Arizona Chickens

[LarryPQ]

Quote:
This assumes they are getting birds in from infected flocks. Most folks just take their dead birds, bag em up, and dump them in the trash.

Since you have to overnight a dead bird (within 12 hours of death) to Tucson to get the testing done, and it costs $220 for the test--people just dispose of the animals.

I ahve had MGC, IB, and Mareks hit my flock. We are clean now, but only because we shot-gun approach the flock to keep them that way.

To say "The government says it is safe so don't worry about it" is niave and short-sighted. You have to remember that
1) people are involved and they make decisions based on what is economically feasible and right for their family
2) The testing centers only get a small, small sample of the domesticated and wild bird populations in the state.

To say, "we haven't seen it, so therefore it doesn't exist." is NOT going to protect you--especially if you don't have a closed flock.

 

[turkeybreeder]

Quote:
just finish talking with the state vet department of agriculture
usda certified and he told me there has not been any reports
of any poultry having marek's in the state of arizona
also their is no reports of any having new castle
and he said they do research everyday on animals in their labs

Of course htey haven't had any reports. People in AZ dont generally send their animals in for necropsy, because it costs $220 per bird.

I HAVE seen Marek's in AZ, we had a vet involved as well.

The vet recccomended that we did NOT get a necropsy done, because if it was New Castle, then the USDA has the right to come in, put down your flock and all the neighbors', scrape the top 3 feet of soil off your land, and then burn the dirt.

AS FOR THE NEWCASTLE VACCINE: You are NOT vaccinating for NewCastle, which is rare in this part of the country. You are vaccinating for IB, infectious bronchitis, which is covered by the vaccine. IB is common in AZ.

if they determine that an animals has an infectious disease
they will put down the whole flock that would be a big loss
in the east valley they charge 85 dollars to do a necropsy

 

[Desertrat011]

Quote:
Shaun the Pet Club on Ironwood and Ocotillo is a good store her prices are in line with other stores(with out the drive) and the dog and pig food that I buy is cheaper there.She does have chicks, ducks, and rabbits but she sells out quick,but you can find better chicks on BYC or CL.
I wouldn't waste time in buying the small feeders or waters (1 Gal. or smaller) they will not last the day in this heat.If you are looking for small quanities of something ie: wheat bran,feed,or grains to try or don't want 50 lbs. then Mesa Feeds( in Mesa on Broadway)has them in "by the pound".

GL
Robert

 

[turkeybreeder]

Quote:
This assumes they are getting birds in from infected flocks. Most folks just take their dead birds, bag em up, and dump them in the trash.

Since you have to overnight a dead bird (within 12 hours of death) to Tucson to get the testing done, and it costs $220 for the test--people just dispose of the animals.

I ahve had MGC, IB, and Mareks hit my flock. We are clean now, but only because we shot-gun approach the flock to keep them that way.

To say "The government says it is safe so don't worry about it" is niave and short-sighted. You have to remember that
1) people are involved and they make decisions based on what is economically feasible and right for their family
2) The testing centers only get a small, small sample of the domesticated and wild bird populations in the state.

To say, "we haven't seen it, so therefore it doesn't exist." is NOT going to protect you--especially if you don't have a closed flock.

what did it cost to have them tested for IB and MGC , and Marek's
i am confuse why they say their is no risk then its good idea to vaccinate then
i am going to get vaccines also thanks Laree appreciate your help

 

[Smiles-N-Sunshine]

Quote:
AWESOME! Thanks!

So they need separate housing, but can they share a run? Or will they still fight? Can they share a run with the chickens? They'd have about 10 ft of run if so!

How hard is it to build a mister? We have a hose/faucet right there on the wall where the chicken/rabbits will be. Can we finagle something to that and set it on a timer for summer? If so, how often do we turn the mister on every day when its HOT?

I bought ready-made misters at Ace Hardware. The extra $5 for the "premium" version is worth it, in my opinion. The "System" is really just some tubing with mist heads every few feet, and a plug at the end. The mist heads are the only thing really special about it. If you're good at building stuff (I am NOT!), you might be able to buy the mist heads online??? One thing to consider, they're designed to surround the area they're intended to cool, so the way I have it above the cages isn't ideal. WHEN I get a decent shelter built, it will have misters along the edges of the roof.

Any hose timer should work. My SIL bought a fancy one with three hose attachments, but then we found out that it only puts water through one at a time

How long to have it on "depends". If you have it on too much, you get soggy rabbits, water puddles and high humidity, which germs love to breed in.

I have no experience with rabbit runs, so I'm not commenting on that. My chickens scratch around under the rabbit cages, which helps spread the poo piles and clean up spilled alfalfa and pellets, but that's as close as they get to each other.

 

[stevensonm]

thx I have been in there a couple of times and they seem very nice. I will prob make a few of the home made 5 gallon feeder and waters to start with, and I htink I will get a couple hens and soem chicks form Turkey Breeder this weekend.

thx
Quote:
Shaun the Pet Club on Ironwood and Ocotillo is a good store her prices are in line with other stores(with out the drive) and the dog and pig food that I buy is cheaper there.She does have chicks, ducks, and rabbits but she sells out quick,but you can find better chicks on BYC or CL.
I wouldn't waste time in buying the small feeders or waters (1 Gal. or smaller) they will not last the day in this heat.If you are looking for small quanities of something ie: wheat bran,feed,or grains to try or don't want 50 lbs. then Mesa Feeds( in Mesa on Broadway)has them in "by the pound".

GL
Robert

 

[mclevinson]

Quote:
Oi vay. I fear who may be teaching my kids. Be involved in your school!

Ok--this is MAYBE the funniest thing, I have heard EVER.

I like to think that people are inherently good, but I also think some poor folks are unfortunately dumb. Combine the two and you get an eggsplosion of hilarilty!!

It is funny in a way. You know you just can't fix stupid. Not even with duct tape. Oh, and "Here's your sign"!
(Edited for typo)

 

[LarryPQ]

Quote:
THe only thing that makes this ok to laugh about is that there were no chicks. I doubt the eggs ever got past day 7, so it makes me feel better about it.

 

[Smiles-N-Sunshine]

Quote:
I already work with teachers on composting redworm projects. I buy the materials for a worm bin, the kids build it and feed the worms, and I get it an established worm colony with valuable vermicompost back at the end of the year. I also loan a copy of "Worms Eat My Garbage" which is a great how-to book.

Soooooo, what do y'all think about a similar arrangement for chicks? The poultry owner (i.e. us) loans a small incubator and a Rubbermaid bin type brooder, teaches the kids and trains the teacher on the who, what, where, when, how and why of raising chicks. Then, since they're on loan, the owner can contact the teacher or visit periodically to check for poopy butts etc. When the chicks get too big for the brooder, back they go to the farm.

Thoughts? I already see one drawback - missing out on watching the peep show!

 

[mclevinson]

Quote:
I already work with teachers on composting redworm projects. I buy the materials for a worm bin, the kids build it and feed the worms, and I get it an established worm colony with valuable vermicompost back at the end of the year. I also loan a copy of "Worms Eat My Garbage" which is a great how-to book.

Soooooo, what do y'all think about a similar arrangement for chicks? The poultry owner (i.e. us) loans a small incubator and a Rubbermaid bin type brooder, teaches the kids and trains the teacher on the who, what, where, when, how and why of raising chicks. Then, since they're on loan, the owner can contact the teacher or visit periodically to check for poopy butts etc. When the chicks get too big for the brooder, back they go to the farm.

Thoughts? I already see one drawback - missing out on watching the peep show!

I offered that to my preschool but it's getting kinda warm now so if they delay much longer the offer is off the table.