INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Chaneys Ranch]

Busy weekend and now.. My Nubian doe, Cocoa is in labor! We have a bouncing baby buckling so far

! Not sure if we are done yet, heading back out to the birthing shed.
This kidding is pure Nubian, she was bred in November. My Buck, Bocephus did not go on pasture until January. My plan is a buckling swap.. hopefully if it works out so I have an unrelated Nubian Buck for next year. Hoping for a quiet day tomorrow to catch up on the thread.

 

[tmarsh83]

Lost two grown hens (both Brahmas) and one of the broody-raised bitties over the last two days. All had been erstwhile healthy, then suddenly dead. Both hens had purple combs when recovered, but that's apparently normal (?). One hen was under the coop-to-be, the other on the floor of the current coop. I'm starting to wonder if this child is being sneakier about how many and when he kills/maims them. The big hen this morning looked like she might have been throttled because her neck was pretty limp. I really don't want to blame this on the kid if there's something else killing these birds, though.

Do you know anyone in the area that has some trail cameras you could borrow? The kid would never see them, if its him, and if it's something else you'll see that as well. They are getting to be pretty popular tool for people fighting with trespassers because in the end you have more than eyewitness testimony, you have a piece of incontrovertible evidence. That's my suggestion. Get some game cameras up ASAP.

 

[tmarsh83]

Just checking in will try and catch up latter. I hope everyone's troubles has stopped and life is looking up for all. M2H I think of you often and hope things are better.

We were able to get out of buying the new place, it wasn't what we bought and hadn't taken possession yet so it was still the seller's place. So now we are back to square 1. I'm heartbroken but it's for the best cause we could not afford to fix all that damage.
What really ticks me off is knowing that in the end that ----------------- will get away with it, cant get blood out of a turnip!!
I'll be back when I'm in better spirits. Hope everyone has a great day.
@Indyshent I hope your feeling better, @SallyinIndiana I hope you doing well. If I missed anyone it's not because I dont care it's just due to mind block right now.

This sucks. It's hard enough finding the right piece of this earth, without introducing the human element into it.

Wishing that loser the absolute worst that life has to offer.

My wife says things like this happen for a reason so something better can come along, or to avoid some peril you didn't know was there. I have a tough time believing that, but some folks do.

 

[kittydoc]

INDIANAPOLIS (2 May 2016)—The last remaining quarantine associated with the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) cases identified in Dubois County, Ind. has officially been lifted by the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH). This quarantine release coincides with the state achieving avian influenza-free status, after logging 90 consecutive days with no new cases of the poultry disease.

On January 15, a commercial turkey farm in Dubois County was diagnosed with the H7N8 HPAI virus. Within 24 hours, another nine avian influenza-infected turkey farms were identified nearby through rapid surveillance testing. Those findings led to quarantines on all 10 farms, as well as the establishment of a 10-km (6.2-mile) radius Control Area that restricted movements of all poultry and poultry products onto and off of farms.

For 38 days, BOAH led the active response to eradicate the influenza virus from the area and assure safe and proper disposal of the birds. Indiana Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and other state and local agencies assisted to prevent the situation from growing to levels seen in 2015 in the Upper Midwest, when a different HPAI strain caused the loss of 48 million birds on 223 farms. Indiana’s efforts focused on protecting the state’s $2.4 billion poultry industry that employs 14,000 Hoosiers.

State Veterinarian Bret D. Marsh, DVM stated that HPAI launched an unprecedented animal health event for Indiana and, in some aspects, for the nation. “In hindsight, we feel we got ahead of this virus by testing neighboring farms the first day. The discovery of so many AI-positive sites—nine—in one day was unheard of, even at the height of the 2015 event. Our teams in the field had to scale-up, overnight. But we did it, and completed the task, in 38 days,” he said.

Under USDA guidelines, HPAI-infected farms must dispose of birds, then clean and disinfect the facilities that must sit idle for at least 21 days, followed by environmental testing to verify no virus is present. Only then can a quarantine be lifted and the farm restocked with birds.

USDA also defines when a state can be declared avian influenza free, which is 90 days without new cases after carcass disposal was accomplished. BOAH's goal has been to achieve this milestone to pave the way for international trade to be completely restored.

BOAH's staff continues to work with the poultry industry on preventing another case of HPAI and plan for any future response. BOAH staff will oversee testing of the flocks as the previously infected flocked are restocked in the coming weeks.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, refers to a class of flu viruses that are very deadly to some species of infected birds, including domestic poultry. The disease poses no food safety threat. Poultry meat and eggs are safe to eat.

Updates on the avian influenza situation in Indiana continue to be available online at: http://www.in.gov/boah/2390.htm .

#

By the Numbers: Dubois County HPAI Event​

10: infected commercial turkey farms

38: days between identifying HPAI and lifting movement restrictions on nearby farms

738: movement permits issued for birds and/or products during restricted period

414,223: commercial birds depopulated as a result of HPAI

90: days Indiana had to go without new cases to be declared “AI-Free”

4: Indiana’s ranking, nationally, as a turkey-producing state

Timeline of 2016 Indiana HPAI Event​

January 15: Dubois County commercial turkey operation tested positive for H7N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza

January 16: Nine Dubois County commercial turkey operations tested positive for H7 avian influenza. Established a 10-km control area around infected premises

January 20: Depopulation completed on all 10 infected and 2 dangerous contact premises

February 1: Final compost pile is set and capped starting 90-day clock to AI-free status

February 22: Control Area released; quarantines released on all non-infected premises

May 1: Last of infected-site quarantines released; 90-day free status period achieved

 

[kittydoc]

OK, I have a chick and I don't know what color it is! I had the egg marked as from my black hen Cleo bred to my chocolate cuckoo roo Hershey. I very clearly made a mistake because the chick is no version of black, chocolate, with or without barring. It's this beautiful platinum color overall, with a few areas that look like normal blue. I do have a blue hen whose eggs have the same color and shape as Cleo's (Cleo's are just slightly smaller). I figure I'll know for sure when it feathers out! Is this one of the usual presentations of a splash chick?





It's wings are starting to feather in with a mix of white and blue (I think). If this is a lav, it is the palest one I have EVER seen, so I do not think it is. All I'm sure of is that it's a purebred Orpington!!!!

Comments?

 

[kasey08]

Hello Im interested in Silkie Hatching eggs. It would have to be shipped. I am also going to be in Indiana in the beginning of July if anyone will any Silkies available then. Thank you

 

[river46201]

Re the kid...  When my parents used to raise collies, someone once fed one of their dogs bread in which they had hidden poison.  We think the situation was similar...they found a piece of the bread w/the poison in in.
[/quote]

That's so disturbing and sad. Could you set up surveillance so that you can be positive of what's happening, while also getting proof for the authorities?

 

[river46201]

Re the kid...  When my parents used to raise collies, someone once fed one of their dogs bread in which they had hidden poison.  We think the situation was similar...they found a piece of the bread w/the poison in in.

PLEASE tell me you have already, and are continuing to report these occurrences to the police??
And I don't mean, call & leave a message. .. I mean insist & demand they come take your statements, & the witnesses statement!!

 

[amwchickin]

Just wanted to share some happiness with everyone! My Sumatra (Hedwig) that went broody, right before the last of the older chickens were killed, is a wonderful mother! The four eggs I let her keep never developed, and @wheezy50 just happened to have some partridge silkie chicks available at a perfect time, so I met him the other weekend in Martinsville and brought 4 babies home, along with stopping in Solsberry for Marans and Ameraucana chicks, then to Bloomington RK for even more of a variety.

So chicken math: 4 + 8 + 8 = complete happiness!

I gave her the Silkie chicks and took away the eggs. It took about one night for her to accept them and for them to figure out she was warm! Now, she is one fierce mama! I can get close and change feed and water - Roxy (my furchild), not so much. There is a 5 foot minimum that she has to stay away from them or mama gets all puffy and mad and runs her off!

My only sad thing to post is, I am getting absolutely NO eggs. My stock is slowly dwindling down, and I use a lot of eggs. I know a few people that raise chickens in the area, so I'm going to be hitting them up for the next couple months until some pullets start laying!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: As sad as it is, I am so impressed what you did for them. Allowing them to mourn is so important for flock members, us too. Its a really good point, trying to avoid the flock thinking the death was related to you picking her up.

She is the lucky winner to model my first try at a saddle/apron.

I look forward to your captions

Crista.

I love it! Look I'm a Millie Fleur now!

@Leahs Mom Hope you have good luck with your bees this year! Regular inspections can be very fun and will help to keep your hive at its best. We have only done Langstroth so far for a couple of reasons. One, TBH tend to produce a lot of drone comb instead of workers. Two, you are limited in space and how much honey you will get. Where we used to live in northern Indiana, this would be a problem for bees making it through long, cold winters. We spotted a neighbor with a TBH and are hoping to make friends soon. My DH really wants to build a TBH now that we are further south and give it a go.

@Indyshent this is just awful to hear. I about fell out of my chair reading this. My thoughts and prayers are to you and your family. May you get through this time and be stronger for it.

@Mother2Hens I am so sorry for your losses recently. I know you love your hens so much and your flock won't be the same.

@Hholly We currently have 3 pullets that are determined. They sit all together and think they are going to do something.

@mpiownazoo Dinky's in Montgomery often has call ducks. There is an auction every Friday night starting at 6 pm.

@DancingGoatFarm Depending on where you sell your eggs, there are different rules. This doc is insightful right from IN.gov: http://www.in.gov/isdh/files/Farmers_Market_Guide_-_Animal_Products_jan_2013.pdf. Look at pages 3-4.

Great link!