INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Greenthumb83]

[COLOR=8B4513]You were prepared—you asked me to design your avatar before your first post! lol Has anyone noticed your avatar's theme of wheat/fresh bread?— since you are known "in your parts" for baking bread—and for growing veggies, etc. And soon you'll be known as a Crazy Chicken Lady![/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]Btw, I love my BR who is the Flock Leader. I also love my remaining English Orp. You probably live within driving distance to Indy where you could get beautiful orps from either/and @jchny2000 [/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513](our Thread Head -lol) or[/COLOR] @kittydoc . [rule]Originally Posted by Edenbridget /img/forum/go_quote.gif [rule]Originally Posted by Leahs Mom [COLOR=333333]...My husband and I were able to get a garden shed from Habitat for Humanity for $250... [/COLOR] @Leahs Mom [COLOR=8B4513]~ I didn't know that Habitat built houses for chickens, too! Haha [/COLOR] [rule]Originally Posted by pipdzipdreadytogo [COLOR=333333]I can't help myself with these babies--more pictures! I just want to sit out there all day and snuggle them!! They are discovering their wings now! Bennie looks like a little jet plane in this picture![/COLOR] [COLOR=333333]@pipdzipdnreadytogo [/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]~ Now I have the song, "Bennie and the Jets" in my head.[/COLOR]

Lol I was prepared. I had read the Indiana links before ever posting and found you. I doubt anyone noticed my bread haha. We've talked about opening a bakery, but it seems like such a stretch. We are so busy with kids and life etc. Right now all of my baking is a race against my toddler timer! I'm done when she says I'm done lol. I do go to Indy occasionally. I am actually going tomorrow morning, but it wouldn't be for anything fun. We have a follow up at Riley for my son's eye surgery. But it only takes 2 hours or less to get there.

 

[Greenthumb83]

At the top of the page if you are on a pc, go to My Profile.
Once you are there, scroll down to where it says "Forum Signature"
Click "edit signature" and you can paste a link, a favorite saying or anything thats acceptable to BYC guidelines.
If you need more help, just holler!

Awesome to visit with an old friend!
Yes, ducks grow incredibly fast. Pekin especially reach mature size in 12 weeks, the other common breeds are not far behind.
Pigs, you will love them! They are super easy, piglets even easier. Main things are PLENTY of fresh water. Weeners, baby pigs thats just left Mamma, I start on warm milk soaked into pig feed. I look for around 16% protein in the feed. Let them eat all they can and remove in an hour. I feed piglets a few times a day, and give chopped cooked eggs also as I have them. They need to be draft free, dry and warm. I feel them, if the ears are cold I increase the heat. I start mine out in a livestock trailer heavily bedded in hay and shavings.
Since I keep a boar and breed my own, I just move my sow thats due into the trailer at least a week before the due date. I stagger my breeding so I always have a sow either bred, due in a month, or with piglets. I have 4 sows for my boar, its working out well. Its taken me 3 years to settle on the breed I like for temperament, and find the right boar! My fella Oreo is a Hampshire, and is a real pet hog, lol. What ever the end purpose is, it makes keeping hogs much easier to make them a "pet".#1 reason is injuries. Daily handling and care is #2. Active handling and interaction makes the whole process much easier. Bottom line, they have a good quality of life while they are with us and only one bad day at the end. You also have peace of mind knowing what that hog ate, how it was treated, and a humane end for that one "bad day".

isn't that the truth!
I am still hoping Cuddles turns around and surprises you! They are so much a family member, I adore the Orps so much.
The Beilies are going to be a someday later thing for us, the roosters don't seem to thrive here.
Loved your pictures, WTG Cookie!

I am glad you are seeing a Doctor, it sounds like you are struggling with hormonal issues, indicates other things going on too. Will PM you on some of what I went through not much younger than you.
DH wants the fast turnover of Pekin for the table. We just ran out of whats in the freezer and he wants Ducksqetti, ugh.

So far, it is telling me that I don't have permission to edit my signature. Probably a post requirement. I'll just have to keep posting and see. Thank you!

 

[kittydoc]

Congrats to everyone with chicks now or imminently!

@Faraday40, so glad to hear Cuddles appears on the mend. What we call "polypharmacy" is often the treatment of last resort, and it isn't scientific, but when the outcome is good nobody cares!

I heard my first peeping from one egg of 25 this morning, I think from a BBS Orp. Their incubation has been so weird that they may take all week to hatch. Some have no visible fluid near the air sac, others gave plenty and I suspect they'll hatch late.

I had to settle on the cool side for temps, 97-98+ mostly. I figured that was safer than 101+. Couldn't keep them in 99-100 except here and there. I finally got around to sending my rocker back to Brinsea today. Unhappy that the manual temp dial is so small and touchy.

*******FREE ITEMS ALERT********

BTW, my Eco-7 croaked last year. Electrical burned up, and a year later still stinks. I have the base, both the main base and the part with egg slots cut into it if anyone wants them as spare parts. I'll never use one that small again, though it was fully electronic and maintained temp perfectly. Parts are free, all I'd want is postage, which won't be terrible since they are lightweight. Teachers who have one in their classroom get first dibs, then open to all.

 

[Dish chickens]

Congrats to everyone with chicks now or imminently!

@Faraday40, so glad to hear Cuddles appears on the mend. What we call "polypharmacy" is often the treatment of last resort, and it isn't scientific, but when the outcome is good nobody cares!

I heard my first peeping from one egg of 25 this morning, I think from a BBS Orp. Their incubation has been so weird that they may take all week to hatch. Some have no visible fluid near the air sac, others gave plenty and I suspect they'll hatch late.

I had to settle on the cool side for temps, 97-98+ mostly. I figured that was safer than 101+. Couldn't keep them in 99-100 except here and there. I finally got around to sending my rocker back to Brinsea today. Unhappy that the manual temp dial is so small and touchy.

*******FREE ITEMS ALERT********

BTW, my Eco-7 croaked last year. Electrical burned up, and a year later still stinks. I have the base, both the main base and the part with egg slots cut into it if anyone wants them as spare parts. I'll never use one that small again, though it was fully electronic and maintained temp perfectly. Parts are free, all I'd want is postage, which won't be terrible since they are lightweight. Teachers who have one in their classroom get first dibs, then open to all.

congrats on the peeping, I just pulled out 17 BBS from hatcher and I have 4 drying out today. I think that is all but I will give them until tomorrow. Monday was hatch day. 29 BBS 6-mix - 8 not hatched
Do you use a spread sheet to track your hatches? I have used one the last couple years and it helps me a lot to look back and compare hatches. I'd be happy to send you what I have if you don't have one.

I'll post pic's when I get home

 

[tmarsh83]

They grow up so fast. Lol

 

[chick rookie]

Been busy but here are some updates from across the border.

Cuddles:
My dear sweet hen seems to be doing well. Her abdomen is not normal, but not as hard as it was. She's eating normally & back to fighting over treats. I have no idea what she has, but I at least know what she doesn't have. I still feel that it's some type of reproductive or digestion issue. She's been treated with Corid, de-wormed, treated for mites, given protein, electrolytes, vitamins, & probiotics. The symptoms have cleared for a month now, but she shows no sign of laying. For now, I'm just happy to see her acting like her old self.

Chicks:
hatched some adorable Orps & Spitzhaubens

I'm not having much luck with hatching Bielefelders this spring. I got 6 eggs from a friend. 4 hatched & all 4 were mixes. (I had a 50% chance of getting a pure Biele.) They gave me another 6 eggs; 4 of which developed. Today is day 21 & so far no pips. I kept my little broody sitting on blank eggs so she could adopt whatever hatches. I'd hate to disappoint the poor girl.

Cookie hatched some Bieles & Orps last year. By 3.5 weeks they were almost her size.

glad to hear about Cuddles and love the pic...

so cute!! congrats on your hatch too.

If I get a tom, I'll give him back to you! I wanted some more before April 1st because of the rezoning, but mostly, they were injured, Major Tom was so lonely, and I'm a sucker. They weren't specifically labeled as BB, but I'm not going to be lucky enough for miscellaneous heritage babies showing up in a RK. I've only seen that once in the few years I've been going, and I wasn't smart enough to get them that time because I had no idea what I was looking at then. I refuse to give these ones to you--not after seeing what you've been through with Bacon and the three hens. They are such a heartbreaking breed, but they're so sweet and make such wonderful memories in their short times here.

Is he sure he wants Pekin, or just duck eggs year round? If he's just after eggs and doesn't want to up the feed bill as much, you could try Runners or Khakis, which are the Leghorns of the waterfowl world. I'm working pretty hard to socialize the two ducklings this time around. I'm tired of ducks not liking me.


***Update on me*** Those faint positives were probably false. I took a digital test this morning, and it left no room for doubt. I have an appointment tomorrow with a doctor on campus, and we're going to try to figure what's wrong with me. Bracing for the worst. Felt really stupid for getting my hopes up and looking up baby names. Okay, time to start crying again, apparently.

hope everything comes out ok and is a easy fix for ya.

They grow up so fast. Lol

Adorable

 

[racinchickins]

Quote: Hog panels are awesome until they get around 300 pounds. That's when they can walk right over them, ugh. My year old sow Double Stuff has climbed over and she is probably about 275# most. Its all in what weight/size you grow out to.
We set up temp pens for our freezer pigs with the panels. Agreed on shade, pigs can't sweat. The love mud 365 days a year. Mine will turn over 100 gallon stock tank if they think they need more mud. @racinchickins is also doing pigs now and can probably comment on his experience so far.
I was really nervous when I got mine too. In early December they were around 40lbs each. Right now I'd say my biggest is about 220lbs. His brother is about 40lbs behind. I built their house out of straw bales, and braced it with posts. It worked great all winter, as the bales are very insulating. Then about 3 or 4 weeks ago the pigs got big enough and just destroyed it! They would scratch against a bale until it came loose, then they would tear it apart. I had to build another with more bales and better bracing. It actually worked out because all the straw on the ground gave them an area to get out of the mud when it was raining so much. Mine actually haven't built a wallow yet. I use a 55 gal barrel with pig nipples to drink from and they've done great with it. It hasn't been all that warm yet, and when it was really muddy, my two just laid in the shade on the straw and kept out of the mud. They seem really happy and run around the pen grunting whenever they see me coming.

As far as a pen goes, I use hog panels braced strongly with heavy metal posts. I started with a pen 16x32 in our garden and have gradually expanded it to 64x32 as they have gotten bigger and rooted tilled up the ground. The fence has contained them so far, but I chalk that up more to them not caring to try to get out than it being truly strong enough to contain them. When they get to really rubbing against the fence panels, they tend to really bow wherever I don't have a bracing post. I believe since they have lots of room and I am meeting their needs, they don't really feel a need to challenge the fence. I don't plan on relying on this for the next set of pigs. I'm hoping to build a movable hut for them and rotate them through our pastures using electric netting. I'll train them to the electric inside a hog panel fence when they are young. When they get really big, I can see their final pen being a hog panel fence with a strand of electric around the inside to keep them off the fence.

That's a quick summary, but I could talk about them all day.

Now back to birds!

I have been leaving all my Muscovy eggs in a nest hoping to entice one of the ducks to start setting on them. I have now been taken up on my offer.....by a turkey hen! That should be interesting.

 

[Crista]

Sometime this week o m hoping she hatches the babies. After she hatches her babies, and I remove any un hatched eggs, is there anything else I need to do? She is in a dog crate in the coop w water and chicky food.

 

[Rebelshade]

Hi folks!

I don't know if this has already been posted by someone or not, but I was doing some digging around today and managed to find the city ordinance for Seymour, Indiana regarding keeping chickens in town. I thought I would link it here some where in case other BYCers in Seymour were trying to find it. Sorry if this is the wrong place.

http://library.amlegal.com/nxt/gate...t.htm$3.0$vid=amlegal:seymour_in$anc=JD_97.30

Hopefully that link works.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: You're welcome! I remember it was that way for pictures, so may be the reason. Post away any questions, thoughts etc., you will be able to do anything once you are "out of the brooder"!

congrats on the peeping, I just pulled out 17 BBS from hatcher and I have 4 drying out today. I think that is all but I will give them until tomorrow. Monday was hatch day. 29 BBS 6-mix - 8 not hatched
Do you use a spread sheet to track your hatches? I have used one the last couple years and it helps me a lot to look back and compare hatches. I'd be happy to send you what I have if you don't have one.

I'll post pic's when I get home

I keep spreadsheets for everything LOL. Bills, animals, list of our tools you name it, I probably have one. I'm terrible about filing paperwork in the filing cabinet but love my spreadsheets!

Quote: Hog panels are awesome until they get around 300 pounds. That's when they can walk right over them, ugh. My year old sow Double Stuff has climbed over and she is probably about 275# most. Its all in what weight/size you grow out to.
We set up temp pens for our freezer pigs with the panels. Agreed on shade, pigs can't sweat. The love mud 365 days a year. Mine will turn over 100 gallon stock tank if they think they need more mud. @racinchickins is also doing pigs now and can probably comment on his experience so far.
I was really nervous when I got mine too. In early December they were around 40lbs each. Right now I'd say my biggest is about 220lbs. His brother is about 40lbs behind. I built their house out of straw bales, and braced it with posts. It worked great all winter, as the bales are very insulating. Then about 3 or 4 weeks ago the pigs got big enough and just destroyed it! They would scratch against a bale until it came loose, then they would tear it apart. I had to build another with more bales and better bracing. It actually worked out because all the straw on the ground gave them an area to get out of the mud when it was raining so much. Mine actually haven't built a wallow yet. I use a 55 gal barrel with pig nipples to drink from and they've done great with it. It hasn't been all that warm yet, and when it was really muddy, my two just laid in the shade on the straw and kept out of the mud. They seem really happy and run around the pen grunting whenever they see me coming.

As far as a pen goes, I use hog panels braced strongly with heavy metal posts. I started with a pen 16x32 in our garden and have gradually expanded it to 64x32 as they have gotten bigger and rooted tilled up the ground. The fence has contained them so far, but I chalk that up more to them not caring to try to get out than it being truly strong enough to contain them. When they get to really rubbing against the fence panels, they tend to really bow wherever I don't have a bracing post. I believe since they have lots of room and I am meeting their needs, they don't really feel a need to challenge the fence. I don't plan on relying on this for the next set of pigs. I'm hoping to build a movable hut for them and rotate them through our pastures using electric netting. I'll train them to the electric inside a hog panel fence when they are young. When they get really big, I can see their final pen being a hog panel fence with a strand of electric around the inside to keep them off the fence.

That's a quick summary, but I could talk about them all day.

Now back to birds!

I have been leaving all my Muscovy eggs in a nest hoping to entice one of the ducks to start setting on them. I have now been taken up on my offer.....by a turkey hen! That should be interesting.
I have had hogs get loose. Keeping pigs is a gradual learning experience! Usually its been a non issue, I grab some raw eggs once I have fixed whats broke, and coax them back to the pen. Usually if they see a white bucket, thats all it takes! My escapees are around 250 pounds and up. That is the point where they walk/climb right over a hog panel! I solved that issue using the Field gates for now, but we will be expanding the hog pasture area and moving them again.
Sow (unnamed) #2 is in the trailer now, and I am checking her every few hours. Monday was her due date. She is my least favorite girl as she has matured, and I don't trust her body language. I have kept 3 Berkshire sows so far and just don't like the breed as much.
Thats so funny with your broody turkey! I bet she does fine. Mine have not resumed laying yet, the whole batch is molting, and look terrible.

Sometime this week o m hoping she hatches the babies. After she hatches her babies, and I remove any un hatched eggs, is there anything else I need to do? She is in a dog crate in the coop w water and chicky food.

Aside from regular daily feed, water and cleanup, no. Momma will do the rest.

Hi folks!

I don't know if this has already been posted by someone or not, but I was doing some digging around today and managed to find the city ordinance for Seymour, Indiana regarding keeping chickens in town. I thought I would link it here some where in case other BYCers in Seymour were trying to find it. Sorry if this is the wrong place.

http://library.amlegal.com/nxt/gate...t.htm$3.0$vid=amlegal:seymour_in$anc=JD_97.30

Hopefully that link works.

Great post, and thank you for sharing the information!