INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[RoseHaven]

Its been a looooooong busy month, or I suppose July was. We started upgrading the chook's run. Driving 2x4s two feet deep is fun, but it looks better every day and I enjoy looking out in the morning to see our handy work. We had to put a lot on hold because my great grandma has been fading fast. At 89 years young, she left us this past Saturday. It hurts so much but I've still not quite come to terms with it, she was one of my best friends. I spent the entire weekend before and then some with her, thankfully I have a very understanding boss. This weekend is the funeral, but Sunday we'll be back to upgrading the run.

We also rehomed our Partridge Cochin Cockerel. I wanted to keep him to breed, but my Ameraucana roo doesn't crow and I'd like to keep it that way. We have a couple more ladies on CL to bring our flock down to size, but we're getting there. Thanks everyone for your support, hopefully I'll be back to active on here soon as things calm down.

Please accept my deepest condolences for your loss. Be kind to yourself, and mourn.

 

[RoseHaven]

As @wheezy50 pointed out, your chick is not a frizzle. Her feathers would already be frizzled if she were. I had the same thing happen the one time I got a 'frizzle' Cochin bantam, also from Meyer stock. It's luck of the draw, and I had no luck in either that department or the gender department; mine was a smooth-feathered male.

Meyer breeds frizzle to frizzle, which is why they state that a quarter will not be frizzled. Technically speaking, they are not entirely correct on that statement, though. That's like saying 75% of the offspring from a Blue x Blue mating will be Blue. The gene functions like Blue; it's partially dominant. As you may know, Blue shows up as Blue when only one copy of the gene is present, and the cross of Blue x Blue creates only 50% Blue in the offspring, along with 25% Black (no copies of the gene) and 25% Splash (two copies of the gene). Like with Blue, when you breed frizzle to frizzle, only 50% are actually frizzle, and 25% are smooth, having not inherited any copies of the gene. The remaining 25% are what's commonly called 'frazzle' or 'curly', the birds that inherit a double copy of the gene. These birds have more extreme frizzling and tend to have a lot of issues, primarily brittle feathering that often results in them having patches of baldness year-round. Most breeders breed frizzle to smooth so that no frazzles are produced, but then the offspring are 50-50 frizzle and smooth. Basically, when using frizzles, you're only going to have a maximum 50% chance of getting actual frizzled offspring. The only way to get more frizzle offspring out of a crossing is to use a frazzle crossed to a smooth feathered bird, resulting in 100% frizzled offspring.

Unless you happen to have access to an interesting gene called the frizzle modifier, but that can be a bit complicated.

Let me just say that, frizzled or not, Cochin bantams are the absolute cutest. Regardless of her feathering, your baby ought to be an adorable addition to your flock. Just wait until she hits you with a hard stare from those big eyes when she wants a treat or a cuddle! My Abra can certainly demonstrate the technique. Seriously, how could anyone say no to this face?

View attachment 1100281

I could not refuse that face...

My Black Cochin cockerel "Bootsie" is like that. I can't say no to him!

 

[Nyla]

Just put more eggs in my incubator! The eggs are-> 29 California Valley, 55 Blue Scale, 49 Snowflake Bobwhite!

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I took pictures of the flyer for you!

Unrelated question: I am heading south of Indy this weekend, Morgantown/Trafalgar area- trying to optimize my driving and wondering if there is a Grain Mill that sells whole grain, Non GMO feed down that way. Not wanting to go all the way up to Lebanon and then down south, but I may have to cause I'm not finding anything online. We have specific needs, which is why I need a grain mill. We need feed without wheat b/c if I feed the girls wheat my 2 Celiac's get sick from the eggs. @jchny2000 or anyone do you know of any- the list on the Indiana page doesn't have anything south.

@Nyla did your flyer have a coupon? If so I should get it today or tomorrow, it always comes AFTER I make my TSC run!

The reason why I haven't been on here: I find this site truly addicting and I'd much rather be on here instead of getting my work done!!! Been surfing on here way too long this AM! I feel like I have to ground myself from BYC!

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

@pipdzipdnreadytogo

Your genetics make me

But I'm glad SOMEONE takes the time to understand it!

Oops, sorry. Haha, I get that a lot.

Oh do I love this little ball of fuzziness!!!!


DD finally got her silkie. I still think they look weird, but now I can at least understand why people love them so much. All they want to do is be cuddled.

I like the feel & look of the silkie feathers, but I prefer the "normal" chicken face. I think that's why I like your silkie bantam cochins so much. They are on my "someday" wishlist.

Is she not just the cutest little thing?!

I agree on Silkie feathering. It's just so soft and fuzzy!

I really don't like the crest and beard combo on Silkies--they have no faces past all that fluff! I intentionally only got clean-faced Silkies when I did get them, but I just love Silkie feathers no matter what they're attached to! It actually seems to be a fairly common mutation, too, as it is also present in pure Ameraucanas, Svart Hona (Swedish Black Hens), Hedemora, Serama, and there are even Silkie feathered ducks! I have a goal of owning as many breeds with silkied feathering as possible some day. Can you just picture a whole flock of fuzzy chickens?

Can someone please explain - have rules changed? My post was edited b/c you can't advertise outside of Buy/Sell/trade. I didn't realize I was advertising. In the past we've said things on this thread like I'm looking for... please PM me if you have- are we not allowed to do that anymore? I wasn't advertising I was doing what we've done before so I am confused.

Even the part of me venting that I only ended up with 3 pullets out of the 8 I bought was deleted? Was that because I mentioned where I got them? I'm really confused! It's been while since I've been on here but rules have changed that much in the past few months?

I find looking for anything on buy/sell trade incredibly difficult b/c unless I am missing something it is not organized by area you live. I'm not trying to be difficult, just trying to understand. I know last time I was on here people were mentioning chicks they are looking for.

There has always been some inconsistency with whether they'll edit a post or not and what for. I keep going back to my post from a few years ago, where I had responded to comments on a rooster I had posted pictures of that if people liked him so much, they could have him, and it was edited for being an ad. This right after others had posted actual ads including prices. I've never understood that one.

That being said, they do seem to be more strict on it since the site update... I wonder what changed?

I do agree, though, that if they're going to restrict ads from being posted in the state threads, then they need to organize the BST section better...

Could you at least post a note here pointing to your ad in the BST area?

I don't think that's allowed, either. I think the most you're allowed to do is put a link in your signature--but I could be totally off on that, so don't take my word for it.

 

[Finnie]

The reason why I haven't been on here: I find this site truly addicting and I'd much rather be on here instead of getting my work done!!! Been surfing on here way too long this AM! I feel like I have to ground myself from BYC!

I so have this same problem!

 

[Mother2Hens]

Welcome to the Indiana Thread @ginasuewho — You have a nice range of birds!
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@kanina ~ Sorry to hear of your Great Grandma's passing.
Was your Partridge Cochin Cockerel a LF or Bantam? Some day I would like to get a LF Cochin to see how they differ from my bantams.
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Quoting in a blue box isn't working for me tonight...
Posted by nenebynature: I'm down in Memphis and it is blazing hot and horribly humid! I've been letting the girls free range and find their own cool shade and leaving plenty of water for them. Does anyone do anything more for their chickens in the heat? This is my first summer with chickens and I'm curious what others are doing.
@nenebynature ~ I'm confused—are you and your chickens in Memphis or Utica?
Besides fresh ice water (freeze plastic bottles—chickens prefer cool water) and fruit, I use outdoor fans with outdoor extension cords for ventilation. I have two large fans hanging by hooks in the coop and add more if it's really humid. My coop is bolted to the back of our garage, and there are nearby outlets through a garage window. I have several large fans that I use during the day. Fans use minimal electricity. My hens love fans! During hot days, my flock hangs out under the deck where there's also a nearby bush. The area has a cool, dirt "floor." I use flower pots with rocks to hold golf umbrellas—handy for rainy days, too. A large market umbrella on a stand is next to the coop.
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@Faraday40 ~ Your DS and his chicken are adorable! Is that a Swedish Flower Hen or Mille Fleur something? Love your Silver Laced Orps!

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@wheezy50 ~I would be in heaven if I had six frizzled cochins! I can't believe how lucky you were to find them at TSC. Are they LF size?

@hbrown322 ~ I have two Black Bantam Frizzled hens (my avatar) that I got from @ellymayRans. This is a photo she took —I think they were just a few weeks old.

And luckily we have @pipdzipdnreadytogo to educate us about genetics! (I'm kinda like @Leahs Mom when it comes to comprehending genetics).
@pipdzipdnreadytogo ~ "IMO" I prefer Bearded Silkies with their "bangs" trimmed so they can see. I'll have to take a new picture of my Blue Silkie "Smalty." A few years ago, I decided to trim around her eyes (very carefully with blunt kindergarten scissors). Her personality changed—she was so much happier to be able to see well! Recently I trimmed her when she was wet and had a spikey hairdo from the rain. It was easier to trim wet, but it turned out shorter than normal. She likes it, though.
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Posted by @flyladyrocks: The reason why I haven't been on here: I find this site truly addicting and I'd much rather be on here instead of getting my work done!!! Been surfing on here way too long this AM! I feel like I have to ground myself from BYC!
@flyladyrocks ~ I hear ya—I haven't been on our thread as much as I'd like because I decided to make my work and my chickens/outdoor work a priority, so by the end of each night, I am often too tired to post. I rarely look at Facebook—I much prefer byc-Indiana!

 

[hbrown322]

@Mother2Hens yea, yours are definitely frizzle. I'm still holding out hope mine will surprise me though!!! Wishful thinking, although I know it's not going to happen. Hahaha

The first year of owning chickens was a rough one for me. My first flock was taken out by a raccoon. The rooster of my second flock gave himself a concussion and after a week of trying to get him back to good health I had to put him down. Ever since things have been going well, *knock on wood*. Yesterday one of the pullets from my new group laid her first egg! I forgot how exciting it is to find that first egg!! This is the photo I sent to my mom who luckily shares my enthusiasm!

 

[Faraday40]

@Mother2Hens
DS's chicken is a speckled sussex. However since he lost 3 teeth in 2 weeks, he pronounces it "Special sau-ce." (That's her nickname.)

 

[Nyla]

So upset. This person has a beautiful lilac Muscovy I want! but they are selling the 3 in the picture as a group for $115

 

[nenebynature]

@Mother2Hens my chickens and I live in Memphis. For my second job, I work at a plant nursery in Utica Indiana called Hidden Hill. That's where I will get trees and shrubs to replace the tree I lost to lightning last month.

I too have a fan in the run. The girls don't seem too bothered by it. I like the idea of hanging the box fans though. I have a super long extension cord I run from the coupon to the garage next-door. I had a nightmare that the coop caught on fire because of the electrical cord and now I'm kind of too paranoid to run it except on the hottest days. My coop and run are open on three sides so the chooks get decent ventilation.

I like the idea of adding a frozen water bottle to their water container. I saw someone else post that suggestion but I forgot to try it I've had so much going on lately that I can't seem to keep anything in my brain. Thank goodness the girls are resilient!