INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[racinchickins]

It feels ridiculous! Like all my chicken knowledge of the past 9 months is way undervalued! There was no way to change my account name, though, so I had to open a new one. The "man" keeping us down with crazy restrictions Still no news on chick shipment! I'm checking my email every other minute! I also had major insomnia last night, not sure if it was chick excitement related or what. At 2 am I woke up and realized that the goo I had felt in my barn jacket earlier in the evening was a crushed egg, that was my first time doing that. I'm pretty sure that cognitive gold nugget realization could have waited for a more reasonable hour!

Lol. I've been there and had that gooey jacket pocket. I bet most people on here have....

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote: I just realized you are in Lebanon, old salt is there too. I'm sure he can teach you how to process and cook your own roosters too. Much shorter drive even if all you do is donate the roosters to him for his meals.

 

[CRSelvey]

I just realized you are in Lebanon, old salt is there too.  I'm sure he can teach you how to process and cook your own roosters too.  Much shorter drive even if all you do is donate the roosters to him for his meals.

That's a good idea. He really likes being a hitman so I've paid him 50 cents to off mine before. I can't do it either. I still feel guilty about each one. Somehow I would really like to jump that fence though to be able to eat the boys with a clean conscience since it's way better that what I can get at the store. How do you do that?

Also I know I already asked about feed the other day but I have an additional feed observation. When the organic feed store I buy from ran out of the food I use, I had to get some food at tractor supply to hold my flock over while they were making more. I bought crumbles that were the most recommended by the staff as their highest quality.

It's still half the price of what I normally buy so it was fine. I've been feeding it to my chickens and no kidding, they are going through it like its candy. That 50 lb bag won't last more than a week and a half when my other food lasts close to 3. It doesn't seem to be as cost effective as I had expected. Also I have been so happy with our egg production while on the other food. In the last four days we've had 3 eggs instead of the 10-15 I've been getting. Maybe that's just because there was a change but it's interesting . We will be going back to the organic food ASAP.

 

[ChickCrazed]

That's a good idea. He really likes being a hitman so I've paid him 50 cents to off mine before. I can't do it either. I still feel guilty about each one. Somehow I would really like to jump that fence though to be able to eat the boys with a clean conscience since it's way better that what I can get at the store. How do you do that?

Also I know I already asked about feed the other day but I have an additional feed observation. When the organic feed store I buy from ran out of the food I use, I had to get some food at tractor supply to hold my flock over while they were making more. I bought crumbles that were the most recommended by the staff as their highest quality.

It's still half the price of what I normally buy so it was fine. I've been feeding it to my chickens and no kidding, they are going through it like its candy. That 50 lb bag won't last more than a week and a half when my other food lasts close to 3. It doesn't seem to be as cost effective as I had expected. Also I have been so happy with our egg production while on the other food. In the last four days we've had 3 eggs instead of the 10-15 I've been getting. Maybe that's just because there was a change but it's interesting

. We will be going back to the organic food ASAP.

What food do you normally use? I have been buying at Tractor Supply and/or Rural King, but I would love to find a smaller feed store that sells something reasonably priced. I am more than willing to pay a little more for it to last longer and get better production! I can't wait until Spring when they can free range more and offset feed costs a bit. I have also been feeding them spillage from the horse grain (horses spill a lot when they eat) but they aren't huge fans of horse grain. My old horses are on pellets though, and the chickens don't seem to like the pellets as much

 

[ChickCrazed]

I just realized you are in Lebanon, old salt is there too. I'm sure he can teach you how to process and cook your own roosters too. Much shorter drive even if all you do is donate the roosters to him for his meals.

I could maybe pay someone to take them away and process them for me, but I am way to squeamish to do it myself. I don't do blood and guts That is a good idea though. Although I would have to figure out how to house them for some extra weeks and space is a bit of an issue.

 

[kabhyper1]

Okay guys I have a mystery to solve. I have had my chickens in my big barn since the cold snap. They have a nice little coop area, and their daylight is pretty much the same. DH goes out in the morning before work and flips the light on, and then when I get up I open all the doors. When we first put them in I was getting 6 eggs a day. For the past 3 days, I only got 1, and so far today nothing. I have literally searched high and low in there, and found no hidden laying areas. Whats the deal??? I have 8 girls who lay, a cochin who still has teenagers at her heels, and hasn't layed since, well maybe ever, not sure, and 2 little 4 month old girls. So I should be getting at the most 8 eggs a day. They are scratching around in the nesting boxes. Just leaving after a few minutes to go about their business. It's weird.

 

[Delawaremommy]

Has anyone seen this picture of a car port coop? How cool is that!?!? I would never have to shovel the run again!!! Putting this idea away for the future....Although I don't think car ports are all that cheap.

Beautiful coop....mine is covered solid also and no shoveling for me, but I like the size of this one better!!! also no flying predators!!! BUT night before last my dogs were going nuts at the back door so I went to let them out and what to my sleepy eyes did appear but a little fat possum sitting on the fence. So glad that my girls are very secure and the dogs thought he was someone elses cat and chased his/her hiney away. Hopefully scared enough to not come back. If he becomes a problem I will trap and rehome him however, soooo any takers?

 

[FlockMaster-614]

Okay, so I'm trying to get Exhibition/Show quality birds around Easter so I can show them in 4-H this year. I'm looking for Phoenixes, Silkies, Belgium D' Uccles. I've heard that Hatcheries aren't the best for good Exhibition/Show/Fair birds but have any of you one here had any different experiences? Have you gotten good, pure breeds from Hatcheries? Or if not are there any reputable breeders on here that would sell some eggs or chicks?

 

[SallyinIndiana]

What food do you normally use? I have been buying at Tractor Supply and/or Rural King, but I would love to find a smaller feed store that sells something reasonably priced. I am more than willing to pay a little more for it to last longer and get better production! I can't wait until Spring when they can free range more and offset feed costs a bit. I have also been feeding them spillage from the horse grain (horses spill a lot when they eat) but they aren't huge fans of horse grain. My old horses are on pellets though, and the chickens don't seem to like the pellets as much

http://timmonsfeedandfarmsupply.com/
And they will give you a doughnut on Saturday mornings. It was a nice stop on the day of the chicken show last year. Titus bakery also made it on our outing that day. Over all other than getting turned around on the in town roads, it was a nice day; a chicken show, fresh feed, and a great bakery for lunch.

Quote: younger roosters have more tender meat. I typically can't tell the roos out for at least 6 weeks. They can be processed for a bit of tender meat then or gradually aged to get to the size you want. Still a hatchery packing rooster will be small even at 18 weeks. If you can keep them on grass the food cost is not too bad, otherwise I recommend eating the hatchery rooster as soon as it is large enough to be easily cleaned.

 

[PeacefulWalls]

That's a good idea. He really likes being a hitman so I've paid him 50 cents to off mine before. I can't do it either. I still feel guilty about each one. Somehow I would really like to jump that fence though to be able to eat the boys with a clean conscience since it's way better that what I can get at the store. How do you do that?

Also I know I already asked about feed the other day but I have an additional feed observation. When the organic feed store I buy from ran out of the food I use, I had to get some food at tractor supply to hold my flock over while they were making more. I bought crumbles that were the most recommended by the staff as their highest quality.

It's still half the price of what I normally buy so it was fine. I've been feeding it to my chickens and no kidding, they are going through it like its candy. That 50 lb bag won't last more than a week and a half when my other food lasts close to 3. It doesn't seem to be as cost effective as I had expected. Also I have been so happy with our egg production while on the other food. In the last four days we've had 3 eggs instead of the 10-15 I've been getting. Maybe that's just because there was a change but it's interesting

. We will be going back to the organic food ASAP.

It would be interesting to hear what happens with your egg production after you switch back.