INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[kittydoc]

Well, I think this morning will result in me having lavender roos with combs as smooth as a baby's bottom. I have heat, but not enough heat for subzero for this many days, and I just keep seeing more black and gray. It's really a shame. I should have taken more photos of the boys in the fall, but they were still babies then (late May hatch). Ugh.

People who show must spend a fortune on electricity to keep enough heat to 100% protect those combs.

I am frozen half solid myself, and need to go throw more straw out there. I have to warm back up before I go back out there again! One waterer is frozen and there isn't a ****** thing I can do about it except give them fresh water every hour. I can't even open it, it's frozen shut, even with all the exterior ice chipped away.

I did not sign up to live in Outer Siberia. I can't wait until we retire and can move further south!!! I'll take an occasional ice storm in exchange for all these months of subfreezing weather.

Sorry to carry on, but I know all of you have got to be frozen, too, unless you have completely heated coops/barns. And if you do, are you robbing banks to pay the bills to heat them these last two winters?

 

[ChickCrazed]

Well, I think this morning will result in me having lavender roos with combs as smooth as a baby's bottom. I have heat, but not enough heat for subzero for this many days, and I just keep seeing more black and gray. It's really a shame. I should have taken more photos of the boys in the fall, but they were still babies then (late May hatch). Ugh.

People who show must spend a fortune on electricity to keep enough heat to 100% protect those combs.

I am frozen half solid myself, and need to go throw more straw out there. I have to warm back up before I go back out there again! One waterer is frozen and there isn't a ****** thing I can do about it except give them fresh water every hour. I can't even open it, it's frozen shut, even with all the exterior ice chipped away.

I did not sign up to live in Outer Siberia. I can't wait until we retire and can move further south!!! I'll take an occasional ice storm in exchange for all these months of subfreezing weather.

Sorry to carry on, but I know all of you have got to be frozen, too, unless you have completely heated coops/barns. And if you do, are you robbing banks to pay the bills to heat them these last two winters?

That stinks. Heiser has a bit of gray on the end of a couple of comb nubs, but all in all he has held up well. I don't have heat in my coop but I have a very tall shed so there is plenty of room for moisture to rise. I think that helps in my situation. I sure couldn't afford to heat my shed! My dream house will have an insulated barn attached to the garage so I never have to set foot outside in this weather. Someday......

This weather really is the pits. I do think it has been better than last year since we have had some higher temp days throughout, but all of the back and forth in temperatures is really hard on the animals. I think that is why so many are experiencing loss this year. I've been lucky and I haven't lost any, but I get worried every time I go out there and am looking for signs of trouble.

 

[EmSteele]

Went to TSC in Bedford yesterday morning...
They will be using a different hatchery this year..Privett was awful :-\ AND the lady over the chicks this year is awesome! She raises chickens herself and genuinely cares! Husband amd I may go take a look soon..they get their first shipment today!

 

[birdman55]

These are pics of my Golden Cuckoo Marans breeding pair as requested by @racinchickins. The hen and a pic of her egg far left. This is from today which I also found this little pipsqueak egg too! Lol thought I'd share.


The cock is single barred as I bred my hen to my Black Copper Marans roo in order to improve the GCM egg color. As you can see her egg color is in need of improvement! I had also hoped to add shank feathering but only got a few..better than none I guess. They are still a work in progress.

lovely birds...they are so pretty

Lockdown for my shipped NN eggs. Out of 15, 11 made it to lockdown. Woohoo! Only a few with funky air cells so hoping that the majority hatch ok. Out of 8 of my own silkie eggs only 2 made it to lockdown. Now out of 8 that the silkie is brooding herself, I candle today and only veining in 2 of those. Hmmm.

I can tell the 2 are from the same hen. Just not sure which one and makes me wonder why only 1 of the girls is getting mated. Or maybe it's a fluff problem. Anyways, doing some fertility hatching for them. Glad I did.

Oh and excited about these NN, they are blue and barred!!

congrats...cant wait to see some pics....

EMU eggs are chugging right along. I will be doing a "wiggle test" on day 33-35. I'm only on day 2! Hahahaha! This is going to be torturous!

I figure hatch date will be around 4/11

i always wanted to hatch some...just dont have the pen space for them....do keep us posted

 

[racinchickins]

Quote:

Loved this post! I have learned to grind a lotta stuff to make it more workable. We do homemade summer sausage with the hogs, and DH is building a smoker so we don't have to borrow his buddy's lol. Its so very much better in flavor, you can adjust seasoning and spices.. regrind for firmer sausage etc. So many things to try! I am dying to try mozzarella with the goat milk this year, so far, looks like both does are expecting too!

Have you picked out any recipes for the mozzarella cheese yet? I was thinking of trying to get something together to attempt a batch next weekend. The weather is not looking favorable for a trip to Salem's festival so why not make cheese?

Wade has made mozzarella cheese for us in the past. If you want, I can ask if he'd show you.

These are pics of my Golden Cuckoo Marans breeding pair as requested by @racinchickins. The hen and a pic of her egg far left. This is from today which I also found this little pipsqueak egg too! Lol thought I'd share.


The cock is single barred as I bred my hen to my Black Copper Marans roo in order to improve the GCM egg color. As you can see her egg color is in need of improvement! I had also hoped to add shank feathering but only got a few..better than none I guess. They are still a work in progress.

Beautiful. I'd definitely like to add a couple to my flock. I really like the autosexing breeds, as you know where you stand right at hatch. Let me know when you have what you want for yourself for the year and are ready to sell eggs or chicks.

EMU eggs are chugging right along. I will be doing a "wiggle test" on day 33-35. I'm only on day 2! Hahahaha! This is going to be torturous!

I figure hatch date will be around 4/11

Are you selling tickets to watch the hatch?

One last post... Some of us are so intrigued by our poultry, waterfowl and livestock we have begun looking at other breeds. If you open your mind to whats out there, a lot of good heritage breed animals have been forgotten. Some of us are making an effort to keep and preserve even one of them. Here is a list from the Livestock Conservancy that may trigger a breed you didn't know about, and might consider keeping.
http://www.livestockconservancy.org/index.php/heritage/internal/conservation-priority-list
If you have a desire to add to your flock, or your farm, why not take a look? After looking at this 2 years ago, Midget White Turkey became a priority for me. Household sizes are dwindling, and a smaller bird is easier to cook, frequently. They are exceptional at free ranging and foraging, and keep easier, like an average chicken, just bigger! Its not the same to process a younger turkey, I wont go into the details but a heritage poult is still developing bones, not muscle until they reach 8 months to a year old.
Modern game became of interest to me last year thanks to @bradselig and I adore them. I currently only keep bantam.

A big X2 here! I picked Mottled Javas as the heritage breed I want to work with, and am very happy with them. I also have MW turkeys and will be working with Jchny2000 and others to make sure we have a sustainable flock of them in the Indy area. It is very rewarding to know you are stewarding a piece of history (and still getting eggs in the bargain!) I'll admit to having my share of 'modern' breeds too, but If I had to reduce to just one breed, I'd make sure it was one of the heritage breeds that need preserving.

 

[iamfivewire]

i viewed the livestock consrvatory link of endangered animals - we have a few Chanteclers & 1 Delaware (both on the list) - i was suprised that Iowa Blues weren't listed - maybe since they arent an officially recognized breed by the APA .

 

[ellymayRans]

One last post... Some of us are so intrigued by our poultry, waterfowl and livestock we have begun looking at other breeds. If you open your mind to whats out there, a lot of good heritage breed animals have been forgotten. Some of us are making an effort to keep and preserve even one of them. Here is a list from the Livestock Conservancy that may trigger a breed you didn't know about, and might consider keeping.
http://www.livestockconservancy.org/index.php/heritage/internal/conservation-priority-list
If you have a desire to add to your flock, or your farm, why not take a look? After looking at this 2 years ago, Midget White Turkey became a priority for me. Household sizes are dwindling, and a smaller bird is easier to cook, frequently. They are exceptional at free ranging and foraging, and keep easier, like an average chicken, just bigger! Its not the same to process a younger turkey, I wont go into the details but a heritage poult is still developing bones, not muscle until they reach 8 months to a year old.
Modern game became of interest to me last year thanks to @bradselig
and I adore them. I currently only keep bantam.

I am glad you posted this. My original goal was having at risk breeds. Now that I've been doing this a while I realize..hello you can't help them if you don't breed them!
My original 6 girls I got a Salmon Favorelles and a Dominique. My poor Dom was killed by a hawk several years ago but I have decided to build my SF flock to start working with them. Anyone who's ever met her loves her as do I. I was so excited last year when I hatched one of her babies, a mixed bird though as I have no SF roo so I've been searching for one with no luck so just decided to get chicks. I'm sure I'll get a roo out of those.

 

[ellymayRans]

Wade has made mozzarella cheese for us in the past.  If you want, I can ask if he'd show you.

Beautiful.  I'd definitely like to add a couple to my flock.  I really like the autosexing breeds, as you know where you stand right at hatch.  Let me know when you have what you want for yourself for the year and are ready to sell eggs or chicks.

Are you selling tickets to watch the hatch?

A big X2 here!   I picked Mottled Javas as the heritage breed I want to work with, and am very happy with them.  I also have MW turkeys and will be working with Jchny2000 and others to make sure we have a sustainable flock of them in the Indy area.  It is very rewarding to know you are stewarding a piece of history (and still getting eggs in the bargain!)  I'll admit to having my share of 'modern' breeds too, but If I had to reduce to just one breed, I'd make sure it was one of the heritage breeds that need preserving.

I will post when I'm done gathering for myself this spring but I have got to get on this! We had the flu go through all of the house for 2 weeks and I didn't feel normal for a week! Weather isn't cooperating either! I thought for sure I'd be able to do some building and temp penning by now but no such luck!

Good idea about offering admission tickets! Lol!

 

[minmin1258]

 
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...????

Beef fat and pork fat are both really great for making soap! If you can get it from the butcher go for it! When your soap recipe calls for oil use your rendered fat!!!

 

[PeacefulWalls]

i viewed the livestock consrvatory link of endangered animals - we have a few Chanteclers & 1 Delaware (both on the list) - i was suprised that Iowa Blues weren't listed - maybe since they arent an officially recognized breed by the APA .

When we first got started in rabbits we wanted to raise an endangered breed so that helped us settle on the Silver Fox rabbit. Since then (about 8 years ago), the Silver Fox has moved from the critical to the threatened list. The list also helped us select our duck breed -- Ancona -- which is on the endangered list. The Livestock Conservancy website is very interesting to explore. Here's what their website says about criteria for poultry:

Parameters of Poultry Breeds on the Conservation Priority List

Poultry breeds on the Conservation Priority List generally conform to certain genetic and numerical parameters.

1. The breed is from one of the four traditional U.S. poultry species (chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys).
2. A bantam breed may be listed if there is no large fowl counterpart.
3. The breed census satisfies numerical guidelines:
   • Critical: Fewer than 500 breeding birds in the United States, with five or fewer primary breeding flocks (50 birds or more), and estimated global population less than 1,000.
   • Threatened: Fewer than 1,000 breeding birds in the United States, with seven or fewer primary breeding flocks, and estimated global population less than 5,000.
   • Watch: Fewer than 5,000 breeding birds in the United States, with ten or fewer primary breeding flocks, and estimated global population less than 10,000. Also included are breeds with genetic or numerical concerns or limited geographic distribution.
   • Recovering: Breeds that were once listed in another category and have exceeded Watch category numbers but are still in need of monitoring.
   • Study: Breeds that are of interest but either lack definition or lack genetic or historical documentation.
4. The breed is a true genetic breed (when mated together, it reproduces the breed type.)
5. The breed has had an established and continuously breeding population in North America since 1925. Or, if imported or developed since 1925,
   • The foundation stock is no longer available.
   • Must meet numeric guidelines for inclusion.
   • Must have at least five breeders in different locations in the United States.
   • The global population is threatened and the United States population is making a contribution to conservation of the breed.

Breeds not meeting all these criteria may be placed in the "Study" category and monitored.