INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[CRSelvey]

Oh, PS, thanks for the reminder about not handling them. I haven't handled them much at all this time. I've been waiting to see how they turned out because of the info you gave me when I had Peanut a Butter the attack roo.

 

[alliejean]

Here are my roosts

We converted an old mini barn that was on the property. The only problem is they have to be cleaned off. We put some laminate flooring on the shelves which makes them much easier to scrape off and then I can either scrape it into an empty feed bag or right into the deep litter depending on my mood.

I've not noticed any pecking order issues with this and when I introduce babies (think 6 week olds) into the flock it gives them a safe place to go during the day because the big girls stay on the floor.


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Yes, this is how I had it pictured in my head! Good to know you have not any abnormal issues with this set up.

Also, How did I not know the Rural King in Ft Wayne was open now? I drove right past that tonight!! Actually it is probably a good thing that I didnt notice they are open for business...not sure how in the world I would have been able to sneak more chicks home without my husband noticing

 

[kabhyper1]

Thank you for the suggestions. My son asked if we could keep the d'uccle so that is probably what will happen. He is pretty cute and I don't think he would be too hard on my hens.

I went out to the coop tonight and got a surprise! One of my Cochins is broody and hogging a nest box. . I still have room for more if it works out but I'm nervous about a couple of things. One is that my roo is a bantam Oeg and the hens are a mix of LF and bantams. Should I take any LF eggs out from under her? What happens when you cross a bantam and a LF? It doesn't sound like a good idea but what do I know. Next, I have a few eggs from my Spitzhauben girl and my Ameraucana in the house that I could give her but is that ok? They have not been washed or refrigerated. All from within the last 5 days. And finally as my hens are most likely mareks carriers, should I even let her hatch? I'm keeping my current babies as carefully away from the others and being as vigilant about my biosecurity as I can for at least the first 10-12 weeks as recommended by Purdue. These babies would be exposed immediately.

I don't even go to my friends houses that have chickens right now or wear any of my coop shoes to the tsc so that I don't inadvertently carry the virus there so this is a pickle.

I'm open to suggestions. I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to see a mixed chick though. I bet they'd be cute.

I have to respectfully disagree on the handling of roos. Handle them as much as possible. The way to calm an aggressive cockerel is by grabbing them up and holding them. Gently pushing thier heads down in submission. It humiliates them to be picked up and held in front of their hens. We have seven roos. They have all been trained to respect people by being held. We don't walk around them if they are in they way, we walk through them to make them move. They arent allowed to mount hens in front of us. They get knocked off, showing we claim the hens. If they forget their place, which will occasionally happen, they get picked up and held during chores. It quickly reminds them that we are larger and top of the pecking order. All too often I hear people say they dont handle their roos for fear of them being people aggressive and find that they have horrible boys on their hands. Handling them has its rules though, which I think is what pipd meant. If you are going to handle them, it must be to show them dominance. They cant be allowed to squirm out of your hands, they can only be released once they stop resisting. It normally doesnt take long. You want to have boys around that you can easlily walk up to and pick up. You dont want a scared flighty rooster on your hands. They are fear aggressive. If they get scared of you or your family they will lash out. Hand feed them to show them you are a source of food and a positive thing. That you are not a threat. Chickens see in rbg and infared wavelengths, so to them you look like a blob of wavy colors, with no definitive shape. LOL if I wear different shoes than normal my boys notice and I have to speak to them and show them I am not new or scary. They are not complicated animals. You just have to stay on top of the pecking order at all times. Sorry this is so long winded, and I didnt mean to butt in, I just wanted to put that out there. We would have a mess on our hands with 7 boys if we hadn't learned in the very beginning how to train them right away. From hatch, if at all possible. There are a lot of really good articles on here about it. Thats where we got started with how to handle our boys. Here is a good thread. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/390911/important-how-to-deal-with-an-aggressive-rooster


If you have mareks carriers, I wouldn't let them reproduce. Lf and bantams cross just fine. From what I understand.

 

[bradselig]

So does anyone in the NE Indiana area have an extra egg turner for a LG that I could borrow or purchase? I went a little crazy and have so many eggs to put in the bator this week! They all won't fit into my cabinet and I think I will have around 60-80 eggs I will need to put into my LG. I'd rather not hand turn all those eggs. I'm hoping TSC still has theirs on sale if no one has one I can get from them lol.

 

[goodb]

How sure are you about the temps for the entire 21 days. Even just a tad on the low side can delay hatching for 24 hours sometimes even 48 hours. Unless there is a strong smell coming from the bator, I would let it run and maintain the humidity till 12 hours after day 22 ends. Then I would candle in a dark humid area if possible. setting a few pots of boiling water in a closed room will increase the humidity quite fast. Running a shower works too. tossing in a warm wet towel helps the humidity in the bator stay high.

I think my temps were on the low side. Still air at 100 in the center of the grouping. I did dry incubating and started raising the humidity at lockdown on day 18. Got it to 62% on day 19 where it's been since. Still waiting on peeps and even pips. I pray morning gives me better results.

 

[kabhyper1]

I just posted this, but with all of the spring chicks hatching, and an easy chance at least 50% of them will be beautiful boys this is one of the best threads I have ever read on training roos. Please read it if you plan on keeping boys for the first time. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/390911/important-how-to-deal-with-an-aggressive-rooster
I know I'm bossy Bessie.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

I have to respectfully disagree on the handling of roos. Handle them as much as possible. The way to calm an aggressive cockerel is by grabbing them up and holding them. Gently pushing thier heads down in submission. It humiliates them to be picked up and held in front of their hens. We have seven roos. They have all been trained to respect people by being held. We don't walk around them if they are in they way, we walk through them to make them move. They arent allowed to mount hens in front of us. They get knocked off, showing we claim the hens. If they forget their place, which will occasionally happen, they get picked up and held during chores. It quickly reminds them that we are larger and top of the pecking order. All too often I hear people say they dont handle their roos for fear of them being people aggressive and find that they have horrible boys on their hands. Handling them has its rules though, which I think is what pipd meant. If you are going to handle them, it must be to show them dominance. They cant be allowed to squirm out of your hands, they can only be released once they stop resisting. It normally doesnt take long. You want to have boys around that you can easlily walk up to and pick up. You dont want a scared flighty rooster on your hands. They are fear aggressive. If they get scared of you or your family they will lash out. Hand feed them to show them you are a source of food and a positive thing. That you are not a threat. Chickens see in rbg and infared wavelengths, so to them you look like a blob of wavy colors, with no definitive shape. LOL if I wear different shoes than normal my boys notice and I have to speak to them and show them I am not new or scary. They are not complicated animals. You just have to stay on top of the pecking order at all times. Sorry this is so long winded, and I didnt mean to butt in, I just wanted to put that out there. We would have a mess on our hands with 7 boys if we hadn't learned in the very beginning how to train them right away. From hatch, if at all possible. There are a lot of really good articles on here about it. Thats where we got started with how to handle our boys. Here is a good thread. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/390911/important-how-to-deal-with-an-aggressive-rooster

Yes, I agree for the most part. I will note, though, that I disagree with handling them to force them into submission, especially as adults. I have had limited experience with roosters, but that's not saying I've had a small number of them over the years. Out of all of them (around 12, I think), the only one that has been good has been my little bantam Cochin that I barely handled at all once I realized he was a boy. Any attempt I made with my other boys to correct behaviors by trying to force them into submission was met by them becoming more aggressive, and even worse, by them becoming sneakier with their aggressiveness. Rather than an attack right at me, I would be attacked from behind or when I bent over to do something. It just kept escalating.

However, I think a lot of this is personality as well. Aggressiveness in roosters is something that can be bred into a bird--or it can be avoided and bred out of the line. I agree wholeheartedly with the practice of never letting an aggressive rooster father chicks. I didn't handle another young cockerel that I raised with Po and that boy became a menace anyway because that's just how he was going to be. Po, meanwhile, is not a bird I can walk up to and pick up, but he is calm, gentle with the girls, and I can trust him around my young niece and nephew. He has never shown a scrap of human aggressiveness in his life, and as such, he is rewarded by being the man of the flock. Boys that are mean are only worthy of a stew pot.

I think this is a topic that's just one of those 'agree to disagree' types. This is my opinion on the topic, built on experience and research. I will continue to recommend the same that I did before until I experience differently. But until then, I have a hard time believing otherwise--and I have the scars to show why.



Edited for clarity.

 

[ellymayRans]

I have to respectfully disagree on the handling of roos. Handle them as much as possible. The way to calm an aggressive cockerel is by grabbing them up and holding them. Gently pushing thier heads down in submission. It humiliates them to be picked up and held in front of their hens. We have seven roos. They have all been trained to respect people by being held. We don't walk around them if they are in they way, we walk through them to make them move. They arent allowed to mount hens in front of us. They get knocked off, showing we claim the hens. If they forget their place, which will occasionally happen, they get picked up and held during chores. It quickly reminds them that we are larger and top of the pecking order. All too often I hear people say they dont handle their roos for fear of them being people aggressive and find that they have horrible boys on their hands. Handling them has its rules though, which I think is what pipd meant. If you are going to handle them, it must be to show them dominance. They cant be allowed to squirm out of your hands, they can only be released once they stop resisting. It normally doesnt take long. You want to have boys around that you can easlily walk up to and pick up. You dont want a scared flighty rooster on your hands. They are fear aggressive. If they get scared of you or your family they will lash out. Hand feed them to show them you are a source of food and a positive thing. That you are not a threat. Chickens see in rbg and infared wavelengths, so to them you look like a blob of wavy colors, with no definitive shape. LOL if I wear different shoes than normal my boys notice and I have to speak to them and show them I am not new or scary. They are not complicated animals. You just have to stay on top of the pecking order at all times. Sorry this is so long winded, and I didnt mean to butt in, I just wanted to put that out there. We would have a mess on our hands with 7 boys if we hadn't learned in the very beginning how to train them right away. From hatch, if at all possible. There are a lot of really good articles on here about it. Thats where we got started with how to handle our boys. Here is a good thread. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/390911/important-how-to-deal-with-an-aggressive-rooster


If you have mareks carriers, I wouldn't let them reproduce. Lf and bantams cross just fine. From what I understand.

I wholeheartedly agree with kab on the Roos! I make sure to handle all of mine from hatch or as early as I can. I also have my boys (kids) handle them for the same reasons kab pointed out! Some get pretty big, I can't imagine an aggressive one and not being able to handle them safely. I've raised way to many to count and all different breeds and not once have they Ever came at me or anyone for that matter. My DH is always a bit intimidated by them coming right up to him at his feet but I always reassure him they're not going to do anything! Haha! He's funny! He just blurts out all kinds of threats! ! Lol. *At them of course!*

 

[Mother2Hens]

I've been meaning to post that I am making a trip to Indy on Wednesday evening (tomorrow), and I'm willing to offer chicken train services although my trip is going to be a short one. If anyone would like me to pick up/deliver a chicken or whatever fits in my car, just let me know. Sorry for the late notice. I go to Indy and Bloomington regularly since I have a daughter in each city, so next time it should be a longer trip and more flexible. However, this is my schedule if it helps anyone:

I'm taking my English Orp cockerel (originally from Kiniska) to jchny's in the Indy area, but first I am going to meet Kiniska who lives in Indiana near Louisville. She's meeting me after she gets off work around 5:30 pm Wednesday. Kiniska has another English Orp cockerel that I'm taking along with mine to Janet's. I'm also bringing Kiniska a broken tall dorm frig that's only a few years old so that she can transform it into an incubator. From there, I'll head up 65N to downtown Indy to pick up my daughter who will ride out to Janet's with me-- probably dropping off the orps around 9:00 pm. Meredith has gone there before with me on some of her weird mother's poultry escapades

. I'll stay with Meredith that night and have lunch with a friend the next day, and then may stop in the Greencastle area on my way home to have Coffee & Chicken Talk

with CRSelvey. So if anyone needs poultry transported along that route and timeline, just let me know.

When I take the Orps to Janet, she's giving me some bantam hatching eggs since my little bantam orp (on my avatar) Bonbon is broody!

I always wanted a broody hen, but I kinda hate to see the strange behavior changes. She's sitting on three eggs that were left in the nesting box, so that's one reason why I'm coming home from Indy the next day-- to "refresh" her eggs.

Also, I am feeling sad about breaking up my strange family of chicks-- the three silkie children from bradselig and the two orps from Kinska who are the same ages and were raised together. But one orp turned out to be Mr. Rooster, the most "chicken" rooster ever! I know they'll be calling for each other! boohoo

Thank you to those who've been helping sex my silkies -- I'll wait to post guesses so I don't influence anyone else's guesses. Very scientific, you know!

 

[Mother2Hens]

Question.... I have a few birds that dont seem to know how or when to walk back up the ladder into the coop? I find them huddled together in a corner of the run?? How do I train them to go back into the coop? Should I not let them have free range of feed and take the feeders out until evening so they have a reason to go back in? Please any advice with this would be helpful!!

raisinemright ~ I'm assuming yours are chicks, so I think they should have access to food and water all the time. I'm also guessing that they are one flock in one coop, and aren't being integrated with older chickens.

My five chicks just started sleeping in the coop a couple of weeks ago. I've scattered a few sunflower kernels near the door to direct them in. I herd them a little if needed just by walking behind them, and at the beginning, I modified my T post & chicken wire fence to guide their path in. I've also found that if I picked one up and put it inside the coop, it would call loudly to the others who would hurry in. My chicks aren't going up the ladder and integrating with the hens yet, but I remember when my hens were young, sometimes I had to put my hand on a fluffy butt to keep them from slipping and gently push/support them in getting up.
mlongworth ~ More pics please! A blue barred plymouth rock sounds beautiful.

The chicks have been outside almost 3 days. They hadn't used the heat plate until around midday today and they still aren't spending much time under it. I miss them being inside.

I have been getting more eggs. 6 eggs, 4 eggs, 3 eggs, 3 eggs, 3 eggs. I have over 3 dozen eggs in the fridge. My bantam Blue Ameraucana hen from littleameraucanamom is laying very well, and color is great. She lays 2 or 3 days in a row, takes a day or two break and starts again. Her eggs are pretty close in size to the 3 or 4 LF ameraucana eggs I have got. Imagine comparing a nickle and a quarter.

CCCHICKENS~ I'd like to see a pic of your bantam blue Ameraucana hen when you get a chance please.