INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Mother2Hens]

Do you think maybe she gave up on the eggs because she could sense they weren't developing, or did you candle to check? Some girls just aren't meant to be mamas. It's a good idea to get an incubator just in case--as long as you're ready to take care of the babies if that happens!

@pipdzipdnreadytogo
Yesterday, when it sunk in that Ditzy had definitely abandoned the eggs, I didn't want to candle them and find out they were alive since there wasn't anything I could do. Even if I would have gone and bought an incubator, by the time I made the trip and read the directions, it probably would have been too late. From my searches, it's hard to tell how long they last without a hen sitting on them. Of course, there are variables like the weather. I don't know how long she had been off. It was strange, though, just like a light switch turned off and Ditzy was done. And she laid an egg today! She wasted no time getting right back in her routine. I did check the calendar again, and I had posted that she sat on the eggs for 13 days, but it was actually 11 days.

So tonight, around midnight all by myself, I candled the eggs, but couldn't really tell much. I decided it was my duty to crack them open to look for clues. I put on latex gloves and got a disposable plastic container and went outside in case they were rotten (I've read too many exploding egg stories!) I was relieved that I couldn't tell they were chicks. In comparing them to this chart, they were underdeveloped. One looked more like Day 6 and the other two looked more like Day 9. I could see eyes on all three, but they were mostly yolk. I'm guessing that Ditzy didn't know what she was doing at first because I'd often see a stray egg out to her side. Then, she seemed to really get serious and make sure she had them tucked underneath, but I guess they just had a bad start. They were three Silkie/Silkie mix eggs from @jchny2000 .

 

[Mother2Hens]

my helper went with me to TSC today . . . . . . although he'd be more helpful if he offered to pay for the supplies once in a while, instead of sticking me with the bill every time (LOL) :

How cute! My DDs would go crazy over him!
Congrats on your 10th anniversary! We just celebrated our 36th, and we dated four years before that. Waited eight years after we were married to have kids. Geez, I must be old!

Originally Posted by SallyinIndiana
Also there are 2 rabbit hutch styled chicken coops for sale in Bargersville. The sign said $50. They were on the North side of 144 around the 4300-4700 area. I think it was $50 for both of them. They would make great brooders or isolation pens. I thought about getting them but our car was full and I'm sure they need a good cleaning to be bio-safe.

Thanks for sharing your tip! I recently converted our old rabbit hutch out of necessity when I needed more brooder space. It looks like the one pictured below. Since the wire was too large to be safe, I just added smaller sized hardware cloth to the outside of the cage, so it made two layers of wire. I initially used U-shaped galvanized staples to attach the new layers, but the wood was so hard that I finished the job using an electric staple gun. Afterwards, I went over them with a hammer to make sure they wouldn't fall out and cause hardware death! I put latches to lock the top and put a tarp over the top to keep rain off. For brooder privacy, I'd hang a beach towel over a side or part of the front depending on the weather. It's very handy to have an extra coop for brooding or quarantining.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

You might want to check this out. http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/california-teens-arrested-in-920-chicken-deaths/ar-BB70GBn

What is our society coming to?

This was just sickening to read. Makes you wonder why the kids got to that point? Horribly sad.

Quote: I have a really interesting video on my facebook page, its a digital creation of development of an embryo.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=583187868439897

hope its viewable.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

You might want to check this out.  http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/california-teens-arrested-in-920-chicken-deaths/ar-BB70GBn

What is our society coming to?

That is just sad an sick

 

[racinchickins]

I love the cochins both LF and bantam. Will always have a cochin. I am also loving the brahmas. Maybe it's just the asiatic breeds that are awesome

My two Brahma hens are some of my favorites. In my original batch of chickens I got when I started, there were 5 Cochins. Every one of them turned out to be a rooster. I didn't end up keeping them because I had waaayyyy to many boys at the time. Hmmmm, I still have that problem.....

So who all else raises coturnix quail? I am considering closing down my stock til spring. I am asking now in case I do, so I have someone to pester about eggs around march or so

That being said, I am also offering birds before we process them. I have 5 week olds and about 16 adults.

I'm actually planning on doing the same and was hoping to get them from you if I started up again.....

 

[racinchickins]

If anyone is interested in Turkeys, some of us are trying to put together an order from Porters. We are two birds short of the minimum necessary to order. He has fantastic turkeys. If you've never owned some, you should try it. I've found they have such interesting personalities and are much more inquisitive than my chickens.

Plus, then you get to have this in your yard:






If you are interested, let me or @SallyinIndiana know.

 

[pginsber]

I have a really interesting video on my facebook page, its a digital creation of development of an embryo.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=583187868439897

hope its viewable.

That was a great video--thanks for sharing!

 

[pginsber]

If anyone is interested in Turkeys, some of us are trying to put together an order from Porters. We are two birds short of the minimum necessary to order. He has fantastic turkeys. If you've never owned some, you should try it. I've found they have such interesting personalities and are much more inquisitive than my chickens.

Plus, then you get to have this in your yard:






If you are interested, let me or @SallyinIndiana know.

Do you raise your turkeys for harvesting?

 

[racinchickins]

Quote: I do. I also sell eggs and poults in the spring and summer. Last year was the first time we had one of my birds for Thanksgiving. My MIL called it the 'Best turkey she'd ever had'. And if you've ever met her, that was a big compliment. Because whatever is in her mind is what she says. She lost her inside voice years ago.

 

[chickiebaby1]

I love to hear the sound of a roosters first try at crowing.

This morning while I was feeding everyone my little silkie rooster Olaf gave it his best effort, a bit squeaky, but I'm sure it will get better. Also my little bantam cochin rooster ChaChi was giving it his all. I just love young bantam rooster crows they are soo cute.

On a kind of sad note, I think I am going to have to start separating all the boys. It seems like just this week there has been more chasing/fighting than normal. On Tuesday I had to actually put Cinder, my big easter egger roo in a cage of his own and things seemed to calm down. But this morning I noticed that Elliot ( the one Cinder had been fighting with) was starting to give chase to the other 2 boys. I guess I am going to have to put each one in their own pen for the winter. I had been hoping to keep them all together to keep each other warm, but I would rather they not kill each other.Luckily I have enough pens, just going to have to do a few improvements now.

I also put 18 eggs in the incubator on Wed. 6 silkie eggs, 6 silver laced wyandotts, and 6 white leg horns. I'm really hoping they do ok. I've never incubated in the fall. I'm kinda excited about the silkie eggs because Scarlett (my white hen) had been with a new mate (my black roo) Sparks for awhile. Does anyone know what I might get out of that pairing? I would love to get some paints or splashes, but I didn't know what you had to put together to get that.

Hope everyone has a great day.