INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Guinns chicks]

Just getting started. We are in Clay Co. Our babies are just 6 days old and we got them at RK. We have 3 barred rock, 3 light Brahma, 3 Welsummer, and 3 black jersey giants- all pullets. We only want eggs from them at this time and plan to have them in a coop with a run. Do we need a rooster? A lot of people have told us we do.

 

[Little Ameraucana Mom]

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Do they live in a coop like chickens? How do you keep them safe from predators? I spent some time on the Sebastopol thread yesterday after seeing your pic. They are really pretty.

Mine just freerange in my yard and pasture. I've never had anything go after them, but I would imagine, dogs would be their worse predators. All this bad weather never fazed them .

 

[Little Ameraucana Mom]

Just getting started. We are in Clay Co. Our babies are just 6 days old and we got them at RK. We have 3 barred rock, 3 light Brahma, 3 Welsummer, and 3 black jersey giants- all pullets. We only want eggs from them at this time and plan to have them in a coop with a run. Do we need a rooster? A lot of people have told us we do.

Welcome. !! You only need a rooster if you want fertile eggs to hatch !

 

[Guinns chicks]

We have 4 dogs and have been introducing them to the chicks. One of our labs seems to think they are her babies. Since they are still young they are in a tote with heat lamps and dogs only see them if we have them out. Worried about free range as we live on highway 40 and 70 is always getting rerouted here. We have 6 acres and want to give them big run with a coop.

 

[racinchickins]

Im in the process of building a new coop and am wanting to expand my flock. Problem is dont want to purchase an incubator so would prefer to buy chicks. Not a big fan of the local RK or TSC. They aren't to bad but went to RK once and was looking and they had the chicks all mixed up and some were labeled wrong. So im looking for fairly close breeders who I could pick up chicks from. Breeds im interested in are BLRW, Lavender Orps, Blue Splash cochins, Buff Brahma, JG and EE. If anyone could get me in the right direction I would really appreciate it.

When are you planning on getting chicks? I have a couple (currently) 5 week old EE chicks for sale if you are interested. I'll also be hatching some BBS Jersey Giants later this spring.

 

[goatluver20]

Can chickens eat steel cut oatmeal? My mom wanted me to make sure before i give them any.

 

[Little Ameraucana Mom]

We have 4 dogs and have been introducing them to the chicks. One of our labs seems to think they are her babies. Since they are still young they are in a tote with heat lamps and dogs only see them if we have them out. Worried about free range as we live on highway 40 and 70 is always getting rerouted here. We have 6 acres and want to give them big run with a coop.

You aren't to far from me. I'm on Manhatten road just about 1/4 mile or less off 40.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

I don't recall who was having a wild bird problem but here is a link to one suggestion.
http://nuge67.wordpress.com/2014/02/16/air-rifles-and-the-homestead/

And Spring must be getting closer as our neighborhood hawk is back. I'll put up my owl once the big wind storms are over.

 

[barb s]

When are you planning on getting chicks? I have a couple (currently) 5 week old EE chicks for sale if you are interested. I'll also be hatching some BBS Jersey Giants later this spring.

I would love some of your BBS Jersey Giants later on this spring or early summer.

 

[minmin1258]

Th

Question for those of you with goats--can dwarf/ Pygmy goats be house trained? Has anybody had or heard of having them in the house as pets?

Good question. I honestly don't know! From what I have seen, they don't/won't "hold it" so I doubt so.
Hope others can input, I am very curious too.
They are so much like a dog, tho. I really love my oldest doe Sugar an Oberhasli.
We have spent a lot of time together just being buddies. She will fall asleep in my lap if i let her
Sugar seems to understand basic commands, and is just as affectionate as a dog.
She will not "sit" but stays and comes.

 

I was just sitting here, pretty much being bored, and wondering....if when I get my chicks grown enough t gointo the run/coop with the adults and the Silkies to the point they can go out in their pen...can I open the pens of both at th same time to go out t forage?

[COLOR=800080]minmin~[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]I'll be in the same situation since I have silkie and orp chicks. Basically, you just have to slowly introduce both flocks. When I introduced my last two orps to the flock last summer, first I put the orp chicks in a tractor in the yard. When my hens noticed them, they walked around the tractor, but the only one who was mad was of course Nene, my RIR. We did that routine for several days, and then when I let the orps out of the tractor for a while each day, I supervised the whole time. Then, when decided to move them into the hens' coop at night, I put the orps in the run side of the coop, which has a perch, and I blocked that side of with a large folded dog kennel (their former brooder). The bars of the kennel allowed them to all see each other. Over a few weeks time, I gradually left a bigger opening until I finally removed the cage. At first when they free-ranged during the day, they'd stay in two groups, but eventually they joined forces.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=8B4513]I haven't had silkies before, so I'm not sure if there's any difference in introducing them to the hens since silkies look so different. I have a small coop that I have for an emergency quarantine that I thought about using for the silkies, but since I have Bonbon, my chocolate, in with the LF hens, I might just see if they'll all adjust to the big coop.[/COLOR]

Just take it slow. Silkies seem to think they are all massive birds and have no fear of LF birds at all.
My oldest hen Fluff is a real control freak, and bosses the BCM and polish hens.
Keep an eye out for both breeds, but I think u will be ok. I usually introduce egg flock, LF birds when they are feathered.
Silkies usually stay together in my grow out coop, I try to not cross them with the other breeds.

That's my intention.. To not cross breed them I mean. Want to b able to allow both t forage at th same time though. If i do allow that at dusk will they go back t their own coops or will they mix themselves up? And if I have my duckies out will they all "go to their own homes" or try "sleep overs" with their new friends?