INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[twoboystwogirls]

I am so bored.

Someone convince me that it's a bad idea to order chicks now and try to brood them in my garage over the winter.

I've been feeling the same way. Not the "bored" part, LOL. But definitely the lets buy chicks part. So, instead I am buying a couple blue Ameraucana pullets from a local girl who showed them at 4H this year. I will be picking them up Thursday. I have never had true Ameraucanas, only EEs. I think this will tide me over until spring. I really don't want to house baby chicks in the cold.

 

[hoosiercheetah]

Nobody here but us enablers!

But they'll be so cold!

 

[hoosiercheetah]

I've thought about doing pullets, but I don't want to mess with quarantine again. I'd rather do chicks.

How much space would I need to grow out, say, half a dozen to 8 weeks or so?

I'd probably put them in a section of the coop vs. the garage.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I am so bored.

Someone convince me that it's a bad idea to order chicks now and try to brood them in my garage over the winter.

It's not boredom....it's impatience!!!!! You're a man that knows what he wants and you want it NOW!

Now if God has anything to say about it, He says there is a "season for everything...." and you might want to consider that....

BUT.....

here's a story for you.

In my first year of chicken keeping, one of my 8 month olds went broody at the end of November. I didn't want to waste a good broody, so I got eggs for her to hatch (after asking around about the foolishness of my plan).

She hatched on New Year's eve so they were essentially New Year babies. The mamma was able to incubate and hatch and care for her kiddos all in the chicken shed and outside - depending on her desire. The babies were out in the snow with her at 2 weeks...she'd just stop and drop whenever they wanted to be warmed up.

Even with the mamma, I was out there a lot being sure that food and water were thawed, etc. She did a great job.


Now...enter the brooder.

YOU BECOME THE MAMMA. Lot's more work during the winter, but if you have a way to separate your chicken area in such a way that they have their own area, it can be done.

How much time do you want to put in? Just how bored are you?

 

[hoosiercheetah]

It's not boredom....it's impatience!!!!! You're a man that knows what he wants and you want it NOW!

Now if God has anything to say about it, He says there is a "season for everything...." and you might want to consider that....

BUT.....

here's a story for you.

In my first year of chicken keeping, one of my 8 month olds went broody at the end of November. I didn't want to waste a good broody, so I got eggs for her to hatch (after asking around about the foolishness of my plan).

She hatched on New Year's eve so they were essentially New Year babies. The mamma was able to incubate and hatch and care for her kiddos all in the chicken shed and outside - depending on her desire. The babies were out in the snow with her at 2 weeks...she'd just stop and drop whenever they wanted to be warmed up.

Even with the mamma, I was out there a lot being sure that food and water were thawed, etc. She did a great job.


Now...enter the incubator.

YOU BECOME THE MAMMA. Lot's more work during the winter, but if you have a way to separate your chicken area in such a way that they have their own area, it can be done.

How much time do you want to put in? Just how bored are you?

Well, I'd have more time during winter than in the spring. Less yard work.

My plan is to section off part of the coop - there's a ton of space, and I could put a brooder out there no problem. I have power already, so I can plug in a heater. Plus then the old birds can get used to the new ones, right?

Oh, and the boredom is just today.

 

[kabhyper1]

I am so bored.

Someone convince me that it's a bad idea to order chicks now and try to brood them in my garage over the winter.

Don't ask me for sure. I have 3 broodies in my den right now.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@hoosiercheetah


Yes...dividing off the hen shed is the best! I am very fortunate that I could brood this year on the divided off part. The adults were in sight of the youngers everywhere. My husband even cut a second pop door on the divided side so they could get outside to a divided off part of the run. With that second door outside, I really loved the way brooding over there went this year.

But...it is STILL a trick to get them to integrate together when the time comes. Especially if in close quarters.

 

[hoosiercheetah]

@hoosiercheetah


Yes...dividing off the hen shed is the best! I am very fortunate that I could brood this year on the divided off part. The adults were in sight of the youngers everywhere. My husband even cut a second pop door on the divided side so they could get outside to a divided off part of the run. With that second door outside, I really loved the way brooding over there went this year.

But...it is STILL a trick to get them to integrate together when the time comes. Especially if in close quarters.

Right.

I've thought about a second run, with a second door. If I can sell my wife on it, that would make it really, really easy to brood in the coop. Plus, down the road I could use one run for my layers, and the second for a little group of meat birds, who won't be around long enough to worry about integrating into the main flock.

This gets better and better the more I think about it.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:

My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner as far as cutting the second door to the outside.

 

[pbirdhaven]

The reason I think the youth barn birds had a calmer personality is because kids tend to coddle their birds like pets. MOST adult exhibitors don't. Though that doesn't mean they care about them any less. Some people have a very, what i would call, professional relationship with their birds. Sorry you can't go! And thank you

I agree. Most of the juniors consider their birds pets, while for many adults they're a business proposition. I know breeders who will cull birds that aren't show quality; they have so many that there is no attachment issue. That's hard for me to accept, so I won't have a large number making it to championship row. It's hard to even perform a "mercy killing."

Plan to go to the Ohio National on Friday. Not showing this time but want to get there early enough to get a good look at the sale birds before they're too picked over.


The Connersville show is back on the schedule this year. It's a 2-day show Nov 22-23.