best hatchery for silkies

[silkieluver_07]

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I would swear the chicks from Ideal came with something. I still have 8 chicks that are slow to grow and most don't look well. My older chickens don't seem to have gotten anything though, all are happy and well. I just can't see Cocci spreading to almost every chick in the house and outside in brooders, all of which never touched the ground. Whatever came to my house in the Ideal shipment, killed almost a third to half of the 100+ chicks I got from TSC, hatched and ordered. Thankfully some of my favorites survived, but I lost all my lavendar and blue Silkies

I was really looking forward to this Spring and all the new babies, but after fighting to keep so many chicks alive and losing so many, I am about fed up. I am just ready for my survivors to grow up and look forward to hatching my own chicks next year. I will not order from Ideal again.

All my standard birds did well, but I'm not sure, they seem like they have something, but I can't put my finger on it. I think I'm going to try with Cackle Hatchery next year. I have a little lavender silkie that is the same size of my 4 week old silkies and he was hatched in April. I'm going to sell him Wednesday night.

I think that splash cochin is a girl.

She's been hiding lately away from the roosters. Bullet won tons of ribbons at the poultry show on Saturday and Sunday

 

[Funky Feathers]

If you are going to sell any birds that came from Ideal (may be carrying MG) I think you should tell the buyer about it, so they can make an informed decision and not blindly bring disease into their own flock.

 

[muzzles&nuzzles]

If you brought mycoplasm into your flock then it is there. It is transmitted chicken to chicken and in the eggs. You need a necropsy to rule it out.

I personally would not sell any birds to anyone if it were my flock without telling them and having them research it for themselves. Even if your birds aren't all sick they are most likely carriers.

You also have to use extra bio security if you have an infected flock. Some diseases etc. can be carrier on your clothes and shoes.

I am freakish with my coops and pens. No-one goes in and if I go anywhere I change my shoes and clothes before I handle my silkies.
I quarantine my birds for up to a month before I put them with my other birds and generally I only order eggs or birds from breeders that come with recommendations. I know other people that do the same thing so I am not that crazy.

 

[SunAngel]

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Wtg on the ribbons! Wow thats great if the Splash is a girl!

I have sold some of my chickens at the auction since getting the Ideal chicks and there has been people there testing the birds. I am not sure what all they are testing for, but I have never been contacted. So I assume the birds I have sold have been healthy. Or at least don't have whatever it is they are testing for.

I was thinking of checking out a couple other hatcheries for a fall order, not sure though.

 

[silkieluver_07]

Quote:
Wtg on the ribbons! Wow thats great if the Splash is a girl!

I have sold some of my chickens at the auction since getting the Ideal chicks and there has been people there testing the birds. I am not sure what all they are testing for, but I have never been contacted. So I assume the birds I have sold have been healthy. Or at least don't have whatever it is they are testing for.

I was thinking of checking out a couple other hatcheries for a fall order, not sure though.

There testing now at auction? I just got my birds tested three weeks ago and they are avian influenza and pollorum free. I'll have to see about getting them tested for MG. I dont think they have it thouggh, but it doesnt hurt to check.

 

[Funky Feathers]

Auctions do not test for MG. They only test for P/T & AI. And they only test 10% of the birds there. You can never assume auction birds are healthy. Back when I used to buy birds from auctions (years ago), I often saw birds die in the cages right before the auctioneer got to them! Auctions are a hotbed for disease. They don't test for everything. Even NPIP birds are not routinely tested for MG. Only in certain states where they worry about MG. I will never buy birds from local auctions again.

 

[muzzles&nuzzles]

When we took our silkies to the fair I used all my own stuff. Feed, waterers, bedding etc. I even put thin cardboard between a cage where the chicken "next door" was scratching. I saw people come in telling the people there that they needed 7 dust because they knew their birds probably had mites/lice. I even went a day early and sprayed my cages down with bleach because they leave the cages out all year and wild birds get on them. Ya, I know I am crazy..but I spent too much to lose my birds plus they are my pets. They tested birds there as well but not for MG.

I knew the guy that ran the tent so he was careful where he put my silkies and he was plenty happy not to have to take care of them.

I guess it's all a crap shoot because things do happen. You just have to be careful.