INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

I couldn't get Faraday's quote to post about the breed here. Just have to respond, as this is one of my very favorites--Appenzeller spitzhauben, silver spangled variety. They are beautiful, friendly, good layers, and winter hardy--mine only went inside to roost when the temperature was something like 15 below. They are the national bird of Switzerland.
 
Quote: Wow impressive size for a BR! I know how big brahma get.

Biosecurity
Btw, when my air conditioner guy came over for the spring check-up the other day, I had him spray his boots and his booties with Lysol! Luckily, he grew up with chickens and was familiar with the current avian flu problem, so he didn't think I was totally nuts!
I have become very paranoid. I am not even doing the"farm tours" when friends come over anymore. Hoping since summer is nearly here, we will see it dwindle and die out. I used to feed a canadian goose hen that visited us, but I even chase her off now
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. Would love to keep her, since she is obviously tame, but she is comingled with other canadians and mallards at the park. And of course, covered in the migratory fowl act, and is protected.She is so tame, you could pick her up.
 
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THERE WAS A SNAKE IN MY SILKIE COOP
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I went to let them out for a little while and was checking their coop for eggs and a big, huge black snake was slithering around . Almost makes me want to throw up
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!!! I have a massive fear of snakes, it doesn't matter what kind they just absolutely freak me out. When the DS went to get it out they saw it slither behind the coop, which is snug up against the back of my house, so no way to get to it. Should I move the silkies until this thing is caught or will they be okay. They are full size, I didn't know if a snake would hurt them. HELP ME PLEASE!! These are my babies.

I don't think we have snakes in IN able to fearlessly take on LF. It's after shade, eggs and/or chicks... or (very likely) drawn to the coop by the presence of rodents (which also love chicks, eggs, dry places and free food). Most likely scenario is that it's helping you out a bunch by getting rid of pests. I can pretty much guarantee that it's not poisonous. "Big black snake" is entirely relative, but it's still most likely a kingsnake or ratsnake and only likely to take on pests, eggs and chicks. Unless you really start harassing it, it's not going to be aggressive at all. Corn, rat and kingsnakes are all a dime a dozen (especially in the boonies). Don't worry so much. If you have chicks or broody moms, move them because it may seek an easy meal, but seeing as how snakes eat very infrequently an have very noticeable bulges when they do, check your chickenwire and other obvious holes that might permit it entry and plug what you can (but keep in mind that rats also eat chicks, eggs & feed and may attack grown chickens also). even if it does eat a bird, it won't eat many or large ones. Keep your eggs picked up until it bugs off (which it likely will soon because it doesn't like being spotted and pestered).

If you spotted it early in the morning, it's likely there for warmth. If it was already quite warm, it's probably after food.

Most importantly, however, you need to be sure you don't have a rodent problem because that's the biggest reason for a snake to invade your coop.
 
I am so far behind. WIth 4-H projects and chicken projects here at home barely have time to sleep.

About an hour ago our dog, a Giant Schnauzer, Judah, an excellent guarder of chickens, was hit by a car. DH and DD were out front, Judah started barking, DD opened the door to get him to stop barking so DH could talk to the person he was trying to talk to. There was a dog walking by - that is why he started barking. He ran after the dog. We live on a main street. He was hit hard by someone who did not even stop.

DH has him at an emergency clinic close by right now. We are all a mess. DD is hysterical b/c she opened the door. DH called to him which made him go back across the street which is when he got hit so they both feel horrible.

If you are a praying person will you please pray for our pup? He is such a good dog, he was a rescue, had been abused, and has ended up being the most amazing chicken dog.

Here is a picture of him from a year ago right after we shaved him for the summer - he was keeping watch over his flock.


Thanks all - we can't seem to catch a break here at our house - it seem like one crisis after another, some big, some small.
Quote: Oh my, thank goodness he is ok! Still saying a prayer for speedy recovery.

Well may have another potential job opportunity! Still not exactly what I'm wanting but surely better than what I have now lol. My old store manager of the Lowes I worked at asked if he could refer me to his friend looking of help. So that was a nice yet unexcepted surprise the last time I stopped in to visit the store. Just got a call from the district manager today wanting to talk! Wish me luck! I have a feeling if this job gives me 2 days off a week, it will be hard for me to pass it up haha! Working 6 days a week sucks!
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Good luck Brad, I hope it works out.

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THERE WAS A SNAKE IN MY SILKIE COOP
barnie.gif
ep.gif
rant.gif


I went to let them out for a little while and was checking their coop for eggs and a big, huge black snake was slithering around . Almost makes me want to throw up
sickbyc.gif
!!! I have a massive fear of snakes, it doesn't matter what kind they just absolutely freak me out. When the DS went to get it out they saw it slither behind the coop, which is snug up against the back of my house, so no way to get to it. Should I move the silkies until this thing is caught or will they be okay. They are full size, I didn't know if a snake would hurt them. HELP ME PLEASE!! These are my babies.
Yikes! Adult birds are probably fine but you can bet chicks and eggs aren't. Without a picture its hard to say species, but if it was really long its probably a ratsnake or similar species. They will bite! Some will even crawl under a broody bird and sleep.
 
Wow impressive size for a BR! I know how big brahma get.

I have become very paranoid. I am not even doing the"farm tours" when friends come over anymore. Hoping since summer is nearly here, we will see it dwindle and die out. I used to feed a canadian goose hen that visited us, but I even chase her off now :( . Would love to keep her, since she is obviously tame, but she is comingled with other canadians and mallards at the park. And of course, covered in the migratory fowl act, and is protected.She is so tame, you could pick her up.

Yes I was quite impressed. The guy I got them from bought them directly from Fred's Hens here on BYC. The roo is not very chicken friendly and killed several of previous owners chicks and even pullets. So he will not be getting any more hens as I don't want to risk it with his known aggression. Thankfully he doesn't have any aggression towards people.
 
Chickenfest is just a few weeks away!!!! Although we won't be able to bring live birds this year, eggs are currently still acceptable. Although they need to remain in members cars, leaving windows cracked open a bit for ventilation should help keep them viable. I will be happy to bring hatching eggs for anyone interested, and will donate proceeds to next years fest. Will also offer a good discount for our big family here!
I should have (if still laying) guinea, Easter Egger & Lavender Orpington chickens as well as BYM (Barn Yard Mix), possibly goose eggs and Muscovy, or Pekin duck, turkey if they ever stop being broody. Please PM if you are interested in hatching eggs, and I need at least a week notice to collect eggs for you.
Live birds can still be swapped between private individuals "in state". I plan to discuss "chicken trains" with Dr. Lossie at our chickenfest to determine if its legal for us to do them right now. From what I am reading its not ok!
If anyone else attending plans to bring eggs for sale or swaps, be sure to post soon.
 
Looks like I will have an Oberhasli doeling available out of this years birthing. Please pm of interested. She is over 5 weeks now, and on solid food foods and hay. She will have her first CDT this weekend. I keep a closed herd.
 
@chick rookie Your pictures are great, but I am not knowledgable enough to help with chick breeds. Sorry to hear about your little chick that can't stand. This info below is from my "Chicken Health for Dummies" book (this article can also can be found free online). In addition, I recently posted this link for @daskhan
Poultry Podiatry - PoultryPedia - Sites that may help you, too.

Originally Posted by ellymayRans Here's a pic of the girls (Olive Eggers) @Mother2Hens hen hatched and now they're back with us. Such funny personalities! My Golden Cuckoo Marans has taken up watch duty while ranging the other day.


@ellymayRans ~ Thanks for posting the photo of the crazy girls! I'd be afraid of that gigantic roo if I were them although he is extremely handsome. lol I also appreciated your PM saying that the bigger one only took a few nights before she found her way to the top rung of the roosts! If she acts up, point your finger at her and say "No!" to see if she runs and hides. She no longer has her little mama Bonbon to hide behind. Meanwhile Bonbon and Screech are still sleeping in the bantam coop; they must prefer to avoid the bedtime drama in the big coop.

Congrats on your peahen's eggs! Your little lone spoiled baby is so adorable.
@flyladyrocks ~ That was some story about your dog Judah! How traumatizing for your family! I'm so glad that he is on the mend-- and I feel for you having an emergency vet bill! Seems like my pets always have an emergency "after hours." I am so thankful that there is emergency help available, though!
Originally Posted by kabhyper1
It depends on the size and how big it is if it is a garden snake they won't won't hurt them but a diffrent snake can eat the eggs and bite the silkies so I would sudgest that you move the coop away from the snake oh here's a way to catch it get a stip and net a bag put the stick near the mouth then if it bites on you would put the rear in the net ask someone else to hold the bag and put the snake in a bag twist it and put it in a cage and drive somewhere and put it back in the wild.
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Welcome @Chickens chicks ! I think you may be new to our thread! Check out the links about our thread at the bottom of my post.
I agree with you and @Indyshent
~ most snakes do good things like getting rid of pests.

@chickiebaby1 's Snake in the Coop experience: It's a good reminder to look over our coops for any small areas where a snake could enter. We usually discuss keeping out predators like raccoons.
@bradselig ~ Hard work pays off! Hope things work out.
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It's ridiculous to have one day off a week, plus extra long work days. Not right!
 
@chick rookie Your pictures are great, but I am not knowledgable enough to help with chick breeds. Sorry to hear about your little chick that can't stand. This info below is from my "Chicken Health for Dummies" book (this article can also can be found free online). In addition, I recently posted this link for @daskhan
Poultry Podiatry - PoultryPedia - Sites that may help you, too.

Originally Posted by ellymayRans Here's a pic of the girls (Olive Eggers) @Mother2Hens hen hatched and now they're back with us. Such funny personalities! My Golden Cuckoo Marans has taken up watch duty while ranging the other day.


@ellymayRans ~ Thanks for posting the photo of the crazy girls! I'd be afraid of that gigantic roo if I were them although he is extremely handsome. lol I also appreciated your PM saying that the bigger one only took a few nights before she found her way to the top rung of the roosts! If she acts up, point your finger at her and say "No!" to see if she runs and hides. She no longer has her little mama Bonbon to hide behind. Meanwhile Bonbon and Screech are still sleeping in the bantam coop; they must prefer to avoid the bedtime drama in the big coop.

Congrats on your peahen's eggs! Your little lone spoiled baby is so adorable.
@flyladyrocks ~ That was some story about your dog Judah! How traumatizing for your family! I'm so glad that he is on the mend-- and I feel for you having an emergency vet bill! Seems like my pets always have an emergency "after hours." I am so thankful that there is emergency help available, though!
Originally Posted by kabhyper1

thank you M2H and I found that yesterday, but it was too late I lost the chick yesterday morning. I am upset of course but I was prepared for it, on top of its leg problem I couldn't get it to eat or drink. I am thinking that hatching my own may not be for me, I hatched 8 live chicks only to have them dier off 1 at a time to the point that I only have 3 left. I guess I'm just not meant to do it.
 

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