4th Annual BYC NYD Hatch-a-long

[TMNfarm]

I'm glad I got my incubator so far in advance... Having never used one before, it is definitely a learning process! I'm still working on just getting the temp up high enough... Learning how much to adjust the dial to bring the temp puma bit ... This is an art!

 

[aka Rachel]

You will have to tell us about your great set up for chicks in the Winter.

So Awesome that you have a real live NYD baby! Yay!

I built a brooder box inside the main coup that I can separate into 3 sections. Each can have their own heat lamp. On top of all this I have a box that's open underneath with two light bulbs that provide an extra heated area!

I've been struggling with my homemade incubator a bit but I have two things working against me. The first is a lower heater thermostat that starts at 110 degrees and a thermometer that only reads in increments of .8! (its one of the accu-temp ones). Never the less, I believe I have it worked out ok. Better be, I will be hatching over a dozen eggs for the NYD hatch!

Oh oh and my chantecler pullets are not laying yet but the boys are mating with my mixed hens, yay!!

 

[delisha]

Quote: well theres good news. I will be able to hatch their eggs! Unless somebody new decides to spring it on me. Since I saw it early enough and separated quickly, only four got it. all the other 54 are okay. the four that got it are doing so good!!! three are pretty much all fine so I will have to wait awhile to make sure they dont carry it over to the flock and the other one is still crusty but is doing so much better

I didnt lose any to this which i am excited about

Im not sure. still looking into how long a bird is a carrier for it. two weeks ago we got 17 new chickens but everybody looked healthy.
A bird is a carrier for life......

 

[tadpole98]

Quote: well theres good news. I will be able to hatch their eggs! Unless somebody new decides to spring it on me. Since I saw it early enough and separated quickly, only four got it. all the other 54 are okay. the four that got it are doing so good!!! three are pretty much all fine so I will have to wait awhile to make sure they dont carry it over to the flock and the other one is still crusty but is doing so much better

I didnt lose any to this which i am excited about

Im not sure. still looking into how long a bird is a carrier for it. two weeks ago we got 17 new chickens but everybody looked healthy.
A bird is a carrier for life......

so they will be contagious for life? I cant put them with their flock?

 

[delisha]

Quote: well theres good news. I will be able to hatch their eggs! Unless somebody new decides to spring it on me. Since I saw it early enough and separated quickly, only four got it. all the other 54 are okay. the four that got it are doing so good!!! three are pretty much all fine so I will have to wait awhile to make sure they dont carry it over to the flock and the other one is still crusty but is doing so much better

I didnt lose any to this which i am excited about

Im not sure. still looking into how long a bird is a carrier for it. two weeks ago we got 17 new chickens but everybody looked healthy.
A bird is a carrier for life...... Coryza does not pass vertically to the egg. However, its transmission to the rest of the flock is widespread and thorough through a host of ways. One way is through contaminated drinking water. Once an infected bird drinks from a community drinking trough, it leaves behind the bacteria through its nasal discharge. Water also becomes contaminated by feces that end up in the water and also through the dust in the air that contains bacteria and settles into the water. Infection of Corza can be slight and almost unnotable in some birds. You might think you only have a few birds showing signs, however the chances are the whole flock has been exposed.

 

[cochins1088]

so they will be contagious for life? I cant put them with their flock?

I read that they will be carriers for life in an article, I'll try to find it. Most people seem to recommend culling the whole flock and starting over, I would be devistated. Wishing you the best of luck with your other ones.

Here's the link, in it, it says that recovered birds remain carriers and shedders for life... http://www.peafowl.org/ARTICLES/15/

 

[delisha]

Prevention requires eradication of the disease (depopulation), good husbandry, strict biosecurity, all in-all out program, raise own breeder replacement, and do not mix ages or species. Most outbreaks occur as a result of mixing flocks. If you have an outbreak, segregate birds by age, etc., properly dispose of birds, medicate to stop the spread of the disease and initiate eradication procedures. Do not save recovered birds for breeder replacements. Do not eat diseased birds. Premises should be vacant for 30 to 60 days after cleaning and disinfecting before repopulating of any birds. Breeders should be replaced from a Coryza-clean source.

 

[delisha]

One of the new ways for people to get diseases is all the egg ordering from sources you have no knowledge about. Hatching out those birds and placing them in with your healthy flocks. Some diseases are spread into the eggs. Corza is not one of them. MG is. Always test your new hatches from outside sources BEFORE you expose them to your healthy flock. I have never ordered eggs for hatching before. This will be my first time. I will be practicing responsible animal husbandry and swabbing all the chicks at 3 weeks. There are people out there who do not care if you buy diseased eggs from them, they want your money.

 

[Shelshanam]

I will as we build today, working on two today and adding three more over the next couple of weeks.

Hoop Coops? I'm wondering if that is the same as my goat ghetto's only personalized for chickens? I've actually been playing with a cattle panel idea for a turkey house with a pallet condo inside for roosts. These things if you anchor them right can withstand really high winds (tested at 64mph gusts), you can attach a front door/gate by adding some posts in front of it and making a gate and also you can double up two cattle panels and making it deeper and depending on how tall you want it you make the u bend either shorter or taller!

I came up with this because I purchased a really mean alpha female goat that didn't want anyone in the shelter with her, so I put up several shelters to give the poor other goats a chance to have a shelter (she would run from shelter to shelter trying to OWN it).

Anyway this is my first temp goat shelter. Fact is they worked so well I think I'm going to put a couple more back up as they loved them, but I did wind up getting rid of my alpha goat!

 

[Lacy Blues]

One of the new ways for people to get diseases is all the egg ordering from sources you have no knowledge about. Hatching out those birds and placing them in with your healthy flocks. Some diseases are spread into the eggs. Corza is not one of them. MG is. Always test your new hatches from outside sources BEFORE you expose them to your healthy flock. I have never ordered eggs for hatching before. This will be my first time. I will be practicing responsible animal husbandry and swabbing all the chicks at 3 weeks. There are people out there who do not care if you buy diseased eggs from them, they want your money.

swabbing? Could you explain this please?