INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Indy Edge]

Looking for one more show quality Rhode Island Red Hen or Pullet to finish out a breeding pen. Also looking for standard Cochin eggs for Jan/Feb . Thanks

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I am looking for EE's and Marans adults first chicks second or last hatching eggs. I have one black copper Maran and one EE but lost the roosters for both and would like at least 3-hens of each to add the color to the egg basket. If any one has any they would like to sell please PM me. I am hoping to have my renovations done to my coop in a couple weeks and would like to add them then.

I have both and OE too. Let me look at my flocks.. Really busy the next week but I think I can help.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote:
I can "break even" but there's no profit. My goal is feeding my family. Healthy eggs and meat from chickens that are free ranged, I have met my family's goals.

Quote: Coding is a very sought after need for employers, especially for Medicaid/Medicare. I know you have the "smarts" to do it and its a very rewarding career for benefits, insurance.. etc. Many medical groups need coders. If your hearing is good its an easy career and pays well.

New guy (the gamecock in rehab) is doing pretty well. I've wormed him and dusted him with DE, but he still doesn't recognize anything but cat food and bread as food. He still freaks out a bit when I try to pick him up, but after being picked up, he settles in very well and spent a nice long time in my lap this morning. While out in the back porch, he has not attacked the puppy or kitten
(and doesn't even seem like he wants to kill my roosters through the screen!). I'm not going to let him into the yard with the other chickens or leave him unsupervised with any of the other animals, but it's nice to know he's not a bloodthirsty jerk.

On a neat note, the new Sumatra/RIR? mix doesn't seem to have spurs... but both of my Welsummer hens do!? Weird.

Some hens do get spur buds.. With the added roosters the dominant hens will remember they are hens.

Quote: I did the medical transcription too. You really need good hearing and comprehension skills. Medical coding for Medicaid and Medicare is what employers want.

But on a more possitive note during the high season with a nice beautiful big and rare breed chicken I've seen them go for 20 a piece but that was a big beautiful black roo that I have no idea what he was my guess was Spanish but his face was black so I really don't know the hens went for like 15 each but that was one time only most times they are under 10 each and I know some people are have a lot of pride in there birds but at
some point you have to cut your loses if I have 10 into a bird and they arnt selling I don't mind taking 6$ at the auction because in the end they will just cost more to keep... Specially since mine were mixed... I'm getting into pure breeds so I'm sure it will hurt more but generally the business guy in me takes over and just says it's not cost effective to keep salers just because my prices arnt favorable... But I have a back up job so I haven't been hit as hard as some others... But if my math is right most of my birds pure or not only cost me ruffly 5$-8$ each to raise till just before laying and plenty of people around here don't mind paying 10 each for my hens my Roos not so much but I do deals if they take the Roos too I don't make much but enough to keep going... But I'm thinking of uping the prices on pure breeds I know I'm new but so far my plan is working... Plus My neighbor wanted me to raise him some meat birds and I charged him for the entire batch plus the food needed to raise them so now I have a large number of birds that are free... "Pure profit" and hopefully they will pay one way or another for the rest I bought or I just right it off as hobby expence or entertainment expence... It's not like I spend my entertainment money on anything else...

I budget money as
Rent
Utilities
Insurance
Food
Car payment
Entertainment
Savings/ emergency

And ATM largely because I live in the middle of nowhere my entertainment has been 0$ spent... I apologize for my long speech but maybe it gives someone some helpful hints on making their chicken life and real life mesh a little better
P.s. I also take in rehomes and a few have come breeders or protectors (I haven't lost any birds to preditors)(thinks to one rehome neo the buff silkie I've gotten attached to the fluff balls and bought a small flock from chick rookie(they are doing great)) a few were rehomes were traded to local farmers who were in need of protectors in turn for something I needed or advice (just gotta wheel and deal) I also pick things up really cheap at auctions from time to time or sale things I've bought there for a profit...(that a little advice I got from a farmer)

Something a rather wealthy business guy told me "find five people who are happy and successful in their fields and ask them to mentor you(tell you as much as they can) or whatever they can" learn something from people who succeed. I hope I've been helpful to someone

Pps swaps offer opurtunity for good quality birds technically free as well as rehome(even though this option is rarely near you)

We all have a different purpose for our flock choices. Understand, many of us need to feel ok with rehoming, especially in cases of a family event. The birds we have are very dear. Often hand picked, each one over several years. My flocks will not be just "rehomed". Any bird here has to find a permanent place before it leaves. If I take in another's flock or even 1 bird I respect the prior owners wishes. I do raise meat birds and do process roosters. If I take in a flock from someones life event. I will respect what they ask and rehome those birds accordingly. If I make a promise I keep it, and those birds will be rehomed as the owner asked me to.

Pretty sure I've seen a sharp-shinned hawk flying around the neighborhood. It perched on my fence yesterday, and my youngest chased it off before I could get a closer inspection. It was really little--smaller than all of my chickens--and seemed more to be preying on the little sparrows which are eating my chicken feed. It had a REALLY long tail for now bigger than it was. How concerned should I be? It can have all the sparrows it can eat, as far as I'm concerned (nasty little things have been bold as brass about stealing my chicken feed!)

They are a very aggressive hawk. That's the breed that actually entered my shed where I kept my silkies. Killed the roosters, ate them and squeezed into the XL wire dog crates. My guineas killed the pair. I had to remove my 2 hens out of that pen and the first hawk attacked me! I was able to release it but it came right back. It got my beloved polish rooster, Penelope. That day, I decided I would not keep any crested breed, or bantam birds again. The guineas attack most hawks but they weren't at that end of our property sadly when it first happened. They did get them but too late for my 3 roos.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: Agreed. I chose Lavender orps, any other breed I take in is a bonus.

Quote: Forums gather opinion really fast. Just put out there what your plan is today, in a month... many of us have kept poultry a long time. Taking in everything you find isn't a good idea. You are asking for disease, and a whole lot of other issues. Choose what breeds you want to keep and be cautious in rehoming situations. Aside from our forum I have seen 2 families realize life events this month alone. Aside from real life issues, the children suffer most, and then the animals they kept..Just breaks my heart. I am not in this for money and profit. My farm feeds my family. I am here to support the friends I have found here and help them when they need it.
.

And onto another subject silkies are from Asia and are a mericle drug supposidly... That's so awesome how's everyone's flock doing? And serious question this is the first time I've hatched chicks in fall, during the spring/summer I just put them out in the grow out coop at about 6-8 weeks old I feel like it might be too cold for the fall hatches even though they are bigger then the spring ones any advice i do have a lamp in the grow out pen but recently read chickens don't really need it at what age do they not need the heat(winter temps)

You will need to research the breed you have. Normal guide is 5 degrees a week. Newly hatched chicks need 95 degree brooders.

Quote: WELCOME!!!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Aww haven't been on in a while but had a PM that BYC is sending me a free 2016 BYC calendar for my contributions as a BYC member!

How thoughtful!

I got one too, It made me sooo happy!!

I just want to say thank you to all of the members who are and have been so helpful here.

I'm still scanning and sometimes reading the thread but I'm sure I will be taking a less active role as time goes on.

So just a question are cx extra supseptable to cocci? I let my chicks out all 50 and now the 26 cx are dropping like flys I think its cossi when I get a chance I'm gonna buy some corid 9.6 can I/ should I treat all the remaining cx? Just FYI the other chicks are a bit older ruffly two months old I believe and the cx are closer to 3 weeks to a month but none had gone outside till like four to five days ago

they eat anything. Yes more prone to cocci..Corid needs to be now or you will lose them all.

Quote: You need to treat asap

Has anybody ever had a Barred Rock who's feathers came in white post-molt? It's her first big molt, and I'm not sure if she'll get her barring back or not. It's weird!

no but she is sure attractive! Lovely hen

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

So my beloved Steve/Stella who I bought from sallyindiana drove all the way up there to get started showing signs of cocci so I straw fed him/her some of the corid solution and put the heat lamp on I hope he/she makes it yesterday so energetic today barely can stand I hope it's not to late but the bird was 8-9 months old I hadn't thought birds that old could really get it thought they would have an immunity to it by now

Its not the breeder at this point depending when you got them. 2 things bring coccidia damp cold conditions and damp bedding.

So I am thinking of separating my roos from the hens for the winter. They have recently found their voices and all the hormones that come with it. I thought separating them for the winter would give my girls a good break before breeding season next spring. Does anyone else separate? Right now I have them all mixed together, silkies,cochins, and other assorted bantams. Some of them seem to just be super aggressive in there attempts to mate and they are driving the girls crazy. I actually had to put one in time out today because he would not leave one of the girls alone. I figured by separating the roos now at least when it comes time to put them in breeding groups in the spring I won't have to wait the three weeks to make sure I'm getting the eggs I want. What are your thoughts about separating for the winter?

Roos are generally not active in the colder months but its not a bad idea.

Looking into fermenting feed (and maybe sprouting seeds). So far, it looks like lacto-fermentation is the best for the birds.

On a completely different note, I have the rehabbing Asil cock in the run outside. He's cut off from actually fighting anything, but he glares mightily and ruffles a lot at the other boys through the chicken wire. He's more concerned with digging through the compost and trying to bait ladies over with walnut leaves and bugs than fighting (which is great). I thought he wanted some time outside, so I'm glad I figured a way to give it to him

Any type of fermentation will give your birds better health.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I am so sorry but have to catch up more tomorrow keep falling asleep.

 

[Mother2Hens]

Originally Posted by chick rookie
MisFit Farm update:
We are starting to build our 10 x 8 shed coop, Yea!!!

the walls and roof the floor


the box it came in. the lucky ones that get the new house.

DH has made 2 trips to Menards to get the right stuff for the floor, we have decided that we are going to take 3' away from the chickens so I can store feed and bedding ect.... in it too ... he wants his garage back I think... lol


Redgitt the skinny 3x Rescue horse has been having issues with abscesses so today after she was down with her 3rd one we just called the vet out. She in now on a 7 day antibiotic and then the normal soaking and such, we have to get her a special supplement an keep her on it, and keep shoes on her fronts from now on.

This is the most expensive critter we have on the place. but oh well got to do what we got to do.

These 2 are always wondering what I am doing any time I go through the gate lol
And no picture update would be complete without a pic my my boy Waddles.


Ta Da I hope you have enjoyed today's show. have a great weekend.

@chick rookie I enjoyed the show! Beautiful birds. You wonder what a regular looking chicken thinks of a Polish! Waddles is huge and very handsome. I can't imagine paying vet bills for a horse, but I'm glad there are people like you who are willing to take on such a responsibility. She looks like a sweet (and lucky) horse!
Tonight (well actually 4:40 CST

when the chickens go in), my little overly-assertive bantam cochin, Screech, from @ellymayRans was bored with her partition that I made to keep her from starting trouble. So, she decided to hop up to the highest perch reserved for my black & white co-flock leaders (BR & SLW). I braced myself for more of Screech's head feathers to be plucked out. My BR, Tweedy, stood up and gave her a peck and then sat back down! Tweedy is on day two of molting, and she lost a lot of feathers today, so I don't think she felt like having a battle. Screech decided that it was boring up there, too, so she eventually hopped back to the lower perch. I started out three years ago with parallel perches to avoid hierarchy issues, but found that it makes no difference—there's always going to be a coveted perch whether it's in the front or back or up or down. The grass is always greener...

 

[tmarsh83]

So, I've already talked about the productivity of my leghorn. But the Ancona, (hatched 5/1) hasn't kicked in yet. Comb is still not bright. But everyday when I get my leghorn egg there are black feathers in the nesting box. Never catch her in there. She doesn't sleep there. But it seems like she's getting in the box at some point t after the leghorn lays.

What gives?

Been going on for a month. At first I thought it meant she was about to lay, but not as of yet.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

@jchny2000 and others who have recommended the medical coding, where would I start? Is there a class? Is the job application online, is it a work from home thing that pays for so many codings to be done? Tons of questions over here.