BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[ronott1]

That was a completely different strain of avian flu in China. That was H1N1, and this is H5N2 and (so far) is not lethal to humans. The CDC has yet to explain the appearance of this variant of the virus. The H5N1 strain made it across the border from Mexico last year and has killed several people in AZ alone, but doesn't seem to affect poultry.

The CDC is still worried about it spreading to humans. They gave the workers that euthanized the flock tamaflu.

I am sure I read that this strain came over from Europe though. It is likely a mutation of the original one.

The vector of infection is the same though--comes from Geese migrating and using the fly ways.

Someone did target a commercial poultry place recently--they messed up the ventilation system and killed a big poultry house full of birds. That topic gets us into stuff we cannot post about on BYC though. It is in the rules of use for the site.

 

[ronott1]

This may help explain it--the H5N2 is a mixed virus from two strains of Influenza A:

Quote: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/stakeholders/downloads/2015/sa_hpai_minnesota.pdf

 

[bramblefir]

What does everyone do with a runty chick?

The cockerel in question is a mistake from a pullet order. He's a definite cull, even before I noticed his growth issue. He's 6 weeks old and about 1/3 the size of the pullets of the same breed and age. The 4 week old Hamburgs are now bigger than him. Part of me is curious to see just how "big" he ends up - the rest of me thinks there's not much point in raising him to butchering age.

 

[ronott1]

What does everyone do with a runty chick?

The cockerel in question is a mistake from a pullet order. He's a definite cull, even before I noticed his growth issue. He's 6 weeks old and about 1/3 the size of the pullets of the same breed and age. The 4 week old Hamburgs are now bigger than him. Part of me is curious to see just how "big" he ends up - the rest of me thinks there's not much point in raising him to butchering age.

Runts usually do not make it much past 6 weeks. There is usually something wrong with them. It would be different if it were a bantam.

I you really want to see if it will make it, it will need to be separated from the bigger ones. They will kill it at some point.

 

[DesertChic]

What does everyone do with a runty chick?

The cockerel in question is a mistake from a pullet order. He's a definite cull, even before I noticed his growth issue. He's 6 weeks old and about 1/3 the size of the pullets of the same breed and age. The 4 week old Hamburgs are now bigger than him. Part of me is curious to see just how "big" he ends up - the rest of me thinks there's not much point in raising him to butchering age.

My runt at 8 weeks is still smaller than his brothers, but one his way to being a table bird in the future. He may not be the biggest chicken dinner we've ever had, but he should still fill our bellies.

 

[gjensen]

This may help explain it--the H5N2 is a mixed virus from two strains of Influenza A:

There is even more to it than this. It is difficult to discuss when there are so many strains and sub strains. What we have here now is a specific sub strain of a strain that was first identified in Mexico, but identification does not prove origin. With the history and the interconnectivity of the continents, much is speculation.

In general we can speak of Asia as being the hub. This virus is a subtype of a virus that was identified in Taiwan at the turn of the century that was first identified in Mexico a decade before that, but with Asian markers. It is as clear as mud.

 

[gjensen]

What does everyone do with a runty chick?

The cockerel in question is a mistake from a pullet order. He's a definite cull, even before I noticed his growth issue. He's 6 weeks old and about 1/3 the size of the pullets of the same breed and age. The 4 week old Hamburgs are now bigger than him. Part of me is curious to see just how "big" he ends up - the rest of me thinks there's not much point in raising him to butchering age.

They are representative of their final size at 8wks.

I cull them and save the feed and space.

There is some dwarfing genes floating around etc. Sometimes they have health issues, sometimes not. Sometimes one is hatched from a small pullet egg, but they usually catch up in time. There are a few reasons why one can be a runt, but even less that give them any value.

 

[holm25]

I know Speckledhen has a dwarf gene in the line Delaware she has. But she no longer breeds Delawares. Now she breeds amazing Barred Rocks

 

[bramblefir]

These are some bad cell phone pictures of the runty cockerel. He's a Norwegian Jaerhon and I have no interest in keeping a male of that breed. His small size became apparent at about 2 weeks. At 4 weeks we was still behind so I put him into the brooder with some younger chicks. Those chicks are now 4 weeks old and all of them, and him, are out with the rest of the flock. He's healthy, active, and well-feathered. Just tiny.


He's the whitish one in the front. The black chick to left is a 4 week old and the red is a 6 week old Buckeye pullet.



A pullet of the same breed and age in front and he is the red combed chick cleaning his feathers.



Little one in the front with pullets of the same age. The chick standing in the feed tray is 4 weeks old.


I think I will just cull him this weekend.

 

[neopolitancrazy]

What does everyone do with a runty chick?

Cull. ASAP.

I find I have to "screw my courage to the sticking place," but have never regretted the cull, only that I procrastinated so long. You will save time/space/feed/angst to "just do it." You can then devote the extra time/space/feed/emotional energy to the betterment of the chicks you are keeping. Apologies to Shakespeare and Nike.

Best wishes,
Angela