INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[funnyfarmmom]

@LeahFreeman and I have a joint order for Cornish x coming from Welp. They were supposed to ship out this past Tuesday. I hoped and hoped for a phone call from the post office this morning but no dice. I tried to email the lady from Welp this morning and got an auto response that she is out of the office until the 15th. I'm really worried because of the cold. How long did it take you all to get an order from them? I never actually got a shipping confirmation, she just told me on the phone that she was shipping on the 9th.

 

[funnyfarmmom]

Nevermind. I worried too early. Apparently no one gets to my post office as early as some. Chicks have arrived! Every single one survived, all are eating and drinking already. The order took 2 days. So will definitely order from them again! Here's a pic, I have a second box set up I just put them all in one for now to get a quick drink.

 

[ellymayRans]

Thanks for the chick radar report!

I have those 2 boys with massive combs we talked about that are frostbit, legbar roos. Both of them are free range and won't go near a coop. I toss them game bird feed every day to help keep their protein up.I went out and put vaseline on my lavender drake, and another fella thats caruncled heavily.

Thanks for the chick radar update, keep them coming everyone! If it was march, I would be going to buy CX!
I know! I guess thats what concerns me, the temp swings. My poor donkey was panting Sunday, and the cow was too. I took advantage of the temps and drained the stock tank, added ACV and refilled it. They really guzzled the cold water. I am still considering a "sweeter heater" for the new chicken coop, and one for the livestock house too. Nervous about our calf coming this month!

Ditto on the CX! Gonna try them this year too! Can't pass up those beautiful bodies!! ; ) haha

 

[Mother2Hens]

Not a good day—or year. I received a call from my Avian veterinarian who said that preliminary results on my recently deceased Screech (who he sent to Purdue) indicate Marek's, but more info will be coming. I guess that explains three chicken deaths in a month. I didn't expect that news because I hadn't seen any symptoms. I feel sick from the report, and I have to drive to Bloomington and back to get meds to my DD at IU.

Well... not obsessing, but it is a huge drop to go from the 50's to 0 F at night. No way you can acclimate that fast.
That's one of the reasons I have wished to find a hanging heater of some sort that can keep the temp in their roost area within about 15 degrees warmer than the air when it drops into the single digits and below. It just feels a bit more humane to me. And if it fails, there's only a 15 degree difference which is way less than they experience sometimes!

@Leahs Mom ~ I agree about your "humane" comment! As you know, my coop is consistently 15 degrees higher than outdoor temps. Last year, I bought a 11 X 16 side mount sweeter heater ($95 plus shipping). I like that it is safe, but it does not emit the heat described on their site. I also use a traditional 250 watt infrared clamp lamp in which I use wire to hold all of the lamp components together and also to secure the clamp onto a coop beam. It's not a perfect solution, but there are risks and benefits to everything.

 

[Hholly]

Not a good day—or year. I received a call from my Avian veterinarian who said that preliminary results on my recently deceased Screech (who he sent to Purdue) indicate Marek's, but more info will be coming. I guess that explains three chicken deaths in a month. I didn't expect that news because I hadn't seen any symptoms. I feel sick from the report, and I have to drive to Bloomington and back to get meds to my DD at IU.

@Leahs Mom ~ I agree about your "humane" comment! As you know, my coop is consistently 15 degrees higher than outdoor temps. Last year, I bought a 11 X 16 side mount sweeter heater ($95 plus shipping). I like that it is safe, but it does not emit the heat described on their site. I also use a traditional 250 watt infrared clamp lamp in which I use wire to hold all of the lamp components together and also to secure the clamp onto a coop beam. It's not a perfect solution, but there are risks and benefits to everything.

Aw, sorry to hear about the diagnosis.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@Mother2Hens

If I could just find something that doesn't emit light.... that's why I was looking at those GFS units.

 

[ChickCrazed]

Not a good day—or year. I received a call from my Avian veterinarian who said that preliminary results on my recently deceased Screech (who he sent to Purdue) indicate Marek's, but more info will be coming. I guess that explains three chicken deaths in a month. I didn't expect that news because I hadn't seen any symptoms. I feel sick from the report, and I have to drive to Bloomington and back to get meds to my DD at IU.

@Leahs Mom ~ I agree about your "humane" comment! As you know, my coop is consistently 15 degrees higher than outdoor temps. Last year, I bought a 11 X 16 side mount sweeter heater ($95 plus shipping). I like that it is safe, but it does not emit the heat described on their site. I also use a traditional 250 watt infrared clamp lamp in which I use wire to hold all of the lamp components together and also to secure the clamp onto a coop beam. It's not a perfect solution, but there are risks and benefits to everything.

I'm so sorry! Likely your adult hens have already built up an immunity. I would make sure you vaccinate Lacey before she goes out though!

 

[cganote]

Hey everyone! I was searching around for vets to do blood draws for NPIP testing. A flock of veterinary students are visiting my farm on Monday feb 15th. They asked me if there was anyone near Bloomington IN who wanted a flock evaluation or blood tests! It would save them the drive back down later - let me know if you want this or know anyone around who wants this done.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Back to meat birds...

Do y'all order straight-run or pullets on the Cornish X?

The local place I spoke about earlier also has Freedom Rangers available. I'm thinking I might try half and half and compare.

 

[tmarsh83]

I've been looking into meat birds a lot, but have no first hand experience, let that be point number one. (I'm just a research geek, can't break the habit.)

Results on the Freedom Rangers were too mixed for me. Some birds taking 16-18 weeks to get to weight, lower carcass weights, etc.

The only time I saw issues with the CX they were explained by not removing feed, overcrowding, etc.

I just didn't see any reason to not do the CX. Not for my money outlay...FWIW.

Back to meat birds...

Do y'all order straight-run or pullets on the Cornish X?

The local place I spoke about earlier also has Freedom Rangers available. I'm thinking I might try half and half and compare.