INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Chaneys Ranch]

Well we got hit hard by a pack of coyotes last night killed 5 roos several layers all but 6 of my chicks and 3 meat chicks. I need a turkey tom asap!

Ohhh noo, wondered what happened. That's awful, I have a real mean gander you can have. He is fearless, and loud, you will know somethings wrong FAST. He is a coward with humans, I pinned him enough to know better.

 

[4speedy]

There is no such thing as "standard egg layers". All chickens have a breed name or are a mix of breeds. (Nt meant to sound rude just the only way I could think to put it )

1- production reds, red sex links, golden comets cinimmon queens etc (they are all the same)
2-jersey giant or austrolorp
3- white leghorns or maybe white rocks (they do look to be a little heavier, but they are more likely to be WLs)

The first ones TSC called then red sex links they are a mix of female Rhode island reds, and male white leghorns. We picked up 6 of them a month ago. Looks just like them.
The last one looks like the White Leghorns.
Not sure of the middle one.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Oh...and forgot to say that I thought it was rooster overuse. But this year I noticed that it first started as some disturbed feathers back there. Then I caught one of the BR girls picking her feathers out on the roost as they were going to roost. It wasn't "malicious picking", more like "curious picking". Something was looking different because they were fuzzing. And I think she pecked at it and continued to peck on it every night, plucking more and more.

So while hers started by being scruffed up by the roo, I think Miss BR was doing the plucking.

I've started putting the 2 brs on a roost that I can separate them away from the others at night to alleviate that problem.

No matter how it's happening, though, the problem is still the same. A bare back that really looks like we're malnourishing them or something of the sort.

If you notice feather picking, you can bet its a protein issue. I see it in turkeys usually.. but have noticed it in bantams and LF chickens on occasion too. Try added protein, like mashed cooked eggs, mealworms etc.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

You guys/gals...I think I am allergic to pine shavings. Since the day I changed the chicks' bedding from paper towels to pine shavings, I have been out of commission. I have barely been able to stay awake all day. Yesterday I was awake for 4 out of 24 hours.

I managed to move the brooder to the mud room where it can be closed off, but just now I went in to check on the chicks and my head split open with the worst pain.

I had been thinking that I was having a bad reaction to pollen or mold, since this is our first spring at the new house. Tons of trees, and it's been so wet. Zyrtec isn't helping, though.

I guess I will be looking for alternative bedding today. And some other kind of medicine. I have lost so much work time already, and am just a bear to be around. Can barely think, no appetite, just feel awful. Wish me luck on the alternative bedding. I am so ready to feel like myself again.

Yikes go to petsmart, petco.. they carry aspen shavings.

You have to have a premit to keep quail? What kinds require a permit and what ones don't?

ETA: spell check can sure switch something's around!

Native birds like ringneck pheasant and Bobwhites do require a permit. Its cheap and easy.
http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/files/GameBreederLicenseRegulations.pdf.
Its cheap. But they do follow up. Call and ask to talk to a field agent. The office people tell you every thing needs a permit

 

[matt47274]

Hello everyone.

My name is Matthew and I am 26 and live in Seymour Indiana. I have have kept chickens in town for a little over 3 years without a single complaint and the support of my neighbors. The local city ordnance administrator has recently decided to cite me as being in violation of city ordnance that he later admitted didn't apply but I was still forced to speak at the city council meeting or he would still come and take them.

I spoke at the meeting and they concluded that I was not in violation of any ordnance but since the subject was brought before them they now must write an ordnance about it. Well I was able to receive a copy of it before it was introduced to the council and it is not good. They are looking to ban them and force registration for any chicken already in town with animal control, in turn you will receive a paper as proof of valid ownership which you must keep on file. It reads in a manner that suggest if you lose that paper and they find out you will be subjected to a fine of up to $2500 and confiscation of your chickens.

This is supposed to be introduced at the meeting taking place on May 27th @7pm in Seymour Indiana city hall council chambers. I was told I will have to pack the city hall meeting with support to have a chance to defeat it so that is my goal. Anyone in the area that sees this and could attend or offer advice and support or anyone who provides a link to a more permissive ordnance of their city that I could present to them as is or modify to possibly be sponsored by a member of the council would also be much appreciated.

Anyway I thank you all for having me and hope that I can become a good member of the community you all are building here.

 

[CRSelvey]

I HATE brooding unnaturally. These kids need a mamma.

Oh NO!!!! Another hippy chick :0

I am also a little bit of a hippy chick ;-). I've been buying many of my essential oils from Ancient Wisdom but have been checking out the sites of the other two mentioned. There is a nice phone app from a Young Living rep that details a lot of the uses for each oil called Healthier Thymes.

A mistake I made in the beginning was getting too attached to one breed. I ended up with a thoroughly mixed flock, and I'm really happy with it.

I missed many pages in the last two months and I've really wondered what you ended up having. That's so nice to hear that you love your mixed flock. I think it makes the flock more interesting to watch and easier to identify who is who out there (if that is important to you). Its possible I just messed up the who/whom thing there. Its always been a weakness.

Well we got hit hard by a pack of coyotes last night killed 5 roos several layers all but 6 of my chicks and 3 meat chicks. I need a turkey tom asap!

I'm so sorry about the coyotes getting your birds. That is very scary!

Janet, I hope both of your parents are ok now. Your family is very lucky to have you...as are we..

 

[CRSelvey]

Hello again!

Once again I find myself missing everyone here. It was so nice to catch up and see all the new and old voices here. Your pictures are all nice to see. In the last two weeks we have been really busy around here. My mom was visiting for ten days and she went to bed exhausted every day from trying to keep up with us and our noisy bunch. It turns out that if you are used to living by yourself in a quiet house where nothing moves from where you placed it, my house is an extreme culture shock!

. I think the poor woman has decided that 7 day visits are better (and easier on my DH's nerves

).

Anyway, school is almost out and we can see the light! I don't think that I was this excited about summer vacation even as a kid.

My little chicks have gotten so big already and I really like them. About two weeks ago, I started building them a tractor so that I can house them away from my big chickens for a few more weeks. I had everything but the door completed and then my DH came home from his trip. He built the door and then said what are you doing with your old wheel barrow? Well, nothing probably...So, he took the wheels and the handle off of it and here is what happened:


Its a little small for 7 chicks at 3x7 but it will be ok for a little longer. I'm able to move them to a new shady spot every day without any help. The dog house has a rectangular roost inside for them to sleep on at night or when it rains. There is hardware cloth on all sides except the bottom, which is large squared fencing. It keeps everything together when I move the tractor. The chicks just jump up on a wire and go for a ride! I have to set it down very slowly so that they don't pinch any toes though.

The blurry chicken is my Black Australorp (we haven't settled on a name yet), the peachy one is an EE named Elsa (I used to think it was a roo, but now I'm thinking pullet), and in the back are the Welsummer (roo), and a Mille Fleur d'Uccle (roo).

Here you can see my little OEGB. I think she is called a silver duckwing, but there really aren't words to describe how pretty the silver penciling is on her feathers.

I am not sure if you can see it well, but my first raised bed is almost finished. The tops need cut off of the posts and the edge frame needs put on the top, but I love it!!! When the one on the other side is done, we will be able to put the cattle panel arch from one side to the other so we can grow some peas, cucumbers, etc over the arch and not take up so much room in the bed. Also, I know they are too small to see, but our little dwarf apple trees in there are doing really well. I have one Honeycrisp because they are my favorite eating apple and one Rome because it was the tastiest of the pollinator apples on the list. Some day they will be nice shade for the chickens but far enough away from the beds to not block their sun. Also, we have the post holes dug for the run extension. Its going to be just 5x16, but in the winter or on days I won't be home, it will be nice for them to have more space that is safe.

Yesterday, I spent about 4 hours shoveling the old sand out of the coop into the run, scrubbing walls, and replacing the sand. Wow, what a difference. I used the vinegar recipe from Fresh Eggs Daily that had White Vinegar (just for cleaning), orange rinds, cinnamon sticks, and vanilla beans steeped for about a month. I also added some cloves and allspice just because I love them, but it worked like a charm and smelled so much better than regular vinegar. I used a bit of the sand when I needed some extra scrubbing power.

I also have one hen, Bella, sitting on 3 eggs in my basement and she is due any day this week. I didn't write down the start date, so I'm thinking she's on about day 16, but its a guess.

So, gardeners, what would you use to fill the raised beds with? I saw a video not long ago from the man who came up with the square foot gardening theory and he suggested compost, vermiculite, and moss. His gardens are only 6" deep not 24" so I'm not sure how that would work out. I was thinking topsoil, compost, and vermiculite. Any suggestions? Its going in tomorrow whatever we decide.

Happy Sunday everyone!

 

[hoosiercheetah]

Well we got hit hard by a pack of coyotes last night killed 5 roos several layers all but 6 of my chicks and 3 meat chicks. I need a turkey tom asap!

Oh, so sorry!  Where in Indiana are you located?  I know we have coyotes around here, but have never seen one.

Yes she is called a hen. I have lost no birds from coyotes when i have had either geese or turkeys. I have had air raids and lost a couple. The only problem i ever had with raising turkeys with chickens is when my bb hen sat on them and squished them otherwise she protected them fiercly!
I am located in markleville indiana approx 10 minutes from pendleton and 5 min from anderson. I have seen huge coyotes all around us. The little jerk came back to clean up his mess tonight. My husband shot and missed unfortunately.

Coyotes suck.

Wherever you live in Indiana, even inside the 465 loop, there are coyotes.

Coyotes are almost never alone. If you saw one, the others were hanging back in the shadows to see if the coast was clear.

There are lots of great websites on actively hunting coyotes. All you need is a rifle and a red-lense flashlight. I have a mosin-nagant 91/30 I'd be happy to loan, with about 200 rounds of ammo, to anyone who wants to shoot coyotes. You'd want to scope it for coyotes, I'd pay for the mod, of course. PM me if you're interested.

 

[leslea]

Hello again!

Once again I find myself missing everyone here. It was so nice to catch up and see all the new and old voices here. Your pictures are all nice to see. In the last two weeks we have been really busy around here. My mom was visiting for ten days and she went to bed exhausted every day from trying to keep up with us and our noisy bunch. It turns out that if you are used to living by yourself in a quiet house where nothing moves from where you placed it, my house is an extreme culture shock!

. I think the poor woman has decided that 7 day visits are better (and easier on my DH's nerves

).

Anyway, school is almost out and we can see the light! I don't think that I was this excited about summer vacation even as a kid.

My little chicks have gotten so big already and I really like them. About two weeks ago, I started building them a tractor so that I can house them away from my big chickens for a few more weeks. I had everything but the door completed and then my DH came home from his trip. He built the door and then said what are you doing with your old wheel barrow? Well, nothing probably...So, he took the wheels and the handle off of it and here is what happened:


Its a little small for 7 chicks at 3x7 but it will be ok for a little longer. I'm able to move them to a new shady spot every day without any help. The dog house has a rectangular roost inside for them to sleep on at night or when it rains. There is hardware cloth on all sides except the bottom, which is large squared fencing. It keeps everything together when I move the tractor. The chicks just jump up on a wire and go for a ride! I have to set it down very slowly so that they don't pinch any toes though.

The blurry chicken is my Black Australorp (we haven't settled on a name yet), the peachy one is an EE named Elsa (I used to think it was a roo, but now I'm thinking pullet), and in the back are the Welsummer (roo), and a Mille Fleur d'Uccle (roo).

Here you can see my little OEGB. I think she is called a silver duckwing, but there really aren't words to describe how pretty the silver penciling is on her feathers.

I am not sure if you can see it well, but my first raised bed is almost finished. The tops need cut off of the posts and the edge frame needs put on the top, but I love it!!! When the one on the other side is done, we will be able to put the cattle panel arch from one side to the other so we can grow some peas, cucumbers, etc over the arch and not take up so much room in the bed. Also, I know they are too small to see, but our little dwarf apple trees in there are doing really well. I have one Honeycrisp because they are my favorite eating apple and one Rome because it was the tastiest of the pollinator apples on the list. Some day they will be nice shade for the chickens but far enough away from the beds to not block their sun. Also, we have the post holes dug for the run extension. Its going to be just 5x16, but in the winter or on days I won't be home, it will be nice for them to have more space that is safe.

Yesterday, I spent about 4 hours shoveling the old sand out of the coop into the run, scrubbing walls, and replacing the sand. Wow, what a difference. I used the vinegar recipe from Fresh Eggs Daily that had White Vinegar (just for cleaning), orange rinds, cinnamon sticks, and vanilla beans steeped for about a month. I also added some cloves and allspice just because I love them, but it worked like a charm and smelled so much better than regular vinegar. I used a bit of the sand when I needed some extra scrubbing power.

I also have one hen, Bella, sitting on 3 eggs in my basement and she is due any day this week. I didn't write down the start date, so I'm thinking she's on about day 16, but its a guess.

So, gardeners, what would you use to fill the raised beds with? I saw a video not long ago from the man who came up with the square foot gardening theory and he suggested compost, vermiculite, and moss. His gardens are only 6" deep not 24" so I'm not sure how that would work out. I was thinking topsoil, compost, and vermiculite. Any suggestions? Its going in tomorrow whatever we decide.

Happy Sunday everyone!

Looks really good!

I'm sure if you're going 24" deep with your raised beds, you'll want rock on the bottom for drainage. Other than that...I'm sure Mr. Google will help! Let us know what you find out.

Your backyard looks great.

I couldn't have a houseguest for 7 days, let alone 10. Most folks get worn out after 3 hours with my kids.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

Yikes go to petsmart, petco.. they carry aspen shavings.

Native birds like ringneck pheasant and Bobwhites do require a permit. Its cheap and easy.
http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/files/GameBreederLicenseRegulations.pdf.
Its cheap. But they do follow up. Call and ask to talk to a field agent. The office people tell you every thing needs a permit

O, thank you for the link. I will stay away from pheasants period and will just avoid bob white quail, as I don't want to mess around with a permit. I will book mark the page though, because maybe one day I will change my mind.