INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[pbirdhaven]

I have a chicken q: This morning I noticed the birds' waterer had frozen over, even though it's in a heated dog bowl. (The water in the dog bowl isn't frozen, and the waterer itself isn't frozen, there was just enough ice on top of the drinking surface to keep the birds from getting anything...and I suspect it was too thick for them to peck through.)

At any rate, I refreshed the water and it spilled out like a waterfall. One of my silkies immediately started drinking from the overflow and I couldn't help but notice her head getting wet. She doesn't have big wattles, but I can't help but wonder about her entire head. The earlobe, whatever. What should I do?

My silkies are always doing something like that and have never had any adverse effects. I had two boys that would run around in the rain until they were soaked and I would have to dry them. If I didn't cage them, they were right back out in the rain even though they had a nice big insulated dog house.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

You want my little beardless Pip'd? If its a boy, he would be a good little guy for your girls.

Aww, I have really been wanting to get another boy for my flock since we lost Po... But I really don't have anywhere to put another bird right now for quarantine. All of my pens are full at the moment. :/

...I need to borrow one of those money trees from Birdman.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Woke up for work and to check on the baby's at 4 am! Surprise surprise the second mom was in the middle of birthing triplets!! Two bucklings and one doeling! All strong and very healthy! I just had a feeling yesterday that we needed to move them into the garage. I am glad we did. So here is the last set of pics. At least till they fluff up a little lol


And then here is last nights momma and babies looking very strong and taking a rest.

Oh my, they are just too adorable! You were really blessed

Good instincts, I always follow what my gut tells me saves a lot of heartache later.

To bad there aren't sitcom writers following us around. The past 48 hours would make a great episode of "The Middle" (since it takes place in Indiana). These are only the highlights: Bat (that we did not find until 11:00 last night - 24 hours after his first appearance), exploding eggs in the microwave (don't ask), cabinet shelf full of glasses collapsing into the plates below - broken glass all over the floor and this morning (drum roll please) a bird in the basement (of course my son had his bat ears on and says "I hear a bat in the basement!" No just a bird thank God).

I mean you have to laugh or else you'll cry. Perfect sitcom material. Can't wait to see what will happen today - actually, yes I can!

you really do have to just laugh. Had a terrible day too will post in a bit

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Hair dryer on low setting, pretty quick does the trick. I trimmed my crested birds because I wanted them to see, and worried about this type of problem.

Okay, I feel the desperate need to see the Emus when the are hatched. You are not far away and this is a great way to sell silkie chicks - she is gorgeous and DD loves her (see my post to Motherof2Hens below) If you can't find homes I can find a family for them, just pm me.

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You aren't kidding, all the pigmy I have owned really trashed our fences. I will be redoing all of the goat pasture this year and increasing the space for grazing.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

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

They are cute for a pic, no way am I risking any of my boys with that. I read a lot of threads, they are a deathtrap for roosters. In a perfect world, it may help a few people get to keep a roo, if he isn't strangled to death. We all know how they get into everything lol!

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.

X2 totally agree. Its just asking to strangle your beloved roo to death.

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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.)

Out of ovations, totally important post. If you have a bird to bring in for any reason, remember the temps. it was -9 here last night, I do not want to bring a bird into a 80 degree temp swing if its already ill! even an unheated room or garage is a better choice, a porch etc. I have some older birds with issues, and a few young ones from the negative temps this week I have brought in to the unheated breezeway. If this continues the muscovy will have to come in the porch, ugh.. One drake, my oldest lavender has a frostbit knob. He is always dunking and preening, it can't be prevented.
Wetting feed is healthier for them, especially older birds. even if I do not ferment I at least add warm water. (not fermenting until weather is warmer, way too much feed) They are getting more moisture, less waste and eat more of the feed. Right now with negative temps I can't risk the frostbite but an average day, its like a treat to them in the evening. We all love the feeling of a warm full tummy!

 

[ChickenLady2014]

Aww, I have really been wanting to get another boy for my flock since we lost Po... But I really don't have anywhere to put another bird right now for quarantine. All of my pens are full at the moment. :/

...I need to borrow one of those money trees from Birdman.

Lol he told me he didn't have any money trees

 

[PeacefulWalls]

I did something new today, well 2 things. First I paid for beef fat, specifically the fat from around the kidneys. Second I made tallow. The internet made it look so simple and it really is not labor intensive. But it is a slow process and it has a unique smell as the fat melts as the crispies start to cook. Once the crispies are close to done, the smell is close to that of a philly cheese steak grill in tight quarters on South Street.
I still have some more fat that is melting down but it won't be ready to strain till the morning. Fat is a space hog and my crock pot while 6 qts only hold about 6-8 pounds wedge in all funny.
If I do it again I think I will shred the fat before heating it so that it might melt faster. But if and when I do it again I need to remember to get fat from someone who is processing already so it won't cost $1 a pound. I bought half a cow last fall but I did not ask for the fat, it would have been free back then.

Last year when we bought a hog to have processed I had the butcher save the fat for me to render into lard. It was my first time and it was very successful. I ran the fat through my kitchenaid mixer grinder attachment and then melted it with the lowest heat setting in my electric roaster. It worked really well and had plenty of space for all the ground fat. The lard turned out pure white and I froze it in canning jars -- still have quite a bit left yet. What will you use your tallow for? Cooking, homemade candles?? The last time we had half a beef processed the butcher asked if I wanted the fat, but I didn't know what to do with it, so I didn't take it either. The butcher said typically beef fat isn't used in cooking...????

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: It was really hard to go though, and the pet stores wanted no part of my fish of course. With all the issues happening with Dad, I lost them

Told DH the only thing going in the tanks now are tilapia breeders.

Surprise! I have a beardless silkie. That wasn't supposed to happen! Ohh gotta love genetics. These were shipped eggs.So its not from my birds. lol

Still looks adorable

So DH got our taxes done and I've been green lighted to spend some on an automatic door for the coop

only because it benefits him. Anyway what do you all have? What do you like/ not like? I had thought about building one at one point I just don't have the time or energy to do it right now

BTW I haven't seen Hoosiercheetah recently.

@hoosiercheetah agreed, hope all is ok with him and his family!

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They are pretty resilient, and you are a good chicken mom! Sorry so late in replying, hope she is ok.

Stopped by Big R Warsaw tonight in hopes they may have their chicks in. No such luck!! But they do have the breeds posted and there is one I'm going to pick up. Some Cuckoo Marans! Supposed to be next week same with TSC. Our last batch of chicks are still doing great and growing fast! The baby goats are all doing good. One of the trips seems to be a little weaker than the others but we've been working with it the most. Hope everyone stays warm and safe in the big snow storm coming this weekend!

OOOO marans, thats a surprise! Anderson TSC was setting up the gates to add chick pens when we got there late this afternoon. Good luck with your adorable baby kids and the does, and the storm coming also.

I did something new today, well 2 things. First I paid for beef fat, specifically the fat from around the kidneys. Second I made tallow. The internet made it look so simple and it really is not labor intensive. But it is a slow process and it has a unique smell as the fat melts as the crispies start to cook. Once the crispies are close to done, the smell is close to that of a philly cheese steak grill in tight quarters on South Street.
I still have some more fat that is melting down but it won't be ready to strain till the morning. Fat is a space hog and my crock pot while 6 qts only hold about 6-8 pounds wedge in all funny.
If I do it again I think I will shred the fat before heating it so that it might melt faster. But if and when I do it again I need to remember to get fat from someone who is processing already so it won't cost $1 a pound. I bought half a cow last fall but I did not ask for the fat, it would have been free back then.

You aren't kidding! I tossed a lot of fat to my birds when we processed the last hog, it was well after dark by time I was quartering and dividing the cuts for the freezer.. Better planning and less drama this spring I hope for the next hog when its his "time". He sure is getting big! At least I know my freezers are all in working order now. If I had more time and daylight I would have rendered about 20 pounds of lard. Better planning this year.
I get it all if I pay for a side, mostly because I will use it between the hogs and chickens. Lard is an awesome thing too

We also use the liver, heart and other organs due to my parents protein requirements. Any critter I process, I keep everything for a purpose if I have the knowledge to use it. If not its cooked for protein feed for my birds and pigs. Side note, I do not feed animal products to my goats, cows when we have them, and alpaca when we kept them also.. Each species has to be addressed individually as to the type of protein it needs. Goats and cows need a vegetable protein ONLY for example. Chicken, turkey etc are a carnivore and need a meat protein source. Can they live on the alternatives, probably BUT I also do not want a mad cow disease outbreak, and that's the type of feeding and husbandry that can encourage those diseases to thrive. Its the matter of knowing what each animals needs are.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

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ROFL!!!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

This was a really long day today! I had a flat tire, hours just getting one on the wheel at the tire shop

DH was over an hour a way, luckily my nephew had not left for work yet. Then, trying to get my 81 year old dad to STAY IN THE CAR and not get out in the single digit cold!

Elderly are a huge risk at these temps. I finally told him FIRMLY and not very nice, you will have a heart attack standing out here, I do not want you to spend another summer in the hospital! or worse! He got back in the car

My poor mom was so distraught I had to just get them home on the awful and pretty scary doughnut spare, and then take the tire and wheel to the shop. Dad had extra tires and of course wanted to use them. So now, the car is home, tire is mounted and I still have to take the car back and get Dads special tires rotated, added, mounted, balanced whatever so he feels we saved money.
Thanking the Lord my Dad is still with us, and we can bicker about money and household things like we used to

I am having losses with this cold, and some ill birds I have taken in the unheated porch and breezeway. Its all roosters, they are not faring well with the continued negative temps. Hope this cold snap lets up soon.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

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Whaaaat? Oh my you can render it.

or just feed it to the chickies, no kidding. Lard is such a natural cooking and frying substance. It has tons of flavor and has so many useful properties. I am surprised the buther didn't discuss it with you!