Chickens were Hurricane Victims too!

[La.Mad-House]

Like I said earier...try before I buy....besides, what's the worse that can happen? I either take them back or they feed my family?
Right?

 

[Kittymomma]

If you want to hatch some eggs from these birds you'll probably need to get an incubator. Laying slows down this time of year anyhow and you have the stress of capture and new digs. You probably won't get a lot of eggs in the reliably fertile time frame and I doubt any of your new birds will feel comfortable enough to go broody. Good luck on the "Great Chicken Hunt of 2009" I wish I was closer too, sounds like it will be memorable.

 

[La.Mad-House]

I realize that I'm sure to get a mutt breed here. May or may not be good layers. I also know laying slows in the winter. But I am excited to see how things work out.

So if things don't work out and this "wild" bunch doesn't stay...say I've treated all parasites...there should be no harm in bringing in a new flock from my local feed store this spring huh?

 

[Kittymomma]

Just practice standard quarantine procedure. If you're buying chicks in the spring you don't have much to worry about because they'll be in a brooder for at least a month anyhow. Also you won't be able to integrate them until they're nearly full size without the existing flock picking on them really bad, but that is a problem for another day.

 

[La.Mad-House]

Thanks to ALL...

Keep the info coming....This place IS addictive...I spent almost 8 hrs here Sat. doing research (hatching, brooding, etc.) And have been here for at least 2-3 hrs. a day gaining knowledge.

Sorry-off topic...

I'm thinking of bringing a smaller kennel and asking my uncle, if he should happen across a broody hen on eggs, to gather them all and keeping them seperate from the other hens he might get off of roost...good idea or not?

 

[La.Mad-House]

Kittymomma.... I will follow the qarantine guidelines should this "wild" flock work out. If it doesn't a "WHOLE" brand new flock will be here.

How long should I wait should I choose to remove the entire flock of wild birds (keep in mind, I will have treated for all parasites & worms, upon arrival) - before another flock can be brought in. Any contamination issues I should be aware of?

Feed store pullets available during Feb.(I've been to feed store 2 times in the last 2 weeks getting info?)

I GOT THE BUG!...........

Sorry....off topic AGAIN....

 

[gumpsgirl]

Any luck last night?!?!

As far as quarantine goes for a new group of birds to come in, it really all depends on what the wild birds have, if they have anything at all. You know, I sure didn't think about this yesterday when I was posting, but it would be very beneficial once the birds have been located to go and stand still and listen to them while they are all at roost and quiet. If you hear sneezing, it would be best to just leave them there. You can get an idea that way before you ever bring them home as to whether or not they are ill with any time of respiratory anything.

As far as trying to figure out how long your coop and grounds should stand empty before adding anymore birds to your flock, again that depends on what they have. When I dealt with Coryza here last year, the state vet recommended leaving the coop and grounds empty for 3 months after totally disinfecting your coop. Some people do not wait that long and have been fine with adding new birds to their coops before the 3 months are up. Just passing along what the state vet told me, which I didn't have to deal with anyways. My birds were treatable and all carriers were destroyed, but that's a whole different story that I won't go into here.

Continue to keep us updated!

 

[La.Mad-House]

Hello! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Well...as promised, I am updating the status of the "Great Chicken Hunt of 2009"! See for yourself...We caught 4 Girls Wednesday evening!

This is the "flock

This one is on top of the pecking order

Nice & healthy!

#3

This is Goldie!

It all went well! Thanks to everyone for you advice!

 

[gumpsgirl]

They look great! It even looks like they are pure from the pics. Your Goldie looks like a Buff Orpington and your others look like Rhode Island Reds. I'm not saying that is what they are for certain, but that's what I'm seeing.

Did they give you very much problem catching them?

 

[M To The Maxx]

Quote:
I agree with the Buff Orpington but i think 2 are Production Reds and 1 is a Rhode Island Red. They are pretty!!!

Did you have any trouble catching them? How did you catch them?