INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
I'm thinking you mean the little chicks. Once the chicks are large enough for outside, they are put in a pen outside, no free ranging till older. The cats and our new kitten can not get into the chick pens without tearing through at least one layer of chicken wire. Once the chicks are about the size of a softball or a bit larger the cats don't want to mess with them with the exception of meaties, the cats never gave up on getting those. There is a mutual fear right now between the cats and the free rangers. If I toss out scraps everyone runs for the treat but the chickens back up from the cat and the cat runs from the roosters and slowly backs up from the pullets. Chicks don't free range here until they are larger and really much closer to full size. And once I have full size chickens out free ranging then any younger chickens that are allowed to free range just have to be that much older. So the first group I started free ranging this year included 14 week olds but now I am only adding 18 week or older chickens to the free rangers.

Editing to add that I know the cats would eat a day old chick or even a 2 week old chick. It can come in handy when some of the hatchery chicks don't survive the postal service. Also the cats like to chase ducklings more than the chicks.

Thanks. Interesting on the hierarchy for feed!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
Thanks I'm trying to figure out a way for them to range and get a lot of their feed off the land. How old before butcher?

 

[browncow15]

Here are the guineas I have for sale.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

I finally found my dream truck. And now that I found it, it has been sold. Go figure, that is just my luck.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

Looking through some pictures I had on my phone and figured I would upload some since I really have nothing better to do at almost midnight.
Mottled cochins




Blue and splash Ameraucanas
This pullet has to be my favorite LF ameraucana pullet. She really good at giving death stares






White Plymouth rock girls





Birchen Modern game bantam pullet I got from brad. So glad I ended up getting her. She is very sweet. And wants nothing more than to follow you and be held.

 

[pginsber]

It's almost 1am now. I'm on call at work this weekend. Hence I'm looking at ccccchickens' old phone photos. Thanks much--good looking birds!

 

[Thriftymom6]

If I get my shirt soon enough...  I'll wear if if I go to the Elkhart County 4h fair.  So if you're at the fair and see the shirt....

And I was thinking that when y'all go to fairs you should wear yours.  Never know who might be there and recognize you by your shirt.

I was at the Elkhart fair tonight. The chicken barn was great , but it only made me want more. I hope everyone enjoys chickenfest wish I could have went.

 

[PeacefulWalls]

I haul milk into goshen and I bought three New Zealand red from a guy in goshen name mike auger I believe. I am looking for a buck nz red do you know anyone who has a jr for sale at the fair? Thanks

I haven't had a chance to go through the barn yet to see who has which breeds. There is a bulletin board in the barn, though, that the kids can post rabbits for sale. It usually gets pretty full by Wednesday or Thursday. I'll try to remember to look at the for sale notes around then. Send me a note to remind me on Wednesday

.

How are people's corn crops this year?
Ours got blown over during an intense thunderstorm, but we stood it back up best we could.
Now, most of the stalks look good, but I expected to see tassels and ears with silk by now.
I have very, very tall corn, but only one teeny tiny ear on one plant.

We have teeny tiny stalks with no ears -- they are trying to tassle, though.

Thanks I'm trying to figure out a way for them to range and get a lot of their feed off the land. How old before butcher?

We usually shoot for rabbit to weigh approx. 5 lb for butchering. There are a number of different factors that affect how fast they grow. If you're really lucky you can get them to weight by 8 weeks. Cross bred rabbits will sometimes have the hybrid vigor and make weight sooner. Sometimes it can take 10 weeks and up to 12, although by that point you might as well butcher because their faster growth rate will have tapered off and you'll be putting too much feed into trying to have them gain another pound.

There are a number of different thoughts about letting rabbits range outside. You have to be sure that they're getting enough protein. 16% feed is about as low as you can go. We feed 18%. They will not be able to get all the nutrition they need from just ranging. They are also a lot more susceptible to parasites when on the ground. All that doesn't mean, though, that you can't find things to feed them growing on your land. If you come to the fair, go to the 4-H exhibit building & find the rabbit posters. Benji (my son) did his poster on Backyard Rabbit Treats, listing all kinds of herbs, plants, weeds, trees, shrubs, grasses, etc that you can feed to your rabbits!

 

[PeacefulWalls]

Have a wonderful time at Chickenfest everyone! Wish we could be there

!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Have a wonderful time at Chickenfest everyone! Wish we could be there

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X2 ---- safe travels and good times to all attending!