INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Chaneys Ranch]

HI Everyone. I'm not sure how to join the Indiana BYC'ers so if I'm butting into a thread/conversation I apologize. I'm looking to connect with other enthusiasts and hope this is the right place. I've been considering starting my own small flock for about 3 years and finally made the commitment. My brooder is complete, ready for chicks and I'm sooooo excited. Does anyone know where I can get 4-5 red sex linked? I'm hesitant to buy from Tractor Supply or Rural King but that seems to be my only choice around here. I want a very small flock (don't want to have to purchase more than 5-6) a friendly, hardy, docile bird that's a good egg-layer. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks so much.

and our thread

There's not really any joining, just jump right in! Everyone is welcome, we just ask chat stays "family clean" per BYC guidelines.
We have some young adults on the thread as well, so we look out for them. Its ok to talk about other animals,

rant about your really bad day, or just say hi!
Orpingtons, Marans, australorps.. there are several gentle and friendly breeds to consider. Some people also just get a "mix" for color and easier to tell the girls apart

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

A New York Times article about changes in the California egg industry: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/04/b...o-wish-they-all-could-be-california-hens.html

I had my chicken coop inspection yesterday, the whole thing was...odd. The animal control officer asked me at least four times - in different ways - if our property was only one lot and not multiple lots. I have no idea why it mattered so much to him. Even if our yard were made up of multiple lots, it has no bearing on the city ordinance requirements. There's a meeting a week from Friday where the decision will be made on approving our permit.

Best of luck getting your permit approved

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

These are the mixed Bantam chicks I got from Ideal! This will help to increase my small flock...but I'm still wanting more Naked Necks!

Quote: Ugh, that rules them out for now...

GP or Maremma.....

I was thinking the GPs may have a hard time of it in those heavy coats in the summer here in IN.

Does anyone know if the Maremma are less of a "runner"? I've heard so much good about them. And, incidentally, ACRES MAGAZINE is focused on poultry this month and also did a review article on the Maremma if anyone is interested.

I subscribe to Acres but you can usually get a cc at Tractor Supply or any of the farm stores that have magazines.

Thanks for sharing this, DH asked me about the breed last night, so am curious!

Quote: What a doll, I just love the giant breeds.

Here are the "older" chicks. All of them are still under a month old.

Black Modern Game Bantams

Love those long legs! I am really thinking about standard OEG.. but these guys are really cool looking too.
I love the red pyle coloring, wonder if the standard birds are as friendly as the bantams?

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote:

Quote: YAY on the eggs! Sorry you aren't feeling well, its going around again

Quote: Sorry to hear about the eggs and the chick

A New York Times article about changes in the California egg industry: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/04/b...o-wish-they-all-could-be-california-hens.html

I had my chicken coop inspection yesterday, the whole thing was...odd. The animal control officer asked me at least four times - in different ways - if our property was only one lot and not multiple lots. I have no idea why it mattered so much to him. Even if our yard were made up of multiple lots, it has no bearing on the city ordinance requirements. There's a meeting a week from Friday where the decision will be made on approving our permit.

Interesting article. That is very strange, wonder why it was such a big deal?

Good luck a week from friday!

I haven't posted pics of my oldest chicks for awhile so here is a couple.
First up is one of the Black Australorp's

Then our very first ever EE'rs


Then a SLW Cockerel from Brad

And what I hope is a GLW pullet!

That's just a few wouldn't want to over load the server with chick pics on one post lol!

Adorable flock! No worries, we love pictures! And yes, thats a GLW, I still have too many of them

Most of the extra leave next week tho, customer already paid for them, and the feed for a week

Quote: Its always exciting to see them moving!

 

[Leahs Mom]

On the GP vs Maremma question -

I got some information from a breeder that I remembered her saying before but I had forgotten. I had asked about the reputation of GP to need to have lots of property and the need to be able to contain them with good fences. Here is a quote of what she wrote:


Quote: What she means by the last statement is that the pups should be raised with the livestock they are going to be guarding so they form the bond with the LIVESTOCK rather than the humans. That is, of course, if you are getting one as an LGD.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I have several pekin eggs in the bator growing nicely.. Very pleased on the fertility. I think one hen is escaping the boys, Seems like 1 out of every 5 eggs is a dud.
Am guessing its the oldest hen, she is 2, and really bosses the younger ducks. I have not seen either drake after her once, yet.
What is odd, she is infatuated with the Embden gander.. He is 5x her size! So far he is ignoring her

About 95 quail eggs in the bator too! I am hoping the kiddie pools go on sale soon.
Will need to move the 28 pullets into a larger brooder area. Last year, I wrapped a kiddie pool with hardware cloth, cardboard barrier around it for drafts.
Covered the top with metal window screen, used tree limbs for roosts. That pool is cracked and broke from being scrubbed so many times

Chickens are still laying slow, but they are packing away more oyster shell now. Hoping that means laying is going to pick up

My scovies were laying this time last year. No eggs from them, or my turkeys yet either. I really think its the abnormal cold delaying them.

 

[raisinemright]

I

I have several pekin eggs in the bator growing nicely.. Very pleased on the fertility. I think one hen is escaping the boys, Seems like 1 out of every 5 eggs is a dud.
Am guessing its the oldest hen, she is 2, and really bosses the younger ducks. I have not seen either drake after her once, yet.
What is odd, she is infatuated with the Embden gander.. He is 5x her size! So far he is ignoring her
About 95 quail eggs in the bator too! I am hoping the kiddie pools go on sale soon.
Will need to move the 28 pullets into a larger brooder area. Last year, I wrapped a kiddie pool with hardware cloth, cardboard barrier around it for drafts.
Covered the top with metal window screen, used tree limbs for roosts. That pool is cracked and broke from being scrubbed so many times
Chickens are still laying slow, but they are packing away more oyster shell now. Hoping that means laying is going to pick up
My scovies were laying this time last year. No eggs from them, or my turkeys yet either. I really think its the abnormal cold delaying them.

I like the kiddie pool idea.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

On the GP vs Maremma question -

I got some information from a breeder that I remembered her saying before but I had forgotten. I had asked about the reputation of GP to need to have lots of property and the need to be able to contain them with good fences. Here is a quote of what she wrote:


Quote:

What she means by the last statement is that the pups should be raised with the livestock they are going to be guarding so they form the bond with the LIVESTOCK rather than the humans. That is, of course, if you are getting one as an LGD.

That would make good sense on all points. Going with a pup that the parent stock are proven would also be a plus I am sure.
I agree that neutering would be an absolute must if you aren't breeding.
For our purposes, we would definitely neuter, I did the puppy thing before, and ugh.. too heartbreaking to see them leave.
We are still considering another rottie too. They make excellent companion/livestock dogs and I love the breed.
Aren't the maremma a long coated dog also? going to go look them up.

 

[minmin1258]

Moved 5 ducklings to the grow out coop.  There is a heat light out there since some of the birds in that coop are not fully feathered.  The heat light is plugged into one of the themo cube outlets.  Even with today's temps the light was not on for some of the day.  The chickens, 2 adult ducks, and now 5 ducklings were creating a lot of body heat.  Dh said he would check on the youngest ducklings as the temps went down.  If they look cold we will bring them back inside.  But for now, I'm trying so hard to get the stinkiest birds out of the basement.

I keep watching the weather and making a day by day plan of which of the little stinkers are moving out next.

Hi "Sally", the ducklings I got from you are doing great! They've been adopted...by my dog!!! Lol she herds them around while they are out of their "brooder". I swear they have double in size since I got home! You forgot to warn me of one thing though...THEY STINK! Lol. So with that in mind I have a question for you... How long before they can n moved into their duck box outside? Do they have go b fully feathered like chickens do? They really love their bathtub! I bought a large rubber bowl and put about 3/4" of water in it. So far they haven't managed to splash all th water out of this one. I had to buy a much larger bin for them also because they were spilling SOOOO much water in their smaller one they were in constantly soggy bedding.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I
Quote:
It was cheap and doubled as a gosling & duckling pool later

I have a 25ft roll of 3ft tall 1x2 hardware cloth that serves several misc purposes.
Brooder, baby containment for the young geese and ducks in the yard.. all kinds of handy stuff!
Its great, stands up by itself. If you put young chickens in tho, you have to cover it, or they will be out

Learned that really fast when I woke up to find 25 CX running loose and pooping all over the garage floor

DH was laughing his head off!
Am really glad its concrete in there!