Recent content by rachki

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    Flock Management - Shortage of Layer Chicks

    Curious if anyone is noticing this as well: I was thinking of ordering an extra 100 layer chicks for March to start laying in Fall. Imagine my surprise when I've checked multiple of our hatchery suppliers that our farm uses and the earliest availability I'm seeing is through Ideal in late July...
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    Campylobacter - treat or accept it as part of farm?

    He has the sick family members on antibiotics, but he doesn't have any opinion on farm practices. My question is more directed at whether or not it's something other poultry farmers have treated in their flocks in the past, or if it's just taken as part of life within a poultry flock and you...
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    Campylobacter - treat or accept it as part of farm?

    My family and I have raised chickens at scale for many years now without issues. We raise somewhere around 1000 a year between layers, meat birds and turkeys. Recently we had a family outbreak of Campylobacter that is very likely from our chicken flocks. Everything I've seen seems to point...
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    Scalding at High Temps

    Hi all, I'm curious what others scald their chickens at. After years of trial and error, and close to 4000 broilers, we've found that scalding between 170 and 173 at 3600ft elevation yields the best results, and produces a totally 100% plucked chicken. It also works best to have 2 to 4...
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    Rabbit kits - First time with them - Heating?

    Links to kits to see setup: https://ibb.co/xjqGKVQ https://ibb.co/wJWrG9j https://ibb.co/2Y06GjQ I checked on them. The concrete floor under the litter is cool and with the heat lamp being on it seems they can probably self-regulate their temp by burying themselves deeper against the...
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    Rabbit kits - First time with them - Heating?

    Hello, The wife and I have a small farm/homestead (1000+ poultry, hogs and rabbits). We have 3 rabbits, 1 is a buck, 1 is a doe, 1 is unknown but I suspect female. The rabbits are in our uninsulated, unheated brooder building in a separate pen. We are at 3600ft in the Appalachian mountains...
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    How old are my piglets? Diet?

    Thanks Samuel. I got them on some pig starter/grower I had left over from 4 months ago and they seem to be taking to it. Based on your recommendation I'll just keep on with the grower. I'll slowly phase out the whole milk.
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    How old are my piglets? Diet?

    Hello all, A lot of local farmers are starting to go under with the pork supply backing up due to processing plants being shut down. Our local community of farmers and rural folks bought a local farmer out of his piglets so he wouldn't go under. I picked up 2 piglets for feeder pigs. I am...
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    2 small black spots on Turkey's head. Cause?

    Thanks R2elk, I should have mentioned that they are beginning to squabble over feed/dominance much like how chickens do their pecking order. That makes sense that it's likely from that squabbling and helps explain why it's in the same spot on most birds. Having not raised turkeys before I was...
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    2 small black spots on Turkey's head. Cause?

    Hello all, We are raising our first flock of turkeys this year. I've noticed these two black spots near the beak of this Turkey. Several others have the exact same spots in the same area. Any thoughts on what it could be? The turkeys are all healthy looking except for one, which I will be...
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    Saddle feather loss from roosters

    Fertility of eggs is only important 2 to 3 times a year when we incubate. We have the 3 roosters because while the acre run is fenced, there is no covering. The 3 roos fight off hawks and other aerial predators. The roos are between 12 and 18 months old. The birds having the most problems...
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    Saddle feather loss from roosters

    Hi all, we have an acre run with about 35 to 50 hens and 3 roosters. About 10 to 15 of our hens are losing feathers on their backs, and tops of their heads. I am 99% sure it is our 3 roosters despite there being 10 to 15 birds per roo. The run has plenty of grass, brush and trees for the...
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    Odd Eye Color

    Really? That'd odd, I'm assuming Ocular Marek's is different from plain 'ol Marek's? We haven't had any paralysis, or dead birds in the flock.
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    Odd Eye Color

    One of our BR has an odd pupil. I've noticed it before, but never bothered to ask about it as she and the others are all fine. Any ideas what it could be? Her, and the entire flock are perfectly normal, I'm just curious what could cause it. Attached images of good eye vs bad
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    Barnyard Mix Egg Colors

    Hmm, I hadn't thought of that. I wonder if I record all of the egg colors that these offspring eventually produce, I may be able to kind of back-trace their genetics?
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