INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote:
Blue Kote every 3-5 days on the tops of their heads. Since you are only sorting into two groups, it won't be as tough as marking each chick with a number or pattern.
Or you could put a hole in the chick's webbing for those 3 chicks. You can do it the same way they pierce ears if you have a helper. A small diameter nail with large head, a small scrap of wood, hold the chick's foot stretched out to reveal the webbing and hit the nail BARELY through the webbing then pull the nail out of the scrap wood. It sounds horrible but it is the exact same as the toe puncher.
If you like toe punching then they sell toe punches that look like finger nail clippers.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Just a quick check-in to say hello!

Been off forum for almost 3 weeks I think. Lots of personal things occupying all my time in addition to a heavy work schedule.

TONS of rain but the outdoor kennel runs are perfect with the wood chipped deep litter. Love it for so many reasons - and 1 is NO MUD/unhealthy breeding ground for disease. I love the healthy environment when they have to be penned.

All the birds are healthy and well and happily ranging a little more than half an acre.

My "goaties" seem to have fallen through from the original source so I"m still looking for 2 Boer wethers to run in the wooded area until processing in late fall. I have one more person I'm checking with to see if she has 2 I can get, so if anyone knows of anyone with 2 wethers (boer) I'm still in the market it seems

I've skimmed some of the thread while I've been gone but have missed a lot for sure.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Just a quick check-in to say hello!

Been off forum for almost 3 weeks I think. Lots of personal things occupying all my time in addition to a heavy work schedule.

TONS of rain but the outdoor kennel runs are perfect with the wood chipped deep litter. Love it for so many reasons - and 1 is NO MUD/unhealthy breeding ground for disease. I love the healthy environment when they have to be penned.

All the birds are healthy and well and happily ranging a little more than half an acre.

My "goaties" seem to have fallen through from the original source so I"m still looking for 2 Boer wethers to run in the wooded area until processing in late fall. I have one more person I'm checking with to see if she has 2 I can get, so if anyone knows of anyone with 2 wethers (boer) I'm still in the market it seems

I've skimmed some of the thread while I've been gone but have missed a lot for sure.

Have you tried CL? I'm not sure there are boer wethers available but there are a few crossed wethers in the Indy area. I'd offer you a male nubain goat on loan but I did not get any this kidding season. I even went out and paid for a bottle baby buck. And while it would be great if someone else housed him for a while, he won't serve your purpose until he is a bit larger. He barely eats anything other than tons of milk right now.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: Thanks, it was pretty heartbreaking. All part of keeping poultry unfortunately. Bacon is still doing ok, but I see its harder for him getting up at times. Kinda like someone with stiff joints on a rainy day, LOL!
I have noticed the same in my BBB and BBW poults, they peck fingers. I do not hand feed my turkeys, ever as this encourages it. Learned that early on with my first bourbons. I have learned a "peck" on the head, as another adult bird would do is a good method in teaching them, with a sharp NO! I repeat this often, just a firm finger tap on the head as soon as they peck. (not hard enough to harm, but firm enough to notice) Its helped a lot, and they do seem to be learning its not ok.

 

[Chickens chicks]

Are every roosters tail up and tail feathers pointed:/

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Just a quick check-in to say hello!

Been off forum for almost 3 weeks I think. Lots of personal things occupying all my time in addition to a heavy work schedule.

TONS of rain but the outdoor kennel runs are perfect with the wood chipped deep litter. Love it for so many reasons - and 1 is NO MUD/unhealthy breeding ground for disease. I love the healthy environment when they have to be penned.

All the birds are healthy and well and happily ranging a little more than half an acre.

My "goaties" seem to have fallen through from the original source so I"m still looking for 2 Boer wethers to run in the wooded area until processing in late fall. I have one more person I'm checking with to see if she has 2 I can get, so if anyone knows of anyone with 2 wethers (boer) I'm still in the market it seems

I've skimmed some of the thread while I've been gone but have missed a lot for sure.

Good to see you, I can imagine how hectic things are for you.
If the person that claimed my Oberhasli buckling falls through, he will be available. I plan to band him when mature enough so he will be a "brush goat". If anyone is looking for an Oberhasli buckling, he may be available also for a breeder... Last I spoke with the future owner, I had a less than energetic response as to a pick up date..
We are still considering Boers here also. DH has not had goat meat yet, only in Gyros. Our dairy farmer is now offering it at his market so we will get some for him to try. I am just crazy over deer meat, and have ate goat before also. Key thing is to have them wethered at an early age, and pastured until matured.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Are every roosters tail up and tail feathers pointed:/

Usually, yes. Are we talking chicks or adults?

 

[Faraday40]

There's been an explosion of chicks at my house over the past week and now I need to mark some so I know who's who. I remember a discussion a while back about tagging chicks and now I can't remember what everyone said they liked. So, how do you tag your chicks? I've tried zip ties but I'm bad about forgetting to check them as they grow! They work great on my adult birds.

I had some of those annoying Rainbow Loom rubber bands laying around. They worked great for sorting chicks. I had so many colors, that I was able to track each egg individually. I knew the breed & the particular hen for each baby chick hatched.

 

[bearbottom]

Ow, i like Faraday40 idea for leg bans grows with them.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: great idea! I use hair ties and dog grooming bands.