INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[CRSelvey]

When I was a kid, we had an aggressive rooster that was my Dad's pride and joy. He didn't bother us three brothers because we would kick him when he came after us.

Our little sister couldn't kick effectively and got attacked often. Once too often, it turns out. Mom grabbed him up, chopped off his head, and served chicken dinner. She waited until after dinner before telling Dad it was his rooster.

John

I love that story.

Questions: I have some chickens that free-range all day and come in at night. I think one of the two hens went broody and is probably sitting on eggs somewhere because she hasn't come in at night for 3 nights now. I saw her today so I know she's alive, but I am wondering, If I figure out where she's sitting, can I move her and the eggs into the coop or do I have to leave her alone? What happens if I take the eggs away? I'm not really prepared for more chickens right now, so letting them hatch isn't especially responsible. I was hoping to get them into the coop before this happened, but I seriously never thought it would take this long to finish. The hen is an Easter Egger and the roos she hangs with are mostly Bantam Old English Game. Those ought to be some interesting chicks if I can't find her in time. Thank you in advance.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote:
that's exciting! Sooo sorry to hear about the explosive eggs

Good and bad news good news I mowed the lawn for the first time and I found and caught 4 kitten there wild so it was a bit of a challenge hand caught 3 and caught 1 in a live trap bad news is I cant keep them but they will go to an animal shelter where they'll get tamed there shots and fixed

good news about that is that they wont kill my chickens

Good decision to do with the kittens. Ferals take a lot of work and may never become tamed. and yes, protects your chickens later this year too!

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

We finished the first level of the foundation for my coop addition and there is an inch wide gap between the last and second-to-last block. So close...

 

[Old Salt 1945]

Well, after yammering away about not having names for my chickens, meet Eloise, 6-week old Jersey Black Giant.

I found her limping and determined that her leg was broken. My wife and granddaughter (Ellie) helped me put Popsicle stick splints on her leg, wrapped with elastic bandage material (like what they use to hold the cotton ball on your arm after blood draw). That was several days ago and it's still there. It's on the left leg just above the ankle (the trailing leg in the photo).

I named it Eloise in honor of the help Ellie (13) gave in treating the leg. She is thrilled and checks on Eloise every time she comes over, which is more often no that she has a chicken.

She (the chicken, not Ellie) is putting a little weight on the foot, although she very much favors it.
If she doesn't re-injure it before the bone mends, she may survive this. Yea!!!!!!!!

John

 

[Old Salt 1945]

We finished the first level of the foundation for my coop addition and there is an inch wide gap between the last and second-to-last block.

So close...

Declare it to be planned ventilation and move on.

John

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

That is a very tempting idea...

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

PeacefulWalls, the chicks are adorable, and the color of # 3 will be interesting to see as it matures!

Sally I have a female here but spayed I should rehome. She still has claws, but has been here since she was a newborn, we found her and a sibling under our porch. very docile and chicken friendly, but is more like a pet cat, and we can't have a cat inside. She does ok outside but has always been harassed by the other cats. If you want true barncats, contact nueter scooter, they can put you in touch with someone that's trying to place ferals. Usually everything is done for you shots etc.

My method on aggressive roos, ganders, drakes, etc.. I don't tolerate it. If i can pick them up, I hold them, tightly til they stop struggling. then let them go, scolding in a loud angry voice. My gander (and some of the young tom BBW turkeys they are HUGE)... I pin his attitude to the ground, flip him over and embarrass him. He won't act aggressive to me anymore, and actually defends me against the oldest rooster. My gander also uses the pin and hold to stop aggression! He will not allow roosters, or toms to fight. If i get a kick, or get flogged, I put my toe in the chest and push back firmly, quickly-chest bump. Repeatedly till they back off. My 2 aggressive roos are my GLW and my buff Silkie and both are a pain! If I pick up one of their "girls" they go nuts. That behavior I allow to a point, only because I want roosters that will defend my hens. (and there are no small children here) But I have made it clear to both of those 2 roos, those hens and the eggs are MINE first!

I am small so I often pin them rather than picking them up, just easier. except for Butters! And he is the worst one!

Greg Hopkins has beautiful peafowl; that's where I got my breeding stock, except for 2 hens that I bought locally last year. His are expensive, but you know what you're getting. I only bought the locals because I had more cocks than hens.
Now a note on eggs and chicks: peachicks are more delicate than chickens. I don't sell any before they're 3 months old, and I have lost them beyond that age as well. Once I bought a couple of 3 month olds, and they were fine, but other than that time I only buy yearlings. Mine don't free range, as a neighbor about a quarter of a mile away as the crow flies also has them, and they hear the others. I just found one of his peahens in my yard a few weeks ago trying to get in with mine. She had escaped when he was going into the pen. He has also captured escapees from my pens over there--they even had a wing clipped and walked to his place through the woods.
The only time that I sell eggs is if I am going to a show or swap and have a few extras, which is rare. My hatch rate is terrible--chicks develop and then die before hatching. I had my best luck with a Brower Top Hatch incubator--7 healthy peachicks out of 9 fertile eggs the first year and 22 chicks the second. Then that incubator gave up the ghost and I bought a Sportsman; haven't had good hatches since. Think I need to get the Brower repaired.
In my experience the mutated varieties, such as the silver pieds, seem to be less hardy than the traditional ones; my whites and silver pieds only lived 3-4 years. My opal pair has been hardy but don't produce fertile eggs often. Somebody needs to show him what he's supposed to be doing!
Others with peafowl may have a different experience; that's just what has happened here.

Great info, and would love to contact him. I doubt I will try to hatch but may sell eggs. I would love a pair, or trio! I want to be picky and do it right with them, I know they live several years and want to enjoy them a long time. I plan to get a sportsman cabinet next spring but it sounds like they maybe aren't a good choice?

Quote:
Thanks! I will check it out! I want to read all I can before I get any. That's exciting on the barn, I would have it full before its built! Dad is leaving his barn & land to us, but i told him I expect him to live to be 100+ so I won't ever be using it

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I know Mother 2 Hens is normally the one for posting amusing pictures. However I came across this and had to share.

Haha! I loved this, still laughing!

Quote: Soo going!

Yesterday I was with my kids at Hobby Lobby and found this nice little piece of art for the coop. Yes, I understand the chickens don't care, but I still have to look at it! Happy Friday everyone!

that is too cute, love it!

 

[EmSteele]

I got pecked in the eye by a chick for the very first time...honestly, it was a love Peck! The Buff Orpingtons I got a a little while back LOVE me.. not sure why RIR how but they've adopted me. These girls chases me around the coop when let out of the juvenile brooder (it's in the coop). All of my chickens, except the bantams, will come to me and chatter like they are telling me about the moments I missed. I've already discovered a love for chickens but this is AWESOME!!! Why doesn't everyone own a few!?!?! Makes the eye Peck worth it...the toe pecks also. BTW, no one warned me not to where flip flops into the coop when doing evening roll call..my poor toes!!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

We finished the first level of the foundation for my coop addition and there is an inch wide gap between the last and second-to-last block.

So close...

can you fit in a section of a 1" paver maybe? Ugh..

Quote: love the story too John!

Only thing you can do is watch her close to see where she goes. I spy with the binoculars lol! Good luck on the search, if not we want to see chix pics!!

Well, after yammering away about not having names for my chickens, meet Eloise, 6-week old Jersey Black Giant.

I found her limping and determined that her leg was broken. My wife and granddaughter (Ellie) helped me put Popsicle stick splints on her leg, wrapped with elastic bandage material (like what they use to hold the cotton ball on your arm after blood draw). That was several days ago and it's still there. It's on the left leg just above the ankle (the trailing leg in the photo).

I named it Eloise in honor of the help Ellie (13) gave in treating the leg. She is thrilled and checks on Eloise every time she comes over, which is more often no that she has a chicken.

She (the chicken, not Ellie) is putting a little weight on the foot, although she very much favors it.
If she doesn't re-injure it before the bone mends, she may survive this. Yea!!!!!!!!

John

Awesome news, hope she continues to mend! Well done