INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Chaneys Ranch]

So I started pulling out all the winter boots, coveralls, coats etc preparing for winter. The forecast models are all saying lots of snow. DH thinks its the greatest thing, and is looking for a plow that fits the new truck. I hate snow, winter, ice, cold YUK! But its coming, so its time to prepare. Mothballs stink so I always wash everything. We have our big heavy duty food saver so next spring I will vacuum seal all the winter clothes instead.
Seeing a lot of posts from new chicken keepers on forums I follow. Laying hens do slow down this time of year. Daylight plays a role, and molting usually occurs in fall. some folks will use artificial light in coops to keep hens laying. I choose not to, so my hens live longer and have a more natural life span. I do use artificial light for my Quail. We usually cull all quail by winter. I just buy eggs in spring to restart our breeder flock. Winter months are just too difficult to keep them without buying more equipment like heated water bottles. Love them as a food & egg providing bird, but have found very few that live past 3 years.

 

[ellymayRans]

Done with work finally!! Ugh! I hate when things are supposed to take a few hours and ends up being a 18 hour day!

I don't use artificial light either for those same reasons. I admit my first year I did because I didn't know any better. It's just better for them to let them rest.

I wanted to share my latest good news

So last spring I managed to get my hands on some Mille Fleur Bantam Cochin eggs for hatching. Traveled from CA and 2 hatches survived. Both Roos of course. Lol. Sold 1 and kept 1 in hopes for trying again. It took me a year to manage finding another breeder as my original suffered a flock loss by predator

I had more eggs shipped and again, 2 hatched. Go figure. Used a broody silkie both times. (Gotta love'em

It is such a journey though as I have the darndest time sexing them!

No kidding, the pair of Roos last year, 1 got the obvious boy comb and red by 2 mos old but it's hatchmate had not so I thought "pair" whooohooo, but nope!
8 wks hatched 3/26/15

Then oh ok saddles by age 5 mos!!!

Thankfully I take lots of pics of my birds and can certainly say my Girls now at 6 mos!

Hatched 4/14/16

Geez though, so stressful! Lol!

Now if only they'd start laying!
I guess atleast they're from different blood lines.

 

[tmarsh83]

I'm just surprised my first year layers have dropped off like they have.

Until October 8-10 eggs a day was the norm. I've gotten four the last two days. Most of the flock is still in its first year. I know production varies, but I expected better is all. Something seems odd...

 

[racinchickins]

If anyone is interested, I have 4 three week old Muscovy ducklings available. Momma hatched them in a hidden nest, but has now decided she is done raising them. I have them penned up in the barn and put in a heat plate for them to huddle under instead of mama, but they ignored the heat plate and did just find sleeping in their feed bowl last night.

I didn't plan on them and don't really need them, so if anyone is interested, please let me know. They look like one might be black pied, two will be some sort of chocolate, and the fourth possibly lavender. (hard to tell for sure just from down with no feathers) I'll only let them go in pairs or all 4.

 

[LocosHuevos]

I would be happy to take them all in but you're a little far down for me. I have a momma Muscovy, Minnie whose a great mommy and would take them under her wing.

 

[enemaniac]

I'll be keeping my eye on this since I'm in NWI.

 

[LocosHuevos]

@enemaniac,
where in NWI ? I'm from Michigan City.
BTW, Welcome to Indiana BYC

 

[enemaniac]

I'm in the Griffith area. I go shopping at the Big R out in Michigan City.

 

[Leahs Mom]

One last goat post before they become hamburger.....

*******************************************************************************************

2 Adult Wethers. Spanish/Boer Cross. Great brush clearing boys. Very friendly; will make great family pets. Could possibly train for cart.
*******************************************************************************************


Still have the goat wethers looking for a new home. Hoping to find a pet home for these guys.

Vet was outand gave them a clean bill of health. No need to worm. She thought someone might want to train them for cart pulling for 4h. (Not sure if they can do 4h with horns, however. Probably varies from location to location.)

They are 5 yo Spanish/Boer cross. I got them for brush clearing. Have been on browse and hay with a free-feed mineral; and they were fed the same way where they came from. Trained to electric netting.

Strong healthy guys and great pets. Very friendly, follow you around like a dog!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Done with work finally!! Ugh! I hate when things are supposed to take a few hours and ends up being a 18 hour day!

I don't use artificial light either for those same reasons. I admit my first year I did because I didn't know any better. It's just better for them to let them rest.

I wanted to share my latest good news

So last spring I managed to get my hands on some Mille Fleur Bantam Cochin eggs for hatching. Traveled from CA and 2 hatches survived. Both Roos of course. Lol. Sold 1 and kept 1 in hopes for trying again. It took me a year to manage finding another breeder as my original suffered a flock loss by predator

I had more eggs shipped and again, 2 hatched. Go figure. Used a broody silkie both times. (Gotta love'em

It is such a journey though as I have the darndest time sexing them!

No kidding, the pair of Roos last year, 1 got the obvious boy comb and red by 2 mos old but it's hatchmate had not so I thought "pair" whooohooo, but nope!
8 wks hatched 3/26/15

Then oh ok saddles by age 5 mos!!!

Thankfully I take lots of pics of my birds and can certainly say my Girls now at 6 mos!

Hatched 4/14/16


Geez though, so stressful! Lol!

Now if only they'd start laying!
I guess atleast they're from different blood lines.

@ellymayRans

Such pretty little girls!