INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Chaneys Ranch]

I caught a varmint!

Hopefully she's the only one but I doubt it! The trapping continues!


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WTG!!!!!!!

Two more chicks hatched! The butterscotch colored one yesterday, and the silver colored chipmunk this morning! I'm glad I've been checking so often, the "mamas" had this latest one pushed completely out of the nest. It was cold and wet when I found it, but dry and toasty and chirping now with the others. I don't have an incubator or I'd have taken all the eggs
from them. I think the other eggs still have another week or so to go.

Too precious!

Something got 6 out of 7 chicks that my 3 broodies were sharing. The one left, a CCL ROOSTER.
It was not a good morning this morning.

I have more eggs going into lockdown in a couple of days so I might slip some of those into the broody nest tonight as I know they want chicks.

I am so sorry to hear. Really frustrating!
I am fighting with possum and raccoon right now, trapping nightly. My neighbor had them climbing on his coop before dark, trying to get at his birds.

Quote: You betcha!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote:

you aren't kidding! Guess we all have a lot to say!

Quote: Awesome news!

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.

LOL oops. Mine know, they actually hope we incorporate the north field for our pasture area when we expand the goats pen. they adore my Sugar and the kids like to offer her maple leaves. We have some bushes to remove before they get the pasture, as well as more fencing.

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.

great to see you!

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!

Sounds like the perfect merge, great job!

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.

Its a real pleasure to see them out free ranging and just being chickens, isn't it! We love our "chicken TV" time, you learn who has quirky personalities, who is bossy. And its fantastic stress relief.

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.

Thanks for posting!!! What a generous offer!

 

[Proverb31mama]

Its a real pleasure to see them out free ranging and just being chickens, isn't it! We love our "chicken TV" time, you learn who has quirky personalities, who is bossy. And its fantastic stress relief.

Yes it is so much fun! I have been surprised at how adventurous and curious they are, one is especially brave, I call her Crafty (because she tried to walk around people to escape the coop during the confinement when the others just stayed back). My kids love watching them too and talk about them a lot. I have found that I have been finding more excuses to go outside so I can "check" on them

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: We still sit in the lawn chairs and watch lol. Funniest thing we saw yet.. I was eating a taco, and my rooster decided he was sharing! Jumped right up on the chair and snatched it mid bite right out of my hands! Guess he liked taco bell

too funny to be mad, taco football all over the yard with the entire flock.

 

[Mother2Hens]

They will be 2-3 week old silkies.

You might check with @kabhyper1 (Kelly) because she has a million beautiful silkies.
@kittydoc ~ Re your neighbor: I'm glad to hear that the sheriff came over, was familiar with the woman's issues, and received a tour of her place/info on new issues. Documentation is always good. I agree with @oldrooster about having the health dept. or adult protective services check out her garbage/house mess problem. I would think that the sheriff would contact one of those services if he saw garbage inside and outside the house. I'd hope so, anyway! She obviously has mental health problems if she lives in filth and can't care for her animals properly. Dealing with people like that is practically impossible because they aren't rational. You just can't explain and reason with them. Kudos to you and your DH for speaking up!

The other day I saw a post on a Tri-State Poultry Facebook group that I mistakenly joined. The woman stated that she didn't have a coop for her chickens because they free-ranged! OMG! I did not speak up because I felt like it would be a lost cause. lol

I was happy to hear that your Jubilee Orp pulled through from her mystery fever illness!

@Acornewell ~ Thanks for the info you posted about adding Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide to poultry water (on page 4120). I'm guessing that other that buying it online, local health food stores may carry it. I've read about using a drop of bleach in drinking water (accurate measurements can be googled) and of course Apple Cider Vinegar with the Mother added to water. It's good to read about various methods.

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.
A word of warning about Chicken Addiction… I work part-time from home and have chickens for three years. I am totally addicted to spending hours outside with them every day of the year! Gardening quickly changed to entertaining them by digging for worms, turning over rocks, etc. and taking them on field trips outside the fenced in area of our backyard. They don't understand the concept of planting something-- why would anyone put the dirt back in the hole?! lol It sounds like you and your family are having fun discovering their personalities and how entertaining they are. Most libraries have a lot of interesting and helpful chicken raising books that your family would probably enjoy.
Last week DH and I went to a garden center not too far from our house. The owners live on the property and have a few chickens and peacocks. This peacock was free-ranging in the plants for sale area, nibbling this and that! (yes, we bio-secured ourselves when we returned home!)

 

[prairiegirl]

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.

Sally, if you don't mind me asking, what breed turkey did you get. We are looking into adding to ours.

 

[prairiegirl]

Wow, I'm still new around here, but as oldrooster mentioned, "I think we are supposed to be behind and skip posts in this thread. I'll never be able to keep up......." How true!

Anyway...........
BrownCow - great trapping success.

Acornewell - very interesting. Thanks for sharing that info on hydrogen peroxide as I've not heard of that.

The pics are great. I enjoy seeing all the chicks. We've not had a good season for chicks and I miss watching them. We are hopeful that our hatching luck is about to change. We are watching for Barred Rock chicks, Bourbon Red poults and Muscovy ducklings. The hens are doing the work. Our job is to keep them safe.

We are busy! I know it's the same for most of us. We just got way behind this Spring and are now trying to catch up. Half the garden finally got planted Friday. The rain has finally stopped for a few days so it's time for the hay. Getting the hay baled will be the big push this week.
Being pulled from home to attend to more urgent things sure takes a toll, especially when one has a small farm. I like being home and I'm glad things are settling down so I can stay here and get to work. Maybe I'll even be able to share a picture here in the future.lol

Just curious - does anyone feed their chickens milk and/or cooked eggs?

 

[pginsber]

Yesterday was one of the colder days in recent past, and the new Mama picked THAT day to take the new chicks outside. She's given one of the hens holy heck when the hen got too close to her chicks, so I wondered how it'd go the first time she took them out. It went well. No problems whatsoever. She took them in and out about 3 times over the course of the day.
The chicks are VERY camouflaged, so look hard, near their black bantam orpington Mama.

 

[ellymayRans]

Wow, I'm still new around here, but as oldrooster mentioned, "[COLOR=333333]I think we are supposed to be behind and skip posts in this thread. I'll never be able to keep up......."  How true![/COLOR]

Anyway...........
BrownCow - great trapping success.  

Acornewell - very interesting.  Thanks for sharing that info on hydrogen peroxide as I've not heard of that.

The pics are great.  I enjoy seeing all the chicks.  We've not had a good season for chicks and I miss watching them.  We are hopeful that our hatching luck is about to change.  We are watching for Barred Rock chicks, Bourbon Red poults and Muscovy ducklings.  The hens are doing the work.  Our job is to keep them safe.

We are busy!  I know it's the same for most of us.  We just got way behind this Spring and are now trying to catch up.  Half the garden finally got planted Friday.  The rain has finally stopped for a few days so it's time for the hay.  Getting the hay baled will be the big push this week.
Being pulled from home to attend to more urgent things sure takes a toll, especially when one has a small farm.  I like being home and I'm glad things are settling down so I can stay here and get to work.  Maybe I'll even be able to share a picture here in the future.lol

Just curious - does anyone feed their chickens milk and/or cooked eggs?

Milk .. only cheese and things containing milk. Eggs..raw & cooked, just depends on the circumstances. Im sure everyone would say yes to the eggs.

 

[DuckiesGarden]

Wow, I'm still new around here, but as oldrooster mentioned, "[COLOR=333333]I think we are supposed to be behind and skip posts in this thread. I'll never be able to keep up......."  How true![/COLOR]

Anyway...........
BrownCow - great trapping success.  

Acornewell - very interesting.  Thanks for sharing that info on hydrogen peroxide as I've not heard of that.

The pics are great.  I enjoy seeing all the chicks.  We've not had a good season for chicks and I miss watching them.  We are hopeful that our hatching luck is about to change.  We are watching for Barred Rock chicks, Bourbon Red poults and Muscovy ducklings.  The hens are doing the work.  Our job is to keep them safe.

We are busy!  I know it's the same for most of us.  We just got way behind this Spring and are now trying to catch up.  Half the garden finally got planted Friday.  The rain has finally stopped for a few days so it's time for the hay.  Getting the hay baled will be the big push this week.
Being pulled from home to attend to more urgent things sure takes a

Just curious - does anyone feed their chickens milk and/or cooked eggs?

I feed my turkey poult, guineas, and young chicks scrambled eggs and/or boiled eggs (with shell) everyday just to give them a little extra protein while their growing. I give the same to the older birds a couple times a week. I always have more eggs than I can eat so I dole them out to the animals for treats! We give our milk that's gone sour to the cats. Our dogs, cats, and ferret even get their share! No one goes hungry when there's chickens around!