INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Chaneys Ranch]

Found last night! Not sure who laid them. I am guessing my BR and EE bc I think silkie eggs are supposed to be white, aren't they? Delicious for breakfast!

Haven't finished their nest boxes yet, hope to this weekend. With the exception of nailing down the roof on the run, we are otherwise DONE (for now) with the coop. My raised beds aren't working out. Dogs are trampling my herbs. Maybe next year.

My silkies lay whitish.. One girl has a slight tan color to her eggs.

Quote: Great pics! Watch his tail, the guinea cocks got so mean with Red my oldest rooster, they were breaking the skin, terrorizing him. I finally had to cut my guinea cocks down to 1:1 hen and roo, and the problems stopped.

 

[ellymayRans]

just loved the precious baby goat pics! I am on my 3rd year for pigs. Didn't think I would like them. I LOVE them! I treat mine like a pet, and they stay nice. Pet them, talk to them and socialize a LOT. I like them so much, I bought a boar piglet and gilts with our feeder "Bacon" for next year! I have a "large black" Boar, a "bjuebutt" gilt and yorkshire gilt. I really, really like my lil boar, he is a big baby so far. We are building a community farrowing house, and will begin breeding late winter. I tried to start with breeders last summer, and the group I had wound up being sickly. Wilbur was supposed to be a boar, and we later discovered he had been cut so we were taken on them.

It sure does! The silkies and the OEGB do not coexist well, so this was a very painful choice. My games were here first and I love them so much! It will reduce a lot of the stress in my Bantam flock over the winter. My scovies can also be housed with them, and I can provide heat safely for both groups in the building if the temps get too low for them. the games and millies prefer being on branches and perches, and the scovies perch also. Males prefer not to, too FAT!

I noticed looking at my scovies, they are really plumping up this fall. Wondering if they want to be warmer for this winter too! With all the rain last week, they were gobbling the worms up all over the yard, too funny.

Jchny2000 I've been more curious of your ovation comment regarding the Whites and they aren't less hardy than the IB's as they are simply a mutation of the India Blue. Sooo no worries there!
Speaking of them. .I moved my new babies into a brooder and they are so easy to handle and are much calmer than even young chicks. Very happy about that!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: Fantastic POST!!!!! This is a great idea, DH is still a kid at heart and has those things all over the place. We reload shells, so the cost is reduced some, but this sounds more fun anyways! And I am always worried someones gonna think I am trying to shoot the bird and report me..

Quote:

Just absolutely adorable! I am really interested in Lamancha, and toddenburg. DH loves homemade ice cream. May find a Brown swiss heifer soon, and not need them tho.

Im so excited I may pee my pants!!!

I have paint and splash silkie eggs coming from an awesome breeder!!!! I can't wait for Monday!!!!!


Oh and just to add from my previous post, It wasn't so much I didn't know what chickens I have as I know them all individually and I would definitely notice if one came up missing, I just have so many I never sat and actually counted them LOL!

sending hatching vibes NOW! How exciting!!!!
Its the same for me, I know every face. I just never really counted since so many come and go every week.

Quote:

Quote: Its really hard. My GLWs were my first laying chickens. If I didn't know this family very well, they would not be going! Red, Betsy and Spike are 3 in march. Thats getting harder for Red to stay top rooster, and I want the 3 of them to be happy. This weekend will be a long one with them leaving, I expect roo fights once they realize he is gone. Its going to be painful see them go. My newly added flock members will join tomorrow morning with this flock transition. I penned my 3 GLWS and my potential trouble makers tonight after dark.. The newly added birds are placed on the perches..

I will be out at dawn to watch for problems.

 

[ellymayRans]

quote name="Mother2Hens" url="/t/730582/indiana-bycers-here/33830#post_14143316"][COLOR=8B4513]Hello everyone! I had to leave the thread "cold turkey" for a week or so because I was swamped with work and family events. I am looking forward to catching up. [/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]My chicken news update is that Bonbon, my Bantam Chocolate Orp is still mothering the five Bantam Black Cochin chicks from @ellymayRans . Mother and babies are adorable. [/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]Last weekend, we made another hectic trip through Bloomington to Indy and back in order to visit both DDs. I brought Bonbon's first hatch (3 OEGBs and 1 Belgian Mille Fleur roo) to @jchny2000 where the eggs originated. I had hoped to keep the amazing looking Mille Fleur roo, but his crow was too loud and drove my DH and I crazy! We live in a subdivision, and like hearing a crow from a distance-- like in a farm setting![/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]My Blue Splash Silkie, Ditzy, (from [/COLOR]@bradselig [COLOR=8B4513]) had been broody, so jchny/Janet gave me three mystery eggs-- maybe Silkies or Silkie mixes or even a Naked Neck! I figured if Ditzy was going to be broody, I might as well give her something to sit on. At first, I thought she might be too ditzy to lay on them properly since I kept seeing one sticking out, but then she got the hang of it. She's very serious now. She's been in a nesting box in the big coop where surprisingly the others haven't bothered her. When I moved the four chickens (that went to Janet's) out of the bantam coop, Bonbon moved her five babies into that coop, which left a small former rabbit hutch coop. I'm planning on moving Ditzy to that one tomorrow.[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]Coincidentally, my real kids (all in their 20s) have been moving and settling in new places, so it's been a hectic start of autumn.[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]Hope everyone has been doing well, and I can't wait to catch up on the chicken news![/COLOR] I'm so glad to hear that the wee ones have such a good mommy! Pics pics! ! We need pics! My first hatching today of the bantam Cochin ..3 more to go for my little sister. Well she's 19 so not so little. .but you get it!

[COLOR=8B4513]We spotted this limo in the Indy area:[/COLOR] [/quote]

 

[Minminme]

If Leah's Mom is able to arrange things on her end I may be headed to Richmond In a week from Tuesday to deliver her a bird from VA. I'd like to take home a couple girls with me. Does anyone have a couple Cochin, Orpington or Marans pullets they need to rehome? Please.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Two exciting things for the day! First, I reached down to pet Kit-kit, my young Silver Gray Dorking, and she squatted for the first time!!

She's only about 18 1/2 weeks old, and Dorkings are supposed to be slow to mature!




And second, we've finally started working on the duck coop!!

We've finished the floor thus far, so there's not much to see, but we've got the lumber for the rest of it and will be working on it today!

So exciting! The squat tells me she is laying or close! Love what you have laid out on the duck house so far.
know you will have lots of pix

Just wanted to pass along that there is a small animal swap at the Orchlens in Tell City tomorrow from 9am-12pm. No charge to bring stuff to sell. I'm going to be looking for those silkies. I got 2 black ones last time along with my cochins.

My son Roger lives there, its a small town, look up tell city on google. Love the community, its very old town and amicable. Folks are very sweet and laid back, love to visit.

Quote:

they are laying congrats! Such a good feeling!

I'm trying to get a few more turkeys from porters. They would come next May - June. But they need to be paid for when the order is placed.
Anyone interested in joining in to help meet the 15 baby turkey minimum. Porters is straight run but Heritage turkeys.
http://www.porterturkeys.com/

I am definitely in, the quality and hardiness of these birds are unmatched. There are "IT" if you want a good quality heritage turkey! My mature bourbons are porters, and I have 3 hens I will give my guy in the spring. My breeder for my mature pair told me, "Porters birds of course" when I asked where the line was from.
They are large, healthy stunning birds.

Well, I think we're done for the day.

It doesn't look like much, but getting the foundation even was killer! So we have a pretty new duck coop floor!

Here is the floor plan:




This is the front, where the human door and one window will be:




The side with the other window:




This is approximately how big the duck yard will be:




The rest of the yard. The dimensions of the duck yard are roughly 15 x 35 feet:




Zoomed in from the last picture, this is where little Wibbles was buried. It's hard to see past that branch in the middle of the picture, though.

Anyway, that cage on the right is about where the corner of the pen will be. I plan on planting a white lilac here in remembrance, and will have it fenced off for a year or two to let it get a good start before the ducks try to destroy it. Then, hopefully, they'll have a nice shady bush to sit under in the summertime and the duck yard won't look too barren.

We're on our way!

I love your plan, excited for what you have done!!!! Watching for updates

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I got pictures of my broody Cochin, Jewel, while she was off her nest.

She tries really hard to sneak out when I am not around so I can worry about her. It has been colder here until today and it warmed up a little so she was glad to take her time and have a dust bath. She is so nasty to the rest of the flock when she is broody. Attacking anyone who comes near. She did get me today when I checked to make sure no other hens laid in there, she normally lets me check. She has not been letting them lay in there but I would hate to have a surprise chick that has to go in the incubator. I guess I would be quite nasty if I sat in a box all day and only got out once a day to eat, drink, and hopefully have time to bathe.

Oh love her! She is being a very good broody mom, don't worry. Hens that are aggressive will ensure the babies are safe from the flock until they mature.

I recently became the owner of a lavender orpington. My question are as broody as the buffs? I was looking for a hen that will raise me some chicks next year.

Can be, yes! Good layers and probably my favorite breed. Both my girls are very good moms.

Hello everyone! I had to leave the thread "cold turkey" for a week or so because I was swamped with work and family events. I am looking forward to catching up.
My chicken news update is that Bonbon, my Bantam Chocolate Orp is still mothering the five Bantam Black Cochin chicks from @ellymayRans . Mother and babies are adorable.
Last weekend, we made another hectic trip through Bloomington to Indy and back in order to visit both DDs. I brought Bonbon's first hatch (3 OEGBs and 1 Belgian Mille Fleur roo) to @jchny2000 where the eggs originated. I had hoped to keep the amazing looking Mille Fleur roo, but his crow was too loud and drove my DH and I crazy! We live in a subdivision, and like hearing a crow from a distance-- like in a farm setting!

My Blue Splash Silkie, Ditzy, (from @bradselig ) had been broody, so jchny/Janet gave me three mystery eggs-- maybe Silkies or Silkie mixes or even a Naked Neck! I figured if Ditzy was going to be broody, I might as well give her something to sit on. At first, I thought she might be too ditzy to lay on them properly since I kept seeing one sticking out, but then she got the hang of it. She's very serious now. She's been in a nesting box in the big coop where surprisingly the others haven't bothered her. When I moved the four chickens (that went to Janet's) out of the bantam coop, Bonbon moved her five babies into that coop, which left a small former rabbit hutch coop. I'm planning on moving Ditzy to that one tomorrow.

Coincidentally, my real kids (all in their 20s) have been moving and settling in new places, so it's been a hectic start of autumn.

Hope everyone has been doing well, and I can't wait to catch up on the chicken news!

We spotted this limo in the Indy area:

OMG I want that limo! Good to see you post! And glad to hear the girls are becoming independent women, so very important to know yourself first.
Our babies are well and happy. Harry JR has his new coop with victoria and diana, The millie fella has 2 hens he is very happy to meet. Our other 2 girls decided they also like the gorgeous millie roo, but we are not hatching anymore this year lol! They settled in well.
Was very glad to see you,

Am excited for your girls. How is Lauren doing?

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: Its been more my personal experience and from threads on BYC, I have had 2 whites and lost both within hours of arriving here. Love them, just breath taking birds when you see them! I realize the genetic connection and that's what upset me more. Same with pied. Have had and lost 2 within hours. I need a better breeder to find a more hardy line! It may also be the transport time... My IBs did very well and its the color I wanted. I wont be as generous with my next group.
The main issue was my dad's surgery and being here to socialize. My peas were feeling abandoned and bored so they found another home with my neighbor.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

If Leah's Mom is able to arrange things on her end I may be headed to Richmond In a week from Tuesday to deliver her a bird from VA. I'd like to take home a couple girls with me. Does anyone have a couple Cochin, Orpington or Marans pullets they need to rehome? Please.

I have a maran hen I may rehome. She is a black, well feathered legs, currently in molt. will pm tomorrow off to bed

 

[chick rookie]

Your billy is Handsome. The twins are half Nubian. Mom has gopher ears, the twins both have elf ears. I am not sure if she is mixed here is pics of just mom.




What do you think, is she mixed?

Her milk is great and she is the sweetest girl ever, so I am asking more for learning then anything.

Thanks Shadow is a peach... and his name fits him, he follows DH around like a puppy... lol
Just going by color and face markings now that I can see her better maybe Togg but with out the wattles Toggs have. The whit around the ears, the white legs and the face markings to me point to togg here is a pic of some of my Togg's for you to look at and compare.

The 2nd pic is one of my Alpine does with her Togg cross kids. As you can see the whit around the ears and on the legs seems to always come through no matter what a Togg is crossed with and also the face markings, I have crossed alot of different breeds to try and get my personal best milk, and I ended up with a LaMancha/Alpine cross as my favorite. The taste is great , great for making cheese and soap too.

You have a beautiful Doe and a good cross IMO.