INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Chaneys Ranch]

@Faraday40 oh man that's scary! We had a very brave pair of sharp shinned that terrorized our flocks a few years back. Guineas attacked and killed them both. I had a few dozen guinea back then tho!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Well, I started a Dubai Roach colony today. Major EWW ! But if I have gloves on I can handle it ok. My primary reason is for my Bearded Dragon, Lizzy but the chickens will enjoy them too.

We have had mealworms about 7 years now. They have helped especially during the winter months to boost protein for the chickens. The roaches have higher protein, less fat and offer more nutrients.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Took a leap today, helped a good friend that helped us too. I traded almost all of my chickens for labor on a project hubby and I are frankly too old to do. My Leghorn, Bresse, and all my new layers (production) around 30 birds. I've kept my Maran and Ameruacana. Most importantly my Barred Rocks (Mabels!).
Hard choice but my friend Daniel's Mom has tried to build good flocks for a long time. She needed some good birds to get her flocks going. We needed his help! It was hard to let them go. I kept the birds I love the most, and his mom will share eggs from the flocks. This was not an easy decision. I've frankly thought about not keeping chickens anymore. Being able to place my birds with a family I can get hatching eggs from, priceless.
I might have 12 chickens total now, and that's ok. Once our refinancing and possibly moving happens that may change. I'll be honest since we've been annexed by Ingalls we are planning to move.

 

[Rosie65]

Hello, sorry I disappeared. Been one disaster after another. From no emails to loss of a family member and travel to other states. Congrats on the one baby! Looks very cute. I think maybe this being her first time didn’t help but on the plus side it looks like she had a lot of natural instinct. I set some more up in the incubator after we met. Again not knowing if they were fertilised or not. 15 went in in. 12 hatched, 1 died on the way out and I’m going to assume the others weren’t fertilised. This is my cat and a four day old. I’m going to try the natural method of hatching but nobody is showing signs of broodyness yet.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Hello, sorry I disappeared. Been one disaster after another. From no emails to loss of a family member and travel to other states. Congrats on the one baby! Looks very cute. I think maybe this being her first time didn’t help but on the plus side it looks like she had a lot of natural instinct. I set some more up in the incubator after we met. Again not knowing if they were fertilised or not. 15 went in in. 12 hatched, 1 died on the way out and I’m going to assume the others weren’t fertilised. This is my cat and a four day old. I’m going to try the natural method of hatching but nobody is showing signs of broodyness yet.

I'm so sorry to hear about your losses, especially a family loss, very hard to face. Its so hard starting out especially with eggs. Please know we are here to support you. I've bought hatching eggs with zero hatched and some with 100%! I've recently downsized a LOT but I know what I kept will still give us eggs I can hatch. Hang in there and please post if you have any questions.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Difficult day looking at a lot of empty coops. It's ok, there is still 5 ducks (Khaki and Pekin) a friend that stayed with us a short time bought. She's left behind and will not pay to feed them..They won't be staying either. Both are good layers but not within our long term plans. I'm going to offer here before they go to my duck fella to be processed. Just send a PM (personal message). If they might work on your homestead. Ducks are a lot to take on because they can be messy. The eggs are pretty awesome for baked goods.

 

[Faraday40]

Difficult day looking at a lot of empty coops.

I can only imagine. But of course as life changes, so must we. Hang in there!

 

[Pollitos6]

Took a leap today, helped a good friend that helped us too. I traded almost all of my chickens for labor on a project hubby and I are frankly too old to do. My Leghorn, Bresse, and all my new layers (production) around 30 birds. I've kept my Maran and Ameruacana. Most importantly my Barred Rocks (Mabels!).
Hard choice but my friend Daniel's Mom has tried to build good flocks for a long time. She needed some good birds to get her flocks going. We needed his help! It was hard to let them go. I kept the birds I love the most, and his mom will share eggs from the flocks. This was not an easy decision. I've frankly thought about not keeping chickens anymore. Being able to place my birds with a family I can get hatching eggs from, priceless.
I might have 12 chickens total now, and that's ok. Once our refinancing and possibly moving happens that may change. I'll be honest since we've been annexed by Ingalls we are planning to move.

I bet it was hard letting your chickens go.. but you did it for a good cause. Have you keep any roosters? if so, you can start a new flock with the girls you keep.
What is ingalls?


have a great day!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I bet it was hard letting your chickens go.. but you did it for a good cause. Have you keep any roosters? if so, you can start a new flock with the girls you keep.
What is ingalls?
have a great day!

Ingalls. Its a town in east central Indiana. Oh I love my roosters! I keep a rooster, and a backup fella for every breed of chicken I keep. Ingalls is a town that Annexed us and several other houses on our street. When we bought the home it was Pendleton. That's a huge mess and the county planning commission was not happy with what Ingalls did. We are still zoned AG right now but I'm expecting that to change too.
I can hatch from my flocks. Not going to happen this year. I'm 56 and frankly we're really downsizing for retirement. I've kept my barred rock, Maran, and Ameruacana flock.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I can only imagine. But of course as life changes, so must we. Hang in there!

Thank you! Some of these chickens are 8 years old. Still laying! We are still very early in this journey. I'm just trying to make this farm work.
Pixie my Jersey left today with her lil Heifer calf. Dixie her sister will leave very soon also. I'm mostly switching to beef cows now. Ive had 4 attempts keeping a cow for milk. They either have severe health issues or are too mean/aggressive to manage. Time to switch breeds away from Jersey.