INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

For now I just want to know what to look out for & if some of mine (having the same father) would be at risk. This month, I have all kinds of construction debris around. I would think that my flock would be at a higher risk right now because they're all over the place & not contained. (Technically, they're locked up right now because of a visiting hawk eyeing my coop, but they're usually out.)
I don't think that its a genetic predisposition.

If it was a sour crop, some are more prone to yeast infection which can be brought on by using antibiotics very much like in humans. And, of course, if a bird has a weakened immune system for any reason (including antibiotic use) they aren't as able to fight off what they may be able to handle under better circumstances. Sometimes molds/yeasts in feed items can contribute as well.

Anyhow...all of that is to say that I wouldn't worry about genetic predisposition as much as looking at possible things that they can be getting that might cause an impact. If sour crop is suspected, or if you have given any antibiotics lately, probiotics can be used for the rest of the flock to hopefully restore gut flora.

For probiotics I recommend Avi-Culture II - the only avian probiotic on the market that is cultured on non-gmo substrate. ( Website is bad but the product is good... a little goes a long way and has a good shelf life if kept in fridge http://www.avi-culture-2.com/shop.html )

They can have some plain yogurt. (I know that folks are concerned about lactose in milk products but that is not an issue with yogurt as the LABs digest the lactose.)

Another thing that works GREAT for treating sour crop is to let them eat organic coconut oil in it's solid state. They LOVE the stuff and it is anti-fungal. I've known several folks that used the coconut oil and nothing else with sour crop and each bird recovered nicely. They withheld grain-based feed for a few days, gave coconut oil, and some animal-based protein. ACV should NEVER be used when you have sour crop and should be withheld until the bird is well if you're inclined to use ACV at all.
 
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So, I'm pretty sure I've narrowed down an issue my fil is having with his chickens. It started a couple of months ago. He had an aging BR hen that just fluffed up, hunched up and pretty much stayed that way. I was thinking "egg bound" he culled her. A few days ago, another hen started except she had a hard time getti g back in the coop. Same coop as the other hens. I thought worms. We are worming them all. Today, one of the BO pullets I gave him that is in the furthest distance away run started. I asked him what her comb looks like. He said pale in front turning normal to the back. I'm not there to get a good look. I'm wondering if it's coccidiosis.
Symptoms:
Fluffed up
Sitting hunched up, neck pulled in
Difficulty climbing up 6 inches
Still eating and drinking
Environment:
Dirt runs (which are now muddy because of all the rain)

Thought?
If we can't get a more educated guess, he will isolate the "off ones" (I want him to treat the whole bunch) and treat with corid. Of course, toss the eggs.
 
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.
[COLOR=900000]I feel the same way about Anconas. I love my Rangi, but she's so meek and gets bullied. :/ Anconas definitely need to be kept in their own flock, not a mixed flock.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=8B4513]Yes, I am behind once again! I wish my life would settle down. [/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]In my chicken world, I'm still morning the loss of Nene because it's just not the same without her crazy personality. [/COLOR]:( [COLOR=8B4513]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[/COLOR] @ellymayRans [COLOR=8B4513]). 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.[/COLOR] :hit [COLOR=8B4513]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.[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]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: [/COLOR] My Movie
[COLOR=13598B]So, so sorry for your loss! :hugs If it helps, I think you have three girls left. Here's Mr. Po at about the same age--he was pretty obviously a boy:[/COLOR]
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Wanted to share my daughter's blog post. We visited the farm last Saturday where we own a share. The family has a fodder system for feeding the animals fresh, sprouted green fodder during the winter. If you're anywhere near the area, I recommend a share! Or even some pasture raised pork, beef or chicken! [COLOR=000]http://www.followtheflavor.com/2014/10/pasture-haven-farm-raw-milk/[/COLOR] [COLOR=000]You KNOW you want one of these.....[/COLOR] [COLOR=000]
Pasture-Haven_1-1024x1024.jpg
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[COLOR=900000]Oooh, thanks for posting this! Mom and I are looking into this! :D [/COLOR]
 
[COLOR=900000]So we've been trying to teach the ducks to use brick steps to get into the pool, but they don't seem to be grasping the concept no matter what I try. Finally, today, Malcolm decided he was tired of trying to figure out the steps or something. In a spectacular dive, Malcolm leapt from the ground and took a dive into the water, staying under for a good minute or two!! :eek: Trudi still hasn't figured this out, so she hasn't been able to swim since she came home with us. :/



Anyway, here's Malcolm enjoying a swim while poor Trudi tried to figure out how he got in. Can you tell when he's finished? :lol: [/COLOR]



[VIDEO]
 
Hey all, it's been awhile since I was here last, been busy with life.... but doesn't mean I am neglecting my chicks!! Recap: I'm a new chicken momma, and ordered the pullet surprise from Ideal Hatchery/ The chicks were born on Aug 20th. I ordered 10, but got 15. And wasn't sure what all I have.... So I took a few pics today, will take individual ones later... but this is what I have so far... Right now it looks to me I have ALL FEMALES - but 1, he is 100% rooster and already trying to crow. He tried it yesterday and I had to laugh cause it was so pitiful!! LOL But if I got lucky and they sent me only 1 rooster, I am happy with that as I am sure my girls will be!! I just realized I didn't get a photo of him, and I need to cause he is beautiful. ....... BRB LOL
Does the first one have feathered legs?
 
I am looking for a BYCer near hopefully Indianapolis that I can visit to learn about keeping chickens or other birds and coop ideas. Any volunteers?
There is Agrarian, it is a store in Indy. They help lots of people get started in chickens and will build custom coops. There is always going to be debates about the best style of coops but the ones Andrew makes at Agrarian, sure look much better than the ones from the feeds stores.

If you are getting into chickens this time of the year, I recommend buying younger hens or even spent hens as they will be fat enough to make it through the winter. Chicks use a lot of their food to grow but in the winter they need that energy to stay warm instead, basically extreme cold will stunt the chick's growth unless something else is changed either the feed or providing heat.
I do happen to have young hens for sale but so do many others this time of year. Hatcheries will be putting their chicks on sale too if you really want the tiny day olds.
 
Photo time :D My 2 new SFH boys I got last week (16 wks old now...chocolate is still peeping!)

I've been trying to get a good photo of the chocolate boy since I don't have one...that's why this has more of him :D


2 Boys



Young chocolate....yum!













Two curious boys.



Hey! Where are the photos of me??? I don't see any photos of ME!!!!
 
FOR SALE: 100% English Jubilee Orpington Cockerel

Hatched 3/13. Nice deep mahogany ground color. The white on the primary feathers will go away after first molt and is not a fault. Pretty chilled out for a 7 month old cockerel! Not crowing yet.

Asking $25 firm. Cost me almost double that as a chick and of course I've put six months of feed and care into him. He was NPIP tested negative for typhoid and pullorum. Vaccinated against Marek's and coccidiosis by the the breeder. I bought five straight run chicks and got four boys. Every single one turned out very nice.

PM me if you are interested. I am just NW of Indianapolis. He's too big to ship!!!





 
@samirah226 I concur with Sally--look for older pullets/hens if you don't want to wait until spring. We raised a group of 10 day-old chicks (Buff Orps and RIRs) that hatched about this time of year (or maybe even November) last year, and we had to keep them in the garage with supplemental heat for MONTHS since it was so freaking cold. We have sworn never to do that again. Too much work, plus between the light and heat, it added a good bit to already high energy bills. That said, they did great and are VERY sweet girls because they were handled so much for so darned long.
 
@LKShepherd Wow, you sure did get lucky! You've gotten all of my luck, LOL! Seriously, good for you. We have purchased from Ideal Poultry before and were really happy with our chicks. We bought ten and opted out of the "extras" buy paying for insurance, and they also put a block of pressed straw to help take up the space those five chicks extra would have. I don't know if they still do that or not, but something for others to ask about if they decide (against my recommendation) to get a last-minute order.
 

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