INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Ol Grey Mare]

Makes me miss my pygmies, especially when the kids come along. Then I look at the damaged fences and am not so sorry I rehomed them.

Yes, so many times over - the spring arrival of kids, lambs and calves always leaves me feeling just a little nostalgic for times when we had our own to look forward each year - but then I remember all the work that came with them during the rest of the year when there wasn't the reward of the sweet babies bouncing around and realize maybe life without breeding stock isn't all that bad.

 

[kabhyper1]

Quote:
I have a splash cockerel that is the sweetest thing. He is only about 7 months old. If your DD wants him he would be a really sweet pet. He actually lived in the house with us for awhile. So I have kept him until I can find a pet home for him. I don't have baby chicks right now, but I have some juveniles I need to rehome if you are interested.

 

[leslea]

I guess I'll just wait and hope she didn't get frostbite.

 

[ellymayRans]

I guess I'll just wait and hope she didn't get frostbite.  

With their walnut combs I've never had issues with their heads getting a bit wet. Now if it's soaking wet go snatch her up towel dry and I wouldn't hesitate running a blow dryer on her til she's mostly dry. I've found short spells in the house to tend to such things hasn't had any negative results.

 

[flyladyrocks]

Anyone ever heard of this? The no -crow rooster collar? I personally love the sound of a rooster crowing. I love that I can walk through my historical neighborhood and hear roosters from several chicken lovers. I had never seen such a thing as this before so am in the eyes-bugged-out-what-in-the-world stage: http://www.mypetchicken.com/catalog/Chicken-Supplies/No-Crow-Rooster-Collar-p1580.aspx

What I do like is the look of the bowtie option, definitely a fun photo op but can you say strangulation? I mean how easy would this to be to get caught on something? http://www.mypetchicken.com/catalog...Bow-Tie-for-No-Crow-Rooster-Collar-p1659.aspx

 

[minmin1258]

 
I'm toying with putting in an order with Sand Hill Preservation Center if anyone wants some super rare breeds but can't meet the 25 chick minimum.  Let me know if you are interested in adding to my order!

I'm looking at getting some Salmon Favorelle, Black Dorkings and Wheaten Marans.

They have a pretty cool list of birds available.

http://www.sandhillpreservation.com/pages/poultry_catalog.html

I highly recommend that if anyone is wanting to add a few birds this spring, that you look into this.  It is an opportunity to get some higher than hatchery quality birds from a large choice of  rare breeds without having to order 25 all at once.  It is also a chance to support a small operation that has a goal of preserving unique breeds and not just hatching willy nilly to sell as many as possible.   

I would definitely get some from them if I weren't so far away. Guess I'll have to get some from breeders around here.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

@pipdzipdnreadytogo Buzz. Yes. It's the only way to make her life easier. But the others may think she's a new bird. (Amazing this kiddo has a face in there...)

Aww, she has such a sweet face! I'm going to try to go in phases and see if they notice her crest disappearing. It definitely needs work at least. I thought I did a better job than this, but it was late and mom and I were fighting against a hen who really didn't want her hair cut.

[COLOR=8B4513]Haha That's funny. I named her Eliza since it's an English name. It's also funny that your sister is the one who got you started with chickens because my daughter Lauren is the one who got us started (months before she left for IU), and she hasn't been that interested in them when she visits. Every spring when Lauren saw ads for "Chick Days," she asked for chicks. After many years, DH finally caved, and I'm so glad he did! He is almost as crazy about them as I am. [/COLOR]

I think my parents have said my sister was named after Eliza Doolittle from 'My Fair Lady'. Not sure how serious they are about that, though. My sister used to do it all the time. She just wanted pets, inexplicably. Thus far, she has taken care of none of the animals she has brought home after getting bored with them within a few months of their arrival. It worked out for me with the chickens, but then the family's also had to pick up after her ferrets, Guinea pigs, rats, mice, fish, dogs, cats, and lizard. Anyway, save for bringing home the fish "for her daughter" last year, she has pretty much stopped doing this since her kids were born, the good news is. The number of animals in the house has dwindled down to a comfortable level now, for which I'm sure we're all relieved.

An interesting article regarding sexing of eggs and technological advances to eliminate male chick maceration. http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/2/20/the-short-brutal-life-of-male-chickens.html It will be interesting to see how this technology progresses.

Interesting. I'm not sure I can see it catching on when just sending them to the grinder is so much easier and cheaper for them, though. :/ I was glad to see, though, that as big of a company as Unilever is taking a stand against it. The only way to convince others to follow suit is to support companies that are taking a stand. As they say, hit them where it hurts--in the wallet.

Anyone ever heard of this? The no -crow rooster collar? I personally love the sound of a rooster crowing. I love that I can walk through my historical neighborhood and hear roosters from several chicken lovers. I had never seen such a thing as this before so am in the eyes-bugged-out-what-in-the-world stage: http://www.mypetchicken.com/catalog/Chicken-Supplies/No-Crow-Rooster-Collar-p1580.aspx What I do like is the look of the bowtie option, definitely a fun photo op but can you say strangulation? I mean how easy would this to be to get caught on something? http://www.mypetchicken.com/catalog...Bow-Tie-for-No-Crow-Rooster-Collar-p1659.aspx

I've seen posts about these in a few places. There have been some reports of accidental strangulation, whether through them getting caught on something or someone tightening them too far, but other than that they seem to work. The bow tie... That's cute and all, but not practical. I can see a lot of problems arising from that. :/

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Thought I'd mention something, somewhat of a public service announcement here. I had to bring Louise, my smaller Black Copper Marans, inside so that I could treat some issues (related to MG, I suspect) that I've been noticing with her, and since the ducks are still occupying my dog crate pens (Where are you, spring?!), I had to put her in with Cubby because I have nowhere else to put her. This means she had no chance to transition her from the cold to room temperature.


Scarily enough, her symptoms seemed to get much, much worse within the first 48 hours of being inside, I suspect due to the sudden temperature change. She also began overheating and exhibiting symptoms of that. She is finally stabilizing to her norm after a few days, but it was a rough few days worrying over her.


Be careful about bringing birds inside, y'all! It can do more harm than good if you move too quickly!



In other news, don't know why it didn't occur to me sooner, but wetting feed somehow makes it 100 times as good to chickens. So I've finally got Cubby eating like a chow hound today. Louise quite enjoyed it as well. My winter refugees:

(The lamp was for light, not heat, although apparently it put off enough heat that she kept squishing against the fence to get away from it. I removed it pretty soon after I put it in there.)

 

[Leahs Mom]

I agree on the rooster collars. Too many reports of causing deaths and other issues due to how they work. I would not recommend based on the info I've read.

 

[iamfivewire]

@flylady : we have 4 EE chicks almost 4 weeks old (& a couple in the incubator due in 2 weeks) if interested in a drive to michigan (could meet a little ways south of here)