Arkansas folks speak up.........

[caj1985]

I'd like yours & others input about me having one Heritage Breed or one or two of 4 or 5 breeds. Thx ahead of time. I'd like to go somewhere fairly close to pick up some juveniles.

I think it kind of depends upon the purpose for your flock. If you want to improve the breed then one might be good to focus on. If you want some egg layers, some meat type, some eye candy, then go for whatever makes you happy, but I am no expert by any means.

 

[cmnrallye79]

Does anyone have guinea eggs or chicks for sale?

 

[Arkansas81]

Does anyone have guinea eggs or chicks for sale?

Are you wanting keets or chicks...I will have around 48 chicks hatching by this weekend..pm me if you want

 

[Simmonsfunnyfrm]

I think it kind of depends upon the purpose for your flock. If you want to improve the breed then one might be good to focus on. If you want some egg layers, some meat type, some eye candy, then go for whatever makes you happy, but I am no expert by any means.

I agree on having just one kind if you want to improve the breed or start your own line or something...but from my experience I know I cannot have just one kind! I love all the different colors, both in the feathers and the eggs. To me it makes it all the more fun and adds a little individuality to your flock. Only thing I would suggest is checking the temperaments of the breeds before putting them all together. You probably wouldn't want to put a bunch of Cubalayas in with your Salmon Faverolles. All the breeds I have are in my sig and everyone gets along well.

 

[AmpersatChick]

Getting ready for our first batch of chicks. TSC sent us home with unmedicated chick feed and I wanted some AR specific advice, is Coccidiosis (sp?) a big problem in NWA? Should I switch them to medicated? They'll only be vaccinated for Mareks when they arrive.

 

[birdsss]

I raise all my chicks on unmedicated and they all turn out just dandy

 

[Outrun Acres]

Getting ready for our first batch of chicks. TSC sent us home with unmedicated chick feed and I wanted some AR specific advice, is Coccidiosis (sp?) a big problem in NWA? Should I switch them to medicated? They'll only be vaccinated for Mareks when they arrive.

I think it's a personal choice. I have read that chicks born in spring vs. winter can be more susceptible to coccidiosis. It becomes more prevalent in warm wet weather. Winter chicks have had time to build up immunity because the soil is not as concentrated with cocci as it is in the spring. I might get some medicated feed just to be on the safe side.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I don’t know how bad it is up in this corner. I’ve never seen it.

I don’t use medicated feed but I do give them dirt from the run about once a week while they are in the brooder, starting around Day 2 or 3. By the time they are out of the brooder they should have the immunity they need. I do keep the brooder pretty dry so Cocci doesn’t build up enough to cause a problem.

To me, giving them dirt from the run where the adults are gets grit in their system, gives them the probiotics the adults have, and helps them start building the immunities they’ll need when they hit the ground.

I’m sure feeding them medicated feed does absolutely no harm. It is not an antibiotic so it doesn’t destroy probiotics or upset their system. It only targets Cocci. I agree it is a personal choice as long as you don’t have a history of Cocci problems. But if you have a history with Cocci it’s probably a real good idea.

 

[AmpersatChick]

Thank you!

 

[cmnrallye79]

Time for another round of eggs to hatch, I've got sixty buff orp eggs in my incubator. Here is to vigilance.