INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Nyla]

Forgot to post on Our State Thread!
I found 5 eggs today! Last week on the 15th, my Muscovy's started to breed for the first time of this year! Last year when they started mating, I received eggs within a couple of days to a week. I haven't checked/ cleaned my coops since the 15th. Today was Coop Cleaning Day and badly needed it. I normally clean coops every 2-3 days, but had a lot going on. So I went to clean coop #2 and found a clutch of 5 eggs in a corner of the coop! SO happy they are starting up laying.

 

[Faraday40]

@Nyla
Congrats on the eggs! I'm also coming into some eggs - about 4 per day! No pullet eggs, though. My hard working hens are still carrying them. Heck, Princess Lay-a is 5.5 years old! She was molting in Dec, so I thought she'd be taking Jan off. Nope. She started laying again 11 days ago..... and provided us 8 eggs since.

 

[Indyshent]

My silkie girl took a break of a few weeks, but she's back to laying several days a week again. Hoping the pullets start up again soon. With their laying bloodlines, it'd be a shame for them to be outdone by a silkie.

 

[kanina]

I'm trying to figure out if my gals are hiding eggs somewhere. I haven't had any for a month. With 6 layers I figured I would be getting at least one every few days. We changed their food up and that isn't helping, we're going to change it again next week to a suggestion from a breeder. I miss my eggs.

I'm also trying to figure out where my scovies might be laying in this weather break. I haven't seen any mating, but Java and the ladies are finally getting along well and seem bonded. @Nyla when do they usually begin laying for the year?

I did candle Sunday, I'm still questioning the development of my orp eggs. They seem to be developing, as I can see an air sac, but I'm still seeing more development in my fibro eggs. Here's to hoping they're just really thick shells. My candler might also be junk, its a very warm light. I can see more with my flashlight that has a cooler tone. Wednesday (tomorrow) is lockdown day with Saturday being hatch day. I've been working on a list of things to do so I don't spend the next four days glued in front of my incubator.

I did start a new journal that is helping to keep track of this hatch. Last hatch I didn't write much down, just went with the flow of things. I can remember most of what happened, but what about next year when I start hatching, what will I remember then. So I started a bullet journal this past weekend to keep track of lots of things (but mainly chickens and DnD if we're being honest) and I'm looking forward to being able to look back at what's going on now.

The chicks went outside this weekend. Nov 15th hatched, I think. We sold all but the four we hope to keep. They're getting along splendidly. I account it to two things. 1. Butternut was put in the brooder with them during the bitter cold. She had been acting broody so I put her in with them to show her what joys await, and to give them extra warmth. 2. I put them all out in the coop in the dead of night so everyone else woke up to the new kids there. Saturday night we had to round them up and get them inside, but last night they at least managed to sleep down with the ducks rather than out on their own.

I'm so excited for Saturday, I'll try to get some candling pics from Sunday up soon!

 

[JanetMarie]

Today I witnessed a falcon attacking a chicken, and my buff Orpington mix rooster (Tang) attacking the falcon, just as he would if another rooster were on top of her.

The falcon flew off when I opened the door, and the hen was not harmed.

 

[Dayrel]

Good boy, Tang!

 

[Faraday40]

I hope Tang earned himself & the flock a little extra scratch or some mealworms.

 

[Nyla]

My Muscovy's usually pick up laying in early to mid February.

I'm trying to figure out if my gals are hiding eggs somewhere. I haven't had any for a month. With 6 layers I figured I would be getting at least one every few days. We changed their food up and that isn't helping, we're going to change it again next week to a suggestion from a breeder. I miss my eggs.

I'm also trying to figure out where my scovies might be laying in this weather break. I haven't seen any mating, but Java and the ladies are finally getting along well and seem bonded. @Nyla when do they usually begin laying for the year?

I did candle Sunday, I'm still questioning the development of my orp eggs. They seem to be developing, as I can see an air sac, but I'm still seeing more development in my fibro eggs. Here's to hoping they're just really thick shells. My candler might also be junk, its a very warm light. I can see more with my flashlight that has a cooler tone. Wednesday (tomorrow) is lockdown day with Saturday being hatch day. I've been working on a list of things to do so I don't spend the next four days glued in front of my incubator.

I did start a new journal that is helping to keep track of this hatch. Last hatch I didn't write much down, just went with the flow of things. I can remember most of what happened, but what about next year when I start hatching, what will I remember then. So I started a bullet journal this past weekend to keep track of lots of things (but mainly chickens and DnD if we're being honest) and I'm looking forward to being able to look back at what's going on now.

The chicks went outside this weekend. Nov 15th hatched, I think. We sold all but the four we hope to keep. They're getting along splendidly. I account it to two things. 1. Butternut was put in the brooder with them during the bitter cold. She had been acting broody so I put her in with them to show her what joys await, and to give them extra warmth. 2. I put them all out in the coop in the dead of night so everyone else woke up to the new kids there. Saturday night we had to round them up and get them inside, but last night they at least managed to sleep down with the ducks rather than out on their own.

I'm so excited for Saturday, I'll try to get some candling pics from Sunday up soon!

 

[JanetMarie]

I hope Tang earned himself & the flock a little extra scratch or some mealworms.

Half the birds were in their house the rest of yesterday, and the others were on top of the wood pile under the lean-to hiding.

Today they will be staying in their shed, and I'll give them a snack this afternoon.

 

[kanina]

My Muscovy's usually pick up laying in early to mid February.

I'll have to keep an eye out. Anywhere in particular they like to lay? I'm wondering if they might go under the duck house though I can't imagine its easy to get under right now. I'm not sure what to set up for them in terms of a nest box. I've read very contrasting things.

We had freezing rain over night, that was fun. The babies are still doing OK outside, and good thing too because we have some guests in their brooder for isolation. A partridge silkie hen and a white silkie cross roo. He's so handsome but I can't keep him. He's docile, but I can tell he's a dominate roo. Found them on CL for free, so of course I had to be impulsive and get them.

I'm also assuming he's a cross since he has that big comb and I've never seen a Silkie roo with a single comb. Jax has a small crest and a pea comb. This guy is also twice the size, easily, of the hen. (OMG my brooder needs a good cleaning)

And as promised, some day 15 egg pictures.

Fibro 1

Fibro 2 - there is a lot going on in this egg. It is super dense, however I was able to find the air sac.

Fibro 3

Orpington 1 - these are the ones I'm concerned about. They seem very underdeveloped. Maybe because I'm comparing them to the fibros? BUT idk if they are the same as my last hatch or not. I'm planning on printing off a few photos of my egg progress for the next hatch.

Orpington 2

Orpington 3

Sorry for the photo overload. I wish there was a way to hide them so they didn't take up so much scroll room.