I live in Culver. A small town in Marshall county.
INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!
- Thread starter Chaneys Ranch
- Start date
I'm glad none of them have gone to jail lol! My girls are starting to get feathers back, some have molted, some need to!Gus and family are doing great. I got Jules an apron, she is molting, and looks cold. Cricket JR is non aggressive, is pretty good with his little group of hens already, he has around 7 EEs. Gus Jr stays with the BAs a lot, since Bruce is in jail 90% of the time. If I keep my hens, he gets all of them! He is a very nice roo, and doesn't have as big of comb, thanks to Jules. The lil black cochin mix roo is finally growing, has a wyandotte comb, and feathered legs. He acts more wyandotte, and is a bit timid.
DH wants LF Cochin but I am hesitating adding any more breeds. If I do it will be beilies or coronation sussex, I want a large heavy breed. I love the silkies but they are too aggressive to my OEGBs. I don't have enough breeding pens nowso breed sorting is just too much an issue. My Marans, Polish, NN/polish project have their own coops so far.
She seems okay. her comb is still a bit bluish, but much less wheezing and she is eating like a piggy. Her comb is a little cool to the touch, so she is def having circulation issues.
Speaking of aprons, Some of my girls still need them, but I ran out, so I tried something new. I bought one of those no sew fleece blankets, it's way cheaper to buy fleece that way, and experimented on a new apron today. I wanted something very simple that could be made without sewing in a pinch. I only used felt and snaps for this one. Ashes one of my silkie hens is a favorite for my silkie boys. I brought her in as a model to size them for the bantam girls. I had to do some adjusting on a few of them because my hens are different sizes. I found putting a little knot in the wing straps tightens them up a bit. Felt is nice since it stretches a bit. I have a feeling though that it may collect wood chips and hay. It also wants to flip up, so I may have to put some weight along the corners somehow. Anyway if you have bald hens and need something fast, here is the apron. I made 5 in about 10 minutes, so they are quick.
I saw these and thought they would make awesome chicken coops!
http://www.goodshomedesign.com/how-to-build-a-western-saloon-kids-fort/
http://www.goodshomedesign.com/diy-garden-shed-free-plan/
http://www.goodshomedesign.com/how-to-build-a-western-saloon-kids-fort/
http://www.goodshomedesign.com/diy-garden-shed-free-plan/
kittydoc
Songster
@ChickCrazed I definitely agree with you about the Wyandottes. We only have one left from our first (and last) group, and I will be glad when she's in the pot. Snotty and bullies. They are beautiful, but that is all. They're like the "mean girls" in middle school whose parents can afford the prettiest clothes, but that's all they have going for them. Bleh. Never again!
I would never get Jersey Giants again, for the opposite reason. They are too docile to have in a mixed flock, and are the recipients of lots of bullying even from smaller chickens. One of ours went nuts and turned into an egg eater because she was tired of being bullied (this is my theory). We only have one left, and last year we had to house her in the garage all winter because the other girls wouldn't let her into the henhouse. She nearly froze to death, because the rest of our coop is all hardware cloth and framing, so the only windbreak is the henhouse. If this winter is more normal (or mild, please!), she gets to live as long as she can take it living with the other girls. I am not having her live in the garage all winter again. She wasn't ill. She just won't stand up for herself.
I would never get Jersey Giants again, for the opposite reason. They are too docile to have in a mixed flock, and are the recipients of lots of bullying even from smaller chickens. One of ours went nuts and turned into an egg eater because she was tired of being bullied (this is my theory). We only have one left, and last year we had to house her in the garage all winter because the other girls wouldn't let her into the henhouse. She nearly froze to death, because the rest of our coop is all hardware cloth and framing, so the only windbreak is the henhouse. If this winter is more normal (or mild, please!), she gets to live as long as she can take it living with the other girls. I am not having her live in the garage all winter again. She wasn't ill. She just won't stand up for herself.
kittydoc
Songster
Question about hawk predation: Does anyone have aviary netting over their runs/chicken yards to prevent hawk predation, and has it worked? We lost a 3 year old Buff Orp a few days ago, and it was definitely a hawk. DH saw one flying low over the chicken yard when he went to let the girls out, so he didn't (at least not then). I just ordered a 50' x 50' section of netting that will more than cover our chicken yard, and it had really good reviews on Amazon.com (4.5/5). We also are moving our plastic owl out there.
This is our first predator loss in two years, so I guess we can't complain (much). I'm glad it wasn't a younger or more valuable hen, but it always sucks.
This is our first predator loss in two years, so I guess we can't complain (much). I'm glad it wasn't a younger or more valuable hen, but it always sucks.
They can't really get outside this year. I have plans to get them a community run built and a rotation schedule made up. I would also need a chicken tunnel for 3 of the runs and 4 chicken doors. I honestly think DH will complain more about the tunnel and the 4 chicken doors than building and covering a run that has a fence going through the woods, meaning clearing brush and all for the run. After last year, I'm a bit more OK with the chickens sitting inside for one winter season. We moved them in a bit early as we have weekend plans for the next 4 weekends and I knew it would not be a quick job. We still have stuff to rehome and other "junk" that DH is still attached to. Most of the stuff needs to go but is really hard to part with.
On that note, does anyone want to buy some white vinyl siding? I'll donate some roof vents for free. PM for details.
I have netting from Ebay over our 2 runs and on the top portion of the sides of our breeding pens. It is enough to deter the birds of prey but snow can be problematic. The net needs to be secure and tight. Our netting stretches over time as it gets wet or snow covered. Even after the snow is long gone the netting still was loose and needed tightening. My largest run is going to be a headache this coming winter.
We loose some every year when we free range. But the number taken is a very small percentage of the birds we raise. We have the owls and the radio for the free ranging area still there is only a small season of the year I feel ok free ranging and it is typically not my favorite birds.
I have way to many ducks. We have sold a few and processed one. If anyone is looking for Khaki ducks that started laying this September, message me for prices. I'm thinking that in about a month we will start processing the ducks.
- Thread starter
- #34,667
- Thread starter
- #34,668
Very busy week winterizing. Hope everyone is doing well! Goodnite guys
Yes, I am behind once again! I wish my life would settle down.
In my chicken world, I'm still morning the loss of Nene because it's just not the same without her crazy personality.
Last week, I had to make a quick trip to Indy. My last voice treatment didn't work, so they fit me in their schedule with only 24 hours notice. The treatment worked better this time, but my reason for even bringing this up is that while I was away, two of Bonbon's Black Bantam Cochin chicks disappeared (eggs from @ellymayRans ). It rained off and on all day last Wednesday--the day I left. That night, my DH locked the bantam cage where Bonbon and her chicks stay. He didn't count them because it was raining, and he assumed he'd hear chicks crying or Bonbon clucking if there was something wrong. He said that the next morning when he opened their coop, there were only three chicks. He looked everywhere around our property, but didn't even find any signs of them. The missing ones were the youngest two, and they often lagged behind. All five of her chicks were born on different days, so they've been different sizes. We can only assume it was a hawk since we've seen one around regularly for the past month. It's strange to have two missing, though, unless it swooped in twice. We've been lucky not to have lost any chickens from predators-- before this. It's just strange and so sad.
Poor babies. Of course, my DH was horrified that it happened on his watch, but I told him that I know from reading this thread that all kinds of things happen. Sometimes I've had difficulty counting the chicks since they're black, Bonbon is brown, it's dark, and they're underneath her.
Here are the remaining three chicks. They are 6 weeks old, but several days apart-- can anyone figure out what sex each one is? Besides this crummy photo, I have a crummy video, which may help: My Movie
In my chicken world, I'm still morning the loss of Nene because it's just not the same without her crazy personality.
Last week, I had to make a quick trip to Indy. My last voice treatment didn't work, so they fit me in their schedule with only 24 hours notice. The treatment worked better this time, but my reason for even bringing this up is that while I was away, two of Bonbon's Black Bantam Cochin chicks disappeared (eggs from @ellymayRans ). It rained off and on all day last Wednesday--the day I left. That night, my DH locked the bantam cage where Bonbon and her chicks stay. He didn't count them because it was raining, and he assumed he'd hear chicks crying or Bonbon clucking if there was something wrong. He said that the next morning when he opened their coop, there were only three chicks. He looked everywhere around our property, but didn't even find any signs of them. The missing ones were the youngest two, and they often lagged behind. All five of her chicks were born on different days, so they've been different sizes. We can only assume it was a hawk since we've seen one around regularly for the past month. It's strange to have two missing, though, unless it swooped in twice. We've been lucky not to have lost any chickens from predators-- before this. It's just strange and so sad.
Here are the remaining three chicks. They are 6 weeks old, but several days apart-- can anyone figure out what sex each one is? Besides this crummy photo, I have a crummy video, which may help: My Movie
- Thread starter
- #34,670
Yes, I am behind once again! I wish my life would settle down.
In my chicken world, I'm still morning the loss of Nene because it's just not the same without her crazy personality.
Last week, I had to make a quick trip to Indy. My last voice treatment didn't work, so they fit me in their schedule with only 24 hours notice. The treatment worked better this time, but my reason for even bringing this up is that while I was away, two of Bonbon's Black Bantam Cochin chicks disappeared (eggs from @ellymayRans ). It rained off and on all day last Wednesday--the day I left. That night, my DH locked the bantam cage where Bonbon and her chicks stay. He didn't count them because it was raining, and he assumed he'd hear chicks crying or Bonbon clucking if there was something wrong. He said that the next morning when he opened their coop, there were only three chicks. He looked everywhere around our property, but didn't even find any signs of them. The missing ones were the youngest two, and they often lagged behind. All five of her chicks were born on different days, so they've been different sizes. We can only assume it was a hawk since we've seen one around regularly for the past month. It's strange to have two missing, though, unless it swooped in twice. We've been lucky not to have lost any chickens from predators-- before this. It's just strange and so sad.Poor babies. Of course, my DH was horrified that it happened on his watch, but I told him that I know from reading this thread that all kinds of things happen. Sometimes I've had difficulty counting the chicks since they're black, Bonbon is brown, it's dark, and they're underneath her.
Here are the remaining three chicks. They are 6 weeks old, but several days apart-- can anyone figure out what sex each one is? Besides this crummy photo, I have a crummy video, which may help: My Movie
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