INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[bradselig]

Racin-I used sevin dust when I noticed mites. I took out all old bedding, sprinkled more sevin dust and put in new bedding. For the roosts, walls, cracks, etc, I used a permethrin based spray and sprayed them down. Haven't noticed an issue since. I used DE prior but obviously didn't do anything to help prevent or kill the mites from my experience.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

Definitely not fun at the time when you land upside down. Better yet, it's even worse when you have to unbuckle and know you're going to fall on your head. You become quite disoriented when you're in a car that's upside down lol. Those dang handles to open the door are hard to find.

lol. My brother in law races cars at the montepiler race track. but ahsnt for a few months because he is fixing his car. First time I ever watched him race, he came around the track hit the wall, flipped 6 times, and landed right side up. Amazingly nothing but a few bruises. And If you have ever been to the race track you can probably agree that those cars arent built very good. To me they look like pieces of scrap metal lol.

 

[Old Salt 1945]

The project I'm starting is to work on breeding pens for next spring. I'm pouring over designs for coops and runs on here, and have seen some great ideas, but wanted to hear how others on here are liking their setups. These will be permanent structures. The laying flock ( and any breeders 'on a break') will use the mobile coop/pen setup. What I'd really like to hear is some 'Definitely do this... because it works so well for me'. and 'Definitely don't do this.....because I have found it is a pain in the butt' ideas. I"m aiming at the usual suspects. Strong security, good environment for the occupants, and ease of care for their owner/slave..

CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCChickens is right. I don't know why I didn't think of it.

You have all those unused horse stalls with walls and doors already built. Just add some wire enclosure to keep out the raccoons and you are done. Some nest boxes, feed and water and you're done.

Breeders don't need a chicken yard. All they need are food, water, and nest boxes. If you pile up some hay or straw in a corner, they don't need nest boxes. They will make their own. Throw a rooster and a few hens in the stall and collect the eggs. When you have enough eggs, toss them under a broody hen or into an incubator. 3 weeks later, you got a bunch of chicks.

If you are letting the hen hatch them, you can put her in her own stall with the chicks and let her take care of them.

Use what you have.

John

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCChickens is right. I don't know why I didn't think of it.

You have all those unused horse stalls with walls and doors already built. Just add some wire enclosure to keep out the raccoons and you are done. Some nest boxes, feed and water and you're done.

Breeders don't need a chicken yard. All they need are food, water, and nest boxes. If you pile up some hay or straw in a corner, they don't need nest boxes. They will make their own. Throw a rooster and a few hens in the stall and collect the eggs. When you have enough eggs, toss them under a broody hen or into an incubator. 3 weeks later, you got a bunch of chicks. Use what you have.

John

I let am working on the runs next, because me being the softie I am would feel bad if I didnt let them go outside. When I was first starting my breeding pens I was going to start from scratch. Then I was like wait a minute, why not just use the old horse stalls! Occassionally I have good ideas lol.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

O and how ironic that they have unused horse stalls!

 

[Old Salt 1945]

O and how ironic that they have unused horse stalls!

Not more than a couple dozen or so! Did you notice how HUGE that horse barn is? There is an exercise yard in there!

If they decided to start a commercial poultry farm, they could put thousands of birds in there, in cages of course.

PATRICK - What are the dimensions of that barn? Nosey.

John

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

Not more than a couple dozen or so! Did you notice how HUGE that horse barn is? There is an exercise yard in there!

If they decided to start a commercial poultry farm, they could put thousands of birds in there, in cages of course.

PATRICK - What are the dimensions of that barn? Nosey.

John

I didnt go to poultry fest. But did see a barn in pics people posted, but had no idea it was a horse barn. I only have 7 stalls. I used to have 12 horses talk about a feed bill lol, only 3 were mine.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

First chick!!!!

Awww congrats! So exciting to see it

 

[Mother2Hens]

Now that poultry fest is out of the way. (At least for this year.

) I'm getting ready to start on my next project, but found out I have a potential problem.

I was processing one of the extra roos, and he had mites pretty bad. I don't handle my birds a lot, so haven't noticed a problem before. I realize I don't know how to tell the difference between a chicken who is itching, and one who is just working on oiling up their feathers. So far I've checked 3 other roos and my broody pullet. One other roo had mites, the other two and the pullet didn't. So I think I may be early in the infestation.

So I started to do research and basically found that Everything kills mites and Nothing kills mites. Every product had it's cheerleaders and critics. So I'm turning to the group I trust. Who's had 'em and what worked for you? I'd especially like to hear from people here in Indiana, since I want to use whatever has seemed to work well locally. I've read back through this thread to find what I can, but I'm sure I missed things.

The project I'm starting is to work on breeding pens for next spring. I'm pouring over designs for coops and runs on here, and have seen some great ideas, but wanted to hear how others on here are liking their setups. These will be permanent structures. The laying flock ( and any breeders 'on a break') will use the mobile coop/pen setup. What I'd really like to hear is some 'Definitely do this... because it works so well for me'. and 'Definitely don't do this.....because I have found it is a pain in the butt' ideas. I"m aiming at the usual suspects. Strong security, good environment for the occupants, and ease of care for their owner/slave..

I am too tired to read all the posts tonight, but when I saw this one I knew that Old Salt would be suggesting that you hire a crop duster to fly over your place to coat it with Sevin dust -- I skimmed ahead and sure enough Old Salt doesn't think just a sprinkle is enough.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Had to share a pic if my silkie babies! So cute!

John- Last year I had a Cooper's hawk trying and successfully taking my chickens. Towards the end, it was even trying attack when I was out there with the chickens! I ended up setting my shotgun next to the door and when the chickens sounded the alarm call, I would out to check. I eventually shot the gun towards the ground (didn't want to risk killing due to laws) but that seemed to scare it away ad hasn't been back. Well up until this week, my oldest legbar roo became missing with just a few feathers left behind. Gun is already out of safe ready to go.

I have been lucky with the hawks so far, its the fox that keeps showing up every so often. I will get it yet.
It snatched one of my GLW cockerels this weekend, I cant believe how bold the thing is.
I keep my rifle with me but it comes in so fast, its usually too late or not a safe shot to take.

I have a red-tailed hawk working my chicken yard.

I have been noticing that several times over the last few days, all the chickens, ducks, guineas go into the coop during the day for no discernible reason. I have gone out and looked around for the cause and found none. I noticed it just minutes ago and looked out and sure enough, there he was circling above.

From comments I've read, guineas are good at detecting threats from above. Apparently the other poultry follow their lead.

Anyone with hawk problems, get some guineas. I haven't lost any birds yet.

John

Yes, you aren't kidding! My 4 adults will harass the fox, he can't get them. I have seen him try out in the back corner of our property by the creek, they just fly away from it.
Its scary, but truly impressive to see how high a fox can jump... I have yet to get a safe shot off to nail that critter but its days are numbered.
My 2 guinea cocks will actually charge it, then fly off. They will take on a tom turkey, just fearless. My 4 adults I can't put with the main flock, the boys attack the chickens too.
Both hens are social with all of the birds and are no problem. All my hatched guinea are being raised with the main flock. I really hope it makes a difference.

Quote: Ugh..I hate all of that, especially driving on it! I have a frost free hydrant by the coops so am not dealing with carrying buckets this winter. My goats have a heated bucket for the winter also.

The egg song is getting old hand around here lol. Here is so often we don't even run every time anymore. Here's a couple pictures from this morning. The girls really like the tall grass in the foreground, and the bushy area in the background. Finally killed all the wild grape vines in that area. One of our sunflowers is almost 10 feet tall.

I just love your coop! Maybe next year I can set up a garden plot

Would sure love some fresh squash.