INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[chick rookie]

I was coming in from feeding animals last night, and had three eggs clutched in my hand. I hit the frozen ice moat around my barn and started doing a road runner on the ice, then pitched to the right and almost went down. I rallied and managed to stay upright and did not tighten my hand and break a single egg during the whole debacle! For the win! Also I am really sick of winter. From Snowpocolypse to mud and flooding, to ice, now back to snow on top. I'm ready for Spring!

Great job... I would have broken them... glad your not hurt btw

 

[browncow15]

Found what else it was!

[COLOR=8B4513]As far as processing -- It's just not in my blood, either. I admire people who can process, but there's no way I could. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=8B4513]I have been wondering about if any of you who do process chicken can freeze it and sell it to someone like me or CRSelvey who'd like to know where it came from?[/COLOR]
[COLOR=8B4513]Or is that against the law?[/COLOR]

Actually I think you can. According to this http://www.extension.org/sites/default/files/NMPAN State Poultry Regs Report 2August2012.pdf if the bird is processed at the farm and you come to the farm to pick it up it's ok. Page 17 is indiana. I would confirm with indianas board of animal health though. OR you could have someone raise them and have them processed at a custom exempt facility, which is what we do to get our cow and pig each year. The places I've heard that do chickens usually only charge a few bucks a bird.

 

[CRSelvey]

Hi Everyone. I just wanted to share today's chicken adventure I was channeling Mother2Hens and gave my limping chicken, Lucy, a bath and a new crate. She has been limping for several days and I moved her out of the coop when she wasn't able to get back up the ramp herself. At first Lucy was in a smallish cat carrier and while it was ok when she was little, she is now too big. She ended up getting poo all over her backside and I just can't handle that. So...she got the bath first. What an angel she was. I have washed dogs from poodles to bullmastiffs, cats, and guinea pigs, but never a full-sized chicken. She fell asleep in the bath on my arm.


After her blow-dry (on medium), she took a rest on the counter while I cleaned out her area.


Then we went to the store and got her a small foldable crate that I am sure will come in handy when isolating other birds in the future. In the past I have borrowed my friends rabbit hutch, but I have been doing it too much in my opinion.

Then, we made a sling out of remnant fabric I had in the basement and wrapped it around a dishpan so that she could hang to rest her feet/legs. I wish the dishpan was a little deeper though. No, I cant see anything wrong with any part of her legs, but she won't put any weight on the one. I'm really hoping she doesn't have a dislocated hip or something that she can't recover from, but I guess time will tell.



Should I mix some grit or sand into her food?

Also in answer to your question M2H, I ran out of the organic food about 2 days after the really cold weather, but I will keep you posted on the switch. I like your idea of us buying someone's chicken though. There is a farm here in Greencastle that I can buy from, but they do not use organic grain.

If I have a sick rooster is taking it to the vet to be put to sleep my best bet? He is not getting any better at all.

 

[chick rookie]

Hi Everyone. I just wanted to share today's chicken adventure I was channeling Mother2Hens and gave my limping chicken, Lucy, a bath and a new crate. She has been limping for several days and I moved her out of the coop when she wasn't able to get back up the ramp herself. At first Lucy was in a smallish cat carrier and while it was ok when she was little, she is now too big. She ended up getting poo all over her backside and I just can't handle that. So...she got the bath first. What an angel she was. I have washed dogs from poodles to bullmastiffs, cats, and guinea pigs, but never a full-sized chicken. She fell asleep in the bath on my arm.


After her blow-dry (on medium), she took a rest on the counter while I cleaned out her area.


Then we went to the store and got her a small foldable crate that I am sure will come in handy when isolating other birds in the future. In the past I have borrowed my friends rabbit hutch, but I have been doing it too much in my opinion.

Then, we made a sling out of remnant fabric I had in the basement and wrapped it around a dishpan so that she could hang to rest her feet/legs. I wish the dishpan was a little deeper though. No, I cant see anything wrong with any part of her legs, but she won't put any weight on the one. I'm really hoping she doesn't have a dislocated hip or something that she can't recover from, but I guess time will tell.



Should I mix some grit or sand into her food?

Also in answer to your question M2H, I ran out of the organic food about 2 days after the really cold weather, but I will keep you posted on the switch. I like your idea of us buying someone's chicken though. There is a farm here in Greencastle that I can buy from, but they do not use organic grain.

If I have a sick rooster is taking it to the vet to be put to sleep my best bet? He is not getting any better at all.

Chicken bath ... cool.
I use those types of kennels too, but I put shavings on the bottom to keep them from slipping and easier to clean, but I guess if she aint walking that wouldn't matter, and I wrap clear thick window plastic around the bottom and sides up about 1/2 way to help contain the mess, which again in your case wouldn't matter, just the way I do it may help someone else. And in case I need to do the dish pan thing in the future ... how are you keeping it from tipping?
I'm just a nosy butt aren't I... sorry I like to learn new ideals.

 

[CRSelvey]

Chicken bath ... cool.
I use those types of kennels too, but I put shavings on the bottom to keep them from slipping and easier to clean, but I guess if she aint walking that wouldn't matter, and I wrap clear thick window plastic around the bottom and sides up about 1/2 way to help contain the mess, which again in your case wouldn't matter, just the way I do it may help someone else. And in case I need to do the dish pan thing in the future ... how are you keeping it from tipping? 
I'm just a nosy butt aren't I... sorry I like to learn new ideals. 

Me too! I was hoping someone would see what I've done and tell me how to do it better. Bingo! I will wrap it when I get back from picking up the kids. She's not in good enough shape in my opinion to tip it but I could weigh it down with some sand in the bottom or use some heavy Velcro strips on the bottom I the pan. I'm not sure. My DH would undoubtably suggest some way to use bungee cord or tie down straps.

I'm just worried about her not getting enough grit while she's there and how long do I let her hang around before I know that she will or won't heal. She's my buddy so I can keep doing this for quite awhile.

Now my too is just killing me. He's still as drunk as ever and I was already hoping to rehome him before he got sick. Now I don't want to take a chance of giving someone else's birds whatever is troubling him.

 

[racinchickins]

We don't sell processed chicken. But we are willing to "help" process your chickens and you go home with a cooler full of roosters / older hens you raised. How much help you provide is up to you. Sometimes helping coral the 3 toddlers /young children and keeping them in the house or on the play set is the hardest part and requires the most help.

Here is the rule from the Indiana Board of Health. It is referring to Farmers Markets, but also applies to On Farm sales.

Poultry
Sales of poultry products slaughtered and processed on a farm without inspection are allowed at
farmers markets in Indiana, if the product meets the following requirements:
1. The product must be frozen at the point of sale;
2. The product must be labeled in compliance with 9 CFR 381.10. Label requirements for this
exempt, uninspected product include the following:
• Name of the product,
• Ingredients statement,
• Statement of quantity of contents in terms of weight or measures,
• Name and address of manufacturer,
• Date of packing, and
• Explanatory statement indicating why the inspection legend is not required. (For example, the
phrase “Small enterprise exemption from inspection” is suggested by USDA-FSIS but is not
mandatory.)
Producers must be slaughtering/processing fewer than 1000 birds in the calendar year to qualify for
this exemption. IC 16-42-5-29.

Other links:
http://www.in.gov/isdh/files/Final_Rule_(On_Farm_Poultry_Processor_Exemption).pdf
http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/incode/16/42/5/16-42-5-29

Boiled down: If you follow basic sanitation and labeling rules. You can sell frozen poultry (up to 999 a year) that you raised and processed on your farm.

Another note: If someone wants to buy fresh, unfrozen birds. They must buy the live bird from you. You can then process their bird for them, or they can process it on their own.

When I sold turkeys this year, we did the latter. I sold them the bird, then showed them how to process it. But that was with people who wanted to learn how to do it. This year, I also have people who are buying the turkey, but want me to process it for them.

As far as chickens go, if you are in the Indianapolis area, I will have a few birds soon that are going in the freezer that are surplus to our needs. I can't furnish a regular supply of chicken to anyone, but could work with someone to provide a special dinner here or there. PM me if you have questions.

 

[racinchickins]

On a happy note. I found a breeder willing to supply me with Mottled Java eggs when he has them available!!! I can't wait to get that project off the ground! It will round out my projects for the year.

Eggs: Crested Cream Legbars
Meat: American Bresse - although they are turning out to be good layers too!
Heritage Preservation: Mottled Javas
Just for fun: Turkeys....haven't settled on a variety yet.

 

[Too Fast]

I was coming in from feeding animals last night, and had three eggs clutched in my hand. I hit the frozen ice moat around my barn and started doing a road runner on the ice, then pitched to the right and almost went down. I rallied and managed to stay upright and did not tighten my hand and break a single egg during the whole debacle! For the win! Also I am really sick of winter. From Snowpocolypse to mud and flooding, to ice, now back to snow on top. I'm ready for Spring!

Very nice! Reminds me of when someone falls down, but manages to save the drink in the hand without spilling!

For the win, indeed!

I'm not quite ready for spring, we have not made our annual trip to Pokagon St Park, home of the 1300 foot tobaggon run. They quit Feb 28th, I believe.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I could skip toboggan for spring.

 

[chick rookie]

Me too! I was hoping someone would see what I've done and tell me how to do it better. Bingo! I will wrap it when I get back from picking up the kids. She's not in good enough shape in my opinion to tip it but I could weigh it down with some sand in the bottom or use some heavy Velcro strips on the bottom I the pan. I'm not sure. My DH would undoubtably suggest some way to use bungee cord or tie down straps.

I'm just worried about her not getting enough grit while she's there and how long do I let her hang around before I know that she will or won't heal. She's my buddy so I can keep doing this for quite awhile.

Now my too is just killing me. He's still as drunk as ever and I was already hoping to rehome him before he got sick. Now I don't want to take a chance of giving someone else's birds whatever is troubling him.

my DH would suggest a ratchet strap!!!! he is a truck driver/farmer. the sand ideal sounds good that would also take care of the grit problem, or just give in a cup so she can get as much as she wants. would waste allot if you mixed it with her food. cant help ya on the dr end I KNOW NOTHING ... but I wish ya luck and her as well, o sorry and your roo as well