INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Crafty chick]

Oh am

Hey all, it's been awhile since I have been on. I was in the process of wrapping up one job, going on vacation, and then starting a new job.  I am so happy to be away from the old job - it was getting toxic. Vacation was hot, but fun. My family went to Panama City Beach area last week. It was humid and a little rainy. We ate too much seafood! Only you all will understand this: I wish I could have saved all the crab shells and bits, left over food, etc. I kept thinking, Oh, the chickens would like that. Or if the nephews dropped food on the floor, Oh, we don't have dogs to clean that up, we actually have to bend over and pick up that piece of hotdog! It was a struggle!

Anyway, I was to start my new job yesterday (with the same hospital, just moved departments) and I was called to our HR dept before I got to start. Somehow, while I was gone, things came up and since I wasn't there to defend myself, most of it was blamed on me. I have worked for the hospital for almost 15 years and have never had an issue, but apparently I was doing all kinds of things wrong. I do the same job as one other person and she didn't even get a dirty look from the director - it was all me. So after listening to all this crap, and trying to explain processes and hope to get out of this mess, they let me go. Didn't even get to set foot at my new position! Only one person, who I would call a friend (she watched my chickens while I was gone) stood up for me. Everyone else just turned their backs.  I am heartbroken, in shock, mad, and I have a terrible headache!

I have never been without a job since I was 14. I already on a job search and working to figure out what to do. Sitting here, looking over all my finances and expenses, insurance, etc, is making my head spin.

I think staying in healthcare is probably my best bet. I don't think I would get paid anywhere near I what I was making elsewhere. There are a few options in surrounding areas, so I am hoping and praying something works there!

I am really hoping and praying that I don't have to move. If I do that, I will most likely have to go back to an apartment or something and that means no more chickens. My parents are working on getting different property, so I can't move them "back home," at least until they are settled.

So as of right now, sitting here with 55 birds, I think I need to at least down-size a little. I'm going to do some now, see how things go in the next month, then possibly downsize some more. If anything, I would like to at least keep a dozen hens because completely giving this up is not an option for my well-being right now!

I am in Dubois County and I am willing to drive 1.5-2 hours to meet people. Since none of these birds are laying yet, I am asking for some payment to at least regain what I have put into them. Whatever I have left I'll be taking to Dinky's.

[COLOR=0000CD]These are all from Rural King:[/COLOR]

Black Australorp pullet, bought 5/6
Buff Orpington pullet, bought 5/6
Rhode Island Red pullet, bought 5/6
EE (normal gold and brown with beard)pullet, bought 5/6
Brown Leghorn ?? (will need to get a pic), bought 5/6
Black Jersey Giant pullet, bought 6/16
Dark Cornish pullet, bought 4/23
Barred Rock Rooster, very gentle, bought 3/30
Partridge Rock Rooster, excellent ladies man, bought 3/18

[COLOR=0000CD]From TSC:[/COLOR] 2 Golden Sebright Roosters (I have three and they are hilarious!) bought 2/28

I also have two Roosters that I hatched 3/22. They are both mixes. The males I had at the time were Marans and Olive Eggers. The females I had were Easter Eggers, BLRW, Welsummers. They both have pea combs and base colors are black, with golds and reds. I would really love to keep them to see what egg color strain they have, but I am keeping the other two I hatched for now. (Naturally I hatched out 5 males and 2 females...)

I can take pics of any of the birds for you, just PM me with any interest!  Thank you all!

oh amwchickin, so sorry about the job. Horrible to come back from vacation to that. I also work in healthcare, at the moment as a private nurse for a famity of a 96 year old. So much better than working in the nursing homes I've been doing the last 13 years. I know how the politics and back stabbing can be in facilities. Just terrible. I once worked at a nursing home in Michigan where the HR manager was having an affair with a residents son. I couldn't say anything without the administrator taking her side and throwing me under the bus. Well,after I left I heard the administrator was escorted out by the feds for embezzlement! She was no good all around, she also tried to sell the stained glass window in the Chapel (that was donated by a family whose mother lived there before she died), on ebay. So many crazy stories. But,for every job that like that, there's a good one out there waiting for you keep your head up.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

First egg ever today! Not positive which one of the ladies laid it, but my money is on Peep, one of our RIRs. About 2 weeks ago, she started squatting for me every time I get into the coop. Only other suspect would be Nugget an Ameraucana (or maybe EE) who started squatting this week. I knew something was up because all the shavings had been scratched out of the egg boxes. I stepped back and there it was in the run under the coop. I know there was a chicken sitting on that spot when I approached the coop, but I didn't pay close enough attention to remember who it was. Sunday will be 20 weeks from the day we brought them home.

Woohoo congrats!!!

Quote: I will accept females of course and even a mom with chicks. But I am looking for a rooster too. I really enjoyed the crowing and I am positive my children did too.
Last I hear @jchny2000 did not have many birds left to rehome. And I think other than the little chicks, I should only get 3 or 4 adults. They will have a shed to sleep in but no netted shelter as the goat yard is too large for netting and the goats would try to eat the net anyway. As for Sunday, if I'm not here when you get here, I'm ok with you putting the chickens in the front goat yard. Any little chicks should not go in the back yard though as that is our breeding area for goats and the buck could trample a chick.

Thank you so much. And I'll leave your little guy's blue stuffed monkey right inside the door on my stove.
I think I do have a sumatra pullet! I will do some close looking tomorrow at whats there. Will pm you later. Oh and some shoes for the kids too.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Had an unnerving experience today, and its the last straw on turkeys. I have had 2 of them 3 years now, one for 2 years, and a year old. I do several water changes a day to keep everyone hydrated when its this hot. So I get to the turkeys, step in to the coop and grab the water bucket. My tom and oldest hen both tie into me! Flogging, biting and kicking! Nothing different, shoes are the same, clothes nothing new. No perfumes, haven't changed shampoo. Thought it all through! Had to grab both by the necks. Pinning down 2 birds is hard, and gets harder when the other 2 hens jump in on the fight!

Aside from the shock and disappointment, They will be culled asap. Aggressive birds have no place here or anywhere else. Please don't take my post as all turkeys being mean! I have owned dozens. This was my first bad experience with them. My adults were mature when they came here, not human imprinted. The 2 younger hens are very imprinted and raised here. Unfortunately, the 2 older ones have caused the younger turkey hens to act aggressively.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

@Leahs Mom yes, I will process myself, to ensure they won't be bred. I will not take any of our animals away to be processed, period. Its not easy having hand raised the 2 younger birds. I want to be sure they are treated humanely. Its part of being a responsible poultry owner, be prepared to do the right thing. Even with whats happened, I have to step up and do whats right for them. That said it doesn't make me feel any better about it but aggressive animals cannot be ignored. I do not want any chance they might be bred and give someone else the problem later.

 

[Indyshent]

Had an unnerving experience today, and its the last straw on turkeys. I have had 2 of them 3 years now, one for 2 years, and a year old. I do several water changes a day to keep everyone hydrated when its this hot. So I get to the turkeys, step in to the coop and grab the water bucket. My tom and oldest hen both tie into me! Flogging, biting and kicking! Nothing different, shoes are the same, clothes nothing new. No perfumes, haven't changed shampoo. Thought it all through! Had to grab both by the necks. Pinning down 2 birds is hard, and gets harder when the other 2 hens jump in on the fight!

Aside from the shock and disappointment, They will be culled asap. Aggressive birds have no place here or anywhere else. Please don't take my post as all turkeys being mean! I have owned dozens. This was my first bad experience with them. My adults were mature when they came here, not human imprinted. The 2 younger hens are very imprinted and raised here. Unfortunately, the 2 older ones have caused the younger turkey hens to act aggressively.

@Leahs Mom yes, I will process myself, to ensure they won't be bred. I will not take any of our animals away to be processed, period. Its not easy having hand raised the 2 younger birds. I want to be sure they are treated humanely. Its part of being a responsible poultry owner, be prepared to do the right thing. Even with whats happened, I have to step up and do whats right for them. That said it doesn't make me feel any better about it but aggressive animals cannot be ignored. I do not want any chance they might be bred and give someone else the problem later.

It's far more responsible of you this way. If you'd like help, let me know. I can help transport to @SallyinIndiana too. I'm so sorry you are going through all of this.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

@Leahs Mom yes, I will process myself, to ensure they won't be bred. I will not take any of our animals away to be processed, period. Its not easy having hand raised the 2 younger birds. I want to be sure they are treated humanely. Its part of being a responsible poultry owner, be prepared to do the right thing. Even with whats happened, I have to step up and do whats right for them. That said it doesn't make me feel any better about it but aggressive animals cannot be ignored. I do not want any chance they might be bred and give someone else the problem later.

If the processing takes place on a weekday I should be able to help too.

 

[tmarsh83]

No way to get all the way caught up after being gone for two months. Hope all is well. Sorry for the aggressive bird problems people are having.

So after my appendix in May, my gall bladder came out last week. Wanted to do it while I'm still not working (getting frustrating) and before the wife has school year start. So in the last 10 weeks, appendix, gall bladder, new septic system (goes in the next couple weeks) and still no job. 2016 is an unmitigated dumpster fire.

On the bright side...

Getting as many as ten eggs a day. I really think all but one of the birds is laying. One of the Delaware pullets is way behind in maturity. Looks like a 12-14 week old chick instead of 23 week she is. Size isn't off by much, but comb development isn't there. Had a triple yolk egg that I felt bad for the marans that had to pass it, it laid all the way across my palm, looked like a shaved down tennis ball.

Had some of the little revolt against the roll out nest boxes and start laying on the floor, fought them for a week trying to block it off, ended up laying down a big platform so they couldn't get to that corner, and they went back to the boxes. Haven't been letting them range much because A) I don't want them in the habit of hiding eggs and B) the garden isn't fenced and as dry as everything is, that's the only green left.

The cochin rooster is still showing no signs of aggression and seems reasonably polite with the girls. He and one of the older hens had quite a tussle about a week ago, but all seems.

That's an update from here for those that are interested...hope 2016 gets better for everyone...

 

[Leahs Mom]

Anyone have SLW?

If so, what is their demeanor? Ability to forage? Ability to get along well with other birds?

Did you get them via hatchery or breeder?

 

[racinchickins]

Quote:
wow I'm amazed at how many posts I have skipped or skimmed. But yes I gave her many of my roosters. The youngest he could have been if he was mine was 7/2/2015. That was the last batch of chicks I hatched.

Speaking of roosters, if anyone wants to donate a rooster or two I could use them to help fill my front goat yard. I won't be getting back into breeding for a while but I could use a new alarm clock.
I have an extra bresse roo and cornish roo. I will also have some more available as the littles grow. Let mw know if you'd like to stop over to see them.

Anyone have SLW?

If so, what is their demeanor? Ability to forage? Ability to get along well with other birds?

Did you get them via hatchery or breeder?

I have a female from Murray McMurray. She's a bit bossy, never gone broody, reliably lays in winter. She doesn't lead the flock, but doesn't get picked on. Willing to forage, but sticks pretty close to the barn as most of mine do.

 

[Leahs Mom]

ATTENTION....ATTENTION....ATTENTION....ATTENTION

Y'all better head on over here to see @jchny2000 s member interview!!!!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1127094/byc-member-interview-jchny2000