INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[racinchickins]

I've been tAlking to Janet (jchny2000) about getting quail. I think I'm going to let her talk me into it. (Insert arm twisting sound here. Lol).

Those if you who raise them, can you describe your housing to me? I want to start thinking on what I'd like to build.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

So i havent been on for a few days due to battelingstrept throat and the stomach virus.....So since I dont have anymore chickens I need a new hobby and I'm thinking of arts and crafts does anyone have any spare arts and crafts laying around??? Pm me since I'm not always on

Get better soon! I believe you are far from you but maybe you can find a roll of yarn and a needle and crochet. It is really easy to learn. My only problem is I only doing he first row, so I have a mile log string. Then I have to undo it all because i run out of yarn lol

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

I've been tAlking to Janet (jchny2000) about getting quail. I think I'm going to let her talk me into it. (Insert arm twisting sound here. Lol).

Those if you who raise them, can you describe your housing to me? I want to start thinking on what I'd like to build.

I do not raise quail, but I do know a common housing design is a giant raised cage. I do know some people don't let there's run around. But the ideal desin in my mind would be a giant raised cage with a ramp and little run. That is a project I would like to start in a few years. They just seem so sweet. Good luck with them!

 

[Leahs Mom]

FROSTBITE CHRONICLES - FEBRUARY 9, 2014 UPDATE: 1 MONTH AFTER INITIAL FROSTBITE

Quick update:
-Had changed my feed setup and it didn't work correctly; have since returned it to the better setup which is restricted access so that they don't have wattles dragging through wet feed.

-Jan. 9 when things weren't working, Mister got frostbite on the wattles.

So...I'm taking photos and tracking how he does. I'm watching for any signs of infection, wetness/rotting, etc. If I see anything that looks like deterioration, inability to eat or drink, etc., I will change my MO. In the meantime:

-I have not treated or even touched it. I do not want to cause more trauma to the tissue by handling it.
-I have NOT brought him in to warmer temperatures than the outside hen house. It is not heated.
-I have kept the hen shed doors closed if there is an extreme wind chill to be sure none of the "lowers" get chased outside and stuck in those extremes.

*****************************

Just took updated photos for today. Newest photos posted at bottom of post. Photos listed in date order. You can see the progression. They continue to look good.
Right wattle looks completely healed; small spot remains on left.


January 9:
Day after he got it. -7ish outside; -30s windchill.






January 15:
Temperatures in the 40s for a few days.






January 26
Temperatures in the 20's

Look how nicely this is healing!







TODAY - FEBRUARY 9, 2014.


RIGHT SIDE APPEARS TO BE COMPLETELY HEALED.






LEFT SIDE STILL HAS SMALL SPOT.

 

[chick rookie]

I can understand that completely. My DH works from home in the basement but he's up here all the time and I'm not kidding, it really slows a girl down. I adore him, but on occasion, it would be nice if his office was located elsewhere. There is also something to be said for getting to miss someone. We aren't friends on FB just so we have things to talk about that we didn't already experience together

Maybe the fact that fermenting feed cuts the cost by 1/3-3/4 depending on who you read or listen to would convince him. If you can feed the same number of animals for significantly less, it seems to make sense. I'm just worried that it would go bad and I wouldn't know enough to know that it was wrong. You can get free 5 g buckets at Kroger or Walmart's bakery to get you started. We have had long discussions here (you can search this thread for FF) and last year we were hoping to have a demo at Poultryfest, but I think we got too busy talking and ogling Patrick and Wade's house (racinchikin) for Janet to show us. I'm hoping we can work it out this year. Here is an entry I just read on it http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/p/fermented-feed.html

That sounds pretty nice! My DH loves them, but I can't yet figure out if he is actively pursuing the interest or if its a passing fancy. My guess is that it will pass, but their faces just make you want to kiss them.

lol yep you know what I mean... I have read all kinds of threads on BYC and a few other places... I played the cheaper card too... I cant get him over the it is sour its rotten......

 

[chick rookie]

Wow, I didn't know they would do that. Something like that happened to me a few weeks ago, but it was the other way around. My ameraucanas killed a starling. Sorry about your hen. That is just terrible

I read that if its just a few starlings chickens can kill or chase them off but in the larger groups, it is a lost cause... just wish I read that before it happened!!! I feel like I let her down. but I have waged war on them and I will WIN!!!!!!!

 

[ChickCrazed]

I read that if its just a few starlings chickens can kill or chase them off but in the larger groups, it is a lost cause... just wish I read that before it happened!!! I feel like I let her down. but I have waged war on them and I will WIN!!!!!!!

I went outside today to check on my wild bird proofing (completely sick with a horrid cold btw) and there were about 5 sparrows and a STARLING in there, granted it is better, but after all my hard work and $ I wanted to cry (being sick isn't helping). I had chicken wire all around the sides and the bird netting on top. The sparrows can clearly get through both the chain link and the 1" chicken wire, so I decided I had to put the bird netting all the way around. This will mean 3 layers all the way around, chain link, chicken wire and then the netting. Thank you to (I think) Leah's Mom for telling me about the bird netting, if I hadn't had that to fall back on I would have been in tears. I chased the birds around for a while with a pitchfork and had the starling at my mercy at one point, but couldn't do it and finally let them out. I think the Starling must have shimmied between the two rows of chicken wire in between zip ties (I had to do two separate strands since my run is 6 ft tall and the chicken wire was only 3 feet tall). I'm hoping I terrified it enough that it won't come back.

So my sick self spent another two hours out there putting the netting all around the sides. I am trying to console myself that once this is over, it will be SUPER secure and I will never have to fight this battle again. But man they are persistent and it is frustrating! They must have had to REALLY work to get in there. Granted there are fewer of them getting in, but with as much time and effort as I have put in there I should have zero!

On to the good news! My Wellie has decided it is time to start laying again! This means I have 3/5 laying at least sporadically now! I'm hoping this means their little solar powered engines are finally getting enough daylight and are getting back to business! The dark, speckled egg is the Welsummers, the green is one of my EEs who was a trooper all winter and now is only laying 1 or 2 a week, and the pink egg is the Blue Laced Red Wyandotte's who only started laying about a month ago (she is young).

 

[goodb]

January 26
Temperatures in the 20's

Look how nicely this is healing!




TODAY - FEBRUARY 9, 2014.


RIGHT SIDE APPEARS TO BE COMPLETELY HEALED.





LEFT SIDE STILL HAS SMALL SPOT.


What a handsome boy!

 

[ChickCrazed]

January 26
Temperatures in the 20's

Look how nicely this is healing!







TODAY - FEBRUARY 9, 2014.


RIGHT SIDE APPEARS TO BE COMPLETELY HEALED.






LEFT SIDE STILL HAS SMALL SPOT.

What a gorgeous boy!!!! Even with the frosted tips

 

[kabhyper1]

PBeesChix and I are using coconut oil on the frostbitten chickies. Its working wonders!

So she is going to hatch some of my flocks mixed eggs with my styrofoam incubator. We are having thermometer calibration issues. There is a digital, a mercury, and the gauge thermometer that is on the incubator that we are using. They are all reading different. Any advice? This is the first time it has been used since my broodies have been doing all the work. I'm really excited she is hatching Lavenders (blue standard cochin) first confirmed egg (meaning the first one I can say is for sure hers) I'm hoping for a blue laced cochin since Gus (sl/w) is most likely the father. I really don't want to screw this incubation up to terribly since I'm helping set it up. Blind leading the blind over here.