INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Indyshent]

Thanks, @pipdzipdnreadytogo and everyone else who has expressed condolences. It's been a really rough couple weeks for us, but I've got a few days break between semesters now that my finals are done. Calculus final results should be posted today, and I should know soon if I'll have to retake the exam. I don't think I bombed it, and considering it's my last math class, I should eek by with at least a C (looks more like a B anyway).

@daskhan Hope you are yours gets everything figured out. I understand being homesick; my husband was military, and our little family had to move all over the States to places where we had no family. Call your family and keep in touch on social media. Pull back and concentrate on a handful (at most) of breeds because it's better to fantastic at one thing that crappy at fifty. Pens go slowly when there are only a couple people (at most) working on them at a time (I know! I've been there, and so has pretty much everyone else on the forum!). Spend time with your family--you can't get those moments back later. Chickens--as awesome as they are--are far less important than your wife and daughter.

I picked up three more BBW poults at the RK in Shelbyville, but I'm not sure if Major Tom's going to make it long enough for them to be outside. He's sounding terrible. Not sure what's going on. His sinuses are bad, but I've definitely seen much worse in the last year. His chest, however, sounds terrible, and he always acts like he's going to throw up when I pick him up to take him inside at night (silly boy insists on roosting outside no matter how wet and cold the weather is).

 

[Indyshent]

Update on the disturbed child issue:

Other neighbors have repeatedly called CPS and the police on the home in the past few days. As in numerous times. The police showed up once and did absolutely nothing. There are two children in the two-story home, and both children are frequently spotted in the upstairs window which looks over the alley between our streets. Their mother is a stripper (I won't judge her for that; everyone has to make money enough to feed their children somehow), but she never opens the door for anyone when people go over to talk with her about their conduct. The little girl (between 1 and 3) was spotted hanging out of the upstairs window (which has nothing under it but dirt), which is why a neighbor went over to yell at the child (and thus identify herself as a target to the older brother) in order that the baby go back inside or some larger person upstairs get her to safety (since the mother would not come to the door).

The boy (between 8 and 11 years of age) has been spotted (typically between 11pm and 1am) setting fire to homes and fences (at least three in the past week), but, due to the deluge of rain we've experienced, none of the fires has caused much damage, though all homes afflicted with this damage have small children in them. I've experienced several midnight deaths of friendly chickens for inexplicable causes this week (suspects are poison, blunt-force trauma and throttling in separate incidents), but no deaths by mass beatings or fire.

A nice lady who I've given several chicks to told me all of this as I was making dinner tonight. Apparently, the smallest, friendliest chick has turned up missing. I gave her Peepers, a chick who has been following my family around incessantly and seems to be a Houdini about getting into our house.

Please pray for everyone here. These children need help.

 

[iamfivewire]

Miss Broodiepants:

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Had a good neighbor experience today. Win~Win and we were both really happy. Awesome feeling to help another family. Really pleased on the progress improving our pastures.
Met a friend of a " cow " neighbor who likes to barter! He was looking for laying hens in exchange for labor. Another family dealing with layoffs. I was able to provide him with several started and laying EE/OE pullets and 2 cockerels. In return, he repaired some fencing for me, tied several dozen fence posts. Also cleared any brush or limbs that will interfere with the next pasture. We were both very happy with the agreement. Helped him provide young laying pullets for eggs to feed his family. I gave him a dozen eggs from the hens we traded for as a bonus, so he knows what he will have from his new flock. The work he and 2 of his family members completed would have taken me a month! They were done in a couple hours.

Set my final chicken eggs yesterday. Going to keep my breeders confined, its safer for them. I can still allow free range to one group at a time, on rotation. I miss seeing the property peppered with several chicken breeds, enjoying all the bugs and fresh clover. Won't miss predator issues and heartache . I will still offer hatching eggs of breeds I keep..Lavender, chocolate and cuckoo Orpington, EE/OE, RIR, Sumatra, Turken, White leghorn and limited AMs. Will hatch by request only with deposit.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Update on the disturbed child issue:

Other neighbors have repeatedly called CPS and the police on the home in the past few days. As in numerous times. The police showed up once and did absolutely nothing. There are two children in the two-story home, and both children are frequently spotted in the upstairs window which looks over the alley between our streets. Their mother is a stripper (I won't judge her for that; everyone has to make money enough to feed their children somehow), but she never opens the door for anyone when people go over to talk with her about their conduct. The little girl (between 1 and 3) was spotted hanging out of the upstairs window (which has nothing under it but dirt), which is why a neighbor went over to yell at the child (and thus identify herself as a target to the older brother) in order that the baby go back inside or some larger person upstairs get her to safety (since the mother would not come to the door).

The boy (between 8 and 11 years of age) has been spotted (typically between 11pm and 1am) setting fire to homes and fences (at least three in the past week), but, due to the deluge of rain we've experienced, none of the fires has caused much damage, though all homes afflicted with this damage have small children in them. I've experienced several midnight deaths of friendly chickens for inexplicable causes this week (suspects are poison, blunt-force trauma and throttling in separate incidents), but no deaths by mass beatings or fire.

A nice lady who I've given several chicks to told me all of this as I was making dinner tonight. Apparently, the smallest, friendliest chick has turned up missing. I gave her Peepers, a chick who has been following my family around incessantly and seems to be a Houdini about getting into our house.

Please pray for everyone here. These children need help.

Sending prayers, Hugs to you.

Big hugs. I keep reading this because I sure know that boy needs help before he hurts someone, people wise. Both kids do obviously need to be assessed, and I am dismayed that the proper agencies aren't stepping up.Amazed that CPS is not following through.
Keep documenting and keep neighbors involved.

 

[Greenthumb83]

That was my thoughts and hopes but my wife is from Indiana and her family is here and she grew up here and I'm terrified that if she went there for me she would be great in the boat I'm in now

We have dealt with this same issue for almost 15 years. My husband and I are from two different states. I was raised here, family is here. We have moved back and forth between the two states more times than I'd like to mention. We've also lived other places. No matter where we lived, my wonderful husband has always moved us back here when the homesick was too much. The last time we came back, it stuck. We finally decided to grow roots, mainly for our kids. We've ever been happier. I'm so glad we did!

I can't really offer advice, because everyone is different. But I do understand the feeling and the situation. I hope you guys can figure out the best solution.

 

[Greenthumb83]

I almost forgot to post my pic lol. Here is our coop in progress. Not a very good pic. When I thought of it, I ran in the house and grabbed the iPad and then ran back around the hill to snap a quick pic. Of course my toddler is much faster than me, and found a big puddle. I will get inside pics this weekend. So anyway, yesterday the walls got insulated, today interior walls and hopefully roosts. Tomorrow we will put the rest of the boards around the top, trim boards (in white), and the weather flaps up top...and another coat of paint. They will be pull cord, just like the pop door. Oh and the big people door is ready to go on also. So much to do still. I know there is plenty more...

Much of the outside walls are mismatched. We had a lot of stuff given to us for a side job DH did. This is our first time building anything lol. So, budgeting for things we didn't know how to plan for was interesting. It got expensive fast. :/ Someone better lay a golden egg this fall! It's funny looking back already at what we would do differently. It's been fun and also a huge learning experience for the whole family.

 

[iamfivewire]

the coop looks nice

 

[ellymayRans]

@daskhan I sympathize with the struggles you're dealing with and I'm sorry. I agree with a few of the recommendations to try just sticking with a single breed for now and see how that fairs your time. I wish you and yours the best, family certainly trumps all.

 

[ellymayRans]

@greenthumb83 very nice looking coop you've got coming along there!! Ive definitely wished I'd built each one a little different. ..always something to improve upon!