INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

See, clearly I didn't go looking because I never found any that close.

I have been interested in them a long time now. Since we have half of the 5 acres fenced, its become a possibility. they have to have plenty of room for exercise. My key thing is LGDs before I bring them here. That's going to change a lot of issues for us. We have about 2 acres to finish, and at that point I feel its going to stop predator issues too.

I went through what I would call a 'phase' where I really wanted an Emu or two, but after a LOT of research I decided they just weren't for me. Mainly for the reason that EllymayRans posted. My chickens are my babies and they come first, so anything that might pose a threat to them (including overly-rowdy roosters but I digress) is not something I personally would consider having out there with them since they have priority when it comes to free-ranging. That being said, they sounded like a lot of fun otherwise!

[COLOR=8B4513]I'd love to have a Dark Brahma hen some day —triple penciled feathers are gorgeous! [/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]Here's an online photo:[/COLOR]

Dark Brahmas... I could have had a Dark Brahma, but Meyer Hatchery didn't have them available until AFTER I had already gotten my chicks last year. The real kicker was that that was the year I had decided to just go ahead and get Light Brahma pullet to see how I liked the breed, even though it's not my preference in color for Brahmas and I would have MUCH rather have gotten a Dark Brahma... Well, that and said Light Brahma 'pullet' didn't quite turn out as ordered, but I suppose I can't complain too much because it was the first time they made that mistake with any of my chicks.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Oh my goodness! "don't look Ethel!!!"

I think for east central IN at least, we may see spring come early!
We have a frenzy of breeding activity in the waterfowl! Geese, ducks and Muscovy think its spring. Pekin are laying like crazy, made gooey chocolate chip cookies tonight from some of those awesome eggs. I don't eat sweets, but made them for DH and my neighbor kids. My roosters are acting like teenagers also, and one had to be penned due to being so aggressive with my hens. Chickens are laying again, but I doubt I will hatch any this year. I only have trios of my WL, OEG and a pair of DC so I may hatch a few of them for ourselves. No sales this year, just not enough time for brooding etc. Aside from geese for my vet.
And Moose, our Jersey bull cow.. oh my. He got squarely kicked hard with both back legs, and BIT by my donkey this afternoon. Daisy said, NO! and he wasn't hearing it! He got the message pretty fast

! I rushed over to make sure he wasn't injured. Embarrassed is probably the best description, he kept hiding his head under my arm. Daisy is usually a very quiet sweet soul, I adore her. She also won't tolerate anything out of the cows, and really mothers over them. When my goat kids were young, you would have thought they belonged to her. She is going to my BILs family farm this spring to be bred, they also keep Mini's. I want to know that she will have proper love and attention, so I have been pretty picky where she goes. Daisy is 5 so I am hopeful she will foal without issues.. I will have my Vet look her over before she goes.
Moose is over 8 months and maturing fast. Abigail, the Holstein is only slightly larger. Both are at least 500# now and about the same age. Abby had to spend a week in the other pasture until her cycle passed, she is too young to breed yet. Pixie and Dixie are younger, and smaller. (jersey heifers) but any signs they have to pasture separately also. Once weather breaks, all the boys will stay in the 2nd pasture full time, including my goat Buck, Bo. I have a new buck on hold, and hope to have him this spring. Off to catch up on our thread!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I have a friend who got his Emus from the Kankakee Fairground Fowl/Bird swap in Kankakee, IL.

Familiar with the location, I grew up in Lake co. Thanks!

@jchny2000
May I ask what your purpose is with the emus?

Meat? Eggs? Just for Fun?

And...
I know nothing about emus. What kind of temperament do they have? Are they friendly? (Don't think I"d like to tangle with one of those face to face if it got mad at me! )

Curious if they might be a hawk deterrent?

How do you house them? Winter/Summer

(ETA...Now that you've mentioned them I need a full education...

)

Deterrent for hawks, and fox, raccoon and possum will not mess with them. Most other smaller predators won't either .Fascination for the species is my main reason! Other products they offer such as the oil. The larger the animal, less likely will be taken by predators. I love birds. But I like larger species, so they have been an interest for me for years. I have seen aggressive Emu, and totally huggable Emu. Its how you imprint and raise them. They are territorial and males do the egg brooding. Females choose the most promising sire, annually. Like any animal, you have to read signals and body language. Aggressive animals should be culled. There is a great risk of those legs and claws if they don't like you.
They are weather hardy, disease resistant. Of course, offer shelter but most prefer a tree or brush to rest under. Ground layers, much like guinea or other pheasant types. I am studying opinions on feed now. My main reason is interest in the species, but predator deterrent is a plus. They need ACRES of room. Need to exercise and run. Need protection from stray dogs and coyotes like electric fences, or LGDs.

Quote: Great links! Thanks for sharing!

Had a Bourbon hen in the pool the other day. Luckily I was home. Freezing water and almost done for when I saw her. Fortunately two days recovery and she's back out with her flock. I've been rotating the two turkey pens each day for free range time (Bourbon Reds and Narragansett). Can't wait for Spring!! All will be laying and raising me some dinners!!

Still searching for a Midget White hen for my lone MW tom but hopefully by the summer I'll have tracked one down.

Oh my, she is lucky you found her. Will keep ears open for MWs.

I was just looking for other poultry enthusiasts here in Indiana. i am in West central Indiana. I am currently preparing for a run at Rhodebars, but I love all poultry.

Welcome to our thread! Glad you found us.

Holly cow! 17 eggs again today. These girls are unstoppable (for now)!

WTG it only gets better from here. Getting about 2 minutes a day more light every day.

 

[sunnie7]

Pretty sure I have hubby talked into building a me new coop this summer! Right now I have 3 bantams and 1 silkie. we live in a neighborhood so I need something somewhat small that will hold 6-7 birds max....I already have chicken fever bad! I have an 21'x18' area fenced off already that my current coop is in.
I'd like to not spend a fortune but want something much better than the crappy TSC tiny thing I have.
So please share with me what your choice would be or what you have, how much it cost to build and why you love it or what you don't like about it and would change. Any links to plans would be great!!!!!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Pretty sure I have hubby talked into building a me new coop this summer! Right now I have 3 bantams and 1 silkie. we live in a neighborhood so I need something somewhat small that will hold 6-7 birds max....I already have chicken fever bad! I have an 21'x18' area fenced off already that my current coop is in.
I'd like to not spend a fortune but want something much better than the crappy TSC tiny thing I have.
So please share with me what your choice would be or what you have, how much it cost to build and why you love it or what you don't like about it and would change. Any links to plans would be great!!!!!

A small shed is the way to go. We find them free on occasion and modify them to add a nest box and roosts. I like most to be able to move it around so my birds get fresh grass often. I use mobile (tractor) coops. It just seems to make cleanup easier and gives my birds a new area to free range.

 

[Indyshent]

Craigslist finds

2 Alpaca $50. Good with children. Alpaca make excellent livestock guardians.
GL Polish roo $10
EE roo $5
Jumbo Coturnix quail chicks 50 cents each. In Pendleton area, @jchny2000 !
2 free Pekin drakes to pet home
Free horse to good home. Has navicular.
BYM roos $8/ea

 

[Mother2Hens]

I made a thread about this, but does anyone have external nest boxes? Like where the hen would come in and out from outside the coop?

Hens have a way of making something into an external nesting box! After my first chickens started laying, one found a plastic box in the garage where I stored pine shavings and had forgotten to put the lid on. It has been a nesting box ever since! It was stacked on top of another storage box, so it's high enough for them to feel safe and to be able to fly up there. During hot summer weather, I have a small fan directed toward the box. Hens sometimes bicker over who gets the preferred nesting box and sometimes two or three cram into one box! I also have nesting boxes in the coop. Just like cats that change their favorite napping places, my hens change their minds periodically about which nesting box is the trendy one. Haha After I realized that they like choices, I made this old rabbit hutch into a private, shady nesting cottage. lol I added an old metal baby bathtub filled pine shavings. Sometimes in the summer, I put coarse sand in my kids' old turtle sandbox, and set up a small mister next to it. Other times, I've added fresh dirt especially if it's been dry or snowy. I have several areas for green & brown composting, so I always have "creative art materials" for them!


@Leahs Mom ~ My Silkie has been broody several times, but changes her mind at the drop of a hat. Not a reliable mom! My only perfect Broody Mom was my dearly departed Bantam Chocolate English Orpington, Bonbon, who had two 100% hatches with hatching eggs from @jchny2000 and @ellymayRans . Those experiences were so special!! I loved watching her teach the chicks and the rest of my flock was so respectful. Very interesting process to watch, and I felt so lucky. Another enjoyable aspect was the weather—one hatch was in the spring and one in the fall. I hope you find a good broody mama!
For old time's sake—May 2014, here are some photos from her first hatch that included Old English Game Birds and a Mille Fleur d'Uccle.


Below: Teaching them to drink from the wrong place! (an upside down yard cart)


Dustbathing techniques


And when it's rainy, we go inside the house!

 

[Faraday40]

Pretty sure I have hubby talked into building a me new coop this summer! Right now I have 3 bantams and 1 silkie. we live in a neighborhood so I need something somewhat small that will hold 6-7 birds max....I already have chicken fever bad! I have an 21'x18' area fenced off already that my current coop is in.
I'd like to not spend a fortune but want something much better than the crappy TSC tiny thing I have.
So please share with me what your choice would be or what you have, how much it cost to build and why you love it or what you don't like about it and would change. Any links to plans would be great!!!!!

Congrats!!!!
The best advice (no matter what kind of coop you decide on) is to build it a little bigger. If you think you want 6 chickens, get a coop for 8-12. In winter when the poor birds are stuck inside their coop, they'll appreciate the extra space. Then in a year or so when chicken math strikes, you'll have the extra room for that chick that followed you home from the store or maybe keep a chick from your broody hen's hatch.

 

[Indyshent]

Mandarin drakes $35

 

[Faraday40]

Picture time!!


Yesterday I brought my camera out to take some flock pics. I got this interesting pic just as Trouble took to the air.
It looks like she's in a strange chicken burlesque show.

For the "Brick Fan Club"

The way he struts & poses, I truly think he believes the sun rises & sets because of him.



Here are some of our orp ladies:

Muppet


Marshmallow


and Lady Godiva





Brick next to Muppet to show how little he is (or how big my lav orps are)



This is Oopsie (suppised to be a mauve orp) who's always standing on my boots looking up to get my attention


My famous photo-bombing chicken, Precious (a priceless barnyard mix)



.....and my silly little bantam orp, Cookie. (nicknamed "Cookie Monster" when broody &/or "the Bantam Menace" when treats are involved)
Don't let that innocent face fool you! She can be fierce & hold her own against any giant orp hen!