INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Leahs Mom]

ON THE ELECTRIC NETTING:

I forgot to mention that I can't use it when there is appreciable snow on the ground as it would "ground out" the electric. My girls stick either inside or darned close to it when snow is on the ground. I put it out a couple times in the last few weeks when it melted and they would go out more.

 

[Indyshent]

Ooo good to know! I've done research and was leaning towards the Pekins and those are most common around here and read that they are the easiest. I was between the Pekins and the Khaki Campbell. The one thing that made me nervous about having ducks was the migrating and flying away, just cause our farm is close to a lake like 1/2 mile away so there's a lot of ducks and geese flying in and out, but read that you can clip their wings just like chickens.

Khakis are smaller and lay bigger and more eggs for the size of their bodies. They're pretty and well camouflaged. Pekins are bigger, heavier, messier birds, which also lay lots of big eggs, but eat more to give you those eggs while taking up more room. Pekins come in regular and jumbo sized, and pretty much every Pekin is a good deal bigger than every Campbell. Neither ever flew for me, and I'm not even sure if either is capable of it. I've never had a mallard-derived duck fly (Muscovy, on the other hand, fly really well... right into my neighbor's yard). Supposedly, some hens can get off the ground, but I've yet to see it. You can clip their wings just like with chickens. None of mine have ever attempted to migrate anywhere but between the food and the kiddie pool.

I'm going with cochin then. One row comb, no extra toes, and given what MM carries, cochin is where we land.

All things considered I'm happy with that. Should I add a rooster she may go broody for me, and if he's a roo I've heard more good than bad about their temperament. More variety for a guy that likes variety in the flock. How can you go wrong?

I have three Cochin, and they're some of the biggest, sweetest, quietest, fluffiest birds I've ever owned. I'm told they make excellent mothers. The black Cochin hen has tried numerous times to hoard eggs, but she hasn't gone broody yet. She lays about the darkest eggs I get (Welsummers have darker spots, but the base color is darker in the Cochin egg). She's been an excellent winter layer. The other Cochin hen probably lays a lighter egg. Haven't figured exactly which are hers yet.

Most hatcheries carry black Cochins (lots of reasons for the breed to be popular), so it's the most likely option at this point.

 

[funnyfarmmom]

@funnyfarmmom- sounds like you got the crazies this time. Thanks for taking it for the team.

Hehehe anytime . Finally got one sane person to come get the extra roos at least lol.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Local RK has buff Brahma and cuckoo maran. I thought they might have been mislabelled but the chicks looked right. Brahmas look so adorable.

@Acornewell Those poor chicks! The sales associates don't always know what's going on but I hope you sent those pics to some level of management.

Thanks for the chick radar report!

Looking for some ideals from people with experience with chickens in wooded areas. The way the new property is laid out the woods ( about 5 steps from the side of the house ) will be the only place I can put my chicken pens, and the horses and goats still have grass. Eventually they will have the pastures the free rang in ( I hope ) depending on predators, but for the time being I need to make them as safe as I can next to the woods.
Ideals accompanied with pictures would be awesome.

Goats help a lot deterring predators as long as there's no coyote. Woods can be ok, but if there's a lot of brush it will invite fox. We have learned to keep brush clear, my buck Bochepus's summer job lol! Electric fence is excellent too, and keeps the birds in. Just have to watch voltages.

Well I'm shocked I placed ten duck eggs in my incubator and after a 7 day check. I got 8 still going good. One I know is done and one I'm pretty sure is done because I seen the black spot on it. The fact I have 8 still going is impressive because I've not had that much luck with this incubator. I'm 4 for 20 chicken eggs in it so far. 1/10 first batch and 3/10 the second. Good news my new incubator has shipped

Awesome news, what incubator did you get?

 

[tmarsh83]

I have three Cochin, and they're some of the biggest, sweetest, quietest, fluffiest birds I've ever owned. I'm told they make excellent mothers. The black Cochin hen has tried numerous times to hoard eggs, but she hasn't gone broody yet. She lays about the darkest eggs I get  (Welsummers have darker spots, but the base color is darker in the Cochin egg). She's been an excellent winter layer. The other Cochin hen probably lays a lighter egg. Haven't figured exactly which are hers yet. 

Most hatcheries carry black Cochins (lots of reasons for the breed to be popular), so it's the most likely option at this point. 

At this point i can't decide if I want it to be a roo or a pullet. Lol

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Just saw a coyote in the field behind us for the first time yesterday! The dogs were in the fenced pasture with the alpacas & I heard them barking up a storm. I could tell the bark was a bit different than usual. When I looked out to see what was up I saw a coyote standing in the field looking towards the dogs/barn a couple hundred yards away. Not sure if any of the chickens were in the pasture or if they were hanging out in the barn. It eventually went off across the field. Unfortunately when we built/moved here neighbors said they've heard and seen coyotes. Fortunately this was the first time in about 4 1/2 years we've seen one. Hope it was just passing through and not a full time resident!

Lone coyote usually won't challenge large dogs. a pack, which will be mom and babies are a bit different and can get pretty bold. Hopefully our dogs warning sent him on the way.

Hugs for all you've been dealing with @Mother2Hens and @jchny2000.

All of a sudden i went from getting 1 or 2 eggs from the ladies outside to BOOM! Spring has sprung here!
Now disclaimer its a muddy mess here and my girls are horrible at getting in with each other when trying to lay so most of these are just filthy! ! @Mother2Hens has me beat on egg art for sure!! Loved that! Lol

Beauty of an olive egg there though! There were 5 more in a box i didn't have room for when gathering! So glad everyone is picking up!


Called @racinchickins in a panic already this morning as this is a first time for me witnessing my turkeys mating and geez! Honestly i would swear he's going to kill her! I guess we will see! Poults or death?!?! SMH!

Ugh hear ya, the mud is awful. I already moved the portable coops once this week. Using a lot more hay than usual too. LOL, When @racinchickins brought m new tom up, all my girls dropped to the ground.. I was like you, very concerned! He told me to lock him up a bit and give the girls a break. 2 of the hens were fighting over him, he was feeling pretty special!

The chicks have arrived! Murray McMurray included an extra Sussex and extra Delaware, both pullets. (I split the order with a neighbor, so not all birds are pictured.)

Only one Delaware didn't make it thru the snow storm to us alive, I'm happy with that.

Of course there was the odd-ball straight run thrown in as well. At first blush we both thought it was a dark brahma or black cochin, as he is feather footed.

Going back and checking the images of the chicks, he doesn't seem to have the right look. To be honest it looks most like a silkie, as it doesn't seem to have the lighter belly or sides that the cochin or brahma has. It's just as big as the others though. So i'm a little confused. Going to give it a while and check it again.

All are moving around, drinking and eating. Happy so far!

Forgot to remind everyone what is in there. There's the mystery bird, three Sussex, three cuckoo marans, two new hampshires, two Delaware, two australorps. A fair mix.

Sounds like a great variety, I wonder if the one chick is polish? Is the legs clean, or feathered?

I want to get to a farm store sooooo badly to get some more chicks!!! It's killing me! I'm waiting for the snow and coldness to pass to go get some but so nervous that there will be none left!!! I want 10 more baby chicks and 2 ducklings!!! Always wanted ducks so I'd figure now is the time to start slow and start my duckling flock!

Ducks feather pretty fast depending on the breed you choose. No worries, Rural King sells almost year around anymore. TSC tends to stop late spring.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: Pekin are so heavy they can't fly, and don't wander far from food. They are awesome egg producers and a good table bird. I no longer over winter them, but are my 3rd choice for duck breeds.

Hi all! Are there any Call Duck breeders around NW Indiana?

Hope someone speaks up. and here is our member list also. You can actually sort by breed, location, species etc.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zqcpdsOAzQeuVVHn8z-MK57ml5LMd7-F167MOavaFl0/edit#gid=0

 

[tmarsh83]

@jchny2000 feathered legs. No discernible crest. I think @indyshent pointed me right with Cochin.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: Thats a win-win!

@jchny2000 feathered legs. No discernible crest. I think @indyshent pointed me right with Cochin.

Sounds like it, they are a very sweet docile breed.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Egg production is increasing here also! No duck eggs yet. Chickens are picking up, daily! Looks like starting next week, we have spring weather. Going to get tomato and peppers going, couple other plants.
My piglets will be a week old tomorrow. Doing awesome! 2 more weeks to weaning. DS, the mom is doing well with them, and still no aggression from her.
No sign of a calf from Fanny, so she will go to be bred in April.