INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[pginsber]

Looking for a pullet in the Indianapolis/Noblesville area, any breed. We just sent our rooster to my father in law's farm and we don't want him to be lonely, lol.

Are you looking to hatch a clutch, raise eggs, raise meat birds, or anything in particular?
What breed roo do you have?
Probably looking for a similar sized hen/pullet for when nature takes it's course.

 

[Indyshent]

More news to ponder on from the mini farm:

Saturday, while I was checking my one and only surviving zucchini plant, the mole on my shoulder felt Vermithrax Pejorative (BBB hen) was giving it a look of supreme imperious disgust (which only turkeys can properly give, but which, however, they cannot help but give) and thusly also felt the need to imply it knew where and with whom she will spend Christmas. Her honor and good intentions called into question, she furiously pecked it.

That night, my darling daughter thought she saw a "bug" on my shoulder, and, after much questioning and various medical ministrations by my darling husband, we have discovered that the question of this "bug" has two possible answers:

1) The mole, having been injured by Vermithrax, has now donned a large black and purple Puffalump costume in the hopes that she doesn't recognize it the next time she passes my crouched form.

2) The mole had already gone rogue melanoma, and Vermithrax was just letting me know what a dangerous blight it was on my person (and that it had grievously insulted her honor and good intentions).

After checking the state of this "mole" (if it is still a mole and neither Puffalump nor melanoma), I have discovered a somewhat lessened state of fluff in the costume, though it is still quite dark, large and quite different of appearance than it was a week ago. Only time (and, if time should prove uncooperative, a biopsy) will tell.

 

[ChickCrazed]

Looking for a pullet in the Indianapolis/Noblesville area, any breed. We just sent our rooster to my father in law's farm and we don't want him to be lonely, lol.

I could give a couple older hens for free, does your FIL have adequate housing?

 

[ChickCrazed]

Suppose my fair pay ideas would depend on how far they have to drive. I would consider no less that $20 per day to drive over and feed and check on any one type of animal.
We have several types of animals, and most are special needs. We pay $100 per day, unless something needs intensive care (shots, wound cleaning, etc.), then it goes up from there.

I pay $75 a day for an overnight stay for just the dogs. I have a neighbor that walks over to do the horses and the chickens have auto doors and can survive a few days on their own. If I was paying for all critters to be seen to, I would do $100 a day. I would assume $25 an hour (include drive time) if someone had to drive over just to do chickens, just my opinion!

 

[SallyinIndiana]

SURVEY.... Need advice!

What do you all think is a reasonable pay for someone taking care of your chickens while you're gone?

Specifically, this is an adult. He will have to drive over 2x a day. Morning: Put out feed and be sure water is fresh. Evening: Be sure everyone is in and doors closed. Gather eggs. Put feed out if needed.


Would you pay by the day?
Would you pay by the "job" (as in a flat price for a week or weekend?)
HOW MUCH????

I really think that some of the prices posted here are for paying a worker at or above minimum wage. But if I was to have someone look after my chickens it would be more of a friend or family helping us out. So that is something to consider. Next I would try to get the setup reorganized so that only one trip per day day was needed. Maybe leaving the coop to run door open but making sure the run is secure would help. Also as I'm sure you plan to, I'd minimize the amount of feeding and watering. Maybe even put out double or triple food and water bowls. Then you could be sure that the water would not run out as that is more important than food in hot weather.

In the end though if it is a friend offering to help, payment at $100 a day seems really high to me. Even $25 a day seems high. I really think friends expect less money and more trading style gifts, a batch of fresh eggs, a cake, a loaf of bread, some cookies, some homemade cheese or soap, just about anything that shows you were thinking of them and put some time into it. I understand the gift cards and cash are becoming the new norms but I'm also thinking you and the people you know don't follow all of the societal norms.

 

[flyladyrocks]

Am I understanding this right? If I sell a chick ect... I have to do this?

My understanding from the info I am reposting below just in case anyone did not see it, is that ANYONE who sells any poultry must keep a record of who they sell to for 3 years (unless you are selling to an approved slaughter facility).

This is really important for everyone to know. This info came out July 9. Here is a link to the whole document, http://www.in.gov/boah/files/Modified_Ban_July_10-15_AnH_Advy.pdf but this is the critical info for anyone who sells any kind of poultry in case you did not see it:

New Traceability Rules for Poultry Beginning
Sept. 17, 2015,poultry species will be subject to Indiana’s traceability requirements, like other livestock species. This requirement is a permanent requirement to Indiana law.
Anyone who buys, sells, leases, barters or exchanges poultry within Indiana must maintain a record of the transaction for 3 years. (This requirement is similar to other livestock species.) The following information must be recorded:
 Number and breed of poultry;
 Any individual animal identification present on the poultry;
 Name and address of the seller, lessor or owner; and
 Name and address of the purchaser, lessee or recipient.
Individuals do not have to maintain records of sales directly to an approved slaughter facility or through an approved livestock facility, because these facilities are required to collect that information. More information about HPAI and Indiana’s bird movement requirements (including importation standards) is online at: www.boah.in.gov.

 

[flyladyrocks]

I really think that some of the prices posted here are for paying a worker at or above minimum wage. But if I was to have someone look after my chickens it would be more of a friend or family helping us out. So that is something to consider. Next I would try to get the setup reorganized so that only one trip per day day was needed. Maybe leaving the coop to run door open but making sure the run is secure would help. Also as I'm sure you plan to, I'd minimize the amount of feeding and watering. Maybe even put out double or triple food and water bowls. Then you could be sure that the water would not run out as that is more important than food in hot weather.

In the end though if it is a friend offering to help, payment at $100 a day seems really high to me. Even $25 a day seems high. I really think friends expect less money and more trading style gifts, a batch of fresh eggs, a cake, a loaf of bread, some cookies, some homemade cheese or soap, just about anything that shows you were thinking of them and put some time into it. I understand the gift cards and cash are becoming the new norms but I'm also thinking you and the people you know don't follow all of the societal norms.

@Leahs Mom I have to agree with Sally. I think it probably also depends on who the person is- a good friend, aquaintance or someone you don't really know? We have good friends watch ours. Usually the next door neighbors kids and we give them a little something - I mean 20 bucks for 5 days. They keep all the eggs and the kids count it as service hours for their troops. Last time we were gone, the neighbors were too, so some other friends in the neighborhood watched them. We just did a gift certificate for dinner for the family. They loved it and now beg (even the adults!) to come over and see the chickens. We even had a major flood in our neighborhood while we were gone, and one pullet died, but they still loved it. They just moved so didn't get any this year, but taking care of ours made them plan everything out for next year. Both people are good friends and we just help each other out b/c that is what friends do - perhaps more of an old fashioned idea but one of those things we try to instill in our kids - you do everything the best you can, even if you are just helping someone and not getting paid - and no expectation of them helping you, b/c maybe they can't. If we had to pay someone 75-100 dollars a day to care for our chickens, we could never go out of town! The last time we had someone from Rover.com watch our dog it was only $12.50 a day (but at her house).

 

[slysimpson]

Are you looking to hatch a clutch, raise eggs, raise meat birds, or anything in particular?
What breed roo do you have?
Probably looking for a similar sized hen/pullet for when nature takes it's course.

He is a cuckoo Maran. We are not looking to breed though, but interested in the eggs. But really my daughter is concerned he will be too lonely and she wants him to find his soulmate.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote:
Having 1 rooster and 1 hen is not really a great plan. 1 rooster will over mate his 1 and only hen to the point she has no feathers on her back. Then winter will come and the hen may or not make it. Very traumatic for a child, more so for a romantic child. Maybe you could find a few hens for your rooster but the cheapest way to get him friends would be to get him a couple other roosters. We have a rooster pen and for the most part they all get along.

 

[daskhan]

After reading this last days worth of post I think I should switch jops lol... Farm sitting seems to pay waaaaaayyyy more then my crummy job... If y'all really pay that much I might even do it cheaper