INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[gunchief25]

Quote: [quote url="[URL]https://www.backyardchickens.com/content/type/61/id/5373331/[/URL]"] Something that might be helpful for the future... To keep my runs from getting flooded or packed down into hard earth, I do a deep litter in the outdoor pen. When I first put up the pen/run, it was grass. As they wore that down over time, I began to fill it with wood chips, the wood shavings that I cleaned out of the indoor coop, and whatever else was available. The goal is to keep the ground underneith "alive"...to make a deep bedding that they can hopefully scratch through even in winter and still find worms under there. I keep dumping more and more into that run and it is awesomely alive instead of impacted and muddy and dead. The deep mulch keeps water from pooling too. I had the people who cut down some trees leave the wood chips and then let them "cure" in a pile for about 6 months before I used them. When you see worms in the pile it's good to go. Many places that cut down trees are willing to dump chips on your property FREE when they're cutting something down in your area. Call a few and ask. They don't like to have to haul them back to their place and dispose of them. It's free mulch. But...if I didn't have the wood chips I could have used raked up leaves, grass, etc. I also put ALL INDOOR WOOD CHIPS out there when I clean them out. I just haul it in there and dump it in a pile. They love to dig through it and distribute it when you first put it out. Here are some photos inside the run area when I had just dumped in some chips. They go to town and dig through for whatever is alive in there. You can see in the next photo what the run looks like from the side. They go out of here to free range most of the time. However, it gives me a pen to close them in when necessary. Notice the deep mulch/litter. Lots of worms and bugs under it that they dig through when they're stuck in the pen.

And a couple of winter photos. [/quote] Very helpful tip! My run is a muddy mess after the rain.

 

[danand]

Since ya-all are talking water heaters. My MIL and her DH are on a county water system and had individual on demand water heaters. She hated them! She couldn't take a Hot shower or bath and couldn't do dishes in Hot water. They were always having to repair them and replace them. When I came into the picture the things were about $400!! And last year they were going to replace another one and it was $900. So she finally got her way and got a regular water heater!! Of course his claim was how much electric it was saving them but at the price of those heaters there is no way!! They had 3 in the house. They now have the 1 normal heater and she is soo much happier!! But another example is my Aunt and Uncle, live in Columbus and had severe damage when it flooded. So they had a new system put in and once they got used to it they are very happy!!

 

[bradselig]

I have 2 rhodebar cockerel chicks and 1 legbar cockerel chick available. They are all free! (Sally, I still have one legbar roo held back for ya!). Come and get um! Also have a beautiful blue partridge silkie that has a straight comb, I'll make someone a heck of a deal on it . And lastly a tolbunt polish cockerel somewhere around 3-4 months old. I'm asking $25 but very willing to negotiate his price. Pictures are several weeks old.

 

[hogster160]

I'm new to understanding biosecurity. I think I'm misunderstanding something, so I trust the long-timers will share their experience and straighten me out
Since I have a Mareks positive flock, I am apprehensive to step foot in TSC or Rural King when they have chicks.
Surely folks with poultry diseases on their shoes, coats, hands, etc. shop at those stores, too, when they shouldn't be. Maybe even the people who work there carry diseases on their person.
To me, it seems inherently bio-UN-secure to buy chicks from a farm store. How can these things be true? Those ideas don't seem to make sense together to me.

I had a non-vaccinated chicken checked for md and it came back negative. I have a can of lysol in my truck and use it faithfully. Hubby not so much. Although he will use it before he gets out of the truck once he is home. I buy my feed a couple bags at a time, so I limit my trips to the feed store. Yes it is in the air, on other birds, and just about anywhere really, but I try to limit what I bring home. Not sure if it makes a difference. I am not buying chicks from anywhere. I will only use a broody to hatch. And I don't give the vaccine. I am breeding for strong birds that can survive in my area. IMHO the vaccine only make the bird not have the tumors. Right or wrong, not sure either way. I'm too new to chickens, but want healthy eggs and meat. I only have chickens for eggs and meat. I do not show. Nor do I go to shows. All my birds are healthy, they run, fly and act like chickens. I think its better than the alternative.

Quote:
Something that might be helpful for the future...

To keep my runs from getting flooded or packed down into hard earth, I do a deep litter in the outdoor pen. When I first put up the pen/run, it was grass. As they wore that down over time, I began to fill it with wood chips, the wood shavings that I cleaned out of the indoor coop, and whatever else was available.

The goal is to keep the ground underneith "alive"...to make a deep bedding that they can hopefully scratch through even in winter and still find worms under there. I keep dumping more and more into that run and it is awesomely alive instead of impacted and muddy and dead. The deep mulch keeps water from pooling too.

I had the people who cut down some trees leave the wood chips and then let them "cure" in a pile for about 6 months before I used them. When you see worms in the pile it's good to go. Many places that cut down trees are willing to dump chips on your property FREE when they're cutting something down in your area. Call a few and ask. They don't like to have to haul them back to their place and dispose of them. It's free mulch.


But...if I didn't have the wood chips I could have used raked up leaves, grass, etc. I also put ALL INDOOR WOOD CHIPS out there when I clean them out. I just haul it in there and dump it in a pile. They love to dig through it and distribute it when you first put it out.

Here are some photos inside the run area when I had just dumped in some chips. They go to town and dig through for whatever is alive in there.







You can see in the next photo what the run looks like from the side. They go out of here to free range most of the time. However, it gives me a pen to close them in when necessary. Notice the deep mulch/litter. Lots of worms and bugs under it that they dig through when they're stuck in the pen.






And a couple of winter photos.

I do the same thing. About half of their yard is dl the other half grass. I did use straw though. I didn't realize the problems that come with using it. The chickens have pretty much made a small mess with all the pieces, its pretty shredded. I guess I won't use it anymore. I also use leaves, grass and wood mulch. I never thought about putting the dl from the coop out there, I take it to my compost where they work it closer to the garden for me. I have a 3 bin system set up, one they can't (or haven't) gotten into. For moldy stuff, stuff they shouldn't have. The other two are ongoing I clean it up the scratch it out. Keeps them busy.

vickichicki -- Too Fast is right. Put the anode rod back in the tank. It's purpose is to provide a sacrificial metal that will corrode away rather than the inside of your tank. It is VERY necessary for the long life of your tank.

Also, don't fiddle with the safety valve at the top of the tank. It is usually connected to a long pipe that goes down the side of the tank to a drain at the floor. It has a lever that you can lift and let steam or air or hot water out of it and through the pipe. They sometimes leak and are replaced with a cap. This is bad. Mythbusters set one up like that and then overheated it until the tank burst. The tank flew up from the basement through the 1st floor, 2nd floor, ceiling, roof, and continued to an altitude of 150 feet. Not good, particularly if your bed is directly above it. It would mess up your fancy new bedspread.

John

When I had to replace my anode rod a couple of years ago. the old man in the ace hardware looked at me like I was nuts for replacing it. He literally would not sell me one. Said it was a waste of money. That once the rod goes, you only have a year or so left. Maybe I should have gone to a big box store, not my town store. I didn't replace it. Should I go buy one and replace it now. Its been probably 3 years?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
I had a non-vaccinated chicken checked for md and it came back negative. I have a can of lysol in my truck and use it faithfully. Hubby not so much. Although he will use it before he gets out of the truck once he is home. I buy my feed a couple bags at a time, so I limit my trips to the feed store. Yes it is in the air, on other birds, and just about anywhere really, but I try to limit what I bring home. Not sure if it makes a difference. I am not buying chicks from anywhere. I will only use a broody to hatch. And I don't give the vaccine. I am breeding for strong birds that can survive in my area. IMHO the vaccine only make the bird not have the tumors. Right or wrong, not sure either way. I'm too new to chickens, but want healthy eggs and meat. I only have chickens for eggs and meat. I do not show. Nor do I go to shows. All my birds are healthy, they run, fly and act like chickens. I think its better than the alternative.

 

[iamfivewire]

Barb S :
My friend that has the iowas that we got the delawares from is trying to find good homes for his remaining 3 iowa pullets & he will then be concentrating on icelandic chickens exclusively

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

Hey john where do you buy one of them sediment filter things? Lowes?

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

I'd be willing to make an hour trip so that he can go to a good home.

That is, if you're still interested.

If you are willing to make the hour trip that is fine by me! Conpletley your decision, just let me know and if you decided you want to we can work out details through pm.

 

[barb s]

Barb S :
My friend that has the iowas that we got the delawares from is trying to find good homes for his remaining 3 iowa pullets & he will then be concentrating on icelandic chickens exclusively

As much as I would love to get your friends Iowa pullets, I just can not drive that far to get them. If he is willing to ship them then I would gladly talk to him about getting them. Otherwise I am going to have to pass on them, sorry

 

[ellymayRans]

Really trying hard to catch up a bit..! Lots of new folks on here so Welcome! We've been super busy since oh..May! Lol... built a new large coop..woohoo! Turned out beautifully, hatched 17 babies lost 3 but first hatch ever very happy! However I have too many roos! Go figure! So asking is anyone interested? I have a big gorgeous held daily 6 month old believe to be a New Hampshire Red