INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[flyladyrocks]

I've seen it I think. Is it the one that says Everyone wants large breasts and a crowd of chickens looks on?

I just saw the one with the hoards of roosters practically stampeding a hardees. Hysterical.

 

[flyladyrocks]

The littles got to go out with momma to the big bird run today.

 

[flyladyrocks]

I've got about half of the thistles pulled out of the strawberries now. Very disappointed nobody here wanted any of them

! Lots of strawberry blossoms & saw a number of green berries the other day. Yesterday I saw 2 that were red with just a bit of white on them. Had to pick them & they were so yummy! The kids wanted a bite & I told them no way -- only if they help finish pulling thistles! The ground has been too dry to pull the last few days, but after today's rain comes through I should be able to finish. Can't wait for a full crop!

 

[flyladyrocks]

Thanks guys!

Thank you. The bottom of the run is treated 2 x 4's. We didn't know when we built it that you aren't supposed to use treated, but we never had a problem with it. The hardware cloth is attached on the back side, and the whole run is set a little into the ground because the coop is on a slope. So it's not buried, but it's in some super hard ground, so something trying to dig under would have to really work at it. Plus the coop is inside or our pasture surrounded by 5 ft horse fence, so it's pretty well protected. The chickens actually like to spend most of their time under the coop itself. It's cool under there.

 

[flyladyrocks]

Hey everyone. I'm very sad to say that my welsummer, Lillian was killed by a wild animal. I'm thinking a raccoon because the chicken wire was ripped out. All the others are fine. They have now joined the big chickens. Another upsetting thing is I am allergic to goats. I have always been but it has gotten worse over the three years I've been showing them. So... don't think I will be able to get them. I have been looking into other animals like llamas but not sure. Also I think pheasants and quail are really cool. Anyone have some information on their keeping? Going to look for some right now on here.

 

[Minminme]

Thanks guys! Thank you. The bottom of the run is treated 2 x 4's. We didn't know when we built it that you aren't supposed to use treated, but we never had a problem with it. The hardware cloth is attached on the back side, and the whole run is set a little into the ground because the coop is on a slope. So it's not buried, but it's in some super hard ground, so something trying to dig under would have to really work at it. Plus the coop is inside or our pasture surrounded by 5 ft horse fence, so it's pretty well protected. The chickens actually like to spend most of their time under the coop itself. It's cool under there.

I love it!!! You have a few things I don't have. Most important of which is...SHADE!

 

[Minminme]

Thanks so much I'll look for it at the store on my way home tonite. The feed is a reg layer feed. :/ I'm worried I'm doing something wrong, the rest seem ok ..... Will she pick at the liver if I can't fin the vitamins? Or do I force feed?

The vitamins are "human baby vitamins". I don't know it that was in th earlier post but just wanted t mention that. Look for them at a pharmacy or Walmart not a feed store.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote:
How ironic as the largest amount of meat we have gotten has always been from a rooster when compared to a hen of the same age and breed.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote: Be sure NO ADDED IRON on the vitamins.

If you use liver, if you chop it into tiny, bug-sized pieces and drop it in front of her they will likely eat it on their own with no hesitation once they figure out what it is. Unless she is very sick and not eating anything on her own.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

I heard there was a machine that I could use for milking. I have not looked into the cost of that though. I'm sure I could ask DH to make me a stand. The ones at the fair looked basic enough.

But my questions revolve around housing and fencing. I'm to the point that I would feel much better if I had a goat person come out and say here is exactly what you need to do to be all set up. It would be even better if they had a source for a good nubian pair of goats too. And just perfect if they knew more about the milking machine and where to buy those.

There is a machine. My family has never had one, they always milked by hand. When my dad was a teenager he used to use a similar machine on a dairy farm though. The things you see at the fair are fairly easy to build, they are often for sale on craigslist. Housing and fencing is simple. You have to have a very tight fence. I have had 4 and 6ft tall fence. Some are jumpers, some aren't, that is your choice. We had to put u stakes in the ground holding the fence because the nigerian dwarf was able to flip it up and crawl under (she is a little escape artist). Goats are always trying to get out, the grass always looks better on the other side. For housing you can have something as simple as a lean-to, though they aren't good for winter. A lot of people around here don't hardly have a shelter for there goats, because you never hear of anyone calling the animal shleter getting called about goats, which I think is a bunch of crap. Anyways something like a shed would be about perfect. Unless you want to get real up there and get a pole barn. Hopefully you can find someone to help you and come out to your house. I know a few people who have nubians, but they are no where near you and aren't currently selling.