California - Northern

[Miss Molly]

The eggs are from Ron Fogelly. He has been working with one of the old lines(1920ish) for several years and is getting them into real good shape.

These are the ones I posted about a couple of weeks ago and said they would be good to use in a Rhodebar project. I was not kidding

. Ron has offered to send me 15 more hatching eggs for the cost of shipping. I could contact him and see if he still has his breeding pens set up.

I was reminded of the breed back to RIR project when I saw a picture of a Rhodebar standing next to a Hatchery RIR. I thought how sad. What a beautiful Rhodebar you could get if you bred them to a nice Brick shaped Mahogany RIR like I have in my back yard...

Ron

I'd say...Pay the man... Get those Eggs!!! Beautiful Bird!!!

 

[Miss Molly]

Really cute Babies

 

[PetRock]

Cute chicks!!! My brooder room is finally empty for the first time since the first week in April. Must resist the temptation for more chicks!

 

[Happy Chooks]

http://www.internetjfs.org/articles/ijfsv8-5.pdf This is a very useful article. I have chosen not to treat sick ones. We are culling those with symptoms. I spent a lot of money on incredibly good quality stock - I am not risking anything. Plus no treatment has been proven completely useful. Plus most of the affected ones are cockerels and do not 'need' them anyway. I have way too many of them and there is no way I am pawning sick chickens onto another person.

If you look up treatment you are going to find a huge range of advice. Some say cull, some say treat with antibiotics, some say it won't help, others say this...that - it gets overwhelming fast. Because of this- I choose culling since I would culling them ANYway were they completely healthy. Too many roos. Plus all I can think about is them walking around with a compromised immune system- they will be the first to catch whatever might float around (whereas a healthy chicken might not be susceptible normally) and the he could give it to the other chickens. I tend to overthink things and want to be extra safe though.

Anyhow that's what we are doing. Plus spraying the area of the coop down with ACV. My husband needs to move the waterer and we need to something about that area of the coop still because now that it's been molded it's going to be a constant problem. :|

I just have to say I think you are making a very wise decision. As hard as it is to cull the sick, it will be worth it in the long run for your flock - and you will know without a doubt that you are not passing anything on to others.

I gave in last night and put them in the brooder. Here are my 5 babies.

3 white silkies and 2 blue/black silkies.

They are adorable, congrats!

 

[zooweemama]

I just have to say I think you are making a very wise decision. As hard as it is to cull the sick, it will be worth it in the long run for your flock - and you will know without a doubt that you are not passing anything on to others.

They are adorable, congrats!

Thank you. One part of me knows it's the right thing for us. The other part of me feels guilty because people who love their chickens like pets would be appalled. There are some I really love but honestly I have tried to distance myself and remind myself - these are livestock not pets. If I didn't I would become overrun with chickens and many of them sick. That's not good for them or me. So thank you- it was nice to be reassured.

 

[juststruttin]

here are a few. having a tough time uploading the others. other 2 are white and one looks partridge

Hey Jason, they are beautiful. Thanks for posting pics....

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote: They are livestock (and some of mine are pets too) but most importantly - if you want to breed, you want strong birds, not pass on weak traits. It certainly helps make it easier when most are cockerels that you won't be keeping anyway. But for the few that aren't -

.

This is mostly why I don't vaccinate my birds for Mareks. For one, I have seen more information showing me that it is useless. But more importantly, if my flocks ever do get Mareks (which thankfully none have), then those that survive will pass on greater immunity to their offspring. It wouldn't be easy, but I feel it's the right thing for my birds.

 

[zooweemama]

Wow Cooper that top one looks like my Easter Egger (but mine is more mutty and muffy of course!)/ Those are great looking birds to me!

 

[zooweemama]

They are livestock (and some of mine are pets too) but most importantly - if you want to breed, you want strong birds, not pass on weak traits. It certainly helps make it easier when most are cockerels that you won't be keeping anyway. But for the few that aren't -

.

This is mostly why I don't vaccinate my birds for Mareks. For one, I have seen more information showing me that it is useless. But more importantly, if my flocks ever do get Mareks (which thankfully none have), then those that survive will pass on greater immunity to their offspring. It wouldn't be easy, but I feel it's the right thing for my birds.

Yes I agree. I do not plan on being a breeder like you all but I want a lively, healthy strong backyard flock. We will benefit in the long run and that is what I am looking at instead of what makes me feel 'good' today.

 

[ronott1]

Quote: I bet one day you will want to hatch your own baby chicks, even if they are only for you.

I will check the age of the EEs when I get home, but there is a good chance that the EEs will lay eggs before the Marans or Orps.

Bye,

Ron