Arizona Chickens

[mclevinson]

Quote:
Oh heck, that's just not good. And now on the subject of vaccination; My maybe chickies...Mahonri, would you like them medicated and/or vaccinated should any hatch?

 

[mclevinson]

Laying chicken behavior. I had noticed that several of my ladies are getting quite vocal. They used to chirrup quietly when they saw mw (looking for treats I supposed). Now they are VERY vocal and loud. In addition, they've gotten friendlier. I can reach in and pet Opal and Ginger. DarkWing seems like she'd like in on it too. Lacey and Misty are still stanoffish. Kinda want DH to get out of the house this AM so I can go mess with them this morning instead of starting laundry and cleaning the kitchen! Baaad housewife, baaaad housewife. No new eggs yet today.

 

[constance]

Pastrymama - That is rotten, and worrysome, and it stinks.

Thanks for your addition to the vaccine issue. I am now overwhelmed. What else do you vaccinate for?

Mclevinson - You are really fueling my desire to get an incubator!

TT! - Boogers? RE vaccine - I will probably make an order even if Gallo decides not to. Do you want to make a combined order?

Mahonri - I'd really like to hear your expert opinions on the vaccinations, too!

 

[LarryPQ]

Quote:
I try to vaccinate for everything. I had something come through last year and kill off 50+ birds over 3 months. I lost my entire next generation.

I would have to look in the fridge. I try to vaccinate for anything I can, that makes monetary sense. Fowl Pox, NewCastle/Infectious Bronchitis, Marek's....probably something else.

Most of the vaccines are super-cheap. It is the shipping that will kill you.

You will need to keep the Marek's vaccinated chicks away from the adult birds for 2 weeks (at least) 30 days (ideal). They CAN NOT give marek's to the adult birds, but the adult birds CAN still give the chicks Marek's during that time frame. If you mix the chicks into the general population before then, it is a gamble: What will affect chickie first? The vaccine or the live virus?

 

[constance]

Quote:
LOL there is nothing bad about that! It is chicken therapy. Really, it is very economical compared to the cost of a therapist. Keeps one sane (except maybe for the chicken math thing). Interactive chickens are fun! My ladies have been laying for 2.5 years, and it is still a treat to get eggs. I'm easily amused though.

 

[constance]

Laree - Thanks. I have some more research to do before I place an order!

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Quote:
O.K., Let's say I don't vaccinate. Am I only then worried about the virus coming in from the outside? Does the act of vaccination put them at higher risk for that period of time when exposed to other birds?

pastrymama, do you vaccinate your chicks that were hatched under a broody? Do you take the chicks away from her? Everything I read said the chicks had to be separated.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

BYC on NBC right now.

 

[azpenguin]

I don't know if you've checked with them, but Southwest Animal Health (I think that's what they're called) on First Ave. has a lot of animal medical supplies. Dunno if they'd have the vaccine, but worth looking into.

Gallo, indeed, I'm in Tucson! Been a southsider for all but two of my 33 years here in town, so people having backyard chickens is just another part of life that I'm used to. (I lived near Pima/Rosemont for two years, and while we loved being close to everything, we ended up moving back to the southside when we bought a house.) The next door neighbors keep chickens and ducks. I've asked the neighbor on the other side if she's good with us having chickens, and she was more than good with it. We're actually in the county, a few hundred feet outside the city limits out south of the power plant. I grew up a couple of blocks south of El Guero Canelo on 12th.

Nice little reminder about predators this morning. Got up to take one of the pooches out, and there was a ruckus when I opened the door. Seems the Cooper's hawk that showed up once a few months ago decided to return and perch on the roof above the door. Beautiful bird, but also capable of doing some bad things to our chickens. I'm glad we decided to not take the chicks outside for playtime today.

 

[pastrymama]

Gallo,

The first set of chicks that hatched under Betty, I knew I was not keeping any so I let her have them for a week and then gave them all away without vaccinating. All but 2 of my adult birds are not vaccinated. But since I have had such a problem recently with wild birds getting into my coop, giving them lice, had a SS die mysteriously, strange respiratory thing that hit my flock last summer hard with no deaths, something new with my dellies and the remaining SS now they are quarantineed and are recovering. So I have decided I will only bring in vaccinated chicks or hatch eggs and vaccinate right away or I can't keep them. So this new batch that is due on wednesday will be vaccinated on friday and I will take them from momma right away since she is unvaccinated. Yes, it will be a pain to brood more chicks, but I am getting tired of mystery chicken illnesses. I haven't had anything like Laree hit my flock, but that's not to say it won't happen. I think unless your birds are in fort knox, something is bound to happen sooner or later, it seems.