INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Mother2Hens]

@Leahs Mom Isn't the idea to just have one goose or do you have more than one flock?

I'm wondering, too, if you have a goose that basically acts as the flock leader, does the goose sleep on the floor of the coop along with the chickens? Did the author recommend a particular breed? I am just curious. Unfortunately, I'm afraid a goose would be too loud for my subdivision.
@kittydoc Were you the one who had a customer looking for these?
Originally Posted by bradselig
There is a local lady who has salmon faverolles. Right now she has some chicks available for $3 each as she isn't sure if they are full blood favs. She has a polish roo running around with them as well. I purchased some silkies from her last year and her favs were beautiful birds. Here is a picture she posted of her birds. If anyone is interested let me know and I can pass along her info. She is on Facebook.

 

[browncow15]

Those of you that sell eating eggs... Do you wash them before you sell them? I haven't before now but I'm feeling self conscious about them. For some reason my hens have been getting them extra poopy lately

 

[kabhyper1]

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If mine are poopy I wash them. If they are really nasty I toss them. They have to be pretty bad though. My girls like to lay thier eggs in our alpacas hay bins. So most of them come out with a nice hay tinted patina. I have family that arent easily grossed out, so they are happy to take the dirtier eggs. I try to save back the cleaner ones for the city folks. lol. I usually just use warm water and I have used dawn if they are super dirty.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Those of you that sell eating eggs... Do you wash them before you sell them? I haven't before now but I'm feeling self conscious about them. For some reason my hens have been getting them extra poopy lately

I don't wash.

But... if there are any with pooh on them I usually hold those out and make hard boiled eggs with them. I don't usually have a lot but that's a good use and I have some in the fridge ready to take for lunch, etc.

If I get poopy ones..... I be sure there is clean grass in the nest boxex and check to be sure there aren't any issues with the feed.

 

[pbirdhaven]

Brad or someone please continue educate me on the "weakness" of Polish chicks. Hoping to add some Polish Frizzles from @pbirdhaven. Will brooding with silkies work? Any other tips?

I have raised one batch of Polish chicks and had 3 of 7 not make it past the first couple weeks. I did everything the same as with many other batches of chicks as far as water, feed,electrolytes etc. I don't know why b/c that's the only time I've tried but they just seem more fragile than lots of other breeds. Mine were by themselves, not mixed with others and all the same age. I never figured out exactly what/why happened but they are notoriously (from reading) harder to raise

In my experience the chicks are more likely to contract cocci than most other breeds, even in a clean brooder. I wonder if there is some heredity involved since there is a lot of inbreeding because of the relatively few number of breeders. We tend to replenish our flocks from each other, and so....

Most breeders I know (including me!) don't sell Polish chicks, only adult or well started birds because they are more delicate than many of the other breeds. That being said, I have a LF white cock that I bought several years ago as a 6-month old. Also have a splash LF who survived eye worms; she's blind, but perks right along. I just have to be careful about changing anything in the pen.
I also have a bantam WCB hen who was 2 or 3 years old when I bought her in 2011, and she has started laying for the year--none of the others have.

I do sell 3-4 months (if they're going to die as chicks, it's generally sooner than that.) chicks to people that I know, because then they can contact me if there is a problem. They do need to be kept separate from other breeds, although I have had no problem with silkies and Polish together. I think they both have trouble seeing and so respect one another!

My LF Polish are in outside pens with sheds or dog houses and are pretty winter hardy with the exception of dragging their crests through the water. They get hair cuts if that happens. The bantams are caged in sheds by breeding pairs or trios.

Quarantining is a must, as with any new arrivals. I once had a buyer who said that the 12-week LF pair that I had sold him died within a couple of weeks. I asked about quarantining, and he said, "Yes, they were in their own cage and none of the other chickens in the room had a problem."

I thought he knew better!

Polish are definitely a high-maintenance breed. They are highly susceptible to crest mites, although I have not had that problem with the LF, only the bantams. I treat them with Frontline spray--small dabs at the base of the neck, near the vent, and under the wings. I also wash the crests with Adams flea, tick, and lice shampoo. Washing isn't something that has to be done frequently, only if the mites appear.

So why do we keep them? They are a lovely, friendly breed, and a real joy to have around.

 

[wabashchickens]

I got these from big r today!!!!!!!!!

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

She is healing nicely! She is a doll, and just gorgeous! I have seen this wound type from 3 things, a roo got his head stuck on the goat fence, and had scraped his neck raw trying to get loose. I had a hen with injuries from repeated mating, she seemed to be a "favorite" so I had to remove her from a flock. More recently another hen, and no clue what happened but she is a mean aggressive hen, so am guessing a fight with a turkey. 2 of the 3 had a large area of exposed flesh, and all 3 healed well. Often, just one spot being opened will lead to a bad wound, usually from repeated scratching with dirty claws. Even the cleanest coop, they can start an infection. More infection, more scratching.. and it gets bad quickly.

She's something, anyway. I get the feeling I'm going to miss her more than I think once it warms up and she can go back out with the others. I do rather like waking up to the honk-honk-honking of my precious Frou-frou every morning... I thought at first that she had scratched it to this point, as you say, but I'm not sure anymore. They haven't had a rooster in with them since we lost Po last June, so it definitely isn't a rooster injury, and there's really nothing for her to get her head stuck in. I'm starting to wonder, though, if it may actually be a case of boredom picking... The girls are used to an occasional free-range throughout winter with the occasional melt-off that we usually get. This winter, they have literally spent 2 months stuck in their coop, with a shoveled area just outside and a path to their doghouse at the center of the chicken yard. I'm not sure which theory to go with, as both seem equally as plausible... Either way, I'm now very much more aware of possible hidden injuries under these girls' fluffy feathers, especially the super fluffy ones like the Wyandottes. I don't want to let this happen to the extent that it has on Frou'f ever again! :/

The legs on these guys always amaze me! They look like they're on stilts!

[rule]@pipdzipdnreadytogo [COLOR=8B4513]If the poofy tail feather picking is from boredom, I guess that makes sense since they've been spending the past week hanging out in the garage for the most part. Fortunately, no one is picking on tiny Monday-- just her two larger sisters. I do think that their gregarious personalities cause them to get their feathers picked. Those young girls just get on the older ones' nerves when they're all suffering from cabin fever. haha[/COLOR] [rule][COLOR=8B4513]I let them out in the front while the afternoon sun was beating down.[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]For next winter, I'm going to make a note in my calendar to grow some grass indoors for times like this when ice and snow covers everything.[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]I have chopped up spinach and other greens, but there's apparently just something special about a tasty blade of grass![/COLOR]

Yes, and from what I can see of them in your group picture, it does look like typical feather picking. :/ Some birds just have the personality for it. I don't know why certain birds let it happen to them, either, as it doesn't seem to have anything to do with how assertive they are! I had planned to grow fodder / sprouts (the terminology still confuses me) as well for this winter. Read up on it, was all prepared to do it, but never got around to it. I think I'll be marking my whiteboard as well to remind me. I think if this is how our winters are going to be, they'll appreciate having some grass at some point in the season. :/ I love the look on Monday's face. What a sweetie! Bantam Cochins have to be among my favorite breeds!

I prefer a risk management type of approach. Since my rate so far is one loss a year like this out of over 100 chickens, I'm thinking of it more as a data point to keep an eye on than something that warrants a necropsy at this time. I've lost other chickens over that time frame, but I knew the cause for each.

I understand. Put into perspective, it doesn't seem that far off.

So I'm throwing around the idea of selling my spangled/mottled orp pullet. I've given up hope on getting the trio that is owed to me and really don't have the pen space for a single hen. I'm really loving the breed/variety and still unsure if I will sell her. If I remember correctly she is of Autumn farms bloodline. These are definitely not a cheap breed and Im really not sure what I'm going to be asking for her. So if anyone is interested shoot me a pm.

She is lovely! She should have no problem finding a home!

I don't wash. But... if there are any with pooh on them I usually hold those out and make hard boiled eggs with them. I don't usually have a lot but that's a good use and I have some in the fridge ready to take for lunch, etc. If I get poopy ones..... I be sure there is clean grass in the nest boxex and check to be sure there aren't any issues with the feed.

I have issues with droppings on my eggs. I toss any that have droppings on them unless it's a very small amount. BUT, I also don't sell them, so it doesn't matter as much for me. Anyway, I just wanted to say I agree with this post. If you're getting a lot of 'poo-eggs' recently, look into what could be the cause, such as dirty boxes or something wrong with the food.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

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Have you considered having a necropsy done to confirm this? I don't know, it just seems a little too strange for my liking...

I agree, Barnies have some of the loveliest lacing.

Have you seen the silver double laced Barnevelders? They're definitely on my 'want' list!

I prefer a risk management type of approach. Since my rate so far is one loss a year like this out of over 100 chickens, I'm thinking of it more as a data point to keep an eye on than something that warrants a necropsy at this time. I've lost other chickens over that time frame, but I knew the cause for each.

@racinchickins So sorry to hear about your double laced Barnevelder! That is heartbreaking. They are one of my dream chickens as far as absolute gorgeous looks. How are their temperaments in general?

As far as temperament goes, they are on the calmer end. Not as big on foraging as some of the smaller breeds, but they do get out and wander with the flock.
I agree with your feeling on necropsy. With the size flocks we have, you can expect a loss on occasion. The bigger the flock, more varied species, the more things that can happen.

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These are the trays I got that are not so good in the incubator. good for collecting and sorting, but too flimsy with larger eggs. also not quite wide enough, had to use a bungee to keep it from slipping off the rack. I was able to incubate goose eggs upright in the largest trays. I only ran into 3 or 4 last season that were just too long. I did find I have a little better hatch rate in geese if incubated on the side, but it may have been the timing or time of year they were laid also.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

My eggs in the bator are due to hatch tomorrow. .had to go into the office today and of course just as I left I had one of the Blue NN's externally pipped!! I so love watching and it's just going to drive me crazy not being there! They never hatch very soon after so I'm sure I won't miss anything but!!hate it!

hatching vibes!

I hate to pass it up but I have no way of transporting but there's a Free nice looking shed on CL under Indy free stuff!

Ugh, I better pass. It will make me get more birds lol!

There is a local lady who has salmon faverolles. Right now she has some chicks available for $3 each as she isn't sure if they are full blood favs. She has a polish roo running around with them as well. I purchased some silkies from her last year and her favs were beautiful birds. Here is a picture she posted of her birds. If anyone is interested let me know and I can pass along her info. She is on Facebook.

Gorgeous birds!

 

[birdman55]

well i thought i would share...you ever wonder what some people think...i was just joking around with some people about this with people from the south....and then i see this....YES THIS IS FOR REAL AND YOU HAVE TO SEE FOR YOURSELF...people go to work to make money this guy does this.....wow
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/trendin...snow-from-boston-to-your-door--195144958.html