Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[bgmathteach]

What I don't understand is why buying chicks would pose less of a risk of introducing a disease, than adult chickens. Sure, the chicks will be kept separated from the adults for at least six weeks, which is more or less the same as what many folks on BYC do for quarantine. But if they are carrier of a disease that doesn't reveal itself in that time like Marek's, avian leukosis, IB or IL could do, they would still introduce it just like adults would ? Or am I missing something ?

Others can probably add to this, but this is what I know regarding purchasing baby chicks in the US:

Since large hatcheries incubate eggs separately from the flock and in controlled environments (i.e. different people work the incubators, so they are physically removed from the flock/isolated, and use biosecurity measures), there isn't the cross contamination with chicks hatched in flock/with a broody or with a backyard flock where they aren't kept separate with biosecurity measures. So, chicks shouldn't transmit/carry flock diseases (unless they are genetic OR transmissible through the egg/shell).

The other reason it is really common to buy/ship day old chicks in the US is convenience. Since chicks absorb the remaining yolk just before hatching, they can live a few days with no need for food or water - so we exploit nature (I assume that this happens so that chicks can survive until all are hatched and Momma can take the whole clutch off the nest to search for food and water.). This allows them to be shipped all across the country with minimal issues - sometimes a heating pack is added - especially in colder months, and they add a gel liquid (with electrolytes) for them to peck at, but otherwise, they generally travel fairly well as long as there are no delays in shipping.

Shipping older fowl (pullets, adults) required express shipping and more thoughtful travel arrangements - plus are more likely to also carry diseases with them that chicks would not yet be exposed to so aren't carriers (yet).

Besides, it means that as soon as chicks hatch, they are processed and shipped, so for many large hatcheries, they don't need much for brooders (only if they keep pullets for replacement or for later sale at a significant price bump). Otherwise, the 'extras' (mostly males) get, unfortunately, disposed of.

 

[Sylvester017]

Price is only $550 USD

$500!

That's actually a bargain! ~ in comparison to how much over the years we've spent for hatching eggs/chicks/chickens, their coops/runs/brooders, heaters, humidifiers, fans, misters, backyard remodeling including patio roof to shelter coop/run, solar pop doors, vet bills, meds/syringes/tubing, mite/lice treatment products, bluecoat, poultry protector, feed, feed troughs & treadles, egg skelters, egg cartons, treats, chicken diapers, landcapeded gardens/trees, sand dust boxes, bird toys, drinking systems, safe water hoses, home/property water filtration, fortified property fencing/block walls, predator prevention products like rat traps and solar predator eyes, lighting, increased electricity bills, other security mechanisms like padlocks/carobiners/fortified gates, popup canopies, tarps, spring grips, zip ties, buckets, broody cages, hardware cloth, bird netting, cleaning and paper products, sandbox sifters, flat shovel poop scoopers, brooms, dustpans, swiffer mops, paver stones, cinder blocks, lumber, straw, pine shavings, curtain material, nestbox pads, outdoor perches, chicken care books, chicken yard decor, locked storage cabinets, etc etc etc. And then there's the cooperative neighbor negotiations!

Did I miss anything? I'll probably remember more later!

Edit: I forgot about the 5 dog houses placed around the yard for the hens to use as hiding places!

 

[Sylvester017]

Others can probably add to this, but this is what I know regarding purchasing baby chicks in the US:

Since large hatcheries incubate eggs separately from the flock and in controlled environments (i.e. different people work the incubators, so they are physically removed from the flock/isolated, and use biosecurity measures), there isn't the cross contamination with chicks hatched in flock/with a broody or with a backyard flock where they aren't kept separate with biosecurity measures. So, chicks shouldn't transmit/carry flock diseases (unless they are genetic OR transmissible through the egg/shell).

The other reason it is really common to buy/ship day old chicks in the US is convenience. Since chicks absorb the remaining yolk just before hatching, they can live a few days with no need for food or water - so we exploit nature (I assume that this happens so that chicks can survive until all are hatched and Momma can take the whole clutch off the nest to search for food and water.). This allows them to be shipped all across the country with minimal issues - sometimes a heating pack is added - especially in colder months, and they add a gel liquid (with electrolytes) for them to peck at, but otherwise, they generally travel fairly well as long as there are no delays in shipping.

Shipping older fowl (pullets, adults) required express shipping and more thoughtful travel arrangements - plus are more likely to also carry diseases with them that chicks would not yet be exposed to so aren't carriers (yet).

Besides, it means that as soon as chicks hatch, they are processed and shipped, so for many large hatcheries, they don't need much for brooders (only if they keep pullets for replacement or for later sale at a significant price bump). Otherwise, the 'extras' (mostly males) get, unfortunately, disposed of.

TY! That is intelligibly and correctly explained.

 

[SimpleJenn]

She was like "yeah you're nice you can hold my baby"

 

[RoyalChick]

I trimmed some of the chicken paths through the jungle which they seemed to appreciate.

I really wanted to fix my step because it is tricky getting down the hill without it. But at 95° and 90% humidity it wasnt the best day to be digging dirt and moving concrete block. So I gave up.

The black chickens of course were sunbathing - pre-roasted chicken!

Some days require ice cream. Today was one of those days!

 

[Themellowyellows]

Could happen!

Yep! Lol!

 

[RoyalChick]

Others can probably add to this, but this is what I know regarding purchasing baby chicks in the US:

Since large hatcheries incubate eggs separately from the flock and in controlled environments (i.e. different people work the incubators, so they are physically removed from the flock/isolated, and use biosecurity measures), there isn't the cross contamination with chicks hatched in flock/with a broody or with a backyard flock where they aren't kept separate with biosecurity measures. So, chicks shouldn't transmit/carry flock diseases (unless they are genetic OR transmissible through the egg/shell).

The other reason it is really common to buy/ship day old chicks in the US is convenience. Since chicks absorb the remaining yolk just before hatching, they can live a few days with no need for food or water - so we exploit nature (I assume that this happens so that chicks can survive until all are hatched and Momma can take the whole clutch off the nest to search for food and water.). This allows them to be shipped all across the country with minimal issues - sometimes a heating pack is added - especially in colder months, and they add a gel liquid (with electrolytes) for them to peck at, but otherwise, they generally travel fairly well as long as there are no delays in shipping.

Shipping older fowl (pullets, adults) required express shipping and more thoughtful travel arrangements - plus are more likely to also carry diseases with them that chicks would not yet be exposed to so aren't carriers (yet).

Besides, it means that as soon as chicks hatch, they are processed and shipped, so for many large hatcheries, they don't need much for brooders (only if they keep pullets for replacement or for later sale at a significant price bump). Otherwise, the 'extras' (mostly males) get, unfortunately, disposed of.

Yes, this.
@ManueB I was waiting to get inside to my computer to respond, but @bgmathteach beat me to it and covered everything.

The only thing I have to add is that many of the diseases people worry about transmitting to their flocks are not transmitted by the egg. Things like Marek's for example. So as long as the incubating and hatching facility is sterile and separate from any actual chickens, you can be pretty confident those little chicks are disease free.
Of course things like poor genetics or even genetic disorders that come from a narrow gene pool or breeding for traits like over-production of eggs, are not diseases and therefore the chicks can have all of those.

When introducing an adult, you really cannot screen out diseases like Marek's, but you can make sure that things like respiratory illnesses including mycoplasma are not introduced to an existing flock.

 

[BY Bob]

. And it doesn't even come with some kind of base model phone.

You can't get a new phone for only $550. How could you get a robe and a phone?

Tax

 

[BY Bob]

$500!

That's actually a bargain! ~ in comparison to how much over the years we've spent for hatching eggs/chicks/chickens, their coops/runs/brooders, heaters, humidifiers, fans, misters, backyard remodeling including patio roof to shelter coop/run, solar pop doors, vet bills, meds/syringes/tubing, mite/lice treatment products, bluecoat, poultry protector, feed, feed troughs & treadles, egg skelters, egg cartons, treats, chicken diapers, landcapeded gardens/trees, sand dust boxes, bird toys, drinking systems, safe water hoses, home/property water filtration, fortified property fencing/block walls, predator prevention products like rat traps and solar predator eyes, lighting, increased electricity bills, other security mechanisms like padlocks/carobiners/fortified gates, popup canopies, tarps, spring grips, zip ties, buckets, broody cages, hardware cloth, bird netting, cleaning and paper products, sandbox sifters, flat shovel poop scoopers, brooms, dustpans, swiffer mops, paver stones, cinder blocks, lumber, straw, pine shavings, curtain material, nestbox pads, outdoor perches, chicken care books, chicken yard decor, locked storage cabinets, etc etc etc. And then there's the cooperative neighbor negotiations!

Did I miss anything? I'll probably remember more later!

Edit: I forgot about the 5 dog houses placed around the yard for the hens to use as hiding places!

Think how many designer clothes you could have.

 

[BY Bob]

I trimmed some of the chicken paths through the jungle which they seemed to appreciate.
View attachment 3907941View attachment 3907942View attachment 3907943

I really wanted to fix my step because it is tricky getting down the hill without it. But at 95° and 90% humidity it wasnt the best day to be digging dirt and moving concrete block. So I gave up.

The black chickens of course were sunbathing - pre-roasted chicken!

Some days require ice cream. Today was one of those days!

You earned some ice cream!