INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[PeacefulWalls]

ChickCrazed~ Wow, you have really had a tough time with mice!! You're probably referring to shrews as moles . . . coincidentally, one of my cats killed a shrew today and left it on the deck. My Jubilee Orp, Adeline, immediately grabbed it and started repeatedly slamming it on the deck to kill it. haha She was so excited! I really hated to think of her eating it, and the other hens looked bloodthirsty while waiting for a bite. I grabbed Adeline and she dropped the shrew, so I scooped in up in a paper towel and disposed of it.

One of my cats actually caught a mole last summer. I always meant to post this lovely photo, but never got around to it. It was around 7" long.


Here's a photo of the species of shrews that we see around here (northern short-tailed shrew) typically 3.5"


This is one reason I get behind on posts. I'm reading about mice and the next thing I know, I'm finding my dead mole photos (doesn't everyone have a dead mold photo file?), and I'm looking up photos of shrews.

EEEEWWW! That mole is nasty looking!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: Yes we are supposed to see 20s and snow friday night. UGH! DH is all excited, getting his plow and tractor ready. He already put new brakes on the dually. I told him I will just hibernate! Don't think the chickens will appreciate that

I was in shorts up til the big drop this week. now back to sweats and flannels. I have been working on winterizing and the barn cleaning all week. Decided to take time out and catch up on the thread tonight.
Water... that's the ongoing issue here too. I have a hefty 1500 watt stock tank heater, its costly to run. It was ok with the cows, but I will just carry water for now unless I find more. I may use it for my piglets if i see the need, they are getting big, going through about 8 gallons a day already. I carry a lot of water all winter, its a pain. I do water changes at least 2x sometimes 3x a day in more severe temps. Waterfowl have to be able to dunk their heads, so they still get buckets.
BTW its snowing right now, 1230am in pendleton

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I used a regular heated dog bowl for part of last year, then a heated horse bucket for the remaining part of the year. I didn't do anything fancy with either and had no issues of frostbite due to wattles dragging in the water. It should be a natural way to drink so they should naturally know what to do with their own body parts to keep them out of the water (my way of thinking, i realize some chickens are super stupid). I am going to use the heated horse buckets this year. I'm still working on getting electricity out to the coop. I have all the materials, just waiting for my cheap electrician to decide he can help me do it!

Quote:
The frostbite I have seen is one foot, which was my GLW rooster, Red. He lost a toe, but it was from standing in the snow and water puddles, hours on end guarding his girls. He wasn't too smart about shifting feet like I have seen so many other birds do. I did have one muscovy drake that had frostbite on the caruncles on his beak. It healed nicely, and you would never know it now. He is unusual, heavily caruncled even down his neck. With the WL this year and the crazy big combs on them, I will let you know! The buckets have worked the best and I keep going back to them. They are free, and if I break one, i just go grab another. Easy cleanup with a toilet bowl brush too.
I primarily use the 2 gallon sized bakery frosting buckets. Have a stack of them I just keep rotating. my geese&ducks get the 4 gallon sized ones, for those long necks. The 55 gallon drum set up I tried with the stock tank heater turned into a real problem. Even with wood covering the majority of the top, way too many droppings getting into the water. It was too much concern for me to continue using it. I am still thinking how to use that idea!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Weekly Chicken Event Post!

There are 2 auctions/swap meets this weekend, check out the details on the Indiana BYC'ers Events Calendar and check for the locations on the Indiana BYC'ers Map! I also have each event linked to it's website/Facebook page for additional show details. If you have any info for 2015 swap meet dates, please reply or PM me!

Friday, October 31- Dinky's Auction-Montgomery, Indiana
Saturday, November 1 - Croy Creek Trader's Fair-Reelsville, Indiana (Last one of the year)
Sunday, November 2 - Croy Creek Trader's Fair-Reelsville, Indiana (Last one of the year)


If you do go, try wearing your official Indiana BYC T-shirt and see if you spot anyone else there! Also, please take pictures to share!




Upcoming Events:

Friday, November 7 - Dinky's Auction-Montgomery, Indiana
Saturday, November 8 - Sandcut Trader's Fair-Terre Haute, IN (Last one of the year)
Sunday, November 9 - Sandcut Trader's Fair-Terre Haute, IN (Last one of the year)
---
Friday, November 14 - Dinky's Auction-Montgomery, Indiana
---
Friday, November 21 - Dinky's Auction-Montgomery, Indiana
---
Friday, November 28 - Dinky's Auction-Montgomery, Indiana
Friday, November 28 - Veedersburg Sale Barn-Veedersburg, Indiana (Last one of the year)
---
Friday, December 5 - Dinky's Auction-Montgomery, Indiana

We are hashing out the 2015 plans for chickenfest! but its been sidelined for winterizing and all the boring stuff. Will holler when we get things planned better.

Quote:
I only have chicks, or I would love to help. One last week in the bator

I dunno if i can really stop!

35000 baby!

*happy 3-zeros dance*

WTG Everyone

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: We were working towards a new order, and life got in our way!!! I will follow up with everyone and see if we can revive it. I have had several folks ask.

For anyone looking for ideas for heating water this winter, this is what we use. They worked great last year. They are cookie tin heaters, but we took the black heating element off the bottom of those blue heated dog bowls and attached them to the lid of the cookie tin. Cut a notch in the bottom of the tin for the cord, and cover it with tape or something to prevent the metal from cutting the cord. They are water proof and I like the idea of using a heating element that is safe for exposure in general instead of a light bulb.







Duct tape works fine for holding the heating element on the bottom of the tin lid. Ours worked all winter. The only thing that froze was way up in the top of the water container.

Thanks for posting!

Quote:
I do not put water inside the coop in the winter months. It adds humidity, especially for the waterfowl. my coops are open (to the runs) so they can access water at night in the runs.

Posted this in the natural thread too but would like to hear from y'all:


A "housing question" for those of you that may have experience....

I am wondering if anyone has ever used a dog house, inside a kennel that is fenced on all sides and top, to house birds in the current weather.

Reason for the question is that I want to put the new boys out with the elders, but I don't want them in the same run quite yet and side 2 of my hen shed is currently occupied. I had "Mister" using that kennel with the dog house as his only shelter...and an outdoor roost...earlier this summer. I just don't know it it would be way to cold for just a dog house at this stage in the game.

It isn't as secure as being locked into the hen shed either as something could presumably get under it at night - though it is enclosed by electric netting on 3 sides. There is always the 4th side.

So...
Opinions and experiences, please.

Imagine this with a chicken plugged in.

Thats very similar to what @bradselig uses for his breeding coops from what I understand.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Took a few chicken pictures today.

Bantam Chocolate Orp Bonbon and her three chicks roosting with my Jubilee Orp, Adeline.
Bantam Black Cochin chicks were hatched courtesy of @ellymayRans hatching eggs.


A closer view of Friday, Bonbon, little Tuesday, and Monday.
Looks like some bad hen pulled out a few of Bonbon's back feathers.


I crawled through the viburnam bush to get a better view, which caused Bonbon to alert.
The oldest chick, Friday, is on the right.


Here's Sunday on the left and Monday on the right.
Monday is the sweetest!

Adorable

I just love BonBon, She is a beauty! Adeline is just gorgeous too! The orpingtons are a heart stealer. Love my boys, and the hens are still as sweet as they were as chicks. I still reaaaallly want cochin but have made myself stop adding so many breeds. Ugh. They are so sweet and friendly, I definitely want bantam when we do add them. DH wants LF, but I do all the "chicken work"!

He may probably win tho, I do love LF birds.
I finally not only found my camera, but got a newer phone. (DH upgraded to a samsung galaxy note 4, I got his note 2) Waiting for my gorilla glass and new case before I allow this phone out to do chores with me tho! My HTC evo was 3 years old, and met many a water bucket in its time. And still works! Trust me, the rice bag trick works if you pull the battery fast and get that phone in rice. Once winterizing is over, will pick a nice day for some pictures. Lot of variety running around here as always lol.

 

[Mother2Hens]

OOh I kinda like your ideas... I did buy some mealworms today when I went to RK .. Everyone was raving about scratch grains so i looked into those and it actually says not to feed them till birds at least 16 weeks old. I got a huge box of instant oatmeal too.. would you cook that or just feed it to them dry?? Anyway thanks for the ideas.. will try and see what they like.. tried popcorn today with mixed reviews .

Mealworm Prices
At our Rural King stores, Kaytee freeze-dried mealworms in the wild bird food dept. are less expensive than the same size package of Happy Hen freeze-dried mealworms in the chicken dept. If you want to stock up, online prices are better.

Chicken Treats
I tried feeding regular oatmeal and steel cut oats in their dry form, but my chickens weren't interested. They do like it warm, especially when it's cold out. Mine didn't like popcorn-- I guess they just don't like corn, period. Last winter, I went to the Agrarian chicken store in Broad Ripple, Indy where they have a "grain bar" with various grains for chickens like barley, wheat, rye, oats, and a few others. I'm sure they could be purchased for less elsewhere (like online), but I'm not knowledgable enough about where to buy grains suitable for eating vs. planting (making sure they're pesticide-free) at a local type of store other than a health food store. I guess since I have a small flock and just use them for treats, I could just go to a health food store . . . does anyone have tips about buying grains for treats locally instead of having to buy in bulk at a mill?

It's funny that chickens have individual tastes. All of mine love mealworms, and all love blueberries except for my EE who prefers grapes instead. She knows I'll always give her cut-up grapes when she sees the others going crazy for cut-up blueberries, so she waits patiently. In the summer, mine eat watermelon almost daily, but they don't like other melons. Sometimes when I give them something they haven't had before, they act suspicious like I'm trying to poison them!
Originally Posted by jchny2000
Adorable

I just love BonBon, She is a beauty! Adeline is just gorgeous too! The orpingtons are a heart stealer. Love my boys, and the hens are still as sweet as they were as chicks. I still reaaaallly want cochin but have made myself stop adding so many breeds. Ugh. They are so sweet and friendly, I definitely want bantam when we do add them. DH wants LF, but I do all the "chicken work"!

He may probably win tho, I do love LF birds.

Thank you! Bonbon actually looks thin and run-down from being a Mom. She's still making the special feeding noise and feeding the chicks way more than herself. DH commented that Friday is almost as big as Bonbon, so she needs to stop treating them like tiny chicks. So true, but soon she'll decide she's done mothering and that will be a shock to the chicks. I remember last time when she went from Best Mom in the World to pecking her chicks away like she'd never seen them before! Those poor things needed therapy.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote:
OMG!!!!! Thats horrible, NOPE not to that level for sure

just a few dozen mice a month. That's pretty scary that he and his employees became ill from them. Now I am looking up that form of meningitis to see what causes it

. That's what I mean, every new thing we look at opens a lot of new questions, safety and health related for our birds, and US. Maybe the wild mice are healthier!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

CDC:
http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/lcm/
It sounds pretty nasty. May not do the mice after all. Already went though the nightmare with the calves.....

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Winterizing and combining flocks. Bantam comingling is honestly a bigger adventure! My OEGB and other (Millie) roosters are not agreed yet that its ok. Finding an interesting grouping, my guinea and muscovy seem to get along very well. Watching the interactions, they may become coop mates for spring breeding. Both need confined during breeding season or will hide eggs. Both fly well. Scovy lay off ground usually, and the guinea prefer a ground nest. Both are very seasonal and good parents. May work very well. Considering my grow up pen for them, have very few babies in there that will be adults by march.
Busy next several days with winterizing and combining coops and flocks. Trying to get a solid date to get my hog in the freezer before winter. Went to clean my big chest freezer tonight and discovered its unplugged.

ya, nasty! Lost a full 2 racks of pork ribs and bacon strips. Very upset as to why its not plugged in.... No one knows..

Nite everyone