INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[AldenK]

I have RIR and they are 5 months or 19 weeks when are they going to lay eggs or what can I do to help them lay eggs

 

[ChickCrazed]

I wonder if you couldn't add a liner of sorts (either a folded tarp, stall mat, etc.) that would provide a layer of protection for the pool floor to protect against potential puncture? A tarp could also go up over the sides and protect against any potential damage by them pecking at the sides. Granted, that adds a step and cost to your attempt to have a simple, cheap brooder option.....

That is a good idea, the inflation is only around the outside where I wouldn't expect a ton of nail traffic. If they start pecking at it, who knows. The cool think about this particular pool is that it has three separate inflated compartments around the outside, so even if they put a hole in one the other two compartments will stay inflated. I could do a duct tape patch and re-group. I just like the fact that it will be so easy to store if it works, just deflate and stuff it somewhere! And I have never been able to give chicks as much space as they have now. I have also never brooded 30 chicks before! So space is needed!

 

[ChickCrazed]

I have RIR and they are 5 months or 19 weeks when are they going to lay eggs or what can I do to help them lay eggs

When their combs and wattles get bright red they will be close to laying. All you can do is wait, you can't really make them mature faster than their bodies can mature!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

That is a good idea, the inflation is only around the outside where I wouldn't expect a ton of nail traffic. If they start pecking at it, who knows. The cool think about this particular pool is that it has three separate inflated compartments around the outside, so even if they put a hole in one the other two compartments will stay inflated. I could do a duct tape patch and re-group. I just like the fact that it will be so easy to store if it works, just deflate and stuff it somewhere! And I have never been able to give chicks as much space as they have now. I have also never brooded 30 chicks before! So space is needed!

I'm quite interested in hearing how this works out for you -- end of summer sales will be coming up before you know it with these things being even cheaper, something I might want to pick up for next spring if you end up having a successful trial run with it. I really like the idea of it being so easy to deflate, roll/fold and store vs. a "hard" brooder of the same dimensions.

 

[flyladyrocks]

Indy Rezone Update - hope you are not all sick of me yet! I am getting sick of the lack of transparency and what seems like secrecy regarding trying to push Indy Rezone through. It is downright ridiculous!!

What is going on? That is my question. This is a direct quote from and e-mail our councilor forwarded to us from the Indy Rezone office:
"The Indy Rezone ordinance will be introduced to the Metropolitan Development Commission (MDC) at its June 17th meeting. At that time the MDC will hear public comment. Then the MDC will decide if it wants to take a vote on passage or may decide to continue it to a later meeting."

Here is the page where you get the agendas for the meeting: http://www.indy.gov/eGov/City/DMD/Planning/Zoning/Legal/Pages/mdc.aspx

Here is the agenda for tomorrow as of 10:40 AM June 16, 2017 - Indy Rezone IS NOT LISTED: http://www.indy.gov/eGov/City/DMD/Planning/Zoning/Documents/2015_documents/MDC_2015/6-17-15MDCD.pdf

If you are in Indianapolis,take a few moments, make a call, send and e-mail and ask why it is not on the "public hearings list" for tomorrow- I just talked to John Neal, when I said it is not on the public hearing agenda his reply was "Humm"
the e-mail quoted above came from:
Tammara Tracy 327-7834 [email protected]
John Neal 327-5265 [email protected]

the above contact info is from here: http://www.indy.gov/eGov/City/DMD/Planning/Pages/staff.aspx

 

[AldenK]

Ok thank you

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

When their combs and wattles get bright red they will be close to laying. All you can do is wait, you can't really make them mature faster than their bodies can mature!

X 2 - 19 weeks is still fairly early -- the "normal" range can be anywhere from 18-28 weeks for most breeds, with 24 being pretty average. Are your birds hatchery stock or from breeder/heritage lines? Do you have any photos of your birds that you can post so we can see what sort of signs of maturity they are currently showing? Ultimately, there is no advantage for you to try to rush things along even if it were possible - their bodies will begin production when they are mature and ready to do so. Just provide lots of fresh, clean water - plenty of nutritionally correct feed and a healthy environment and let their body do the rest.

 

[chickiebaby1]

I need some help PLEASE!!!!
I want to deworm my flock, I have over 50 birds, so doing each one individually is not something I can do. I bought ivermectin pour on and I also bought safe guard for dogs( this is a packet of stuff that you can dissolve in water). My question is which one is better and at what dose do I give. the dog stuff says it has 4g per packet or 4000mg. I was thinking of dissolving one packet in the water. I have almost 30 birds in the one area, would this be enough or not enough. I just don't want to kill them, I already lost over 20 chickens last week to a horrible 2 day attack from coons, I cant handle loosing anymore. I just need to know dosages please.

 

[pginsber]

I have RIR and they are 5 months or 19 weeks when are they going to lay eggs or what can I do to help them lay eggs

When their combs and wattles get bright red they will be close to laying. All you can do is wait, you can't really make them mature faster than their bodies can mature!

AldenK:
Post some pictures of your girls and we'll all speculate.

From previous posts by others, there seems to be interest in licking chickens--maybe that would help?

When you see one of them 'looking for something', going in and out of the coop repeatedly, or seeming a little agitated or nervous, they may be experiencing the egg laying sensation. It won't be long after that.

AND--if this is your first time with egg laying, after they lay an egg, there'll be a considerable verbal ruckus. Don't be alarmed. This is common and called the egg song. http://youtu.be/yRITp-IoBus

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I need some help PLEASE!!!!
I want to deworm my flock, I have over 50 birds, so doing each one individually is not something I can do. I bought ivermectin pour on and I also bought safe guard for dogs( this is a packet of stuff that you can dissolve in water). My question is which one is better and at what dose do I give. the dog stuff says it has 4g per packet or 4000mg. I was thinking of dissolving one packet in the water. I have almost 30 birds in the one area, would this be enough or not enough. I just don't want to kill them, I already lost over 20 chickens last week to a horrible 2 day attack from coons, I cant handle loosing anymore. I just need to know dosages please.

I would reach out to @casportpony (Kathy) - she is not here on the IN thread, but you can reach her by PM easily. That being said, I'd probably just set to work on doing each bird individually, especially since you are so concerned about any further losses. It can be accomplished pretty easily, even with over 50 birds.