INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Mother2Hens]

@ellymayRans ~ You PMd me that you thought your reply was lost, but it looks like it combined with the end of mine. Bummer that I don't have any frizzles, but the chicks are especially adorable.

@amwchickin ~ Sorry to hear about the predator attacks! Hope you find pullets from some of our members.

@chick rookie ~ Loved your goat photos and the funny story about your LaMancha "dog."

@iamfivewire ~ Glad that your cockerel turned out to be alive!

@kabhyper1 ~ Congrats on your beautiful new Silkies! You needed some more -lol- I guess you actually did if you needed new blood for breeding. Let us know how they integrate. My two from @bradselig haven't gotten along for a while now. My blue one, Smalty, became increasingly annoyed that my blue splash, Ditzy, always wanted to nestle under her at bedtime as though Smalty was her mother. Finally Smalty started pecking her away and making a big fuss. She was happy when Ditzy was broody. Tonight, since Ditzy abandoned her eggs today, she wanted to nestle under Smalty, but Smalty wouldn't allow her to come near. I guess it's kind of unusual only having two Silkies since they typically prefer to sleep in a pile. I have a pipe insulator that's similar to memory foam that I attached to the rim of the poop tray (cleaned daily). It makes a nice Silkie sized perch.

@Faraday40 ~ For almost a year now, I've wanted at least one Bantam or LF Cochin because of all the members who've raved about how sweet they are. I admit that at first their feathery legs seemed strange. They're often compared to Chewbacca's! I've only had chickens for two and a half years, and at the beginning, I just liked classic looking chickens. As @leslea noted, Barred Rocks look like a chicken-lol- and I love my BR. Slowly, but surely, through "exposure therapy" -- photos provided by this thread-- haha -- I added big, fluffy Imported English Orps, funny little Silkies, and now Cochins with feathery boots. Before my Silkie abandoned her hatching eggs today, I was even excited at the possibility that one might be a Naked Neck!

 

[Mother2Hens]

@Campine @wabashchickens @Kassafrass @tiffmw10 @sunflour @Acornewell and to any others I've accidentally left out . . .

Welcome to the Indiana Thread!!

Please read the information below about our great Indiana Thread.

(This information can also be found on this link that one of our talented members, @atrueb00 is working on updating/streamlining: Indiana BYC'ers Members, Events, & Links )




About the Indiana Thread
To participate on the Indiana Thread, we ask that you follow byc.com’s rules for family-friendly posts. We welcome members of all ages. Our thread is the most active state thread consistently on BYC because our members are supportive, respectful of each other’s opinions, interesting, and fun! We even have Honorary Hoosier members from other states who’ve joined us.

The BYC Indiana Thread is a diverse group of fantastic members who range from newbies to experienced chicken owners, those who raise chickens for healthful food, and others who enjoy chickens as pets. And we love photos! Posts are not limited to the topic of chickens—we have several members with livestock, bees, and gardens (among other things). There is no such thing as a “dumb” question! Whatever your questions may be, we likely have members who can help you.

If you have any questions about this thread, please PM @jchny2000 (Janet) who is the founder (thread starter) of this group.

Indiana BYC Members’ List
Check out our members on the INDIANA BYC Members' List. “Being a member of this thread” just means adding your screen name and flock info, which can be helpful because the list is a spreadsheet format that lets you sort the list by breed, county, or other category. It’s an easy way to find other members who have the same breed you have or who live in a nearby county, etc. If you’d like to be added, send a PM (personal message) to @Mother2Hens (Julie) or @bradselig (Brad). A personal message ensures that your info is added. Please send your screen name, county, and city. Also include info about each member of your flock: List each species (chicken, duck, etc.), breed (Barred Rock, Blue Cochin, etc.), is it a LF (Large Fowl) or Bantam? If you breed, please include information.

Avatars with Indiana County Map
If anyone would like an Indiana map with your county highlighted to add to your avatar or an avatar created with your county and a chicken, please PM @Mother2Hens (Julie). While reading members’ posts, it’s helpful to glance at their avatars to see what part of the state they’re from. These avatars are not required—they are a free service if you’re interested. Seasonal avatar updates are also free of charge.

Indiana BYC Topics/Links Page
Indiana thread members share their unique experiences and favorite links on a variety of topics including chicken health, coop building (keeping in mind Indiana weather and area predators), raising other livestock, beekeeping and much more! Indiana BYC'ers Members, Events, & Links If you‘d like to submit information, please PM @atrueb00 (Amy).

Indiana BYC Google Calendar
Poultry Shows and Swap/Auctions are listed. Watch for announcements about Chickenfest 2015! If you know of an event to add, please PM @atrueb00 (Amy).

BYC Indiana Google Map
@CluckAcres (Curtis) set up a map to mark locations of feed stores and chicken swaps/auctions. Members, if they wish, may mark their county locations. If you’d like help adding a location, please see the Topics/Links page for instructions or PM @atrueb00 (Amy).

 

[leslea]

DH wants more silkies when we need chicks again. I think I would like to try cochins, too. Only sweet birds for us, please!

Still waiting for someone to show interest in Otis.

I wasn't sure how I would feel about getting rid of him, when and if the time came. Now that it has, I am relieved to feel detached.

We cried so hard over that BR chick we lost, I was afraid I would not be able to deal...but, nope. Mean bird poses no problem for Mama Bear here to get rid of (other than actually getting someone to take him).

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

There's a lot of people talking about their great love for cochins.   What makes them so loveable?  Never had one, so I honestly don't know.  The feathered legs give me pause.  I imagine the leg feathers would get all torn-up & caked with mud.  Does that happen & if so, how bad does it get?  Do other hens try to peck at the leg feathers?

I have LF and bantam Cochins. My LF are great, I like them just as much as any of my other random chickens (ones that I have just because they catch my eye). But I love my bantams. I have mottleds and they are just too pretty and cute. They have an extremely calm personality. Right now I have a bantam Cochin rooster in with 5 Ameraucana cockerels and no one ever fights. They are also very polite in the fact tht they care more about their hens then their selves. They can get miss on tier feet, but I normally don't have much trouble with it. I have never had Cochins pluck each other's feathers. I do have a pair of bantam favorolles and the hen has plucked the roosters beard, some of his feet feathers, an some back feathers. And she isn mean either, she plucks him and he doesn't care

 

[PeacefulWalls]

This just killed my image of her, ROFL so my black maran lays a black egg

at least she tried

Oh -- and don't forget easter eggers -- they're actually blue & green birds that match their eggs under all those other colored feathers! Now just waiting for lavender & lemon cuckoo colored eggs to appear

 

[ChickCrazed]

There's a lot of people talking about their great love for cochins. What makes them so loveable? Never had one, so I honestly don't know. The feathered legs give me pause. I imagine the leg feathers would get all torn-up & caked with mud. Does that happen & if so, how bad does it get? Do other hens try to peck at the leg feathers?

Much like everyone here said, they are super friendly and gentle giant floofballs. I became obsessed with them shortly after starting into chickens and bought a black "pair" at the Lebanon show last year. Turns out I got snowed and brought home two cockerels. Even being cockerels they were so super sweet and fun. They were easy to pick up and handle and followed me around everywhere making wookie noises. It is hilarious to watch them run with their pants. They kind of gallop like horses. They are just a lot of fun. I had to rehome my two boys because I didn't have enough girls at the time and they were getting run ragged. One of them, Chewie lives with AMWChikin now and you will see him pop up on here occasionally. He is freaking awesome and she is so lucky to have him!

I've wanted to get a cochin pullet or two ever since I had to rehome my boys, maybe next year will be my year.

 

[ChickCrazed]

DH wants more silkies when we need chicks again. I think I would like to try cochins, too. Only sweet birds for us, please!

Still waiting for someone to show interest in Otis.

I wasn't sure how I would feel about getting rid of him, when and if the time came. Now that it has, I am relieved to feel detached.

We cried so hard over that BR chick we lost, I was afraid I would not be able to deal...but, nope. Mean bird poses no problem for Mama Bear here to get rid of (other than actually getting someone to take him).

Unfortunately since he is bantam I would assume many think he isn't worth the time and effort to process and it might take some time. Have you posted him on Craigslist? You obviously need to be careful about where he goes since he would be attractive to a fighter but it is a larger audience. There are also some facebook groups like central indiana poultry lovers. You might try some of those.

 

[leslea]

Unfortunately since he is bantam I would assume many think he isn't worth the time and effort to process and it might take some time. Have you posted him on Craigslist? You obviously need to be careful about where he goes since he would be attractive to a fighter but it is a larger audience. There are also some facebook groups like central indiana poultry lovers. You might try some of those.

He's on CL as of last night. I hadn't thought about the fighting thing.

I wonder if I am too far away from Central Indiana to have any takers. I am as south as south gets.

 

[ChickCrazed]

He's on CL as of last night. I hadn't thought about the fighting thing.

I wonder if I am too far away from Central Indiana to have any takers. I am as south as south gets.

Maybe emphasize to anyone interested that he is not at all aggressive to your MANY other roosters, he is only a man-eater. LOL. It should weed out the creepers.

 

[Rhandi74]

There's a lot of people talking about their great love for cochins.   What makes them so loveable?  Never had one, so I honestly don't know.  The feathered legs give me pause.  I imagine the leg feathers would get all torn-up & caked with mud.  Does that happen & if so, how bad does it get?  Do other hens try to peck at the leg feathers?

Cochins so far are my favorite breed. We started with chickens this year on a whim when TSC had chick days. We got 8 asst. pullets and had to have the bantams because they were so cute. Well we fell in love with the one chick with fluffy feet and had to go back and get 6 more. Many cockerels were rehomed but we still have Panther who actually melts into your hand when you pick her up and Smokey who is not overly people friendly but such an amazing guy with all the other chickens. We were hooked and had to have LF Cochins because we really wanted bigger chickens. My LF's are not as friendly as my bantams but none were raised as chicks by me . They allow me to pick them up and are nice unless they are broody. I have had a nasty feather footed chicks never from mud but they took care of the mud once it dried. There was not torn up feathers from the mud. No pecking problems here with other chickens.