INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Faraday40]

 

[Faraday40]

Been busy the past few days. The silkie & her 2 chicks were placed in a storage tub to make sure she doesn't wander off. The broody sadly took breaks every day last week- including when eggs were pipping / hatching / & after hatch. She kept getting herself on the wrong side of the protective netting & unable to return to her nest. That's how the chicks got chilled. We got 2 black orp chicks, but the last egg/chick (a blue orp) died of cold while hatching. Honestly, I'm amazed we got any after all the times the eggs were left. I plan to move them to a larger area, but for now, the small tub inside the run is safe, clean, & warm.

It's very windy out there now & the entire flock decided to stay inside the run today. I guess they're afraid of blowing away! Yikes!

Today DD's school went on a field trip to "Feed My Starving Children". As always, it was a great experience packaging food & I got to ride there on a school-bus packed with middle schoolers. ( Just kidding; they were fine.) Now I get to help the kids with hmwk, make a quick meal, put the chickens away & then take DS to religious ed. I only work part time, so when did Mondays get so busy???

 

[Indyshent]

Just finished an organic chemistry exam, now off to finals next week. I have a microbiology final 8 am Tuesday, and three finals for Physics, Immunology, and Organic chemistry Wednesday, all back-to-back. Then, I get to do a tour and interview with the clinical lab science department/hospital on Friday, after I'm all done with this semester. Hopefully, I'll get into that program and be able to graduate by fall of 2019. It's not veterinary, but it'll put money into our finances instead of more school draining it out.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Just finished an organic chemistry exam, now off to finals next week. I have a microbiology final 8 am Tuesday, and three finals for Physics, Immunology, and Organic chemistry Wednesday, all back-to-back. Then, I get to do a tour and interview with the clinical lab science department/hospital on Friday, after I'm all done with this semester. Hopefully, I'll get into that program and be able to graduate by fall of 2019. It's not veterinary, but it'll put money into our finances instead of more school draining it out.

What is your major?

 

[Indyshent]

What is your major?

Currently Biology, but I'm trying to get into clinical lab science instead because it pays faster than veterinary medicine, for which I would have to relocate AND pay even more for just to take those classes. I'm too old and have too many financial obligations to keep going to school. These loans are going to kill me later already, but hopefully I'll be able to get a job at a nonprofit or government facility and get loan forgiveness.

 

[kanina]

Best of luck this week @Indyshent ! You can do it!!!

 

[Faraday40]

egg laying & molting?

I have 2-3 birds that I believe are still lightly molting - but I think they're also occasionally laying. Is this possible?

Bird 1 = 2.5 yr old Dominique. She took about 4-5 weeks off & still has some head feathers growing in. I keep seeing her in the nest box & sometimes find eggs after she hops out. Eggs look similar to hers, but I can't be 100% sure. (I could have a sneaky new layer.)

Bird 2 = Spring pullet / orpington. She finished being broody (chicks are 10+ weeks) & laid a few eggs but she also has new head feathers coming in. Eggs look like hers.

Bird 3 = 5 yr old mix This bird had a hard molt mid Sept , all Oct, and then laid 3 eggs one week in Nov. No eggs for the past 12 days. I didn't expect anything from her until Feb. I am sure those 3 eggs were hers due to color, shape, & giant size.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@Faraday40
I'm curious - do you use extended hour lighting for the winter?

 

[Faraday40]

@Faraday40
I'm curious - do you use extended hour lighting for the winter?

I have a rope of Xmas LED lights in coop & run. They go on at 3am-8am. Goal was to try to give 14 hrs of light. I'm getting some eggs but not as many as I thought I would. It may be the wrong kind of light. Only 2-4 eggs per day from 20 birds. (And those 3 that I mentioned, I didn't think would even be laying!)

 

[hbrown322]

The crop of one of my young pullets doesn’t digest overnight. She is acting 100% normal-eating, drinking & socializing just fine. But every morning, fresh from the coop, her crop is full. Is this something that will turn into a problem if not addressed? Or as long as she is acting alright I should just let her be?