INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Indyshent]

Well hatching went.. okay, I guess? We've had less than half the babies hatch, and about a third of the ones that did hatch have died. Not entirely sure what's up with that. A big portion (if not all) of the babies that have died had their faces at the wrong end of the egg. Many of the babies didn't have egg teeth or had severely lacking ones. It's been really depressing because it seems like at least one dies every day, and it's usually my kids who discover its body. None of the turkey eggs were fertile, and a surprising number of chicken eggs weren't either. You'd think with so many roos here, the job would have been more than done, but I guess they're just too busy giving each other the stink eye to do their jobs.

I have one formerly-healthy chick that apparently slipped and really threw its legs out. I've tried the band-aids but nothing helped. If anything, that made it worse, and I think I'm going to have to cull it because it just isn't eating and can't get around. Unlike normal splay-leg, this poor chick has its feet by its face, so while the band-aid could keep the feet the requisite distance apart, it couldn't keep the legs under the chick, so the chick just kept kicking itself in the face. Poor baby

I'm going to have to get some Denagard or just cull everything at this point. I'm super sick of finding sick birds. Don't get it. Can't find these birds other homes until I get this nipped in the bud, and that may take a lot of expensive drugs (after already spending hundreds of dollars in student loans trying to kill this illness and the other ones the poor things came in with), warmer weather, and a really thorough cleaning.

I don't think anything's going to work for Saphira or the CX. They need tools I simply don't have, aren't likely to make a good recovery because they're meat birds and their weight simply puts too much pressure on their feet, and they aren't likely to live terribly long anyway even if I could afford the exotic vet to "do the job right". I don't like them suffering, but I'm just not able to kill them myself after putting in so much effort for so long to try to get them better. The medicines and treatments are too costly and I just don't have the training, help and equipment to do their surgeries the way they would have to be done (for instance, with anesthesia, because doing this level of surgery without anesthesia is not only cruel but proving impossible because these girls are just too heavy and powerful for me to handle).

On the bright note, the quail have started laying! These eggs look like malted milk balls!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote:

fired up the Dickey this eve - got a nearly new incubator & hatcher set last summer - gonna do a small batch test run in a couple days to get familiar with it

Exciting! Is that the round metal style incubator? I have heard a lot of good about them.

I'm way behind this year. Plan on setting up breeding pins tomorrow. Standard orps. I plan on Splash on Black in #1 Then Black on Splash in # 2 And Blue on Blue in #3. I'm still deciding on setting up a 4th with buff Brahmas. I guess I will decide tomorrow on that one. I could do an English pin but I really like my standards size better than the English. If I get done in time I will post some pic's. Good luck to all of you hatching now and congrats to those of you who have hatched already.

I am intentionally behind, lol but as soon as the orps resume laying I will start setting eggs again. My geese are already laying but I am so not brooding goslings in the middle of winter, ugh.

Quote: I kept both rooster in with the hens. Everyone is separated breed wise now, so its just the matter of waiting for eggs.

Quote: I'm hoping for nubian kids this spring. And I know a good breeder of nubians up close to you as well as one down south in Evansville and one in Columbus, IN. But unless you want to pay top dollar, I'd stay away from the extremely famous place in Martinsville. Sure their goats will win shows but wow their animals cost 4-5 times more than the other good breeders I know and 10 times more than the goats on CL.
I plan to wait and see if you get a buckling. If not then I may go back to the Oberhasli bucks, and contact the lady in north Anderson I know. Either way I want dehorned now that we have the pasture, Daisy and Fanny as guardians ROFL! Fanny put Bo in his place right quick. He butted heads with her, she promptly put him into the fence. My does run underneath Fanny if I let Bocephus in the pasture, its too funny! Bo is finally out of rut and behaving himself, so am not nearly as concerned as I was last month. But I still want a better mannered buck for a breeder. All of his kids have been sweet but I want a buck I can manage easily.
I adore watching Fanny, the cow with my goats. They play sparring, Sugar dances on her hind legs, and they both run around chasing each other. Fanny will lick Sugar like she is washing her. They nuzzle and rub heads. Daisy and Cocoa, the donkey and Nubian are more buddies, and both lounge around more. Always snuggled against the hay roll together. I will be introducing my sow next to all the girls, the hog pen is inside the pasture. She is due in February 27th, so she is getting a new pen with a large farrowing house. After her piglets are weaned she will be out in the pasture with my other girls aside from feeding time.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Well hatching went.. okay, I guess? We've had less than half the babies hatch, and about a third of the ones that did hatch have died. Not entirely sure what's up with that. A big portion (if not all) of the babies that have died had their faces at the wrong end of the egg. Many of the babies didn't have egg teeth or had severely lacking ones. It's been really depressing because it seems like at least one dies every day, and it's usually my kids who discover its body. None of the turkey eggs were fertile, and a surprising number of chicken eggs weren't either. You'd think with so many roos here, the job would have been more than done, but I guess they're just too busy giving each other the stink eye to do their jobs.

I have one formerly-healthy chick that apparently slipped and really threw its legs out. I've tried the band-aids but nothing helped. If anything, that made it worse, and I think I'm going to have to cull it because it just isn't eating and can't get around. Unlike normal splay-leg, this poor chick has its feet by its face, so while the band-aid could keep the feet the requisite distance apart, it couldn't keep the legs under the chick, so the chick just kept kicking itself in the face. Poor baby

I'm going to have to get some Denagard or just cull everything at this point. I'm super sick of finding sick birds. Don't get it. Can't find these birds other homes until I get this nipped in the bud, and that may take a lot of expensive drugs (after already spending hundreds of dollars in student loans trying to kill this illness and the other ones the poor things came in with), warmer weather, and a really thorough cleaning.

I don't think anything's going to work for Saphira or the CX. They need tools I simply don't have, aren't likely to make a good recovery because they're meat birds and their weight simply puts too much pressure on their feet, and they aren't likely to live terribly long anyway even if I could afford the exotic vet to "do the job right". I don't like them suffering, but I'm just not able to kill them myself after putting in so much effort for so long to try to get them better. The medicines and treatments are too costly and I just don't have the training, help and equipment to do their surgeries the way they would have to be done (for instance, with anesthesia, because doing this level of surgery without anesthesia is not only cruel but proving impossible because these girls are just too heavy and powerful for me to handle).

On the bright note, the quail have started laying! These eggs look like malted milk balls!

Its very disheartening on the meat bird breeds. They have so much weight they can't avoid foot issues. Once the CX hen and Falkor have left us I won't be keeping any more for that reason. Its just too hard emotionally.
I know the BB turkeys can't be bred. I have tried so many different combinations, and the eggs are never fertile. Commercial farms artificially Inseminate. I have hatched Cornish cross mixes with good success. The offspring are large breasted birds also.
My family situations are hopefully settled down so maybe we can meet this weekend. I have a quart of Denegard so will get some to you. The birds you feel its time, bring up when you come.
LOL glad to hear your Coturnix ladies are laying! I am getting at least 6 eggs a day from my 9 girls. I don't use artificial light either, so am happy with what they are doing. My first hatch this year was 8, and I have more locked down and due tomorrow. The eggs are really awesome, each hen lays a different color. I have one girl laying a lavender pastel, another is pure white. The rest are browns, blacks mottled colors, its fun.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Updates on my brother and DDs gramma...
Gramma started to improve, and had a setback. They are making her as comfortable as possible, but its confirmed she did have a massive stroke. Lungs are not functioning well. Drs are just keeping her comfortable at this point, outlook is not good.
Brother is recovering and in good spirits. Stood today with a walker, of course no pressure on the foot. Long road for him.

On a happier note! My Sumatra, Orpingtons, Ameraucana and NN are all in individual breeding coops. . Also have my Peas, Midget Whites, Bourbon Red and White Holland turkeys cooped, separated and ready for breeding season. We will build 3 more coops for RIR. EE/OE and WL. My oddball girls will go into a new egg coop also. My geese are divided in runs by breeds.. Ready to start setting eggs in a month, less for some am just waiting for them to start laying.Really excited for spring!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I have decided that I am going to keep only my SL Roo and work on better laced blues, Silver laced and Silver partridges. So, if anyone is interested, and all the ones pictured below are from Papa's Poultry.

I have my Blue Orp Thor available, he is a big boy!( can't wait to be able to use the hose on the deck.)




2 Silver laced orpingtons, 5 month old pullets and a black orpington pullet



I also have a Splash Orpington Cockerel about 6 months, and a Trio of Blue Isbars available. Need to get some current pics. If your interested please pm me.

Here are the Blue Isbars from Orchard Hill Poultry, breeders were from Greenfire's 2nd Generation

All are drop dead gorgeous. I would love your blue fella but I cant get away from the house.Day trips are hopeless for me.

 

[chick rookie]

Faraday ~ Ok, now a teacher should not worry about looking foolish for being inquisitive!

Haha That's what we're here for— to ask and learn from each other. My teacher-like lecture has concluded.

iamfivewire ~ You are brave ~ what breed(s) are you planning to hatch?
Originally Posted by Too Fast
Lol those pennant flags are scaring things away because at night they all think it's a UFO that landed in your yard, so they don't dare come around.

@Too Fast Haha That reminds me — you and @Old Salt 1945 both recently reappeared on this thread around the same time. And coincidentally, you both used to talk about wearing tin foil hats! Hmmm, maybe there was something to that.

And it's easier to build a Ft. Knox when your enclosure only had to protect a small backyard flock of up to 12 chickens. We currently have 9, and got 4 eggs yesterday! Yay, 2 from our 5 new girls, and 2 from the 4 old girls.

Good point ~Very true! I have a small flock, too.

ok this is not the post I wanted to quote.... the one I wanted was you bragging about the temp. 65 is great, we made it to 60. I too worked myself into the ground, DH too!! We both died last night, I don't think either one of us moved once our head hit the pillow. We got Hope and the billy kids a new pen set up where everyone could see each other and be close without anyone getting hurt and they got a new house too. While I hung the tarps for the wind blocks DH put new brakes on the truck. I moved a new dog house into Elsa's new pen cause we didn't think she was getting into the house we gave her, we didn't figure she liked it. So I went out last night to see if she was using it and she was in the goat house we gave her first!!! NOT the dog house!! That wasn't easy for me to get in there for her, the brat!! Now I have to take it out and let the dogs have it I guess, or I might just save it cause I will need for the 3 doelings I have in the house, when they move outside this spring.
The doelings are going to be dis-budded this morning, not going to be happy with me at all.
All the kids are doing well and getting so darn big and rowdy, or maybe its just seems that way because of the number of them I have under foot.??? lol
Seems I always have a mop in hand anymore..... lol Hurry up spring!!!
Will get pic's latter today.

I have decided that I am going to keep only my SL Roo and work on better laced blues, Silver laced and Silver partridges. So, if anyone is interested, and all the ones pictured below are from Papa's Poultry.

I have my Blue Orp Thor available, he is a big boy!( can't wait to be able to use the hose on the deck.)




2 Silver laced orpingtons, 5 month old pullets and a black orpington pullet



I also have a Splash Orpington Cockerel about 6 months, and a Trio of Blue Isbars available. Need to get some current pics. If your interested please pm me.

Here are the Blue Isbars from Orchard Hill Poultry, breeders were from Greenfire's 2nd Generation

Sure wish I had the room they are beautiful!!

Updates on my brother and DDs gramma...
Gramma started to improve, and had a setback. They are making her as comfortable as possible, but its confirmed she did have a massive stroke. Lungs are not functioning well. Drs are just keeping her comfortable at this point, outlook is not good.
Brother is recovering and in good spirits. Stood today with a walker, of course no pressure on the foot. Long road for him.

On a happier note! My Sumatra, Orpingtons, Ameraucana and NN are all in individual breeding coops. . Also have my Peas, Midget Whites, Bourbon Red and White Holland turkeys cooped, separated and ready for breeding season. We will build 3 more coops for RIR. EE/OE and WL. My oddball girls will go into a new egg coop also. My geese are divided in runs by breeds.. Ready to start setting eggs in a month, less for some am just waiting for them to start laying.Really excited for spring!

So very sorry to hear about your grandmother.

Glad you brother is recovering at least.




As far as the chickens go... KNOCK ON WOOD all has been going good so far. Still kicking.
I am still planning on getting more of the heritage breeds and less of the hatchery stock. Got allot of the hatchery either rehomed or sold so far but still have a few to go. Then it's time to restock. My layer coop is down to 7 hens and 1 roo, have had that small of a number seance I got into my own flock, I am set on EE with 8 hens and Blckbeard from @Indyshent , My OE project is ready to go with 3 hens and Oliver form @kittydoc
I have to start over on my BCM's cause .. well I got took and they weren't BCM!! The only Maren I really had was a splash I also got from a BYC member ( a splash ) died, soooo.... I got rid of all my little's, well all but 1 my best bud Lacy and she has been rehomed to a Great BYC member, just trying to get together for the hand off. No more feeding the dang hawks and falcon' around here. We have 1 more pen ( for Oliver and his girls ) to get built and we are done.

BYW, Who ever is updating the members list now.. lol you can take Silkies off me. With all the deaths in that group I have gave up.

Moving Waddle's woman in with him today she is finally big enough for him, didn't think he was ever going to get a lady of his own. @Indyshent was trying but she has about the same luck I have been having. Well make sure I get pic's of that too.. lol Have allot to do today and trying to get all I can done before the cold returns!!!!!!!!

Hope you all have a great day, ttyal

 

[Hholly]

Well hatching went.. okay, I guess? We've had less than half the babies hatch, and about a third of the ones that did hatch have died. Not entirely sure what's up with that. A big portion (if not all) of the babies that have died had their faces at the wrong end of the egg. Many of the babies didn't have egg teeth or had severely lacking ones. It's been really depressing because it seems like at least one dies every day, and it's usually my kids who discover its body. None of the turkey eggs were fertile, and a surprising number of chicken eggs weren't either. You'd think with so many roos here, the job would have been more than done, but I guess they're just too busy giving each other the stink eye to do their jobs.

I have one formerly-healthy chick that apparently slipped and really threw its legs out. I've tried the band-aids but nothing helped. If anything, that made it worse, and I think I'm going to have to cull it because it just isn't eating and can't get around. Unlike normal splay-leg, this poor chick has its feet by its face, so while the band-aid could keep the feet the requisite distance apart, it couldn't keep the legs under the chick, so the chick just kept kicking itself in the face. Poor baby

I'm going to have to get some Denagard or just cull everything at this point. I'm super sick of finding sick birds. Don't get it. Can't find these birds other homes until I get this nipped in the bud, and that may take a lot of expensive drugs (after already spending hundreds of dollars in student loans trying to kill this illness and the other ones the poor things came in with), warmer weather, and a really thorough cleaning.

I don't think anything's going to work for Saphira or the CX. They need tools I simply don't have, aren't likely to make a good recovery because they're meat birds and their weight simply puts too much pressure on their feet, and they aren't likely to live terribly long anyway even if I could afford the exotic vet to "do the job right". I don't like them suffering, but I'm just not able to kill them myself after putting in so much effort for so long to try to get them better. The medicines and treatments are too costly and I just don't have the training, help and equipment to do their surgeries the way they would have to be done (for instance, with anesthesia, because doing this level of surgery without anesthesia is not only cruel but proving impossible because these girls are just too heavy and powerful for me to handle).

On the bright note, the quail have started laying! These eggs look like malted milk balls!

Aw, sorry you and your chickies are having such a rough time.

 

[Hholly]

Updates on my brother and DDs gramma...
Gramma started to improve, and had a setback. They are making her as comfortable as possible, but its confirmed she did have a massive stroke. Lungs are not functioning well. Drs are just keeping her comfortable at this point, outlook is not good.
Brother is recovering and in good spirits. Stood today with a walker, of course no pressure on the foot. Long road for him.

On a happier note! My Sumatra, Orpingtons, Ameraucana and NN are all in individual breeding coops. . Also have my Peas, Midget Whites, Bourbon Red and White Holland turkeys cooped, separated and ready for breeding season. We will build 3 more coops for RIR. EE/OE and WL. My oddball girls will go into a new egg coop also. My geese are divided in runs by breeds.. Ready to start setting eggs in a month, less for some am just waiting for them to start laying.Really excited for spring!

Sorry about DDs gramma.

Yay for everything else. Sounds like a lot going on.

 

[hoosiercheetah]

Hello everyone! It's been a while! ;-)

I'm starting to think about chicks again, and I thought I'd drop in and check out the list. I'd rather buy from one of y'all than deal with the post office.

Also, my sister is looking for a pullet or two. She wants a dark egg layer to bring some color to her egg basket. She might get on here and post herself, but I thought I'd put it out there in case she doesn't. So there's that.

Sadly, I have to report that I have a flock full of slackers this winter. Out of fourteen hens, I think one is still laying, barely. I think I've got six eggs in the last two weeks. Stinkers.

Hope everyone has a great Monday!

 

[racinchickins]

Update:
After being separated for about an hour, both roos looked fine. I let #2 out & all seemed OK. I spent some time out there & threw down some scratch. I noticed roo#1 would walk up to roo#2 & kind of use his body to block roo#2 from eating. (About 4-5 times) Each time roo#2 moved away & ate a few feet over. I guess roo#1 won. Then a hawk alert was sounded & both immediately stood guard. I don't believe their sparring is over, but it was nice to see they could get along without tearing each other apart. I still have all the same ?s. I plan to be spending a lot of time outside with them today. Thankfully, the weather is awesome.

They will work out who is dominant, and it won't necessarily stay that way forever. But just let them work it out. I've never had a roo seriously injure another. Now turkey hens, that's a different story.

Quote:
Hatchery Reviews ~ Thank you for sharing your experiences with various hatcheries!
I am compiling everyone's comments (leaving out your names). I hope to add the info to our Indiana BYCers info (the link above) that is currently being updated.

If anyone who has ordered chicks before would like to comment on good or bad hatchery experiences, it would be helpful for any of us thinking about ordering. Although people can have opposite experiences dealing with the same business, background information can be beneficial. As I said before, my intention is not to bash businesses, but share experiences to help make informed decisions.

I've had experience with 3 places so far, and an order with a 4th we are waiting on.

My first chickens came from Murray McMurray. Good experience. Chicks delivered on time, very healthy. One smallish quibble. Out of 25 straight run, I got 8 hens. and that wasn't counting the male packing peanuts. It could be bad luck, but it was a pretty lopsided ratio. I still have quite a few of those hens years later.

I did a group order from Ideal with @SallyinIndiana . Straight run Mottled Java. Was quite happy with them. They aren't quite as nice as my MJ from a breeder, but they weren't has far off as most hatchery breeds have gotten. Very healthy chicks and this time ended up with mostly hens, and my hatch ratio from them has skewed hen also (unlike any of my other breeds.....)

The next two I really can't call hatcheries, more large scale breeders. If they don't have quality birds available, you just don't your order filled and get a refund. Also, don't expect handholding customer service either.

I've ordered twice from Porters Turkeys. No complaints at all. He's very busy, so order early, and you don't get a promised ship date. You get 'em when he has 'em to send. His turkeys are phenomenal. And you are supporting an Indiana business!

Currently have a group order going with other members on here with Sandhill Preservation Center. They couldn't meet our order last year, so we got in extra early this year (actually last fall) and it looks like we will get them this year.

Hope that helps.