INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[kittydoc]

Are these what you use or what not to use? I've always called them pine shavings. (Bought in a compressed brick-like bag at Farm N Fleet.) I know the cedar shavings are bad for many animals, but I thought these are OK. Can a chick eat these?

What we use are compressed wood shavings from TSC. Nice big pieces, no aromatic scent like pine or cedar. They have a very subtle scent that fades quickly. The really good scents are from aromatic oils in pine, cedar, etc. which are irritating if consumed, touched frequently, or inhaled. This is true not only for chicks, but smaller reptiles and "pocket pets" as well. PineSol is the worst because it is so concentrated.

 

[ChickCrazed]

I'm hoping you can help--Last year I'd been corresponding with a breeder who claims his stock is from Greenfire lines.
He wanted way too much $$, then I have to add shipping on top of it.
I like the Biele breed for size, laying #s, temperament and gorgeous looks. Especially here in the Midwest. My girlfriend in Michigan uses them for freezer camp because of the Roos size and ability to live together for 20+ weeks as a family unit.
I just want to dabble with this rare multipurpose breed. What's your opinion on this breed for a 'beginner'? Does it require anything special?

They are great for all the reasons you said. It is amazing to me that breeders are still getting $50 a chick and $120 for a dozen hatching eggs! I'd rather sell for a lot less and see more people get to experience them since it is such a cool breed! I go out there and have a herd of Bielies crowding and following me around. When they get in my way I can literally nudge them with my feet and they are just like "whatever dude". Their size and color is just staggering in real life. They don't bicker or fight with each other and my rooster is just the best guy ever! I have not yet grown up a bunch of roos but this may be my year. I just need to find a way to keep myself from getting attached! I think they would be a great beginner breed and the fact that they are autosexing means you don't get accidental roos when you purchase, which is even better for beginners.

 

[ChickCrazed]

Who wants a farm innovators incubator? I have one that is basically brand new. I always use broodies and have only used this to half incubate one batch of eggs that eventually went to a broody. It has a self turner and fan. I'm asking $90 plus shipping (wont be much since it is mostly styrofoam lol ) Anyway let me know. I spent 130 on it last fall.

Can you send me a link to the model so I can do some research on it? I have been looking at incubators. Thanks!

 

[racinchickins]

I need to grow back wing feathers by 4H time! Will feather fixer do it?

Feather fixer just gives them more protein, minerals, and other such to help them regrow feathers after molt. If your birds lack of wing feathers comes from molting, you should see them back fully within a month or so. If it is from something else, then you may or may not see them grow back before the next molt. All my hens that had bare butts from over breeding didn't grow theirs back until molting. But my polish that had their crests picked at kept regrowing them.

I am new to raising chickens! I have been hovering on this board since November and you all have proven so helpful! Thank-you! Right now, we are raising 3 adult egg laying chickens on half an acre in Pendleton/Anderson area. However, our house is on the market, as we are looking to move to more acreage to raise and breed chickens. I just successfully incubated and hatched eggs over Christmas - we had 10 eggs (6 Lavendar Orpington and 4 Sussex), 7 hatched. I had to aid two of the babies and only one of those should have been left to nature due to malformations. We ended up culling that little guy. One of our other successful hatches got its head stuck in between the lid and lip of the incubator and died, so we now have five beautiful chicks. I have been faithful to vaccinate against Mareks and New Castle diseases and am looking into NPIP this spring. I have 4 children that I homeschool who are getting plenty of education in this whole process, as well! We are finding this so addictive! We look forward to talking with you more in the upcoming months!

Welcome. Glad to see you are enjoying your chickens. Word of advice when you find the acreage, make very sure you are up on any community laws concerning chickens. A lot of people on here have had to get rid of birds because the area they moved to doesn't allow them. That being said, having enough room to have all the birds you want is great as long as you can handle the chicken math.

 

[kittydoc]

FOR SALE: Proven fertile 100% English Jubilee cockerel (turns a year in March). Large guy who is very active with the ladies without being aggressive (though I have all my breeding hens wearing chicken saddles). None of my pullets show any wear and tear, but they are getting successfully bred. $75. He was NPIP tested and is PT negative. GFF lines. He is a very handsome bird, but I also have his brother, and today is the day he decided "There can only be One." As a fan of the underdog, I'd rather keep his brother, who is just a smidge smaller, but otherwise I can't tell them apart (if not together in my line of sight, I can't tell them apart). I'll try to get a photo. Maybe later in the day they all might stay outside for a bit so I can take some current photos of him. PM me if interested.

 

[PeacefulWalls]

This is Maggie -- our best little incubator! She seems to live for hatching eggs. This past October she was our momma who hatched the ducklings. Her current batch of chicken eggs has about a week to go yet. We usually have the food & water bowls sitting outside the nest box so she can stretch her legs a bit to eat & also so there's less chance of water spilling in the nest box. But with as cold as it's been I didn't want her to have to get up and leave the eggs uncovered any more than necessary. Can't wait to see what our barnyard mix chicks look like this time!



Silly ducks are quite the opposite of the chickens -- they can't wait to run outside to sit in the snow!


The snow looks deep on Olive's legs, but it's just a snowdrift! The dogs also love to run around in the snow.


Kinda hard to see the alpacas towards the right. I was out in the pasture walking with the dogs. Whenever we take the dogs out for a walk around the property the alpacas stand at the fence watching us & wanting to go along for the walk too! We're hoping this summer we can add the fencing for a couple more paddocks so we can start rotational grazing. Just a sidenote -- we've been taking the dogs on the walk around the perimeter of our property for exercise. Twice around is right about 1 mile. Doesn't sound like that much of a workout until you add in the snow to walk through -- there's a section that drifted about a foot and a half deep that I plowed my way through yesterday -- really makes you work! The second time around was a bit easier -- especially when the dogs ran ahead in the path I already made & helped clear it a bit more. I think it's probably time to go head out now for today's workout

 

[hoosiercheetah]

Chickens vs. Squirrel

Yesterday my wife saw a squirrel get into the enclosed run, looking for scratch grains and such. The flock was locked up in the coop, but I can't help wondering if the squirrel might get brave, and decide that he can wander in while the hens are around. And then I can't help wondering what would happen if the hens decide that squirrels look delicious...

 

[Faraday40]

Chickens vs. Squirrel

Yesterday my wife saw a squirrel get into the enclosed run, looking for scratch grains and such. The flock was locked up in the coop, but I can't help wondering if the squirrel might get brave, and decide that he can wander in while the hens are around. And then I can't help wondering what would happen if the hens decide that squirrels look delicious...

I have some squirrel-chasing chickens. My dogs despise squirrels in the yard, so perhaps my EE hen learned from them. We hatched some of her eggs this summer & her daughter now joins in the chase. Even the sister pullet that went to a friend's house patrols the yard for squirrel intruders.

 

[hoosiercheetah]

I have some squirrel-chasing chickens. My dogs despise squirrels in the yard, so perhaps my EE hen learned from them. We hatched some of her eggs this summer & her daughter now joins in the chase. Even the sister pullet that went to a friend's house patrols the yard for squirrel intruders.

I really, really hope my flock catches one.

 

[Faraday40]

Can't say mine have ever come close to catching a squirrel, they just find them annoying & play chase. My younger dog however caught a nice squirrel in November. Once he killed it, he just stood there with it in his mouth not knowing what to do with his prize. (I think he was sad the squirrel was no longer playing.)