weren't good since she was trying to take both in one shot and one was always moving. Although they free range in the same backyard fenced in area as my hens, they stick to themselves. They are kind of nervous around us and the hens, which I can understand since they're young, but I wish they weren't so skittish around us. I still put them in the basement dog crate at night because I'm not ready to put them in the coop with the hens yet. The hens ignore the little ones most of the time unless food is involved (like cold watermelon) and then they run the little ones off (I make sure to get some to them). The hens always gather around me outside so it's hard to spend time with the little ones.

 

[Mother2Hens]

Today was a good coop building day. We decided to stop for a short time to make a sand box for our kids and it turns out that it was a great decision. Now they can play while I'm working on the coop and still see everyone. The inside of the nesting box is finished now and while its not exactly the right size, I think the little extra space might be useful for storage. We just didn't know what we were planning for the inside when the outside was started. Either way, I think its pretty good now. Wouldn't that look better with curtains? I think I'm teasing, but just in case I'm not, please don't tell my dh...;-)

Looks nice! Haven't you painted the inside that nice shade of green you created? I sure hope your curtains complement the color! haha
BTW-- make sure you have a lid on your kid's sand box or the cat and the chickens and who knows what else will use it, too. I mentioned recently on this thread that I use my kids' old turtle sandbox & lid for my chickens' dust bath. I put the lid back on when they aren't using it. lol
Old Salt~ If I ever had eggs hatch, I would do it so that the chick would imprint on me and be friendly.
How is your Jersey Giant's foot doing?
bradselig~ Thanks for the info about the egg testing program!

 

[Mother2Hens]

People are so strange now a days. It is clear from the road that we have chickens. Well about an hour a go this unknown car pulls in stops like they are just going to turn around but then drives all the way to my back garage barn. Thankfully my children hear cars in the driveway and run to the windows expecting Grandpa. When it was not who they wanted they come and tell me mom there is someone here for YOU. When I look out there is a teenage boy and girl maybe old enough for a driving permit just walking around my yard looking at my chickens. They were nicely dressed and the car was a newer one. I did not see any boxes or crates so I don't know if they were planning on taking the chickens but I think not. I went out and asked if they were lost or needed directions. They said they just wanted to see my chickens. I nicely tried to explain an extreme bio safety approach to chicken keeping and asked them to leave since my chickens had never been exposed to their germs.
I have to wonder what the police would do if I called in and said I think someone is trying to steal a chicken from me. Maybe they were just hoping for eggs, either way I did not like it. I would have gladly showed them the chickens if they would have knocked and asked.

This evening, I was working on re-doing the landscaping in the front of our house and my five hens were helping me as usual. A couple of women out for an evening walk, stopped and one said, "Are those REAL?" (no, they're robots?) I explained that they were pets with benefits-- eggs. Then she said, "Is that big black one the rooster? I explained that it wasn't; it's a Jersey Giant. "Oh, it's BIG!" (yes, that's what giant means). "How do you get eggs if you don't have a rooster?" "Do the eggs taste okay?" Geez. Maybe I was a little testy because of the heat and humidity.

 

[itsjustme]

A black panther sighting near Williams! ?!?! I live VERY close to there! I knew of MT. lions and some cougar sightings. A lady found a bear living behind her house last summer right up the road from me. She called animal control and the local police but was told they would not remove it because it is endangered in this area! Needless to day, she is moving her kids away from there as fast as she can!

I don't live to far from Williams either. I had not heard about the bear. I can't believe DNR didn't at least attempt to trap and relocate it. Where did it even come from? And have you heard there are suppose to be wild hogs in Williams also? I have a theory on that one but will keep it to myself. Lol and if there are it gives the panthers, cougars, and I guess bears another food option?

 

[itsjustme]

several years ago when I worked in Animal control, I assisted with a cougar that was an escaped pet. It had already attacked a man walking his dog, It didn't end well, a DNR officer was attacked & bitten during the attempt to contain it.. The owner was found and heavily prosecuted.
I wonder if the woman had reported the sightings to the police, or just the guy from the sanctuary.

that is crazy. I'm not sure who she called besides the sanctuary or if she called anyone else. I would like to think that if she had someone else DNR, Sheriffs office someone would have attempted to do something or at least went to investigate set up trail cams something?

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

This evening, I was working on re-doing the landscaping in the front of our house and my five hens were helping me as usual. A couple of women out for an evening walk, stopped and one said, "Are those REAL?" (no, they're robots?) I explained that they were pets with benefits-- eggs. Then she said, "Is that big black one the rooster? I explained that it wasn't; it's a Jersey Giant. "Oh, it's BIG!" (yes, that's what giant means). "How do you get eggs if you don't have a rooster?" "Do the eggs taste okay?" Geez. Maybe I was a little testy because of the heat and humidity.

Some questions people ask kill me lol. Multiple people I know didnt think you had to have a rooster to be able to have chicks .I've also had someone ask if you had to have a rooster to get eggs. I would of had sarcastic anwsers too. Did you actually say "no they are robots", that was halrious.....I would of said it lol.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

This evening, I was working on re-doing the landscaping in the front of our house and my five hens were helping me as usual. A couple of women out for an evening walk, stopped and one said, "Are those REAL?" (no, they're robots?) I explained that they were pets with benefits-- eggs. Then she said, "Is that big black one the rooster? I explained that it wasn't; it's a Jersey Giant. "Oh, it's BIG!" (yes, that's what giant means). "How do you get eggs if you don't have a rooster?" "Do the eggs taste okay?" Geez. Maybe I was a little testy because of the heat and humidity.

Somethings people say/ask kill me lol. I have also had someone ask me if you had to have a rooster to get eggs. I would of gave sarcastic anwsers too. Did you actually say "no they are robots"? That was halirous, I would of said it. One of my many mottos- dumb question=dumb anwser lol.