INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Chaneys Ranch]

Anyone thats been here for a visit has seen the giant cottonwood tree at the end of the house driveway. Its a huge old tree and is dying. One of the limbs fell today, and of course hit my nephews van! Luckily just a broken windshield and it narrowly missed our livestock trailer. No damage and just a few scratches. So it looks like we are dropping that monster in a week. Most of our tractor coops are very close to the tree, so that has to be changed pretty fast. A second limb is down, but fell into another tree nearby. Will miss the shade it provides, but certainly not the concern of falling limbs the size of a mature tree!

Chickens are laying like crazy! They get fresh grass clippings several times a week, we have a lot of clover, orchard grass and a lot of good forage plants on the open pasture areas. Hogs are loving the grass too, dump several tractor buckets a week into the pen. 1 bucket is probably equal to 6 large hay bales.

Spent a lot of time with Mooose

the bull calf today getting to know him. Precious little guy, and very social. Loves his chin and neck scratched! He is really warming up to our mini Donkey, and my goats are "tolerating" him so far. Had a good discussion with my vet today. He will be out Saturday to pick up some of my hatched geese for his poultry farm. (NOT for food, but flock alarms) We are meeting at my cow neighbors house, and going through his herd. My Fanny the adult Jersey is staying there another week to be sure she is bred, that will be 2 cycles for her. He will look her over too, and any health issues for our cows will be addressed. Taking Mooose with me to be looked over too.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Time to start freezing eggs! I have around 70 on the counter after all the orders were filled! I usually keep 3 dozen or so for us. I love over easy eggs, and eat at least 4 a day myself. Love pastured eggs too. I do not wash eggs until I have orders, and try to give folks the freshest ones we have. Otherwise for us I just wash the eggs before we cook.
Had a wonderful visit with family that came up from southern IN/KY area and the grand nieces enjoyed visiting all the critters here. My sis in law (she's more like a sister they have been married so long) Fed our lil bull Mooose his bottle this morning. I helped her hold onto the bottle, calves butt hard if they think the milk isn't coming fast enough. Still waiting for Sugar to kid, and expecting twins. She is flat huge!

 

[MikeTodd]

Quick question. We will be finishing up the chicken barn today. There will be multiple windows and lots of good ventilation. However, we are wrapping the exterior in metal siding reclaimed from a polebarn. Do I need to put up OSB or anything for the inside or will the outer shell be enough to protect from winter?

 

[MikeTodd]

Didn't get quite as far as we had hoped. The sides and doors and windows will be on this week!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quick question. We will be finishing up the chicken barn today. There will be multiple windows and lots of good ventilation. However, we are wrapping the exterior in metal siding reclaimed from a polebarn. Do I need to put up OSB or anything for the inside or will the outer shell be enough to protect from winter?

I don't remember what breeds you have, thats a key thing as far as climate control. I use open air coops. Winter I tarp the open coops for shelter. All my breeds are winter hardy however, and I rarely see frostbite. If you have common heritage breeds, you should be fine as is.

 

[MikeTodd]

We have a mix of heritage breeds, brahmas, bantams and possibly ISA browns.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Had the Vet out today, checked my neighbors herd and my Cow Fanny. Heartbroken! Fanny's ultrasound explains why she hasn't went into cycle. She has a "mummyfied" calf that died and never passed, rather stayed inside. The vet said the mummy is old, possibly a year or more.. He confirmed she will not be able to breed again, and to look at alternatives for her.
Fanny will go up for sale, I cannot keep a 1,000lb pet

. Our other alternative is the freezer, even DH is struggling with that option frankly. She really stole our hearts, been a good girl.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

We have a mix of heritage breeds, brahmas, bantams and possibly ISA browns.

The bantam may need more insulation, so OSB is not a bad idea. d'uccles do well, as do OEGB. Silkie owners can speak up and advise their experiences. I only kept sebright breifly but they were much like OEGB and did well too.

 

[Faraday40]

Speaking of Sebrights, Trouble's chicks have finally surpassed her in size. (Although that does stop her from sitting on them at night.)

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Speaking of Sebrights, Trouble's chicks have finally surpassed her in size. (Although that does stop her from sitting on them at night.)

She is an awesome mom! They are a very sweet breed to work with.