INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[chick rookie]

Depending on where you ask, that question can cause a lot of arguments. The precise definition of heritage depends on who you ask and that persons viewpoint on any number of chicken subjects.

Fortunately, this is the Indiana BYC thread. Everyone can have an opinion, and is encouraged to.

My personal view on the subject is that a heritage breed is any breed with an historical context. (Where that history kicks in is usually the cause for 'discussion'). There is usually a tie to some sort of breed standard also. This immediately eliminates hybrids and mixed breed chickens. Nothing wrong with them, they just aren't 'Heritage'. A lot of people also dismiss most hatchery stock also because they don't match this or that breed standard.

On this thread, probably the most common time you will hear about a 'Heritage' breed is with Rhode Island Reds. There has been a pretty clear divergence from 'Hatchery' stock and 'Heritage' stock. I visited SallyinIndiana recently, and saw this first hand. I've seen quite a few RIRs from hatcheries. They tend to be decent sized, but not large chickens, an orangey red color, and prodigious layers of lots of brown eggs. Sally has gotten some Heritage RIRs in her flock and the difference is striking. The birds are much larger, and a deep rich dark mahogany red color. I don't believe they lay as well as the 'production reds', but they still lay quite a few eggs. They also match up in size and body type much closer to the standard established by the APA. I'm not saying one is better than the other, just that one or the other can be better for a particular person, depending on their wants and needs.

I have chosen to concentrate on two breeds that meet my definition of 'heritage' and one that is probably not. Mottled Javas, Crested Cream Legbars, and American Bresse.

The Mottled Javas would not be disputed by anybody as a heritage breed. Java's are the second oldest American breed and are listed in the Standards of the APA (American Poultry Association).

Crested Cream Legbars could be disputed by some as not a heritage breed because they are not in the APA standard. But they were developed in the UK in the 1930s and have a good history and a breed standard in the UK. However, they are recent imports to the US, and have a group actively working on a standard to be proposed to the APA.

American Bresse are also recent US imports without an APA standard. Poulet de Bresse are a historical breed of France, but the line from the US back to the original french chickens is a bit less clear than that of the CCLs. This is why they are called 'American' Bresse. This makes their status murky.

Hope this helps.

helps allot, I kinda thought it had something to do with old breads.
I never heard of or seen the Mottled Javas or the American Bresse, but I'm sure they are pretty.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote: Its yours. Thanks. I'll make sure you get it when you get your ducklings.

 

[Mother2Hens]

M2H ~ the roof blew off our child's play house in the wind

SallyinIndiana ~ Glad it wasn't your family's house! I think our roof is fine-- it was just so loud last night that it was crazy.

I also enjoyed some time out with my girls today and I actually managed to get four of the six in the "tent" before leaving for work this evening. (Usually the four EEs want to roost in the tree so I can only get the two BAs in the tent for the night.) I am concerned about the other two, but they have stayed in the tree through similar nights in the past, so I'm trying not to worry too much.

The bad weather has delayed my yard barn and I can't get them to give me a new date of when it will be set up.

Follow-up from M2H:
Good News ~ House Kat called the person I knew (a construction worker who works for a company I do freelance work for), and bought his coop. He even delivered it! I was afraid that after the winds last night, her chickens would end up in the next county! I'm so happy for HouseKat and her flock!
THE MYSTERY CONTINUES . . .
To recap: Yesterday I found a blood smear on the shell of an egg where Adeline had been laying. Upon inspection, she looked like she had a prolapsed vent. Last night I was ready to bring her in the house and her vent looked absolutely fine.
These are her eggs except one is a bantam-- Bonbon's.

The ornamental grass bush where they've been laying.


Today, I went into the coop and saw blood on a nesting box! I think the spots in the middle are like they were made when the chicken backed into the wall, maybe?


I checked all of the vents and feet/legs/heads (injuries) of my six chickens and didn't see any problems. I didn't dig through their feathers (yet). My DH lets them out at 7:00 am every morning during weekdays, but because of the winds and cold this morning, he checked on them, but kept the door shut. So, they were cooped up until 10:00am when I went out. There may have been a battle over the two nesting boxes since they were locked in there. I don't know. The one nesting box had one EE egg and one bantam egg. The other was empty. Adeline and Bonbon are at the bottom of the pecking order since they are nice. Nice chickens finish last. lol The good thing is that typically when they're pecked, they don't even feel it because of all of their feathers!

If any of our Sherlock Holmes fans out there have any clues about this mystery, please let me know!

 

[Kiniska]

Hey guys, does Rural King carry goslings in the Spring? Or would one of you like to swap ORP chicks for goslings in a few months? Not a one for one obviously. Maybe two or three Orps for a gosling depending on breed.

 

[Kiniska]

[COLOR=4B0082]SallyinIndiana[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]~ Glad it wasn't your family's house! I think our roof is fine-- it was just so loud last night that it was crazy. [/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]Follow-up from M2H:[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]Good News ~ House Kat called the person I knew (a construction worker who works for a company I do freelance work for), and bought his coop. He even delivered it! I was afraid that after the winds last night, her chickens would end up in the next county! I'm so happy for HouseKat and her flock![/COLOR] [rule][COLOR=A52A2A]THE MYSTERY CONTINUES . . . [/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]To recap: Yesterday I found a blood smear on the shell of an egg where Adeline had been laying. Upon inspection, she looked like she had a prolapsed vent. Last night I was ready to bring her in the house and her vent looked absolutely fine.[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]These are her eggs except one is a bantam-- Bonbon's. [/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]The ornamental grass bush where they've been laying.[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]Today, I went into the coop and saw blood on a nesting box! I think the spots in the middle are like they were made when the chicken backed into the wall, maybe?[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]I checked all of the vents and feet/legs/heads (injuries) of my six chickens and didn't see any problems. I didn't dig through their feathers (yet). My DH lets them out at 7:00 am every morning during weekdays, but because of the winds and cold this morning, he checked on them, but kept the door shut. So, they were cooped up until 10:00am when I went out. There may have been a battle over the two nesting boxes since they were locked in there. I don't know. The one nesting box had one EE egg and one bantam egg. The other was empty. Adeline and Bonbon are at the bottom of the pecking order since they are nice. Nice chickens finish last. lol The good thing is that typically when they're pecked, they don't even feel it because of all of their feathers![/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]If any of our Sherlock Holmes fans out there have any clues about this mystery, please let me know![/COLOR] [rule]

Mouse massacre?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Today, I went into the coop and saw blood on a nesting box! I think the spots in the middle are like they were made when the chicken backed into the wall, maybe?


I checked all of the vents and feet/legs/heads (injuries) of my six chickens and didn't see any problems. I didn't dig through their feathers (yet). My DH lets them out at 7:00 am every morning during weekdays, but because of the winds and cold this morning, he checked on them, but kept the door shut. So, they were cooped up until 10:00am when I went out. There may have been a battle over the two nesting boxes since they were locked in there. I don't know. The one nesting box had one EE egg and one bantam egg. The other was empty. Adeline and Bonbon are at the bottom of the pecking order since they are nice. Nice chickens finish last. lol The good thing is that typically when they're pecked, they don't even feel it because of all of their feathers!

If any of our Sherlock Holmes fans out there have any clues about this mystery, please let me know!

Last winter, almost this exact time in January, I saw some blood spots on the landing bar in front of the nest boxes.

I began trying to figure out what was going on and I finally came to the conclusion that one of the chicken's had an injury to a comb that had dripped a bit of blood. I never noticed any active bleeding anywhere....just saw those spots. And they were in close quarters for the winter with some younger birds housed with the olders which caused a squabble from time to time. I did see a little scab on one of the combs.






ETA: I'm not 100% sure it WAS a comb...the little scab I saw was so miniscule that I wouldn't have even noticed it if I hadn't been looking really hard.

 

[Leahs Mom]

OH... and some blood on an egg like that from time to time is usually nothing serious to worry about.

 

[chick rookie]

Got an Email from them too!

lol did it again... oh well anyway, you really shouldn't have told me that... my chicken math is running it the 6 didgets now

One of my "little kiddos" (who are really "mid-sized" now rather than "little") Laid an egg today!

ETA: 21 weeks old

So small it didn't move the scale but she laid an egg! I noticed there was finally a nest in the "temporary nest box" on the younger kids side and there in the middle was a tiny egg.

I "think" it's this kiddo. (She's a SFH/BA mix...thus the silly crest.) (Photo is from a couple weeks ago and she's a bit larger and much redder in comb and wattles now.)


I still get excited about first eggs! And it's only 1F right now!

I like her... and I get excited every time too .. but I'm new anyway soooo... I have got 3 blue eggs in a row now and I have them in their own carton...

Just thought I would let you guys know I saw on Meyer hatcheries facebook page that the all pullet rainbow pack went from $2.79 to $1.99

here is the post I ment to quote Jchny2000... lol

M2H ~ the roof blew off our child's play house in the wind

o bet kids weren't happy. the wind took my snow free zone area and made it into a open concept area instead.

Good thing it didn't snow!!

I'm officially an Indiana BYR'er. I have a new avatar.... Thanks @Mother2Hens !

welcome aboard... I love mine, M2H does good don't she...

Hey guys, does Rural King carry goslings in the Spring? Or would one of you like to swap ORP chicks for goslings in a few months? Not a one for one obviously. Maybe two or three Orps for a gosling depending on breed.

yes ours do. They have them every year, but they don't have many and was told if I wanted them it would be best to get there in 3 days after they receive them cause that's about all they last before they are gone.

 

[goatluver20]

Can't wait till the end of February then I can buy my chicks. Can't decide if I want a silkie or a barred rock or neither.

 

[minmin1258]

M2H ~ the roof blew off our child's play house in the wind

[COLOR=4B0082]SallyinIndiana[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]~ Glad it wasn't your family's house! I think our roof is fine-- it was just so loud last night that it was crazy. [/COLOR]

I also enjoyed some time out with my girls today and I actually managed to get four of the six in the "tent" before leaving for work this evening. (Usually the four EEs want to roost in the tree so I can only get the two BAs in the tent for the night.) I am concerned about the other two, but they have stayed in the tree through similar nights in the past, so I'm trying not to worry too much. The bad weather has delayed my yard barn and I can't get them to give me a new date of when it will be set up.

[COLOR=8B4513]Follow-up from M2H:[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]Good News ~ House Kat called the person I knew (a construction worker who works for a company I do freelance work for), and bought his coop. He even delivered it! I was afraid that after the winds last night, her chickens would end up in the next county! I'm so happy for HouseKat and her flock![/COLOR] [rule][COLOR=A52A2A]THE MYSTERY CONTINUES . . . [/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]To recap: Yesterday I found a blood smear on the shell of an egg where Adeline had been laying. Upon inspection, she looked like she had a prolapsed vent. Last night I was ready to bring her in the house and her vent looked absolutely fine.[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]These are her eggs except one is a bantam-- Bonbon's. [/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]The ornamental grass bush where they've been laying.[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]Today, I went into the coop and saw blood on a nesting box! I think the spots in the middle are like they were made when the chicken backed into the wall, maybe?[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]I checked all of the vents and feet/legs/heads (injuries) of my six chickens and didn't see any problems. I didn't dig through their feathers (yet). My DH lets them out at 7:00 am every morning during weekdays, but because of the winds and cold this morning, he checked on them, but kept the door shut. So, they were cooped up until 10:00am when I went out. There may have been a battle over the two nesting boxes since they were locked in there. I don't know. The one nesting box had one EE egg and one bantam egg. The other was empty. Adeline and Bonbon are at the bottom of the pecking order since they are nice. Nice chickens finish last. lol The good thing is that typically when they're pecked, they don't even feel it because of all of their feathers![/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]If any of our Sherlock Holmes fans out there have any clues about this mystery, please let me know![/COLOR] [rule]