INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[chick rookie]

We have so many ups and downs on our thread! I can't imagine not having our Indiana Thread of like-minded people who grieve with those who've lost beloved friends and cheer when we see new babies and beautiful creatures.

@jchny2000 ~ I am so sorry to hear about Gracie.

I'm glad that you found her and that she knew you were trying to help her. If I didn't live in a subdivision area, I would want geese more than anything after first seeing yours several years ago. They are such sweet and elegant birds.

Sometime when you're up to it, I ran across this interesting book that's too expensive to buy (it's a textbook), but you can read large sections of many books on Amazon by clicking on Look Inside. http://www.amazon.com/Avian-Cognition-Exploring-Intelligence-Individuality. This book has a chapter on geese. (Libraries are also, of course, good sources).
@chick rookie I can tell that Lacy would be a good mom! I had taken her egg away to discourage her broodiness since she is sick. She seemed upset that it was gone, so I gave her a brown paper mache egg. She was happy to have it, but apparently it wasn't enough— I looked in on her later, and noticed part of her dish sticking out from under her—then I saw her trying to tuck it in more! I had used the flat orange dish to elevate her snack plate. Poor thing, I wish I could give her a couple of hatching eggs.


Below: When I brought Lacy a new snack, I saw a corner of the orange dish sticking out
from underneath her. lol Then, she starts pecking around on the green bowl that is
elevating her new snack as though she was thinking about tucking it under, too!


I am happy that she is eating well and drinking her Tylan water, but she doesn't seem better. She sounds like she needs a vaporizer with Vick's! Of course I could kick myself for not getting her to the vet sooner, but she suddenly changed. She went from an occasional rattle to noisy breathing (not gasping or anything, more of a congested sound) and occasionally sneezing. Since she's been sick, I've only taken her outside (across the street) once a day. It's been warm. She takes a dust bath (not too dusty because of recent rain) and free ranges for around 20 mins. and then wants to go in—just like my Bonbon did when she was broody.

My other five girls are doing fine and have also enjoyed the warm temps. I'm so glad it's Daylight Saving Time! Yay!
Originally Posted by farmguy2007
Wanted to drop a few pics of a hen a fellow Hoosier/member here was so kind enough to give to us! She is now gifting us a clutch of eggs!!

@farmguy2007 ~ She is very pretty! What breed is she? Kind of reminds me of my Bantam Birchen Cochin, Lacy (pictured above) —they're both in the mama position.
@atrueb00 It's great to have you back! Thanks for posting all of the Upcoming Poultry Events on page 4693.
Loved all of your photos, too—gorgeous peafowl and more! That's interesting about your handsome dog Stitch's training to be a caregiver dog. Does that mean he will be placed in another home to help someone?
@ellymayRans ~ OMG!!!!! That's all I can say!

Hope Lacy gets to feeling better soon.

She is a very funny girl even when she aint trying to hatch bowels.. lol Wait till you et her outside with the others and are trying to feed... Watch your eyes!!!! She will fly up on your shoulder and walk around with ya and sometimes I would get a wing tip to the eye...

Wait till you see her out PLAYING in the rain... you will swear she is part duck!!

 

[chick rookie]

I have a question for the goat people here??? At the new place in the woods that I'm going to let my goats roam around in there is quite a bit of Ginseng, is it ok for them to eat that? and what about mushrooms?

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

@pipdzipdnreadytogo [COLOR=8B4513]I agree that Silkie chicks are even more adorable than other chick who are amazingly adorable! lol I think it's the Silkie sheen that makes them look like those chenille easter chicks. And I have to admit that when Bonbon had chicks the first time, it instantly became one of the most cherished events of my life, which sounds a little crazy. I just felt so lucky to be able to watch their interactions each day. So fascinating and sweet.[/COLOR]

Not crazy at all. I'm so sad this is my last day of spring break, because I'm not going to be able to spend all my time with them anymore!! I just want to sit out there all day and watch Mama Margaret take care of her babies... Which is why I have a million billion pictures of them already. They're just so sweet together. I mean, look at them!!

She's finally come out of her 'nest-mode' and is up and around with the babies much more! Here she is eating a spilled pellet from the other girls' food. She tried to offer it to the babies, but their beaks are just too tiny to eat those big pellets!

The babies are already learning how to forage in the shavings!

If anyone couldn't tell from the last picture, I ended up putting just a little bit of Blu-Kote on one of the babies' heads so that I could tell them all apart. As you can see, he's super happy for the inconvenience. And I have Blu-Kote speckles now.

Here's two of the other babies gossiping about the other's head spot.

And this one, I just had to share it! Look at that little fluff bum!!

 

[Hholly]

Thought I'd share some pics of my babies.

Has anyone seen an egg this small? I cracked it open and it contained egg white but no yolk.

 

[pattyhen]

Holly love the pics of your chicks. The turkens are so strange looking. You'll have to knit it a muffler when the weather gets cold.
I've gotten 3 of those tiny eggs over the years. I've saved all of mine. Thanks for sharing your babies and I wanted to let you know that Sissy continues getting better. Thanks so much.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Posting again in case anyone is interested in deterring hawks:

The DNR recommends using "Bird Bangers". They are a pyrotechnic that you shoot from a special "hand-gun-launcher". It is like shooting up a firecracker or a "whistler" - depending on which kind you are shooting. The idea is to scare the hawks away from an area.

I purchased some last year and have enjoyed using them (guess I'm like a little kid with firecrackers

) I try to be in a area where hawks can't see me when I fire them. My idea is to make them afraid of the "area" rather than me, the person. Of course, when you're in a hurry and hawks are circling they definitely see me.

I have really like them. It definitely makes me feel like a "predator" to the hawks (we, of course, being their natural predator but we can't legally predate anymore).

Before I got them, hawks were bold and would just sit and look at me from wherever they were staging - even if I gave them a tongue lashing. They're not afraid of people anymore because we're no longer a threat. But they get the idea quickly when I have a "scare tactic" I can use that is frightful.

Got mine at Reed Joseph. https://reedjoseph.com/products/pyrotechnics/scare-away-pyrotechnics/bird-banger-100-round-box/

You have to fill out a "Wildlife Control Statement" to purchase.



I got some screamers and some bangers so I have both around.
https://reedjoseph.com/products/pyrotechnics/scare-away-pyrotechnics/bird-banger-100-round-box/
https://reedjoseph.com/products/pyrotechnics/scare-away-pyrotechnics/screamer-siren-100-round-box/


And a double-shot launcher:
https://reedjoseph.com/products/pyrotechnics/double-shot-launcher/

They have shells that also fit 12 gauge shotgun but you DO have to have a permit to purchase those.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

I'm still getting a few calls from buyers looking to get pullets ready for the great outdoors and layers. If anyone would like to be put on my list of people to call, please let me know. Or if anyone is interested in getting into the business of raising up pullets to sell, let me know. I'm sure I could help get you started.

 

[Mother2Hens]

It's been an unexpected beautiful day — Sunny and 70 degrees. In the early afternoon, I took Lacy across the street to take her broody break. She acted normal and enjoyed free ranging. Then I took my five hens out the back for an excursion. After about three hours, I decided to check on Lacy to see if maybe she'd want to go out again since it's still sunny. I found her dead. She was in this strange position just outside the kennel where she's been camping out broody (she's had the run of the bed room). Her eyes are closed and her head erect, feet outward. Maybe @kittydoc will know if that means anything.

Last week, Lacy suddenly had respiratory issues. I took her to the the vet on Thursday; she was diagnosed with MG/CRD and was prescribed Tylan Soluble. (my other hens have it in their only water, but they have been suspicious and will find the tiniest puddle for a drink).

Ugh, I just feel queasy and sad. She was so sweet and fun.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Oh my gosh, M2H, I am so, so sorry! How completely blindsiding!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Is it possible that there was someone may have left rat poison where you took her outside? Possibly a neighbor having lawn fertilized and insecticide sprayed on fruit trees, etc.?


ETA:
Had a friend that had a perfectly healthy rooster in the morning that died in the afternoon. After investigation, found that he had visited the neighbor's yard who had poison put around the home for roaches and mice that morning. It was an awful experience.