INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[ellymayRans]

@greenthumb83 forgot to ask what breeds your getting??

 

[weezerfish]

@kittydoc, @tmarsh83, and @Leahs mom,
Thanks for the insights! Based on what I've read on this forum, I've tried to do my chicken math in advance. My plan is to have one hen for each of the kids which puts us at 3. That would give us enough eggs for our own use and a few extras to share. Hoping we can keep that number to 6, but based on what everybody tells me that may be optimistic. However, knowing that we will probably end up at 6 it sounds like we need to go bigger. We have a sizable shed that we store the mower and a bunch of other junk we don't need. The folks that owned our home previously used it for chickens at one point, but mice are regular tenants and the inside smells faintly of gasoline and oil in the summer from stuff that's spilled and leached into the concrete floor. So As much as it would solve our space issues, I'm reluctant to go there.

The biggest thing I'm concerned winter and space. Found a great thread about overwintering birds a couple weeks back. Plan to build a covered run about 4x12 and wrap it seasonally (with ventilation of course!) to keep out the wind and snow. I know they won't always want to come out when the bitter cold hits, but my hope is that will ease the pressure on them. What Leahs Mom says rings completely true though. I want happy chickens. So it sounds like maybe I go back to the drawing board and either upsize the coop or find a way of overcoming the chicken math and dig in at 3.

 

[ellymayRans]

[COLOR=8B4513]They will make you feel better![/COLOR]   [COLOR=8B4513]Sorry you missed your poultry show.[/COLOR]
[rule][COLOR=333333]
[/COLOR][COLOR=333333]Reply by Chick Crazed: Chicks are fun, are safer from a disease standpoint, usually end up friendlier and really aren't hard to raise if you educate yourself in advance. Give them enough space, proper temps and fill their feeders and waterers along with keeping an eye out for a couple common maladies and you are good to go.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=333333]@wotkuni
[/COLOR]  [COLOR=8B4513]If you don't get them as chicks, you'll miss what is known as "Chicken TV" (sitting there staring at their antics). They grow really fast; every day you can see changes. Like[/COLOR] @ChickCrazed
 [COLOR=8B4513]said, if you handle them from the beginning, they'll be friendlier and it will be easier to give them check-ups if they're used to you. As far as starting with chicks or pullets, feel free to ask as many questions as you can think of and do a lot of research. Chickens are fun![/COLOR]
[rule]@Indyshent
  [COLOR=8B4513]Oh my gosh, you have so much going on, and of course your health is the most important issue. [/COLOR]
[rule]

Love the shirt!!! Such a sweet DS!
I saw one tagged on FB and I love it. I'll try to post it here.

 

[wheezy50]

Sorry I haven't been on for a few days, here are the links I used for cooler bator design. There are several but this guy did a good job explaining things.

This is the video of the thermostat modification and installation:

 

[wheezy50]

My coolerbator doesn't cycle off and on quite as quickly as his does in the video. That's the key for steady temps, you want the light/heat to only have to come on for a few seconds and stay off a short time. The longer the heat is on or off=bigger temp fluctuations.

I have timed mine, it's about 1 min and 20 seconds on. About 2.5 mins off

 

[wheezy50]

You can search on YouTube for the guys videos, he has several. I saw one for homemade feed but I haven't watched it yet.

 

[wheezy50]

One thing I will still modify or change is my light bulb situation. I'm using a socket that holds 2 bulbs in one spot. I want to change that to 2 single bulbs, at either end of the cooler. I think my temp will be more even throughout that way.

Here's my second coolerbator, halfway done.

 

[Greenthumb83]

I only ordered barred rocks. I really wish I had gotten something else with them. I had Easter eggers in my order but it was pushing it back to June 27th, so I took them off. I have been to Big R this week trying to get a couple buff orpingtons, but they sell out as soon as they come in. I will keep trying though lol. I have read that the orpingtons like to go broody. I wouldn't mind that at all.

 

[Edenbridget]

SQUEEEEEEAL. This is what I woke up to before church!!! 6 more with external pips. I'm so excited, I was afraid none would hatch. Now what to do with these unexpected chicks haha. I already have 13 in a big tub in the house.

 

[pattyhen]

congrats on the new babies. They are cuties. Good luck with the rest of them.