INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[oldrooster]

Behind on posts again--can't seem to keep caught up.
A week ago I posted that I was having my flock tested because of an unusual number of deaths. The vet from BOAH came last Saturday and I got the results Tuesday. Clean!

The vet commented that he would rather test 20 false alarms than find one positive.

I think we are supposed to be behind and skip posts in this thread. I'll never be able to keep up.......

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Behind on posts again--can't seem to keep caught up.
A week ago I posted that I was having my flock tested because of an unusual number of deaths. The vet from BOAH came last Saturday and I got the results Tuesday. Clean!

The vet commented that he would rather test 20 false alarms than find one positive.

If you don't mind can you message me the cost of such a test. I have not had birds dying still I am interested in getting my actual birds tested. I already get eggs tested but if the cost is not too much I would like to test my birds too.


In other great new, my Porter Turkey order is on its way here. He even called to let me know.

 

[oldrooster]

Quote:
about the trash issue contact the health department telling them the house is uninhabitable. or possibly the adult protective services that she is either unwilling or unable to care for herself. either is likely true.....

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Last year we were letting one side of our yard grow tall tall grass as I knew I was getting goats. Our neighbors came over and offered to mow it for us. I almost feel bad for them. Then we put up the goat fencing around all of the tall grass. At that point I think they got the hint that we had no more plans to mow the grass as short as they would prefer.

 

[Indyshent]

Just wanted to stop in and say that our chooks are working out pretty well None of the birds are shaping up to be remotely show quality--all have wrong combs, colors, stuff like that--but most of them are super sweet. Biggest favorite are the Brahmas so far this year. The three Dark Brahmas are some of the sweetest birds I've ever met--and they're big, quiet and fluffy to boot. Can't beat that with a stick.

We have four Wellies, but the rooster is definitely developing a crown comb and starting to make a more normal crow now and then. When he first started crowing, it sounded like the Good, the Bad and the Ugly themesong. One EE has a rather average crow, and the other periodically squawks. None of them crow often (

*I had to rehome all my boys last year because of incessant crowing) and you would never guess that I have... think it's up to... lemme bring out my finger tallies now... 1 Australorp, 1 Wellie, 2 EEs, 2 Dark Brahmas, 1 Partridge Rock, 1 silkie, 1 mille fleur D'Uccle... 9 roosters total on a postage stamp yard in downtown Indy. *Doesn't include the two BO cockerals who died (those were also "sexed pullets"). 5 of these boys haven't crowed yet even though they're much older than the other 4 were when they started crowing.

The mille fleur is by far the youngest and tiniest of the lot and has already started crowing (pathetic squawking that it is). He doesn't so it around the big boys though 'cause they'd likely peck him . He's tiny even for a bantum (the silkies are easily three times his size so far) but he's got attitude in spades and husbands the other two banties and the four youngest ducks like he was born for the job. Might weigh a pound soaking wet.

 

[hoosiercheetah]

Had my first adventure with flock combining today. Flock 1 consists of 7 laying hens, Flock 2 is 7 pullets and 2 roos, all about 9 or10 weeks old. For the last month, they've shared a coop divided in the middle by chicken wire to create a look-not-touch environment. Each side of the coop has it's own run.

So this morning I let them all out in the yard at the same time, for the first time.

The hens mostly ignored the pullets and went about their business. The pullets did the same. Overall, pretty successful.

Two of the hens, my golden comets, were pretty aggressive with the younger birds; there was some chasing and a few pulled feathers.

The two roos did not appreciate my one white hen, and chased her around until she ran back into her run. They left everyone else alone.

They all went back into their separate places when the rain started. Good times!

 

[Proverb31mama]

I love reading on here about everyone's experiences.

Our chickens are doing great we started letting them out last Wednesday. We let them out for about an hour in a small playpen/dog yard thing. The next day I let them out most of the day in the pen thing and checked on them every hour or two. The next day I let them free range for several hours while sitting outside keeping an eye on them. The next day we let them free range all day while checking on them regularly. Now they get to free range all day! They are sooo happy to be out! They are having the time of their life foraging around all over. And they are willing to get pretty close to me when I am out gardening and such. We are all enjoying watching them. The boys help me throw in grass clippings for bedding and give them treats. They also love to say hi to the hens and today I saw them playing follow the chicken (not chase, follow, they were following her as she meandered along). Today we have gotten 6 eggs so far from our 11 hens. Hopefully they will all be laying soon, although I think 1 is molting. They all run to the coop if they are scared. And they all go in there at night and roost without any prompting. Oh and I found out what the other two breeds are. We have 1 black sex link, 1 white leghorn, 5 Isa Browns, and 4 buff orpingtons.

 

[Indyshent]

Had my first adventure with flock combining today. Flock 1 consists of 7 laying hens, Flock 2 is 7 pullets and 2 roos, all about 9 or10 weeks old. For the last month, they've shared a coop divided in the middle by chicken wire to create a look-not-touch environment. Each side of the coop has it's own run.

So this morning I let them all out in the yard at the same time, for the first time.

The hens mostly ignored the pullets and went about their business. The pullets did the same. Overall, pretty successful.

Two of the hens, my golden comets, were pretty aggressive with the younger birds; there was some chasing and a few pulled feathers.

The two roos did not appreciate my one white hen, and chased her around until she ran back into her run. They left everyone else alone.

They all went back into their separate places when the rain started. Good times!

Pretty good, I'd say!

RIR and their relatives are really good about knowing who does and does not belong. If anyone's going to give you fits about flock integration, it's usually them right off the bat. The RIR rooster was great about integration (but had a keen eye for people and animals that didn't belong), but the RIR and gold comets picked on new chickens. Runner up from last year's flock was the White Leghorn hen.

This year, my eldest Australorp "Black Betty" and the eldest SLW (purchased at same time as Betty) are the dominant hens and keep a keen eye on those who came later. They eventually warm up to newbies but it takes a long time (esp for Betty). Mostly, they don't like it when newbies run in terror, shrieking through the yard, or when the turkeys fight. The SLW hen and her Light Brahma cohort "Shakira" are the first responders to anything resembling fights in my yard.

So far, I haven't had a rooster be remotely aggressive to newbies. Cordon Blue is the most aggressive roo I've had, and he never does more than puff up his hackles and play clap games with my Wellie.

 

[barb s]

Chickenfest is still on. We will be having bio security measures in place and no live birds will be allowed. Hatching eggs will be permitted.

Extending the deadline to RSVP for Chickenfest to June 13th.


SallyinIndiana is still looking for designs for next year's fund raisers. Pm her with your designs. If your design is selected for any of the fund raisers I will award you a one year subscription to poultry press.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I think DH is trying to push me into a goat breed that I don't want... and it's not that I don't like the breed it's just that I Don't want to sell a kid KNOWING what that kid will most likely end up as someones dinner. If you eat goat meat that's fine, not saying anyone should not, I don't and I cant even think about that being served at my house, but that's me. Anyway, I went in another direction, sorry my brain is just scattered this morning.. lol.
So DH goes to the auction Saturday to mainly sell some barn clean out hay, and get rid of a very mean roo and My broody hen that eats her eggs ie.. chicks... ( I know you cant sell chickens at auction right now, we have a friend that buys and sells all the time, anyway after this bird flu stuff is over, he is going to replace with 2 hens ) So anyway he sells the hay and a few other little things he took and comes home with A Boar Goat Doe!!!! I have LaMancha's and Nubian x's Dh would like to get into Oberhasssies ( o my that is so spelled wrong... but for the life of me I just cant spell right now and spell check has no ideal what I'm trying to say... lol ) And Toggs, and I'm ok with that. But Y a Boar goat???? Well I'll tell ya why..The ding bat was playing with his HAT during bidding, he wasn't even watching... he was talking to some friends with his back turned even..... He was told all sells are final... So now we have a Boar goat.


How old do you guys think she is? I think only a couple of mths, and should still be on milk, but she is already weaned and I cant get he to take a bottle at all. Do ya think she will have health problems because of being weaned so early??
She is half wild ( working on that ) her front legs are messed up, her hooves point in and her elbows point out. Most the time she walks around with a hunched back ( down not up ) but she eats great and gets around good although I have not seen her " playing " or Jumping. She acts like she is a old nanny.
OP's please.

What a pretty doeling! LOL its Oberhasli, It took me awhile to remember the spelling too! They are closely related to swiss alpine, but smaller stature. Anyways, if she is readily feeding on hay and refuses milk, she is probably fine. My 4 week old is eating hay and feed already, and mama Sophie is pushing her off a lot. I will normally wean around 8 weeks if Mama hasn't weaned them already. One of the things I have learned is selenium deficiency can be a problem, so a good vitamin additive will help her improve, and good quality feed/hay. I would have a fecal done also, or worm her to be sure she isn't bringing anything into your herd. Her tummy looks a bit round, so I would be sure there is no worm issues. Be sure to examine her legs and hooves too.
Aside from that, you can milk Boers if thats part of why you keep goats. The milk isn't quite what you would get from a milk breed but definitely still healthy.

Any day I sell chicks is a good day. One little black/lav split Orp went to live with @jchny2000 . Four others (2M, 2F) went to some list "lurkers" near Terre Haute, and they want several more pullets. I also have some pullets reserved for a return buyer, and the start of those will go to them later this week. The only bad thing is that I know I will probably wind up with over a dozen boys that I don't need, and at this time of year may or may not be able to sell. I'll keep a few lav cockerels for myself to whittle down, but with Cogburn, I have no need for a better black split roo in any way, shape, or form. He's my baby! Anyway, maybe a few boys will be wanted to replace predator losses, but I suspect a number will be @SallyinIndiana 's table roosters. I will try to talk these buyers into taking "just one more" free, too. I hate culling healthy boys.

My black and blue English Orp cockerels look great (if gawky), as does their black sister. I can't repeat that breeding, so they stay unless they turn ugly, and right now they look very nice, and the boys are very heavy bodied. Splashes and blues will be on the agenda for next year instead of Jubilees!

Speaking of which, the sick Jubilee hen seens absolutely fine now. I need to check to see if she resumed laying, but she is active and eating, and has been for the last 5-6 days. I gave her LA-200 and B-complex, and SC fluids when she was really feverish. She does not feel feverish to the touch any more, and since neither of us enjoys the thermometer use, I'm just going to trust that she is as normal as she looks. She's been off antibiotics for a good 5 days.

Goodnight all!

Thanks so much for stopping in, and I adore my new fella!