INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Chaneys Ranch]

DH and I went to the State Fair yesterday (August 12). I was disappointed that there were not more Orpingtons, but learned what a lot of colors were for other breeds, and now I understand why people like Sebrights (how much cuter can you get?). My daughter was totally taken in by the bantams (of everything!). I told her nope. I grew up around bantams, and think they are gorgeous little packages of chickenness, but they don't fit into my plans. Does anybody have Sebrights housed with their standard-sized chickens? I would worry that my English Orps would accidentally squash them!

However, I agree with some other comments that many hens shown at the State Fair were missing all of their saddle feathers (and sometimes some head feathers, too). Can someone explain why a person would show a bird in that condition? Is getting a 3 or 4 that important to some folks? I'm not trying to sound accusatory. Maybe this is not unusual. I'm just asking because I want to learn.

Also, we saw a Cornish pullet that in my professional opinion was extremely ill and possibly dying. It laid in the same spot for four hours, raising its neck/head and gasping for air with eyes closed, and when I verbally startled it just a little on purpose to see if it could even get up, it did, and opened its poor swollen, runny eyes briefly. State Fair officials seemed nonchalant about the whole thing. I was not only concerned about this bird, but the birds around it. I saw it sneeze at least once in the direction of a neighbor. BTW, since it was one of only two in its class, it got a 2. We also saw a whole family videotaping her gasping for air because they thought it was funny. I disabused them of that notion in a hurry. I don't think they meant to be jerks--just ignorant. I don't know why this poor bird wasn't disqualified, but I don't know much about chicken shows (yet). I showed purebred cats for 15 years. Cat judges actually handle the cats, and if one felt feverish, the owner would be called up as a courtesy and given the opportunity to pull the entry instead of getting DQ'd. I could see that the levels of judging were very similar to cat show judging (within color/gender, then variety, then breed, then overall major type of bird).

Is any of this (the bad stuff) typical at poultry shows? I don't vaccinate against upper respiratory diseases because I don't have them, and never have, and Purdue does not recommend vaccinating against the upper respiratory viruses unless you have a problem because they are usually modified live and there is always a chance they can revert to wild, infectious type. So, you don't want to risk introducing a disease you don't already have in your flock.

Just wondered....

On a happier note, a guy in the dairy barn saw my Indiana BYC shirt and stopped to talk about chickens for 20 minutes or so. He went all in on his coop! A person could live there and be proud!

Yaaaa not went to bed yet, muahahah! Wonderful news to find another chicken enthusiast!!! I loved my lil sebrights. My issue with them was the cold last winter! Lost every one from the severe cold. I am a lot more watchful of temps now for any of my bantams. They all go into my breezeway/porch if It drops below -0- and I have a separate coop that's better prepared to provide heat if needed.
If there is not an issue of overcrowding and plenty of hiding areas the bantams do fine. Even with LF geese and turkeys, if RAISED TOGETHER. that's the key, they don't distrust birds they have grown up with or "cooped with" in a "see don't touch" pen. A turkey that's never seen a bantam will try to eat it! So the point is, if bantams join a LF flock, be sure they get exposure and separate quarters well before combining.
We have several members involved and their children too in fairs, and showing birds. Its fantastic for our kids to learn and appreciate our animals for what they give us and the histories of each breed. I can't get myself interested in "showing" because of seeing this illnesses at fairs also. I worked in animal control 5 years and to me, it is a complete contradiction of state law concerning animal care... And at the "state fair level", no less! It upsets me a lot. Every critter out there we keep deserves basic proper care. I do know of so many people that care very much about their animals not to let health issues go unattended, also. I guess after seeing the other sides of things, it really makes you not enjoy such events as much

It falls to the people responsible to observe whats coming in to be shown...and do their job. Even If they are volunteers, it still does not make it "OK" if an animal is ill.

one bad apple.. and off my soapbox

 

[hoosiercheetah]

Even If they are volunteers, it still does not make it "OK" if an animal is ill.

one bad apple.. and off my soapbox

I love soapboxes! They help me reverberate. :-D

I wasn't really surprised to see sick chickens at the show... but I was in a hurry, and not really paying attention, and I don't really know anything about chicken shows. I mean, I saw the one with no saddle feathers, but I didn't think, "That should be here at the show!" I just thought, "Huh. I guess that one's molting or something? But it's skin looks pretty rough too; maybe it's really over-bred..." I also saw several birds sitting litter that was totally soaked in massive quantities of liquid chicken poop. I did think those should have been taken away, so that they wouldn't get everyone else sick, and when I got home I threw all my clothes in the wash, sprayed my shoes down with vinegar (I don't wear those shoes to my coup or run anyway) And I took like five showers. Okay just one. But it was a really hot one. TMI. Sorry.

So, maybe the volunteers din't know anything about chickens or chicken shows? I don't know anything about how that works, but do they pull them out of a State Fair Vol. Pool, where they may not have any experience with the animals? I could see that happening.

It kind of makes me want to volunteer next year. I'm not interested in showing chickens, but I am interested in the general welfare of chickens. Which is why I raise my own, instead of feeding the corporate chicken machine. But that's a soapbox for another day. ;-)

 

[EurekaChic]

Picked over 300 ears of bi-color sweet corn, and got into the freezer tonight. YUM Shared with our neighbors also since they have been patient with my young adult geese visits every evening. They were a little sad when I told them the news tonight... They have 2 american buffs, hoping for a pair. (looks gander/goose to me!) But they really like my brown Chinese too. So I see a few more in the future next door, LOL.
SOLD EVERY EXTRA GOSLING I OWN TODAY TOO! The new owner is a veterinarian. super excited, my babies will be his alarms to help protect his flock. I am visiting his coops and getting next years piglets Sunday afternoon, pretty excited. Hoping to convince him to join our thread also! He has hogs, if we had communicated more we would have just swapped!
My goose/duck coop looks so empty. About 30 pekin and 16 geese now, we have decreased waterfowl by 36 birds!
...........AND.........
[COLOR=FF0000] DAD COMES HOME SATURDAY  [/COLOR]
Bookmarked where I left off so I don't miss last few days posts. Am off to bed, long day. Nite guys!

[COLOR=006400] Conratulations on all the good news, especially about your Dad! Best wishes for his continued improvement! Post some pics of your new piglets when you get them.[/COLOR]

 

[pginsber]

Thankfully, our hens are still laying at full speed. We've had some larger than normal, torpedo-shaped eggs lately that won't fit into an egg carton. The large eggs are nice, but it's annoying to have loose eggs in the fridge. Anyway, I digress.
In two of these humongous eggs recently, I have seen a colored spot in the chalaza. What is this? Anybody know? I'm squeamish about stuff like this, so I just pick it out.
Is this indicative of some treatment I should be performing on this hen?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote: Actually, I prefer "birds of color" and don't own a single white chick. And really, now...you totally discriminated against the Swedish.

 

[pginsber]

The two foster puppies are doing great. They are 6 1/2 weeks old, and we've had them for 9 days. They're putting on weight, learning basic commands, and haven't had any #2 accidents in the house for 4 days. 4 more weeks until their forever home...hint, hint!
A little dose of puppy cuteness for your morning:

 

[Leahs Mom]

@Minminme
I said Northern IN just because I can't ship....

 

[pginsber]

Actually, I prefer "birds of color" and don't own a single white chick. And really, now...you totally discriminated against the Swedish.

Our flock is mostly colored birds. Their coloring blends into the surroundings. We have a Delaware and a white Silkie in with the other 8. The white birds are our indicator birds--meaning, we can't see the other birds from the house, but we are able to see the white ones. If we see the white ones, we know the movement of the other birds.

 

[Birdylady3]

Morning all

 

[chick rookie]

The two foster puppies are doing great. They are 6 1/2 weeks old, and we've had them for 9 days. They're putting on weight, learning basic commands, and haven't had any #2 accidents in the house for 4 days. 4 more weeks until their forever home...hint, hint!
A little dose of puppy cuteness for your morning:

They are soo cute!!!! I just want to pinch their little checks!!!

I get quite a few eggs with a spot like that. We eat them np. but I don't know what it's called or what causes it. sorry couldn't help.









Honey is standing right at this moment!!!! But head is still to her right and she is still breathing like in the video and sneezing ( if thats what that is ) I'm not getting my hopes up at all.

I have a broody BJG, this is only day 6 though. She has 8 eggs under her. Didn't even know BJG's went broody, and so young too she has only been laying for 4 weeks.