INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Proverb31mama]

As an addendum...

When I first heard about these folks, I didn't know it was as "large" an operation as it is.  Not large as in a big factory or anything...it is on the property of a farm and it's relatively small in that regard.  But there were so many birds being processed.  It was that time of year that folks take their old layers before the winter (November when I went).


I originally thought it was smaller - maybe my perception was more like a single person operation there in their home farm.  So that was kind-of what I was expecting and when I arrived and saw so many people coming with their birds, I almost just turned the car around and left.  I have enough concerns about stress on the birds, etc., and that just added to it.  (Of course, I was feeling like I was betraying friends in the first place......funny thing is that I had to keep from crying when I put them in the crates and then, when I left and no one could see me, I cried all the way home   )

When I came to pick them up, the ladies were still working in the final finish and the door was open slightly into the office where I came in.  The ladies didn't know I was there and they all broke out singing together "Faith of Our Fathers".  (I later found out that the Mennonite-family-owned business employ folks from their church and they are all friends and family working together.)  I have to say it was just a comfort to hear them singing and enjoying working together.  It almost made me cry (again).

Thanks for the information! That is really helpful! And that is cool that they are singing and working together and all that. Question, do you worry about bio-security when dropping off your chickens at a place like that? Obviously not for the chickens you are dropping off, but that you might bring something home to your other chickens? I keep reading about biosecurity and wondering how much people actually do with that.

 

[ellymayRans]

My Peachick that had the vet visit has taken to momma and only comes running to see me when I come out. Otherwise she's happy to snuggle with her. Thank goodness! !

The place on her head however looks 2ce as big as it did yesterday! Really freaking me out!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: Any time I go to a "chicken place" I wear a pair of shoes that can be bleached. I put them in a bag, when I arrive I put them on. When I leave they go back into that bag, and bleached when I get home. Biosecurity also depends on who I visit. I know several folks I am sure they have a healthy flock, seen it myself or have had several discussions with them. No matter what, If I visit their flock my bleached shoes go on, out of respect for their flock and biosecurity measures.
I also ask folks to understand my birds are free ranged, and may be exposed to illnesses. I always recommend they quarantine a bird from my farm for that reason.

My Peachick that had the vet visit has taken to momma and only comes running to see me when I come out. Otherwise she's happy to snuggle with her. Thank goodness! !

The place on her head however looks 2ce as big as it did yesterday! Really freaking me out!

Great news on her accepting Momma! I hope her bump diminishes, what a puzzle.

 

[Indyshent]

Sounds like a calcium situation for sure. Hardboil eggs and crush one a day for her shell and all. See if that gives her a boost. Pullets usually have some oddities but with it repeating, I would be concerned. I keep a feeder with oyster shell in the main coop but that doesn't mean they eat it!

For the last week (and the next couple, by the look of our finances and the stockpiled bags), they're eaten layer feed, and I've given them all the eggshells that come out of the kitchen since they came out of the brooder. From the look of it, it's just one hen who is consistently surprised about laying eggs (given that they've been in the middle of nowhere or next to roosts each time). Think it might just be her since everyone's eating the same kind of food right now. I'm really hoping her body gets the hang of this soon

I've heard soft-shelled eggs can also be due to stress, and the majority of these have occurred since the 4th and since I rehomed most of the senior-most birds in the flock. Since this, my SLW has become top bird and has unfortunately become something of a biznatch to the other birds. She even bosses around the turkeys and definitely bullies the other chickens (esp the remaining roos), so I suspect this change in flock dynamics may be at least partially to blame.

I've noticed a number of my girls visiting the nest boxes for extended periods of time, and some of them haven't been leaving any eggs. Chief on this list is the other remaining hen from the first batch of seven picked up on Feb 7, the oldest of my four EEs. Her best friends have either disappeared or died, and the last one has turned into a total nasty overnight, so I think she may be the one with the supercalafragilistic eggspeedalidociousness all over my coop and yard. I haven't had any of her pretty blue eggs since her buddies disappeared.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Thanks for the information! That is really helpful! And that is cool that they are singing and working together and all that. Question, do you worry about bio-security when dropping off your chickens at a place like that? Obviously not for the chickens you are dropping off, but that you might bring something home to your other chickens? I keep reading about biosecurity and wondering how much people actually do with that.

Ditto what jchny2000 said. When leaving the place I visit, I don't step on the car rugs with the shoes I took to wear there. I remove each shoe then put my foot into the car. I even roll up my pant legs before removing the shoes, then as soon as I get home, I go directly to the laundry and put everything I was wearing directly in for wash. If I'm at a place like the processors, I even take a shower and wash hair before going out to my own birds area.

I keep a pair of shoes just for wearing to other farms (just a pair of sloggers shoes), but I do that for their sake too as I want to be sure I'm not tracking something to their environment too - just common courtesy. My sloggers can go into the regular wash too. Sometimes I wear a washed pair of tennis shoes but the routine is the same. Off before I put my feet into the car and directly into the wash.

If, by chance, I get in contact with the floor mats in the car, I spray disinfect them when I get home too.

 

[kittydoc]

Update on projections for AI in the not-too-distant future. It appears the worst fear is that the virus will adapt more to chickens, which would be even worse than the "old" virus more adapted to turkeys. All of this is speculation, but reasonable speculation. Here's the link: http://www.capitalpress.com/Washing...te-vet-sees-chance-for-worse-bird-flu-season#

 

[prairiegirl]

Good morning

Another rainy day here. The temps are fall-like. I'm not sure what we'll harvest out of our garden.
We are thankful that we got our hay baled Monday. Our ducks are loving our new ponds.
I'm sorry for those that have had much more rain. Sounds like the Indy area folks are swimming.

We have some new turkey poults we purchased. I noticed them pecking at each others wing feathers a couple of hours after getting them home. I would gently shoo them away. Last night, a couple were at it. Again, this morning I still see it happening. I can't tell if it the same ones doing it. We've not had this in the past with turkey poults or chicks this young. I've tried reading up on it, but have only come away with more questions. I am really leaning toward them needing more protein. We can not get the recommended 26% protein feed here, but have done well in the past with 22% and giving them mashed cooked eggs.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[prairiegirl]

Not sure where your text went on the butchering business, but I wanted to add that the family that butchers are nice folks to work with. We have always felt that we did indeed get our own birds back.

I also take a spray disinfectant for the car floors. Wipes and hand wash, too. There is a car wash nearby and that is our next stop so we can wash the cages and the truck bed. Meat birds are stinky and messy.

I am honestly so waterlogged and sick of rain I could scream! Weekend looks dry, lets hope. My goats won't come out of the house, chickens look like wet rats.my turkeys are mopey too. Really had enough of it. Geese and ducks think its awesome of course.

Same here. We have a short legged cow and it's so muddy in spots, that she drags her udder in the mud in those areas. Poor thing. The sheep stand and look for the least muddy route to their destination. They are smart about that.

Update on projections for AI in the not-too-distant future. It appears the worst fear is that the virus will adapt more to chickens, which would be even worse than the "old" virus more adapted to turkeys. All of this is speculation, but reasonable speculation. Here's the link: http://www.capitalpress.com/Washing...te-vet-sees-chance-for-worse-bird-flu-season#

I just wanted to say a big "thank you" to all that have shared information on this topic. I don't have the time to go searching for good information and you all have been great at posting it here in one place. I sure appreciate it.

 

[daskhan]

The holiday weekend might have sidetracked her plans. Hope everything works out. When are you moving to Florida? If you do end up adopting the chickens, which is very thoughtful of you, keep in mind that you'll know nothing about their past, their ages, and most importantly, their health. IMO, it's extremely important that you quarantine them first. You would be very upset if you ended up with a combined flock of very ill chickens! Here is a link to quarantine info explained by one of our members, @pipdzipdnreadytogo (the one with the adorable baby duck pictured below): Quarantining Chickens
It's difficult to say which group the adopted bantams would mix better with because their ages and breeds might make a difference. From my experience with bantams and LF, grown bantams can hold their own with LF chickens. Their assertiveness often compensates for their smaller size! When your new ones are quarantined, that will give you time to get to know their personalities.

i know its a bit late but i figured i should answer anyways. as of right now the plan is to be back in florida by november ( before winter) but if you look at the evidence and actions of my girlfriend she doesnt seem to want or expect to move out of this state so i dont really know if im moving at all... but im going to say hopefully november

 

[browncow15]

Well my last planned hatch this year wrapped up this morning. I have 4 super cute CCLs from @racinchickins 2 boys and 2 girls this time. I'll post pics later