INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Leahs Mom]

@atrueb00

:/

Selling a house is a huge undertaking (at least it would be for me). Are you able to move before the house is sold?

How did you come to be in Northern IN when your family is down south?

 

[atrueb00]

@atrueb00

:/

Selling a house is a huge undertaking (at least it would be for me). Are you able to move before the house is sold?

How did you come to be in Northern IN when your family is down south?

Thank you @racinchickins , @leslea , @Leahs Mom ! Your kind, supportive words are much appreciated. I can either move in with family, rent the house before it sells and get a rental myself, or just sit and wait for it to sell. I am leaning towards waiting for up to 6 weeks, then I am going to re-evaluate options. I don't want to be away from my chickens that long! But also don't want to pay a mortgage and rent each month, I also know being a landlord is challenging. I have to get a quit claim deed finalized on my house before I can sell it-bought it with an ex-boyfriend in 2005. He already signed it and was paid, but I didn't get it notarized.

So that is going to take a while before I can even put the house up for sale.

My dad is from TH, he grew up there and after college he got a job up here. My mom's family is all from northern Indiana but most have either died or moved really far away (Boston/Sarasota). My parents spend the winter in Florida too, so it just doesn't make sense for me to stay here when I have over 30 close relatives in TH. I currently travel there about once a month to visit.

 

[racinchickins]

Quote: Agreed. I have 20 acres and my hundred(ish) birds don't free range over more than 2.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

I have a free bantam black Ameraucana rooster if anyone is interested

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

This has been a very tough week for me. Last Friday, I got a letter from the city saying I needed to remove the chickens from my property by November 9. Someone supposedly complained about the chickens and honeybees. I don't really believe this. All of my adjacent neighbors love my chickens. They come and visit them every week. They bring their kids and grand kids over to walk around the garden, play with the chickens, watch the bees work and help "on the farm". They also get free eggs and honey. The letter says I need 10 acres to have chickens. They included the ordinance they are citing, and when I read the ordinance, it actually says I need 0.2 acres for chickens. I actually own 0.33 acres and personally called the mayor's office and 2 different departments to make sure chickens were legal in city limits before buying them.

Sadly, I am not going to fight this. Instead, I am going to re-locate my chickens to my cousin's farm in Terre Haute this weekend. He has graciously offered to let me keep the chickens on his land indefinitely.

So why I am I not going to fight this? Because I am taking a page from Atlas Shrugged and leaving this place. I am getting everything in order to sell my house and move out of this place asap. I am taking my tax dollars with me and going to move out into the country, hopefully closer to my family in Terre Haute. I wanted to move anyways, but I am not going to wait until next year anymore.

Apparently, there are currently no ordinances banning beekeeping within city limits, so I don't have to move them right away. However, I have heard rumors that they are going to ban bees in town soon too. The town I live in is so backwards. As cities across the US, including Indianapolis, Chicago and even New York City, are passing laws to protect backyard beekeepers and chicken keepers, my tiny city is moving towards an outright ban.

I was so sad to read this! Can't say I blame you one bit. I think we all hate the thought of moving. It sounds like a win/win all around with that going on! Looking at your gorgeous flock and coop, i cannot believe anyone could have complained! There seems to be a rash of this ordinance changes, rezoning and so many other things going on making it difficult to keep our poultry, livestock etc. We went through it here about 2 years ago. Fortunately we are still zoned ag, but they are really strict on unit per acre animal laws now.

@jchny2000 Yes my girls are 13 eggs total, but Im sure some won't develop. As far as transitioning goes, these may be in the house a few months. Normally I put them with the flock at 8 weeks or so. I usually wait for a freak warm winter day to put them with the flock, but we didnt get one of those last year. Lol this year is in the air as far as planning goes. I didnt really want to hatch this late in the year, but since I want to breed paints, if I waited until spring to start it would take forever to get breeding going. I like winter for grow out time, that way they are breeding age by spring.

I think this year has me burned out keeping up with my birds and everything with Dad. I am going to let that poor incubator rest, and take a step back to figure out what breeds I want to work with.

I give our girls Kale almost daily and they make the cutest noises! Maude is the Barred Rock in front, she is my best friend and has to get as close to me as possible when I'm in the run. Thought you folks would enjoy their morning snack.

This was adorable! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Well, I don't have any adult birds yet, but so far, the cream legbars are really a heart stealer. I have babies that are about 2 months old now, 2 pullet and 2 cockerel. I have a slightly older pullet also. Very pleased with how friendly and outgoing they are. Mine are hatched eggs from Trey in Corydon. One girl is crested, and one boy. Looking forward to watching them grow. What little sweethearts! This is my 2nd try on them, and this group is very lively and thriving.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

https://www.google.com/search?q=tol...:official&q=indiana+poultry+ordinance+changes
Indiana is sure adding a lot of ordinance changes, seems to be a slow motion thing that's snow balling now. Its got me concerned as to why? I did a quick search.
Once you start looking its kind of scary. Am reading all I can to understand more of whats happening. I know several of our members went to the board meeting this summer for Marion co., I missed with Dads surgery and recovery.
Everyone, please keep posting whats happening if your ordinance changes. or if there is proposed change too There's enough of us to make a difference. Special thanks to @racinchickins @LonelyPageTurne and @pginsber when I started reading back through the posts for Indy. Those of us that's already been through it its very unclear. If you are paying taxes you sure have the right to state your opinions! Make them hear you, politely of course. If you are there, and go to the meetings, it wakes them up that folks aren't happy. Its very upsetting that the local government can't understand folks want to be self sufficient.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Everyone must be taking a 3 day vacation! I've never seen no posts this late in the day before.....

Thanks for pointing that out, @jchny2000 It is very frustrating that folks can't use their land as they see fit. I think people are afraid of loud sounds and stink. If using "natural" husbandry methods it makes all the difference in the world on the lack of stink and healthy soil, etc. Reading Joel Salatin's books really helped me see that as animal owners our responsibility is to try to provide them with a situation that emulates what they'd do in nature to the best of our ability. It just makes for more healthy animals and environment.

For example, practices as simple as dividing a pasture (no matter how small and how few animals) so that the animals can be rotated through, moving them to new ground in short order (daily or weekly, etc.) so the whole pasture gets the chance to be grazed evenly and then rested in small chunks emulates how animals in the wild graze, then move to a new area. This is such a simple - and easy to do - husbandry practice that helps fertility and animal health.

I remember him saying that if you can smell manure then there is something wrong with the system.

Pretty profound, but I'm finding that to be true on a small scale, at least, with the chickens. And I think I could accomplish that with larger animals as well if the pastures are divided and rotated. Such a simple, healthy fix. And the divisions are accomplished with very inexpensive fiberglass posts and a string or 2 of electric wire.

You don't ever go walking around out in the woods and smell animal droppings or a strong stench from an area that is over-grazed. They move to another place and keep grazing, then rotate back through after things have a chance to re-grow. And on their way, they fertilize if for the future growth and health of the land. No added human input needed

Okay...I guess I was on a soapbox again.

 

[dogwoodlaine]

One more time....
I know this has been covered time and time again, but....
Based on current So. Indiana conditions, when can the babies go outside without supplemental heat. I know it has alot to do with feathering. Mine will be 5 weeks old on Monday, October 20th. They are almost fully feathered, two strips of pin feathers down the chest and almost all the fuzz gone from their heads. It has been low to mid 50's at night (sometimes a little colder). I have them on an enclosed back porch. I've already had to split them up and double the brooder space. They can stay on the porch, pretty much how ever long I want, but my fil is chomping at the bit to take his portion home.

 

[atrueb00]

@jchny2000 & @Leahs Mom It is really amazing how chickens are misunderstood. Thank you so much for your understanding and support.

The chicks and chickens are settling in. @chick rookie was gracious enough to take all 4 of my Mille Fleurs and even 2 of my silkie pullets. I am so happy they are going to a good home and going to be very spoiled chickens. All my chickens are settling into their new homes.



My cousin recently lost some peacocks and turkeys. They died suddenly; would be healthy when he would check on him and the next day dead. None of the chickens have been affected. The ground has been dry, they don't have bloody stools, they aren't exhibiting signs of respiratory disease. He has ivermectin and cordid available, he hasn't treated them with either so far. He wanted me to ask if anyone would have advice on what could be happening, what to look for and possible treatment options. At this point, we aren't ruling out genetics as a possibly cause.

Lastly, I am on my way to Dinky's with my family and will be wearing my BYC T-Shirt. Hope to see some of you there, I know the Lebanon show is this weekend too but we are going to the Bridge Fest tomorrow.