INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Chaneys Ranch]

Haven't posted in quite some time. I lost my original flock a couple years ago and just got restarted this Spring. I am mostly focused on bantam cochin,and silkies. But I have a couple polish girls, 2 salmon faverolles and one little dark brahma bantam pullet. Still waiting on my first eggs from these girls. Glad to be back and ready to talk chickie babies.

So glad to see you back ! Please feel free to share all the pictures you want to!

The kids got to have their eggs auctioned off this evening. Both are very happy.

DS's eggs came from his hens Tillie & PoofPoof (well mostly Tillie since she's a leghorn.)

DD's eggs came from Wendy the Welsummer.

DS also entered our Orpington eggs. They won a blue ribbon & (I think) class champion. Right now, all our best eggs are at the fair, some were used for baking entries, and the bantams are broody, ..... so we don't have many eggs left to eat at home. LOL (Don't worry, we'll have plenty in a couple days.) And of course the kids are very excited about the price they earned.

Loved this! The kids look so happy WTG. I've learned after 7 years it is all or none laying lol. Since my brain finally realized poultry/waterfowl can show too Both my girls will have choices next year. There was -0- geese or quail shown! Few ducks and -0- Muscovy. Our county fair is small but there sure is a lot of poultry and livestock not represented.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

7 extra roosters right now likely more in my last hatch last month. I adore keeping roosters to a point.. Then it's time to choose who stays. Foghorn my leghorn fella is old so I will keep 1 backup. Have a few Bresse and Maran that I don't feel are ok to breed. Come fall we are downsizing. If anyone needs a rooster shout out free to pick up.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@Faraday40
I'm amazed at how much your son has matured since I last saw him! He's a "teenager-to-be"!!!!!

 

[Faraday40]

@Faraday40
I'm amazed at how much your son has matured since I last saw him! He's a "teenager-to-be"!!!!!

Tell me about it!!! He already looks 10-11 yrs. It doesn't help when he hangs out with DD & all her teen friends.

He turned 9 this spring (but had to enter as an 8 yr old because of the way 4-H classifies age). He's always been a big boy b/c he inherited DH's height. (DH = 6'5") He's my youngest "baby" but skipped newborn clothes, and had to wear a 3T on his 1st birthday. I remember feeling cheated that I didn't get to enjoy that tiny infant stage. Now I'm just happy to still have a kid who will kiss me good night and not be embarrassed when I see him at a school function.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Very good mom, has 5 hatched so far! You do not dare pick up those ducklings yet! 2 Lavender 1 chocolate 2 atipico.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Middle left I see a failed egg we will remove. She has 3 eggs she's still dragging under her. Next hen has a full nest also broody due in a few weeks a black Atipico split to lavender. My drake is a lavender pied.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Fall planning and downsizing. Anyone else? Aside from my Leghorn and EE I'm going to continue with Bresse and Copper Maran. Both are laying I could be hatching a lot... But I want to go fishing more too lol. So the incubator is getting stored and I'm just going to enjoy life this fall. Been at this 7 years now and I have a farm sitter its time.

 

[JanetMarie]

I plan to downsize on the number of chickens, by just not purposely hatching any for a while. They're in three areas, and I plan to have them only in one area, except the area by the house will be for old chickens, special needs chickens, and muscovies (some fly in there anyway).

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I've taken the ducklings from the mother. Very strange hen she still broods bad eggs but isn't caring for the ducklings. I will remove her eggs tomorrow week past hatch date. The babies went to Psycho and she has a full nest too. So now they are in the brooder. Physco has a huge nest and I don't want her abandoning her eggs.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Gardeners, how's yours doing? One of my new try outs this year was Okra, Clemson spineless.

Okra has the prettiest flowers! (yes I need to weed) My first year growing it and it will be on the list next year. I tried a stir fry recipe with it and yum! I've had it deep fried and in a beef stew/Gumbo. I'm the only one that enjoys it so I only did 1 plant this year.
Milked Agnus, our Nubian 1st time today. Got kicked, and bit had to hobble her. She came here as an adult so she was clearly never milked. Awesome udders so here's hoping she trains. Our Paprika (Oberhasli) also milked 1st time today. Raised here, handled often and she made me very proud. Agnus dumped her milk everywhere so I don't have measurement. Paprika surprised us with almost 2 quarts! Both does kids are a day apart and over 12 weeks now. Past time to wean! We took the kids away over a day ago so milking begins.
Not much going with our birds aside from molting. Sorting out more roosters next week choosing who to keep. One EE pullet is VERY social about jumps out the coop door to see me! They have had lots of hornworms off the tomatoes this week and leftover live bait from fishing.