INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Chaneys Ranch]

Yes I am still alive....

Quick update and such and I am working on getting my social life back on track..Eventually


DH and I are still house hunting... We did find a gem located in Pendleton with just under 8 acres.. Loved it... Do you think the darn estate agent would call us back... no... Just found out after a week long of ignoring our repeated calls about this house that someone had made an offer on it. So mad

So we are still in search of our little dream.
We are now looking at one in Mount Comfort with 4 acres, not overly keen on it but I have had my fill at looking at houses.

The produce stand should be up and running again this year, although with the darn long winter will be opening later this year than anticipated.
This will also mean more time for Backyard Chickens

during the not so busy times during the day.

I have really missed you! So glad to see you on the thread again!
I wish you could've landed here, would love to see you as a neighbor.

Quote: I got one from them, it was pretty accurate. It does push thru a vent hole well too, unless it has the egg on the wire lol!

Quick update on the chickens...

Still have far too many, anyone want to help me fix that? No.. Ok..
All my girls quit laying over the winter. Found that to be rather frustrating, however they are making up for it now thank goodness.

I had no losses either which makes me glad. Everyone is healthy and going strong.

I did make a new purchase of 4 more EE's and 4 Cuckoo Marans so my spare bathroom is back to being a brooder.
DH and I are also trying out skills with a small amount of Cornish Cross. Hope that goes well. Will be butchering the rooster I got back from Pginsber as well as possibly my good 'ol RIR rooster due a new recent attack which drew blood

at the same time.

Might be looking to re-home my 3 Rocks at some point. They are a little too aggressive to my poor lavender hen still. Nice assertive birds, just not what I want for unity with my more gentle girls.

My lavender roo is a sweety

and still does not crow. I have seen him mating so I know he is hormonal enough, just a softie.

Still searching for my ever elusive bantam Cochin for my girls. Might settle in for hatching him out this year when the wee ones decide to brood again.

Few updated pictures




My lovely RIR girls (including Mr Pot Pie after him attacking me)


Mr Sweetie.. aka the largest friggin rooster I have ever seen (Well not really but close)



Picture of the mix featuring the Lavender, EE's and the butt of one of the Rocks

Love your flock! You know I am partial to lavenders

Quote: Madison county is kinda iffy, we get the north edge of the 70 corridor weather. Usually don't get as much snow as northern IN. I have been here since 99, and this was our worst winter. I grew up in NW IN up near Chicago, its much colder, heavier snow belt there. If you meant Madison the city, there's a big difference, much warmer.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

So I think my 6 month old silkie girls are laying, and someone hasn't figured it quite out yet. Found this in the coop last night, and when I blew it out, because of course I have to keep it, it had a yolk! Albeit a very teeny one.

These are.. super teeny silkie egg, silkie pullet egg, normal silkie egg, Rhode Island Red egg, Khaki Campbell duck egg.

Congrats!! My silkie Fluff gave me my first egg yesterday!!

It always amazes me what can come from mixed chickens. Gus my Slw, and one of my Rhode island red hens eggs hatched this little girl.

I would have never guessed this chick...



Would have become this...................................................................

Beautiful!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Well, spend the good part of the afternoon picking up more birds! (Who would have thought? Lol). I FINALLY got some brahmas! Well I do have a light brahma chick I hatched, but these are a fun color! Gold laced brahmas! I got 6 chicks. I also picked up 6 more legbar pullets and a cockerel and 2 mystery chicks. The seller is worried as she may have given me some bielefelders instead of legbars, but we will see with time. A lot of these auto sexing breeds are hard to tell apart as chicks. Also picked up 3 dozen mor eggs of rare breed chickens. It will be exciting to see what hatches!

fantastic on the beile's if they are, I am really interested in them.

Ohh and I also have a new layer today! Another silkie (I suspect it a partridge showgirl). A few eggs I collected today to show size comparison.

From left to right, newest silkie/showgirl, bantam Cochin, normal silkie, tolbunt polish, and LF Cochin.

And the Cochin eggs next to each other

congrats! My polish will be a year old in May, hope they lay soon!

Lovely!

The bantams are a month old now. I either hit the jackpot with pullets, or they are developing really slowly.
OEGB

Cochin Barred(maybe frizzled)

Cochin Golden Laced

EE bantam

OEGB

Self explanatory lol

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

And........ Scrappy is 7 weeks old now, and loves his new girls!

Goodness! They grow like a pekin! He is quite the man, and just gorgeous!

Quote:

What lil cuties!

Well 8:45 and the run is completed! It's only a temp run due to the birds will free range when I feel comfortable! That being said it's a pretty secure run. And I'm not to worried and other critters getting into it.
My son was another huge help today!


I'm going to be glad when I can enjoy the coop instead of working on it lol

You've really done an impressive job! Someday would love to see it in person. Just fantastic results from pallets

I'm ready for my garden to look like this.

LOL, me too. We got it tilled now just need spring to stay!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

This is the pic I was trying to share earlier. The red shed is mine; the brown one is the neighbor's. I'm fortunate that she is very excited about having chickens and eggs. We've even talked a little about co-oping, so I might have a financial sponsor for my little egg operation.
I'm looking forward, very very much, to having this done soon and moving birds in.
Oh, and on the subject of injuries... I didn't smash a hand, but I got about a dozen splinters from working with old shed wood. And I got one really good chicken wire scratch.

Love the look of it!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Okay, wow, I've been gone for a while. Golly. Anyway I've got a problem!

1) Out of 31 eggs, Welsummer and Silkies. None hatched!? When I had to get rid of the silkie eggs though several had nearly fully formed chicks inside! One had a beak and only had to pip, zip, and absorb the bag/sack attached to its belly! How does this happen? I think it happened when our power went out for about an hour during a storm we had and I don't know if its my fault or what but I feel really bad because they were tiny little things, feet, feathers eyes and all! I actually did tear up. My dad came up to me when I was pitching them and he said we will maybe try again with hatching eggs again or maybe I'll just buy chicks instead. But I did enjoy incubating and we currently have 18 eggs from my own birds in the incubator now. I doubt we'll get many, our roo isn't doing his duties. Though I saw him mount a couple of the girls.

Onto problem #2)

I have an injured hen. Apparently we had an attack by some such animal and I lost my last black hen (

) and I found one of my BR hens with a really bad looking rump. 'It' tore half of her vent and the area left of it and it looks like she got BBQ'ed, and her vent is leaking. It smells, reeks! She acts fine though. Except for when I tried to clean the 'poop' off her. I don't know if it'll get infected or not the corner of her vent looked bruised and aside from her runny, grainy white poop just leaking out of her I think she is fine. I hope she isn't laying eggs or that the Roo tries to mount her because I'm sure it will hurt. I was able to spray her injuries with some vetiricyn spray stuff, I think that's right. I used it before on Scarlet when she was attacked by the coon and it healed right up after a couple of applications. So I'm keeping an eye on DeeDee now and out for coyotes and coons.

#3) When my Dad and I were out in the back of the creek along a little valley/bowl place under a ridge we spotted a coyote! It smelled us and ran off, meeting up with a Mr/s Coyote and they both ran off. My Dad was worried after that and we went back home and My sisters and I are no longer allowed unaccompanied to the creek and I'm worried for my birds. They free range everyday and I shut them up as soon as they are all in. And without Pavlov to scare them off I'm sure they'll venture close to the coop and the house. My Dad and I will have to start Coyote hunting. Or he can invite the boys from church out again. I'll miss out on the fun.

Alright, that's my news update! Oh and I'm gonna get pics of the EE's and get them up soon too. They are growing up quick.

I am so sorry to hear. Definitely spray her down with blukote, and separate her so she can heal.

I believe my hatch has finished, except possibly one more egg. I'll know tonight when I get home.

23/26 Bresse have hatched - one remaining egg is still showing movement, so we will see.
4/7 Legbar hatched. 2boys/2girls - better ratio, but lower hatch % than my first hatch

One legbar boy was shrink wrapped and had to be un-stickied. All are doing well.

Anyone need a Legbar boy or 2? I now have 8, and I only want to keep one from this generation as a breeder.

Of the Bresse, 12 are spoken for, and the others are now for sale. Send me a pm if you are interested.

Bresse sound like a good hatching bird. Just love them!

I also have my first broody of the year. Its one of my phoenix hens. She found a spot tucked under the steps the chickens use to get out of the barn into the run. Its her second time going broody, and she was a very good mother last year.

I have one chicken in her pen that likes to lay on the ground. I was checking for her eggs when i noticed a chicken tail sticking out from under the step. Sneaky mama was under there with a half dozen or so of her own eggs. No idea how long she's been brooding. Phoenix eggs are definitely on the small end of the spectrum, so I'm going to try to swap her eggs for some more desirable ones.

If anyone is interested in her eggs, let me know. She's a silver duckwing phoenix, and the possible dads are either an egyptian fayoumi, or a Gold Legbar (Crested Cream Legbar that didn't inherit any cream).

Mom

Osiris - Possible Dad 1 (EF)

Charlie - Possible Dad 2 (GL)

We have broody farms over here, maybe what i need to name it

2 goose hens, 1 turkey and 2 scovies! My oldest wyandotte hen is showing the puffy signs, growling from the nest but not sitting, yet.

We have a terrible time keeping the dogs out of our raised bed. They LOVE tomatoes. Ripe, unripe, rotten, they don't care. We had a raised bed in a corner of our backyard, and the dogs kept tearing up the fencing to get to those tomatoes. Crazy canines.
Let's see them tear up THIS one!
Now, we're ready for those tomato eating machines to try their fence climbing and wrecking skills this summer!

That oughta do it, nice!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Well, caught up a little more and off to bed, totally wupped.

nite everyone.

 

[chick rookie]

Unless I did the math wrong that 0.01% it is a little over 2,500 members. We have over a quarter of a million members!

Ok so day 21 here and I've had several rockin for a few days now. First internal pip yesterday. With all the babies in the brooder right next to it I can't hear like I could in silence. .lol. noisy buggers! Hahaha. So power failure didn't kill them all anyway

Ideas Needed.

For a quick, 2 - 3 chicken, predator secure sleeping "house/box" that they can be locked into at night only. For temporary use. Needs to be movable. Cheap. Re-purposed.

only cost us 25.00 in lumber for this

Love your silkie pics! They look so happy scratching around.

Good luck with the eggs, black ducks are beautiful!

Pallet Palace! Love the name!

This bird is amazing. I would have never guessed this is what a D'uccle/Silkie cross would produce. Looks like a phoenix to me. I have composting worms or red wiggler worms. During winter, they are inside but as soon as it stops freezing, they go outside. Any of the kitchen scraps the chickens don't particularly like go to the worms and if they get over populated, I give some away to friends with compost for gardens or to the chickens. Very fun hobby and not a lot of maintenance. I got my original stock delivered by the post office from someone on ebay.
Added to my Amazon wish list! This is perfect for the silkies. Thank you!

So happy to hear the tiny doe is doing well and hanging in there!

thanks I am very happy for her, she is running and jumping everyplace today, only fell 1 time...

2 of them could house 10-12 birds! I dont think you could make them that cheap!

we built 1 8x6 for 150.00 but we reused alot of stuff, and got a few things from Hoosier Topics free giveaways

Moved the chicks out to the coop yesterday after work - figured this stretch of beautiful weather was a good time for them to make the change - they're 5 weeks and had pretty much outgrown the brooder, so it was time. Spent the night worried about my "babies" - and was very relieved to go out this morning and find 16 bright, happy chicken faces greeting me - they think they are in chicky heaven, lol. If they only knew it gets even better - we *should* get the run done this weekend and then their world gets even bigger and better.
Speaking of the run - have decided to do a hoop run - seems like something the kids and I can handle (if DH lets us - something tells me the moment I reach for one of his tools he'll be out there doing it for me --- not that that's entirely a bad thing, lol). Figure this is a good place to get some feedback on how they hold up in our climate. Anyone use hoop houses/runs? Any major changes you've made to the basic plan to accommodate our area? I know one thing I'll be doing is running a couple of hot wires around out around it because the run will be in the pasture and our horses are horrible about using anything that holds still as a leaning post or butt scratcher - so I figure a t post at each corner and a couple in the middle with a wire low and one about horse chest high will keep them at bay and add a layer of deterrence against the neighborhood dogs/other pests.....figure with the posts there anyway I might as well use them to give me anchors for the run too (because DH is convinced it will blow over - no convincing him otherwise).

got all but the newest batch of chicks out yesterday here too it is great not having 8 brooders going... lol

I would like to formally introduce everyone to the

SINISTER SISTERS (my sons nickname for them)

ROGUE


GYPSY


They get their first puppy shots tomorrow so they will be able to go outside and have their first experience with the great outdoors and chickens.
I do have a few ideas about how I am going to train them to co-exist/protect chickens. But since I really have no experience training puppies period, any ideas and/or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

very cute, love your sons nickname for him

Dad & I started exploring nursing home placement for my mom this week. We're waiting to get an assessment appointment for her to get the ball rolling. We weren't aware of this before, but before anyone can be admitted to a nursing home in Indiana, Real Services has to do an assessment and there are some papers that the physician needs to fill out. We just figured we could arrangement placement ourselves, but that's not the case! Mom's condition has gone downhill the last month or so & Dad has reached his limit for providing care. She needs 24 hr supervision and it's to the point where neither Dad nor I can get much of anything else done, plus there's more aggressive/violent behavior occurring. A couple nursing homes we'd like to use aren't set up to deal with her advanced Alzheimers so we'll probably be needing to find someplace that provides specific care for dementia -- hopefully a facility that's close to us. We're hoping to get her in place somewhere as soon as possible. It'll be hard to make that move, but it will be a good thing all around.

With all that being said, I'm hoping we may be able to host a gathering up here in the northern part of the state -- maybe August or this fall or next year? Summer is pretty busy and short with all our fair activities & school starting the beginning of August. I didn't feel comfortable offering before with Mom here, but with our situation changing, it's looking like more of a possibility!

My 78 year old grandmother has dementia, its tough, stay strong.

I am a member of a Facebook poultry group too and tonight a guy in Terre Haute posted that he has to get rid of his birds after being told that it is completely legal. Now, I don't have a dog in this fight, but I hate to hear someone is being forced to give up something they enjoy because a neighbor complained. (he doesn't know for sure it was the neighbor but he suspects it) So I told him I would post up here and ask if anyone is in the Terre Haute area or if anyone knows something he can do to fight this? If there are other Terre Haute poultry owns please post up so I can get him in touch with you and you can maybe band together to fight it. He and I would be grateful for any help in the matter.
Chris

I just love your variety, you will have a stunning flock!

Just adorable pups, congrats!!!!! They need constant chicken/flock exposure and bonding.. The birds to be guarded also need constant puppy bonding and exposure too. Traditional squeak toys, fuzzy and fluffy stuff, are a big NO. Rawhide treats are a good choice, rope toys. I trained working and police dogs for protection, attack, drugs, cadaver and even arson dogs. I haven't worked with it since the late 90s but I am sure little of that's changed. Just gradually introduce the pups a little more each day. Keep in mind, the pups are vulnerable and eyes/noses can be pecked. A safety fence may help to protect them until your flock is at ease. They need to see each other a lot. The dogs natural instincts will help you train them.

Thats great news! They new their eggs would freeze so they were waiting

Alzheimers/Dementia is so hard at times, we both know it. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your Dad, hope they can help your Mom live comfortably. I know what you are dealing with and its a lot to bear at times. My Dad still swears he is FINE and stop griping, leave it alone!
I am very grateful for your post. I have so much to learn about handling the problems that come with both illnesses.
My Dads been up and down too, the heart valve issue is not helping a bit. We are still waiting for his valve.
The rage and confusion is the hardest to see when they have a bad spell, and the emotional crash they have is even worse.
My Mom has said she feels like he is out of control at times too, but isn't ready for him to be in full time care yet.
I want to keep them both home, as long as possible. There comes a point to where its risking their health without 24/7 care.
You are awesome to consider hosting a chickenfest! I will help any way I can.
PM racinchickins, he can tell you the good and bad when he hosted last years event.
There is a lot of good threads on BYC, start here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/37/local-chicken-laws-ordinances-and-how-to-change-them
Welcome to our thread, and please invite your friend! Petitions, city hall meetings are a good start. Here are some good points to argue!

One very good point, If INDIANAPOLIS our state capital allows chicken keeping, WHY are the smaller cities and suburbs so behind the times?
Why can't we raise our own chickens and have fresh eggs for our family! And why can't we educate our children to be self sufficient?
This is one subject that really angers me

Do not choose how and what I feed my family and teach my children!
Please let your friend know there are answers, and you can fight it!

This comment is for both chrispbrown27 and jchny2000, I also am in Terre Haute, luckliey I don't live in town, my DH knows 1 of the city council members and She is a real ...... (trying to keep it clean ) we ran into her at the store a while back and she didnt know we had chickens. Don't know how we got on the subject cant remember but she has nothing good to say about " those filthy discusting birds " ( her words ) so on and so on, I tried to talk to her about the good in having chickens and such but she was having done of it. It used to be ok to have chickens in town as long as they had no Roo's ( I knew this ) But as soon as I got in I made it my mission to GET RID OF THE FILTH IN OUR TOWN. She is a very uppity and close minded woman. and as crocked as the Terre Haute city council is, I don't think anything will ever change as long as she is in office. The woman don't even like dogs and cats.

I couldn't wait to get away from her and DH couldn't wait to get me away from her, after hearing how filthy I and my birds were I forgot all about trying to educate her..... after a few minutes of that stuck up Woman running her mouth ... well .... you can guess the rest, but I never called her "filthy"!!! Although I wanted too.... So KODO'S to me...
ok sorry rant over.
I wish him luck, really do, but I don't think ANYTHING is going to work with that one.

 

[chick rookie]

Aww. My cute little roo started crowing this morning. I don't think it will bother the neighbors yet....but I think I we'd to get a door on their coop for the morning.

I love their first crows... makes me giggle

I can't remember if I've ever introduced myself here, so I guess that means it's been long enough that I can get away with doing it again. ;-)

My name is Aaron, I live on the West side of Indy, just outside the loop on Rockville (that's US 36 to the rest of the state). I am brand-new to chicken ownership.

I've been planning to start a flock for about two years, since we bought our house. This place came with an old 12' x 12' garden shed in the back yard, and once I cleaned it out I realized it would make a fantastic coup. I'm almost done with the conversion, and I'm going to set up a small hoop-house style run. I wish I could just fence the yard and let the birds roam, but we have a lot of hawks and even some falcons around here. I've seen red-tails picking doves off our powerlines a lot of mornings, so it has to be full-time containment for us! I'll try to get some pics of the coup/run project up some time.

The only problem I'm having so far is finding chickens. Part of the reason for this is I'm being kind of particular - I really want Australorps. If it comes down to it, I'll get over myself and be content with RIRs or Orpingtons. The other bump in the road is that I really don't have time to raise chicks, so I'm looking to buy pullets. I don't mind if they're not laying age, but they need to be old enough that I can move them straight into the coup. I'm going to put a post in the buy/sell/trade area. So far I've had a really difficult time finding information about breeders in the area - I figure there have to be some around central Indiana, but they don't seem to be online.

I have really appreciated having this website as a resource; it's been tremendously helpful in planning and executing this project. I'm looking forward to being part of the community!

I know a woman in Greencastle that sells started pullets if you would like I can get her info for you. Dont know if that would be too far away for you or not?? let me know. in the mean time I will be seeing her this weekend and will find out if she has any available.

Thanks for the input! My understanding was that chick require nearly-constant supervision, which is what I don't have. I have tons of space, and as my kids get a little older, I plan to raise up my own chicks. We just don't have that much time right now, which is why I was thinking pullets.
I've spoken with one person who advertised on CL who had a couple of australorps, but they've been sold. He has a lot of orpingtons, and I got a really good vibe from my conversation with him, so I may end up buying some of his chickens. But I'm still looking around, as I get the coop and run finished up.

as long as the heat souse stays constant and you put plenty of food and fresh water out for them I get away with checking my chicks 2x a day when I'm busy.

that's ridiculous! I would be burning their phone up for sure....

Great idea on the piggy coop

Here was Bacon with LilX a year or so ago... Pigs like chickens if they are raised around them.
Bacon would let her eat out of his bowl. Oops almost 2 years just saw the date.

Cute love it !!!

 

[hoosiercheetah]

I know a woman in Greencastle that sells started pullets if you would like I can get her info for you. Dont know if that would be too far away for you or not?? let me know. in the mean time I will be seeing her this weekend and will find out if she has any available.

as long as the heat souse stays constant and you put plenty of food and fresh water out for them I get away with checking my chicks 2x a day when I'm busy.

Thank you for the replies!

Greencastle is kind of the edge of my range - I wouldn't want to pay more in gas than I do for the chickens - but it's doable. I would definitely be interested to hear what, if anything, your friend has available. Right now I've got a verbal handshake on four chickens from two sources - a barnyard mix and a golden comet from one, and two black aussies from another. I would like two more layers to round out the half dozen. I think Orps or RIRs would be fun to try, but I'd be good with more aussies or any of the RSL varieties. If your friend doesn't have anything, I'm sure there will be chickens available in a few weeks, as a couple of folks on here have mentioned.

I've heard from a few people that chicks aren't as tough or time-consuming as I've been thinking - I still want to start with pullets, until I get the hang of having chickens around. When I'm ready to add to the flock, I'll look at raising up my own. Plus by then, my daughter will be older, and more able to help out.