INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

[COLOR=800080]pipd~[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]We've missed our resident breeding expert! Forget chicken soup-- Chickens are the best remedy for anything that ails you.[/COLOR]

That's for sure! No matter what's on my mind, it always helps to just sit and watch the girls go about their business. (P.S. Expert is a strong word, but I'm glad you think so. )

Hehehe, gotcha! now for the turkey math. You will really love them!
ETA: be sure to call the county co-op to check if blackhead is noted in your area. If so keep separated from the chickens.
My tom Buddy does very well, even in breeding season, just ignores the other birds - unless the roo's go near Lila.
He lets her wup them and run them off.
If they attack her, and she cries out, all bets are off. He is on them in seconds, and they learn fast to steer clear.
He is a sweetheart around me. I have 4 toms/jakes total.
Hoping my littlest BR poult is a hen
Some toms have been known to be aggressive, I have heard of very few. I have way more trouble with the roosters.
I have never seen any of the toms or jakes bother a hen, guinea, goose, peafowl or duck.
My brain dead guinea cock Hyde challenged Buddy 1 time and got stomped. He steers clear too.
Now the BBW and BBBs they are a meatbird, think ginormous cornish cross! different story. T
hey will attack your other birds, my BBW do any chance they get.
Heritage is the way to go if you intend to have them as a flockmates.
Heres a link that gives basic info:
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/poulsci/tech_manuals/small_turkey_flock_management.pdf
really good website, additional docs besides this one:
http://www.albc-usa.org/documents/turkeymanual/ALBCturkey-6.pdf
I saved the PDFs from there, good reading

Thanks for the info! Looks like I have a lot of reading ahead of me! I wouldn't have thought about the blackhead disease until after I got the birds. Unfortunately if it is in the area, I really have nowhere away from the hens to keep turkeys, so I guess that will be the deciding factor in whether turkeys join the flock or not.

I have always loved how Royal Palms look and the ones in different colors on the Porter's website had me practically drooling. Those are the kind I'd like if I get into turkeys. I avoid breeds and hybrids meant for meat as is because my birds are pets more than anything else, so for me, broad breasted turkeys are out just like Cornish crosses. Speaking of, can you make a pet out of a turkey or are they like Guinea fowl (you know, insane)?

I don't have any Toms, but I have two full sized BBB, 2 young royal palms and a young Bourbon Red. My BBB's were brought in at the same time as the first of my chickens, so they grew up together. The younger turkeys are timid and know their place! Most of the time everyone gets along. Once in awhile I'll see one of the older girls chase a chicken and and sometimes grab some feathers, so they get a little kick in the tail feathers. **Not hard, just a little one so they know they did wrong and remember who's boss, just like my DD always says!

I think the 2 BBB's are more annoying to me than the chickens because they follow me around like minions and stop and sit right in front of the mower and sometimes they kind of sneak up on me when I am filling the feeders and they are basically standing or sitting right behind me and I back up and almost fall... 

I think it all depends on how you raise them. I always see where people say to keep them separated, but I threw them all together anyway.  So far no serious problems.

Thanks for your thoughts as well. Would you say the poults that are handled from early on are better mannered than those that are just left alone?


Sorry if I missed replying to anyone. All the advise is appreciated!

 

[amwchickin]

Pipd - my older two have been pretty friendly towards everyone that has come in contact with them. We even had a family get together Labor Day weekend and all the kids were really excited to see the chickens and turkeys. It was fun doing a little petting zoo. My great white hunter/know-it-all uncle yelled at the kids to stay away from the turkeys, they're mean!! I said, you just watch this sir... and I had them come and pet the birds and I was feeding them out of my hands (they LOVE raisins) and my uncle was stunned.

The younger ones haven't been handled as much since I got them (got them all around the same age, the 2 older ones were from RK and the 3 younger are from a farm) and they aren't mean so far, just timid. I definitely can't "pet" them or scratch their heads like my older two. That may come later, or they may always be a little stand off-ish.

Gosh, I feel like I know more about my turkeys than I do the chickens!!

 

[Too Fast]

On the CL post...

Somehow I don't think it's the ROOSTERS that are morons.... Really got a good laugh out of that one!

Or...perhaps a "spell checker gone wild"...

It's crazy how that post read. It was talking about how those roosters are good egg layers, lol.

Just found out I need to clean the water heater for my house. Any recommendation for how to do this, the heater is electric.

John I'm sure you will have an answer that is economical and easy.

I'd type in the search box of YouTube "how to drain out an electric water heater." They have answers for absolutely everything, sometimes even tutorials. I know that should be done every couple of years, but I've never done it myself. Good luck to ya!

I'm sure John will have a good idea about the (hot) water heater. I just have a water heater. Do you have a cold water heater lol.

Our water heater has a tag on it which states the warranty expires one year after the installation date.
Most water heaters last about 10 years. I've never drained ours or did any maintenance in the 16 years I've been in this house.


The date of installation was July 10th, 1977!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


You can bet your A** I'm not doing anything to it now, even tho the hot water has some excess iron in it the last 4 years. Wonder how much sediment is in there keeping the tank from leaking.

 

[gunchief25]

Anyone been to the martinsville rural king lately? The lady on the phone was less than helpful when I asked what breed they had!

They have no idea what breeds they are. There is one box at Bloomington labled "Straight Run Pullets" no breed or anything.

 

[Thunder Chicken]

Only in Indiana can you buy moron chickens!
http://tippecanoe.craigslist.org/grd/4097874253.html

Description says cuckoo morons.

 

[barb s]

Okay I am way beyond excited now. Earlier today my DF brought home a chick that he had rescued from his BIL's and he told me I could get some playmates for my one little chickie so I immediately jumped on here and asked for help. Well I am going to pick up a couple of marans at least one legbar rooster possible a rhodebar pair and maybe a silkie from Brad tomorrow. And depending on what hatches next week I may be also picking up some chicks from Kabhyper1. But then my DF calls me to come to his BIL's house. So I go over there and he has these guys for me



One of the yellow ones is the one he brought home earlier. The other four he found out behind he's BIL's horse barn. So now I have these chicks, some coming from Brad tomorrow and possible some more next week. And I have a broody sitting on 9 eggs that hopefully will be hatching in about 2 weeks.
One a different note I had one of my hens lay a shell less egg today. My hens have only been laying since the first of Aug. so is this normal for a young layer or is it something I should be concerned about. She is a red production hen of some sort.

 

[gunchief25]

Okay I am way beyond excited now. Earlier today my DF brought home a chick that he had rescued from his BIL's and he told me I could get some playmates for my one little chickie so I immediately jumped on here and asked for help. Well I am going to pick up a couple of marans at least one legbar rooster possible a rhodebar pair and maybe a silkie from Brad tomorrow. And depending on what hatches next week I may be also picking up some chicks from Kabhyper1. But then my DF calls me to come to his BIL's house. So I go over there and he has these guys for me One of the yellow ones is the one he brought home earlier. The other four he found out behind he's BIL's horse barn. So now I have these chicks, some coming from Brad tomorrow and possible some more next week. And I have a broody sitting on 9 eggs that hopefully will be hatching in about 2 weeks. One a different note I had one of my hens lay a shell less egg today. My hens have only been laying since the first of Aug. so is this normal for a young layer or is it something I should be concerned about. She is a red production hen of some sort.

I got a few rubber eggs when mine first started laying. I have been told it is normal. Just make sure you are giving them plenty of calcium. I keep a container of oyster shells in the pen for them.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

Okay I am way beyond excited now. Earlier today my DF brought home a chick that he had rescued from his BIL's and he told me I could get some playmates for my one little chickie so I immediately jumped on here and asked for help. Well I am going to pick up a couple of marans at least one legbar rooster possible a rhodebar pair and maybe a silkie from Brad tomorrow. And depending on what hatches next week I may be also picking up some chicks from Kabhyper1. But then my DF calls me to come to his BIL's house. So I go over there and he has these guys for me



One of the yellow ones is the one he brought home earlier. The other four he found out behind he's BIL's horse barn. So now I have these chicks, some coming from Brad tomorrow and possible some more next week. And I have a broody sitting on 9 eggs that hopefully will be hatching in about 2 weeks.
One a different note I had one of my hens lay a shell less egg today. My hens have only been laying since the first of Aug. so is this normal for a young layer or is it something I should be concerned about. She is a red production hen of some sort.

A lot of new layers will have some egg problems at first, Give her a little time and see f this stops if not they do something about, but as of right now I would not be concerned. Congrats on your chicks!

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote: DH and I have spent the majority of the night draining refilling and such. Then I wise up and check the water that is coming out of the heater valve, almost clear only a tiny tent of yellow. BUT our new tub that was installed less than a month ago has hot water that looks like toddler urine. Then it dawns on me, the plumber must have installed something that is leaching yellow into my water pipes. Since we only use hot water in our tub ore at least 90% of the tub water is hot, the leaching is really only noticeable in the hot water. I did see that the tub water was tinted when we first got the tub. however I had just had my hair darkened and I thought it was the hair coloring slightly fading. But the yellow has consistently gotten more and more yellow. When it first started it was a if you look close at the filled tub there was a hint of light brownish yellow color to the water. Now I could add cornstarch and paint a coop. I have a call into the plumber and we are not drinking the water until it is clear.

Quote: That pen is the hatchery mix. It is most likely a mix of straight run including pullets something like Meyer's Leann's "Adopt Me" Bargain. The sign is clearly wrong and misleading. But almost all hatcheries offer some form of a leftover straight run assortment with no letter stating what is in the box. I have seen some all girl assortments too so the sign could be wrong about straight run instead of the pullets part. The chicks could have been form a mix like the Meyer Brown Egg Layer Assortment Either way I avoided that pen. Mixed assortments I can do if the list of breeds is narrow but straight run and mixed breeds I avoid.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Had to post a few photos

Broody mom and 5 week olds:


The 2 black babies are SFH/BA mix.

New SFH Baby 5 wks.



SFH Baby parents:

Mister @ 9 mos. old.






Miss Gray @ 9 mos old