INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[PeacefulWalls]

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.

I bought 2 of these at the Elkhart BigR today. I got the 5 qt. size. They were on sale for $12.99 -- normally $16.99. I need one of them for our ducklings for the winter -- they won't be ready to join the other ducks for some time & thought this would work for them. I'll use the other for the chickens. Already have one for the dogs and the big 3 gallon heated pails for the ducks and alpacas. Hope we won't actually need to use them for awhile yet!

 

[Momma 2 silkies]

I have a question for the silkie breeders here. I have a black pullet from paint breeding and the only roo I have for her is a partridge or her paint dad. What could happen if I put her back in with her dad for paints? I'm asking for trouble breeding her back to her dad? She is in with my Duccle pair at the moment But as soon as I rehome my black sizzle pen she will be moving into one of the 2 silkie pens, the partridge pen or the paint pen with her dad. Any suggestions on what to do?

 

[hoosiercheetah]

So now I'm contemplating a chick order again. I know I'm wishy-washy; it's my cross to bear.

My sister might go in with me (or not; she's wishy-washy too), but I thought I'd ask if -- IF -- I decide to go ahead with a late Nov / early Dec. order, would anyone else in the Indy area want to split the order with me, or take some free box-filler chicks off my hands?

 

[SallyinIndiana]

So now I'm contemplating a chick order again. I know I'm wishy-washy; it's my cross to bear.

My sister might go in with me (or not; she's wishy-washy too), but I thought I'd ask if -- IF -- I decide to go ahead with a late Nov / early Dec. order, would anyone else in the Indy area want to split the order with me, or take some free box-filler chicks off my hands?

They are so cute, but not this year.

Today is shrink the flock day. A few roosters and a few ducks on on the list to go. It is getting colder so of course I keep looking at the roosters and think what a nice dinner you would make.

 

[CharlemagneRoost]

So now I'm contemplating a chick order again.  I know I'm wishy-washy; it's my cross to bear.  

My sister might go in with me (or not; she's wishy-washy too), but I thought I'd ask if  -- IF -- I decide to go ahead with a late Nov / early Dec. order, would anyone else in the Indy area want to split the order with me, or take some free box-filler chicks off my hands?  

I feel ya - I had to hatch some chicks out last December because I was going through chick withdrawal!!!

This winter I will have two incubators running constantly because I plan on hatching every egg I get from my two Ayam Cemani pairs. I am also putting in eggs from my Sumatra and my barred old English. On top of that, I have ordered some Ohiki hatching eggs and can hardly wait to get them! ... and just about a month ago I thought I had turned off my incubator for the winter .., but when my Cemani surprisingly started laying before spring, that changed my plans!

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Okay.  Got it.

Mine is just a regular dog kennel with a dog kennel panel over the top so it doesn't have a roof. 

[COLOR=900000]Well, other than the roof, this pen is all wire, if that helps? From my experience, for the most part, my birds know to get in out of the rain when they have shelter available. There's the occasional bird (specifically, a certain French bird ) that will park itself under a tiny ledge that doesn't actually fully cover them from the rain, but most of my birds know what to do. [/COLOR]

I feel ya - I had to hatch some chicks out last December because I was going through chick withdrawal!!!

This winter I will have two incubators running constantly because I plan on hatching every egg I get from my two Ayam Cemani pairs. I am also putting in eggs from my Sumatra and my barred old English. On top of that, I have ordered some Ohiki hatching eggs and can hardly wait to get them! ... and just about a month ago I thought I had turned off my incubator for the winter .., but when my Cemani surprisingly started laying before spring, that changed my plans!

[COLOR=000090]How well do your Cemanis lay? I've heard the hens only lay 70 or so eggs a year. (And white eggs, contrary to the rumor going around that they lay black eggs. )[/COLOR]

 

[kabhyper1]

I have a question for the silkie breeders here. I have a black pullet from paint breeding and the only roo I have for her is a partridge or her paint dad. What could happen if I put her back in with her dad for paints? I'm asking for trouble breeding her back to her dad? She is in with my Duccle pair at the moment But as soon as I rehome my black sizzle pen she will be moving into one of the 2 silkie pens, the partridge pen or the paint pen with her dad. Any suggestions on what to do?

Okay well it's upto you really. You can breed offspring to parents, but it's not recommended you do so more than 5 generations. My suggestion would be to add some blacks to your paints. Bred to your partridge you will not get correct colors.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote:
I kind of feel the same about my legbars. I really want to start setting the eggs BUT I know that I can only put up with brooding for so long. Now if I had me a few more of the metal brooders maybe. Although the metal brooders are not really big enough for as many chicks as they advertise.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

I need to rehome some khaki ducks, I just keep wanting fewer and fewer ducks. I'm trying to get down to less than a quarter of what I had at the height of duck love.
I have them listed on CL a bit high of course in order to accommodate the bargain hunters who like to pay less than listed price. But if you are on here and want khakis I could sell you a couple for that price or even go as low as $12 if you want half a dozen.

 

[kabhyper1]

Hey guys, if any of you knit or crochet, we will have our alpaca yarn back from the mill in a few weeks. Let me know if you want some soft hypoallergenic yarn! Also I'm hatching silkies and I can't keep them all, so if anyone wants some cute fluffy gifts this year for someone special, I'll have some ready in the next months or two.