California - Northern

[h2oratt]

Wow you guys are amazing.
I am just giving away my first rooster.
I had a family member who wanted him.
Pretty sure he is rooster. I think I may have more also.

 

[PetRock]

Yes, we prefer the Pita Pinta too.

I plan on running a hatch just for my freezer in another month.

My hatches this year have been way over 50% male. We have over 20 in a grow out pen at the farm that are almost ready for processing. There are also quite a few mixed breed cockerels running around the farm. It will be a 9 AM-2 PM event when we process them. Fortunately, our friends have a plucker!

 

[ronott1]

My hatches this year have been way over 50% male. We have over 20 in a grow out pen at the farm that are almost ready for processing. There are also quite a few mixed breed cockerels running around the farm. It will be a 9 AM-2 PM event when we process them. Fortunately, our friends have a plucker!

A plucker would be great for that many cockerels.

Chris is getting 7 Pita Pinta chicks tomorrow.

 

[PetRock]

A plucker would be great for that many cockerels.

Chris is getting 7 Pita Pinta chicks tomorrow.

The plucker does come in very handy! We only process 3-4 times per year and we usually do 30-45 birds at a time.

That's exciting news about the chicks! I know that Chris has been wanting some from you!

 

[caychris]

My hatches this year have been way over 50% male. We have over 20 in a grow out pen at the farm that are almost ready for processing. There are also quite a few mixed breed cockerels running around the farm. It will be a 9 AM-2 PM event when we process them. Fortunately, our friends have a plucker!

Well of the 7 from Debi I have this year 5 are girls and all sweet as can be.

I'm thinking that I want all my chicks to grow up with Pitas and Buff orps it seems to rub off on them and make them less flighty. Even the Leghorn pullets from the hatchery were less skittish than I would have imagined after spending time with the Pitas and Buffs.

The cream legbar boys in the the Pita boys are far less flighty than my ones last year.

I think a regiment of hand feeding and raising them with the more friendly breeds tends to help them

 

[tommysgirl]

Godiva's necropsy came back with an MG diagnosis...I am happy that I know the answer and confused and sad about next steps.

I want to do the responsible thing but am unclear what that means exactly so please tell me. Thanks!

This unfortunately struck me when I had 3 broodies raising a total of 18 chicks. I was obviously not planning to keep them all. Most of the chicks were in the pens NOT affected though they had certainly been exposed in some way as the morning before Godiva's symptoms showed up they all ranged together. Anyway. Thanks in Advance for telling me clearly my next steps. There is conflicting information out there and I know I can count on you.

 

[ronott1]

Godiva's necropsy came back with an MG diagnosis...I am happy that I know the answer and confused and sad about next steps.

I want to do the responsible thing but am unclear what that means exactly so please tell me. Thanks!

This unfortunately struck me when I had 3 broodies raising a total of 18 chicks. I was obviously not planning to keep them all. Most of the chicks were in the pens NOT affected though they had certainly been exposed in some way as the morning before Godiva's symptoms showed up they all ranged together. Anyway. Thanks in Advance for telling me clearly my next steps. There is conflicting information out there and I know I can count on you.

If you want to keep descendants of your flock, there is a way to get rid of MG by heating the eggs to a high temperature at the beginning of incubation. It will lower the hatch rate by about 25% but the chicks will be MG free.

You would collect the eggs, cull the flock, Sterilize and leave the pens empty for the required time( I think it is 6 weeks). The chicks would hatch and stay clear of where the flock was and then you can put them back in.

The other option is to keep a completely closed flock and not let any other chickens in our out of your place.

Added: You would need to be very careful about going to places where others keep chickens too.

I am so sorry!

 

[Kaylish]

Godiva's necropsy came back with an MG diagnosis...I am happy that I know the answer and confused and sad about next steps.

I want to do the responsible thing but am unclear what that means exactly so please tell me. Thanks!

This unfortunately struck me when I had 3 broodies raising a total of 18 chicks. I was obviously not planning to keep them all. Most of the chicks were in the pens NOT affected though they had certainly been exposed in some way as the morning before Godiva's symptoms showed up they all ranged together. Anyway. Thanks in Advance for telling me clearly my next steps. There is conflicting information out there and I know I can count on you.

I'm soo sorry to hear this! I have not had to deal with MG and have not done much research in the area but here is a link from a local chicken breeder who I trust on how to treat hatching eggs from a MG positive flock.

http://www.norcalchickens.com/egg-dipping.html

I haven't verified this information but perhaps one of our experts can put in their 2 cents.

 

[ronott1]

I'm soo sorry to hear this! I have not had to deal with MG and have not done much research in the area but here is a link from a local chicken breeder who I trust on how to treat hatching eggs from a MG positive flock.

http://www.norcalchickens.com/egg-dipping.html

I haven't verified this information but perhaps one of our experts can put in their 2 cents.

That is good information. I would add:

Quote:

 

[ronott1]

@tommysgirl

Let me know if you decide to go with a new flock. I will run a special hatch just for you--maybe I can get @capayvalleychick to donate some Dorking and Delaware eggs for you too.