INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[hanakimi]

Do chickens eat strawberry plants? Mine were doing great in 2012. In June 2013, something came along & ate about 2/3 of my berry bed. Just as the little nubs started to get leaves, the critter came back & finished them off. I went from 200 plants down to about 70! Last spring I spread out my few remaining plants, but didn't get enough to feed my family. That's why I'm wondering if my hens were up to something. They can have all the mulberries they wish. They leave the blueberries & raspberries alone, but the same type of mini fence is around the strawberries.

i don't know about plants as my hens are in a run but i give mine the strawberry top greens when i buy strawberries to eat and it's one of their favorite treats

 

[birdman55]

Well again can't say enough good things about gqf! Received my replacement door and back panel today. Was surprised to open it ip to see they upgraded the door to the clear at no additional charge! Got it installed!

ahhh.....so jealous...look like you found a money tree...lol....i had to do a double take on the unit...with the glass door....that looks so nice...i just got the top water feed units for both the hatcher and incubator...very easy to instal....works great...are you using ro water or distilled water....? also got in peafowl egg trays/quail trays and quail breeding pen so super excited...been busy in this nice warm day today.. was behind....100 posts but all caught up now

 

[birdman55]

add....that you might want to watch for leaks on the bottom....seems to me that the cabinet gqf that i have has water on the bottom and i have it at an angle and it comes out from one corner...noticed it after a week of use...just giving you heads up ....on that fancy carpet...

 

[chick rookie]

I would. You'll need to thoroughly dry them and keep them somewhere warm til the temp outside is warm. For us tomorrow during the day would be fine but I'm not sure what your temps are.

I dried them with a blow dryer, Romeo actually liked it I think... lol It is going to be in the low 50's tomorrow. ya think that would be warm enough? I just may keep them in till spring, they have been in most the winter anyway, It warmed up so I put them out and I guess I shouldn't have. Dang big chickens!!!!!

 

[ellymayRans]

I dried them with a blow dryer, Romeo actually liked it I think... lol  It is going to be in the low 50's tomorrow. ya think that would be warm enough? I just may keep them in till spring, they have been in most the winter anyway, It warmed up so I put them out and I guess I shouldn't have. Dang big chickens!!!!!

I think 50's is fine. Of course if you don't want them all muddy again that's up to you. I personally would put them back out as soon as possible because I wouldn't want to deal with reintroducing them!

 

[SallyinIndiana]

@flyladyrocks I don't have recent pictures of the goats. If I did my nubians would look overly large as they are both pregnant right now. The doe I got from Janet is smaller but also a few months younger. Janet's doe plays much like a dear would. Its great entertainment but I'm not sure how it would work in a neighborhood. Nubians are loud if they get to thinking they are missing someone or something. For example I pulled one from the pen to trim hooves. The other doe and the buck kept say Ma Maa MAAAAA over and over till my DH came outside to see what was wrong. It worked wonderfully as about that time i was ready for him to do his part. Trimming hooves is much easier with 2 people.
They also get loud when the neighbor mows the grass on the other side of their fence. For now he thinks they are talking to him telling him he is doing great. I think they are scolding him as they secretly hope to get over there and eat his grass.

here is a good inforamtive site to start out reading. Then the dairy goat organization pages have more information. And if you join the American Dairy group they will mail you more information. And of course there is the library, lots of goat raising books there.
http://www.ansc.purdue.edu/goat/factsheet/

 

[Leahs Mom]

I know a lady that keeps goats in a St. Louis city neighborhood. Whole back yard is fenced for the goats and they come into the garage for milking. Their part of the city still allows livestock!

She said that if she gets a noisy goat, she gets rid of it right away; only keeps the quiet ones so as not to bother the neighbors.

 

[flyladyrocks]

@flyladyrocks I don't have recent pictures of the goats. If I did my nubians would look overly large as they are both pregnant right now. The doe I got from Janet is smaller but also a few months younger. Janet's doe plays much like a dear would. Its great entertainment but I'm not sure how it would work in a neighborhood. Nubians are loud if they get to thinking they are missing someone or something. For example I pulled one from the pen to trim hooves. The other doe and the buck kept say Ma Maa MAAAAA over and over till my DH came outside to see what was wrong. It worked wonderfully as about that time i was ready for him to do his part. Trimming hooves is much easier with 2 people.
They also get loud when the neighbor mows the grass on the other side of their fence. For now he thinks they are talking to him telling him he is doing great. I think they are scolding him as they secretly hope to get over there and eat his grass.

here is a good inforamtive site to start out reading. Then the dairy goat organization pages have more information. And if you join the American Dairy group they will mail you more information. And of course there is the library, lots of goat raising books there.
http://www.ansc.purdue.edu/goat/factsheet/

We can have livestock in the city. We have whole farms smack dab in the middle of Indianapolis - those farmers that have held out and not sold their land! I thought that was the funniest thing when I moved here. No swine is the only limitation on type. For larger animals like horses, cows and llamas you have to have a certain acreage.

I know a lady that keeps goats in a St. Louis city neighborhood. Whole back yard is fenced for the goats and they come into the garage for milking. Their part of the city still allows livestock!

She said that if she gets a noisy goat, she gets rid of it right away; only keeps the quiet ones so as not to bother the neighbors.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

the smaller the goat the harder milking can be for large hands. Goat milking pumps are not cheap like chicken nesting boxes but instead can cost as much or more than a chicken coop. I got one of the cheapest versions I'm hoping lasts the first couple of years. It was close to $175 with shipping. I won't know if I like it until at least May.

 

[Acornewell]

Thought I would share craigslist Wookie's beak progress!


I am so pleased that his face is actually straightening out!!! Poor guy! I hope he is happier!