INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Mother2Hens]

Not too long ago, there was a discussion on this thread about what people use in their runs, etc., which resulted in many people reading this info (and converting) about using a combination of sand and pea gravel "construction sand" or coarse sand (play sand can cause respiratory issues). I believe CRSelvey bought a truck full from a quarry and we plan on doing that, too.

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/09/chicken-coop-bedding-sand-litter.html

Has anyone used pea gravel in their runs or poop trays? I am thinking about getting some tomorrow. Not much grass left and it seems like it would be easier to scoop the poop.

 

[Thunder Chicken]

First look on Google for peepers. Too funny.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

for egg recipes, make cookies, brownies, egg bread, scrambled eggs, fried eggs, omelets, egg white frosting for sugar cookies, waffle ice cream cones, homemade ice cream, breakfast egg and sausage casseroles with either bread or hashbrowns, breakfast sandwiches from the McDonald's menu, deviled or stuffed eggs, egg salad, egg and potato salad, mix an egg or two into ground beef and an onion some tasty burgers. Then there is the world of egg noodles and various pastas. Eggs make great thickeners for soups and such if added at the correct temp in the correct way. Some people pickle eggs, I have never tried them but many people like them. I have heard of beet pickled eggs too. Waffles, pancakes, cinnamon rolls, lots of doughs use eggs. Then there is the raw egg protein shake. muffins and cornbreads typically need eggs too.

 

[DarthLayer]

The googley eyes cracked me up!

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

We also love the look of the brown swiss & jersey cows -- so pretty! I also think the dutch belted are fun looking -- they're the oreo cookie cow -- black with a white band around their midsection. My daughter says she would love to have a cow to milk and then also throws in that that means 2 cows since they do not thrive as a single animal. I suggested we start smaller & milk a goat instead. Of course, the first obstacle to acquiring any more animals at this point is fencing -- as in, we need to acquire more of it! That and the fact that all of our barn stalls that were built for livestock are currently filled with chickens and ducks

.

I dont really like the jerseys. I do like the plain jane holestiens. I had a dairy goat I could of milked, but I just let her utter dry out. I just cleaned out the middle bay in my barn! It has had stuff in it for almost 4 years! lets just say I had been putting it off.

These are my favorite too! Hence my screen name

They're what I'm considering raising for beef for next year. I'm also planning on purchasing two breed angus heifers this fall!!

I'm sorry
LOL you've never tried cleaning a stall with one that doesn't want you in it! I won't have a bull on my property while I have young children, they're to unpredictable! Which is also why I haven't had cows here this summer; they returned to my friends house to get breed. I really need to learn how to AI!

They are pretty.I have never raised any brown swiss. But I have friends that do.

 

[Thunder Chicken]

The googley eyes cracked me up!

Me too, lol.

for egg recipes, make cookies, brownies, egg bread, scrambled eggs, fried eggs, omelets, egg white frosting for sugar cookies, waffle ice cream cones, homemade ice cream, breakfast egg and sausage casseroles with either bread or hashbrowns, breakfast sandwiches from the McDonald's menu, deviled or stuffed eggs, egg salad, egg and potato salad, mix an egg or two into ground beef and an onion some tasty burgers. Then there is the world of egg noodles and various pastas. Eggs make great thickeners for soups and such if added at the correct temp in the correct way. Some people pickle eggs, I have never tried them but many people like them. I have heard of beet pickled eggs too. Waffles, pancakes, cinnamon rolls, lots of doughs use eggs. Then there is the raw egg protein shake. muffins and cornbreads typically need eggs too.

You should have made the cookbook.

I can scramble eggs and put them on toast. I have made deviled eggs using Miracle Whip that have made people ask me for the recipe, lol. I just passed the dozen egg mark for my hens laying so I need to plan for more ways to use them. So far I have only found two in one day but all three of the boxes are being explored by 8 hens so I expect my girls to step up.

 

[Mother2Hens]

Disclaimer: I don't mean to seem like a M2H Know-It-All because believe me, I don't. I just like to problem-solve and research. It's kinda boring to try reading straight through a Chicken Health book, so I learn more by looking up specific problems that members ask about.
Thunder Chicken posted: Oooh! Maybe I should get that book [Chicken Health for Dummies]. I just received the official backyardchickens cookbook but was a bit disappointed. It's a nice cookbook but I expected more egg recipes.

So.... anyone use peepers to stop pecking? I gotta google peepers now.
Haha I remember the first time I saw chickens wearing glasses on a TV program and I thought it was fake. I've seen antique ones on sale on eBay. Here's some I just found.
Vtg. 1940s Chicken Poultry Red Eye Optic Glasses Sunglasses Modern Plastic Peepers

I've been gone for 28 days....28!!! Catching up now..and I've missed this place!!!

Welcome back! Where've you been? You might see if Cliffs Notes on the Indiana Thread are available at your local bookstore.

We have 3 of 5 windows framed in! Here is the view to the south from the coop addition.

(The mound of dirt on the other side of the wall is to back fill the coop addition once the welded wire fence and gravel is down.)

Wow, I'd like to have that view-- and those windows. Is that an addition to your other coop? It looks like it attaches to another structure and I can't remember what the plan was.

 

[Old Salt 1945]

I don't mean to stand you corrected, John, but I happened to run across this description of bloom while looking for info about egg shell disorders.

Tonight's lesson is: What is Egg Shell Quality and How to Preserve It

Dr. Ken W. Koelkebeck
Department of Animal Sciences
University of Illinois
[Excerpt] There are many factors that affect the overall quality of the egg shell, but before discussing these factors, it is important to know what makes up the structure of the egg shell. The egg shell consists of about 94 to 97% calcium carbonate. The other three percent is organic matter and egg shell pigment. There are also as many as 8,000 microscopic pores in the shell itself. The outer coating of the shell itself consists of a mucous coating called the cuticle or bloom which is deposited on the shell just prior to lay. This protein like covering helps protect the interior contents of the egg from bacteria penetration through the shell. Egg shell quality is determined by the color, shape, and structure of the shell.

The rest of this article is very interesting: http://ag.ansc.purdue.edu/poultry/multistate/koelkebeck1.htm

I remember a discussion on this thread about egg washing-- some used cold water, some warm, some didn't wash, etc. This article discusses all this -- and more! And you can read it not only once, but twice at no extra charge. Just send me a check for shipping/handling/finder's fee.

Correction: My mother called it "bloom", so I did too.

John

 

[bloonskiller911]

I am getting discourage!!! I have a great picture of my 4 newly hatched pekin ducklings and I can not upload the pictures. I don't even have the bar with the smiley's or anything. so disappointed :{

 

[julie0477]

No darker heads or curled feathers yet.  At least one is deeply quacking.  I hatched these from shipped eggs so I'm thinking at least one is a drake but maybe I got lucky and ended up with 3 girls.  I got the eggs from ebay because Meyer hatchery had a minimum duckling order with a rather large shipping fee.  I'm sure the shipping was cost but each duckling with shipping would have cost me almost $15 or more. Now I could have ordered more ducklings to reduce the shipping cost but I did not want that many ducks before I was used to taking care of ducks.  Good thing too, I can only imagine how i would have housed 15 fast growing ducklings.


Edit, I went back to the ebay listing.  It looks like my 3 ducks may all be girls.  The seller's photos show his ducks and there is a very clear difference in the feather color and pattern between his males and females.  I then had to do some more research.  Turns out his ducks are the heritage show quality ducks.  So the males would be much prettier than those in the hatchery pictures.  I know if I ever decide to hatch more duck eggs I'll be getting them from him again. 

so three khaki Campbell girls? Woohoo better find more egg cartons