INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Lengerich Farms]

When looking for a coop, should I be looking a Sq or Cu footing?

 

[tmarsh83]

When looking for a coop, should I be looking a Sq or Cu footing?

Kind of both.

Sq ft first. At least as a guideline. The "4 sq ft" rule is common and works ok I guess.

Cu ft plays a role though too IMO, especially as it relates to ventilation and changing air.

Again, IMO, if you have 10 sq ft per chicken but it's only 2 feet tall (extreme example) there's not enough headroom for humid poop/breathing air to get away from the bird.

When I built my coop I went with a gambrel roof with an 8 ft peak knowing i wouldn't roost the birds above four feet. I wanted space above the birds for air to change. It allowed me to use passive ventilation at the eaves and peak to get adequate flow without risking drafts.

So, both.

 

[racinchickins]

Quote: I'd let them grow. You'll know for sure what you have long before the drakes become a problem, and since you do process for food, that lets the odd man out get big enough to eat. I think you will be fine with 2 hens, just keep an eye on them and if the drake is wearing them out (or chasing chicken hens), then look for another muscovy hen.

Quote: All my ducks were raised by broodies, and didn't get any special food. They ate the multi flock pellets set out for the rest of the birds and whatever mom found for them free ranging. Anything that fits in their mouth is fair game. They still grew like gangbusters. It was really funny when they would get into a cloud of gnats and they would be hopping around catching them. I wouldn't worry about doing anything special for them other than what you are giving them to earn their undying love and affection. Mealworms are good protein and treats all in one.

Couple questions : ( I lost my grand fathers homesteading handbook that would have all the answers, so here come the dumb questions)

1) I have 5 hens, 1 lays almost daily. The other day I did get two eggs, but I think that was from my other RIR (have two) two of the other birds have laid, and the only one that's supposed to lay white eggs hasn't laid the month I've had her. Reason? Suggestions?

2) the three chicks we just got...... How long is the process of brooding them before they're ready for the coop? No way to tell how old they are, but the Buff Brahma is twice the size as the Wellsummer and Blue Orp. Is it a matter of weeks, months? Just curious. Can't wait To see them all running around together! TIA!

Lots of reasons for no eggs. The move (a month actually isn't unusual), molting, other hens bullying. And this time of year with the days shortening, when some birds stop laying for some reason, there isn't a long enough day to trigger them to lay again. You may end up waiting until spring.

For chicks entering the flock, I always wait until they are almost as big as the adults.

Mildred. No one has been able to give me a straight answer on what she is


Lucille, the "EE.


Hilda. Hasn't laid an egg since day one. Smallest of the bunch. No one has been able to identify her either.



My first hen

Reba. She's been laying pretty steadily once she got settled in.

I have another RIR, Ruby, but I backed into her and kicked her, so she's not happy with me right now :-(. She was my buddy, may take awhile to get her to like me again.

Best guess on Mildred is partridge rock. Hilda makes me think Minorca, except they are supposed to be relatively large birds. Maybe bantam minorca?

Quote: I'd go easy on compost around grapes. They actually prefer a less fertile soil and you can end up with tons of leaves and no fruit.

I really just want fresh tomato juice, stewed tomatoes, and banana peppers. If my concord actually flowers next year, and I get enough grapes maybe make some home made grape juice. Eventually is like to make rhubarb sauce. I LOVED it as a kid. My Paw Paw passed while I was in boot camp and I was always the third set of hands when canning was done, so all I really got to do was run puréed tomatoes through a sieve with a wooden pestle. Haha. All my dad wanted was juice. In one year we did close to 300 quarts of tomato juice. The man would drink one a day. After he passed all my canning equipment went to
My paw Paw , and with 6 (aunts/incles) siblings and 13 cousins to compete with I'm not asking for that stuff. Luckily I hit the jackpot on jars and lids when we moved in to our new house, just gotta buy bands.... And a pressure cooker..... And a stock pot..... Lol. I've got time till next harvest though.

We got our first real harvest of concords this year (5 year old vines). Made 21 gallons of grape juice! Also a small amount of jelly as we don't use all that much. I love the grape juice! We've already drank a good portion of it.

 

[Crafty chick]

Leahs mom- I made 6 bags of apple pie filling and froze it. Can't wait to make it! I gave 2 of them to my MIL, she may make pie before I get the chance since she doesn't have 3 little ones running around.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

So we have a final answer on my Moms rotator cup surgeries for both arms. Been to so many Drs this summer it would make your head spin! Its a NO. She is in too poor of overall health and the surgeon, Cardiac Dr, and Urologist, others looking at her case felt the risk is too high. Mom will have pain management control and thats all they will offer. I have got 2nd and 3rd opinions from different networks. Bottom line, she has also chosen its not worth the risk. She has asked i please not push it anymore.

Mom turned 80 on the 23rd and my Dads 82. With some other difficult events that's taken place this week I have focus my time for them. We will be getting out of most birds if not all and hogs. Life events and priorities I just have no choice. Keeping cows and goats for now. Plenty of hay and water will provide for those species overnight when we are away.
Will still be here and contribute to the thread when able. I am just a PM away, or a text for those folks I know very well.

 

[Lengerich Farms]

I'd let them grow.  You'll know for sure what you have long before the drakes become a problem, and since you do process for food, that lets the odd man out get big enough to eat.  I think you will be fine with 2 hens, just keep an eye on them and if the drake is wearing them out (or chasing chicken hens), then look for another muscovy hen.

All my ducks were raised by broodies, and didn't get any special food.  They ate the multi flock pellets set out for the rest of the birds and whatever mom found for them free ranging.  Anything that fits in their mouth is fair game.  They still grew like gangbusters.  It was really funny when they would get into a cloud of gnats and they would be hopping around catching them.  I wouldn't worry about doing anything special for them other than what you are giving them to earn their undying love and affection.  Mealworms are good protein and treats all in one.

Lots of reasons for no eggs.  The move (a month actually isn't unusual), molting, other hens bullying.  And this time of year with the days shortening, when some birds stop laying for some reason, there isn't a long enough day to trigger them to lay again. You may end up waiting until spring.

For chicks entering the flock, I always wait until they are almost as big as the adults.

Best guess on Mildred is partridge rock.  Hilda makes me think Minorca, except they are supposed to be relatively large birds.  Maybe bantam minorca?

I'd go easy on compost around grapes.  They actually prefer a less fertile soil and you can end up with tons of leaves and no fruit.

We got our first real harvest of concords this year (5 year old vines).  Made 21 gallons of grape juice!  Also a small amount of jelly as we don't use all that much.  I love the grape juice! We've already drank a good portion of it.

Thanks for all the info! Took me a couple re reads to process it haha

 

[Lengerich Farms]

So we have a final answer on my Moms rotator cup surgeries for both arms. Been to so many Drs this summer it would make your head spin! Its a NO. She is in too poor of overall health and the surgeon, Cardiac Dr, and Urologist, others looking at her case felt the risk is too high. Mom will have pain management control and thats all they will offer. I have got 2nd and 3rd opinions from different networks. Bottom line, she has also chosen its not worth the risk. She has asked i please not push it anymore.
Mom turned 80 on the 23rd and my Dads 82. With some other difficult events that's taken place this week I have focus my time for them. We will be getting out of most birds if not all and hogs. Life events and priorities I just have no choice. Keeping cows and goats for now. Plenty of hay and water will provide for those species overnight when we are away.
Will still be here and contribute to the thread when able. I am just a PM away, or a text for those folks I know very well.

Sent ya text, but you may see this first. Our families thoughts and prayers are with yours. Semper Fi!

 

[Lengerich Farms]

So, these chicks are getting pretty big (won't let me get a good picture of them, the buff is the size of a robin, the Wellsummer and Blue Orp are the size of fat wrens). When do I move them up to the grower feed from the starter feed? I've been giving them yard time with the hens (in a cage) when I wake before noon (insomnia, amiright?!

). I don't know their exact ages but the buff brahma has to be the oldest. When is it time to move them to the coop? 3 months? Older? Younger? We're aging them by their purchase date, (whatever last Saturday was lol) don't want them hurt, especially Iris (blue Orp) so o want to get some opinions. I've had conflicting ones and would like 3rd, 4th, 5th? 10th opinion lol

 

[Lengerich Farms]

So, these chicks are getting pretty big (won't let me get a good picture of them, the buff is the size of a robin, the Wellsummer and Blue Orp are the size of fat wrens). When do I move them up to the grower feed from the starter feed? I've been giving them yard time with the hens (in a cage) when I wake before noon (insomnia, amiright?!

). I don't know their exact ages but the buff brahma has to be the oldest. When is it time to move them to the coop? 3 months? Older? Younger? We're aging them by their purchase date, (whatever last Saturday was lol) don't want them hurt, especially Iris (blue Orp) so o want to get some opinions. I've had conflicting ones and would like 3rd, 4th, 5th? 10th opinion lol

@racinchickins you already answered my question hahaha

 

[Greenthumb83]

So we have a final answer on my Moms rotator cup surgeries for both arms. Been to so many Drs this summer it would make your head spin! Its a NO. She is in too poor of overall health and the surgeon, Cardiac Dr, and Urologist, others looking at her case felt the risk is too high. Mom will have pain management control and thats all they will offer. I have got 2nd and 3rd opinions from different networks. Bottom line, she has also chosen its not worth the risk. She has asked i please not push it anymore.

Mom turned 80 on the 23rd and my Dads 82. With some other difficult events that's taken place this week I have focus my time for them. We will be getting out of most birds if not all and hogs. Life events and priorities I just have no choice. Keeping cows and goats for now. Plenty of hay and water will provide for those species overnight when we are away.
Will still be here and contribute to the thread when able. I am just a PM away, or a text for those folks I know very well.

Thoughts and prayers for you and your family.