2021 Chick Order

[JacinLarkwell]

Also debating another pairing. I have a pullet (99.99% sure she's a mystic onyx) that basically looks like an ayam cemani with one extra toe on her foot. I was originally going to breed her to Big Boy, but now I'm thinking of breeding her to a mosaic.

Why?
1) it might be kinda neat to get mosaics with an extra toe
2) they both have black skin
3) all 5 of my mosaics are at least half siblings, so a bit of new blood might be a good idea.

The only problem is I'm not sure if her all black feathering will cover the mosaic pattern they're known for.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I love these birds. This week (and beyond) have been quite hard for me, and they put up with me and help me stay calm when talking to someone. Especially Love, Darling and Honey, which as sebrights, I never would have guessed they'd be so lovey

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Gahh, I don't know what route to go next year for silkie pullets.


I can go MPC, and get chicks for like 28 bucks a pop that might not even survive shipping or could be sexed wrong, but I can choose the color.

Or I could go through Chicken Scratch Hatchery (I'm getting my special breed from them next year hopefully anyways) and pay 35 (or 40 if I want them bearded) a bird but not chose the color. Their bird boxes are 19 each for the pullets and can hold two, and they are 6-7 weeks old (I'm assuming they DNA test, since they don't vent sex chicks, but I haven't inquired yet since I won't be ordering for like 4 months and obviously if they don't I'll look into other routes first). But they automatically come vaccinated for Mareks, which is a little concerning (the day olds do not, you have to add it).

I'm just nervous I'm going to waste 60 bucks on sexed silkie chicks from mpc and either have them die or be boys, but also I'm nervous that csp vaccinate any birds staying on their farm more than a few days and I don't want to risk them bringing the virus here since only half my birds are vaccinated

 

[NatJ]

Gahh, I don't know what route to go next year for silkie pullets.

I'm just nervous I'm going to waste 60 bucks on sexed silkie chicks from mpc and either have them die or be boys, but also I'm nervous that csp vaccinate any birds staying on their farm more than a few days and I don't want to risk them bringing the virus here since only half my birds are vaccinated

Have you already ruled out the hatcheries that sell unsexed chicks?

You might be able to buy 3 times as many as you need, in the colors you want, and then get DNA sexing if you are impatient. (Basically, do your own version of what csp does, but the birds would be growing on your own property so they are exposed only to the diseases that you may already have.)

How would unvaccinated ones be better? I read that Mareks has a multi-week incubation period, so it would be quite easy for unvaccinated birds to show up carrying it but not yet showing symptoms. So if the vaccine only masks symptoms, but does not actually cause the disease, it won't make very much difference: the disease would still be able to reach your property through a healthy-looking bird, and you wouldn't know until you saw symptoms (in that bird or in other birds that caught it from the first one.)

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Have you already ruled out the hatcheries that sell unsexed chicks?

You might be able to buy 3 times as many as you need, in the colors you want, and then get DNA sexing if you are impatient. (Basically, do your own version of what csp does, but the birds would be growing on your own property so they are exposed only to the diseases that you may already have.)

How would unvaccinated ones be better? I read that Mareks has a multi-week incubation period, so it would be quite easy for unvaccinated birds could show up carrying it but not yet showing symptoms. So if the vaccine only masks symptoms, but does not actually cause the disease, it won't make very much difference: the disease would still be able to reach your property through a healthy-looking bird, and you wouldn't know until you saw symptoms (in that bird or in other birds that caught it from the first one.)

I guess just that if they don't vaccinate their birds, they probably haven't had any problems with it. And I've noticed that commercial hatcheries that sell older birds also seem to do it, so maybe I've been over thinking it.

I considered unsexed too, since I have way more color choices, but I really don't want a ton of boys again. I'm trying to only order st run for the breeds I need a male from. I dunno, good thing I have 2 months before I can even order for March and April. Gives more time to think.

My biggest fear is introducing mareks, and I know I could easily avoid that by only getting the vaccinated day olds, and now that I think about it, the pullets would still be too young to lay for spring anyways too, so....

I might end up doing the day olds. Probably unsexed and I might be eating silkie next fall if I get a lot of boys

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Also one of my TSC mystery girls has a hairy butt! They legit feel like hair strands, but they're anchored to her, they're not something that blew into her fluff (she did not appreciate the curious light tug at all). Now I'm really curious, because one of the mixes I had processed last time also had the hair stuff all over mixed with his feathers

 

[NatJ]

I might end up doing the day olds. Probably unsexed and I might be eating silkie next fall if I get a lot of boys

That's what I would probably do, but you can process the males a lot sooner if you are willing to have them be small (maybe pretend that they are furry quail.)

Or if you've got some animal that eats raw meat (snake, dog, etc) you could use the males that way.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

That's what I would probably do, but you can process the males a lot sooner if you are willing to have them be small (maybe pretend that they are furry quail.)

Or if you've got some animal that eats raw meat (snake, dog, etc) you could use the males that way.

That's a good point. Do you know if there is a way to specify which DNA is which? I can mark the birds, but if hate to send in like 8 batches and just find out that 2 are male and 6 are females and not know which specific ones are which. Not seeming too appealing to submit each sample individually at a separate time

 

[NatJ]

That's a good point. Do you know if there is a way to specify which DNA is which? I can mark the birds, but if hate to send in like 8 batches and just find out that 2 are male and 6 are females and not know which specific ones are which. Not seeming too appealing to submit each sample individually at a separate time

Yes, I was able to submit multiple marked samples and get back labeled results for each bird.
I used https://iqbirdtesting.com/

They had a form to send with each sample. For each bird, I printed the form and attached a plastic bag with the plucked feathers from that bird. I forget whether I attached the bag with tape or staples, but I also folded the form around the bag to help make sure they stayed together. Then I put multiple birds' worth into one envelope to mail.

The form had a line to list the bird's identifier, and the results were labeled with the same identifier. My identifier for each bird was the name and the color (example: "Penguin black").

I assume you could identify them as "red band left leg" or "black bearded" or "Pen 1 blue" or whatever else is easy for you to keep straight. (I chose names that were distinct enough that even a typo in the name would not make it match a different name, and that were not long enough to be awkward. I don't know if those details mattered or not.)

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Yes, I was able to submit multiple marked samples and get back labeled results for each bird.
I used https://iqbirdtesting.com/

They had a form to send with each sample. For each bird, I printed the form and attached a plastic bag with the plucked feathers from that bird. I forget whether I attached the bag with tape or staples, but I also folded the form around the bag to help make sure they stayed together. Then I put multiple birds' worth into one envelope to mail.

The form had a line to list the bird's identifier, and the results were labeled with the same identifier. My identifier for each bird was the name and the color (example: "Penguin black").

I assume you could identify them as "red band left leg" or "black bearded" or "Pen 1 blue" or whatever else is easy for you to keep straight. (I chose names that were distinct enough that even a typo in the name would not make it match a different name, and that were not long enough to be awkward. I don't know if those details mattered or not.)

Awesome, thanks. I can be picky about color too again if I go st run next year. Probably try some more greys and a white....