Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

The problem is that momma probably is carrying Mareks so she herself would likely negate the vaccine.

SHRA Tax

 

[Sylvester017]

I am
Hoping he is ok eating. On the up side his beak is trimmed back! I’ll shape it up a bit on the weekend. I wonder how long it takes to grow out?

Beak injuries:

https://poultrydvm.com/condition/beak-injuries

If there are exposed nerve endings maybe hold off on filing/shaping? I had a heart attack when I read that his beak broke. Apparently this is more common w/roos but still such a pain to deal with! @TOMTE @rural mouse ~ he's definitely Rincewind eh?!

 

[TOMTE]

If there are exposed nerve endings maybe hold off on filing/shaping? I had a heart attack when I read that his beak broke. Apparently this is more common w/roos but still such a pain to deal with! @TOMTE @rural mouse ~ he's definitely Rincewind eh?!

Yeah, poor guy. I hope this run of bad luck ends soon for him

 

[Sylvester017]

He is going to be locked up forever now!

Wise ~ at least till he grows out his plumage & beak. After that if it happens to him again face that trial then. I hurt for you & him.

 

[Sylvester017]

You could probably get chicks in 2 weeks - while 3 is what most people state, I have had hens accept chicks earlier.....can you get some, vaccinated, for 2.5 weeks. At 1.5 weeks old, if she hasn't accepted them - they aren't as fragile, so wouldn't be as much work. If I remember correctly, you have a really good set-up for your chicks.

I'm not saying 'don't ask - just do it', rather I am saying 'Do ask...as opposed to just assuming 'no.' If you can afford it, maybe offer her a bit extra for the effort of looking after the chicks? I am sure she will just love watching the babies grow up.

If you are nervous about them being with Tassels while she is watching them....can you make a good nest for Tassels IN the brooder you have, so momma can care for them - but in a safe place just in case? You wouldn't have to put her in there with them unless there was a bit of a ruckus (probably won't be, but just in case - as a back-up to the back-up).

[So, to be clear
Best option: Tassels take them on and raises them with no issue

2nd option: Tassels takes them on, but you put her and the chicks in the brooder so all are safe and contained - in the case of any issues while you are home/before leaving is when you make the move - not preemptively, mind you.

3rd option: Tassels doesn't accept them and you put just the chicks in the brooder.]

I wouldn't want to miss the fun of watching chicks hatch & them run around growing up while I was away.

 

[Ponypoor]

If there are exposed nerve endings maybe hold off on filing/shaping? I had a heart attack when I read that his beak broke. Apparently this is more common w/roos but still such a pain to deal with! @TOMTE @rural mouse ~ he's definitely Rincewind eh?!

Oh I have more choice words for him….

I gave him some (more) Tylenol this morning. He is such a turnip. He was eating the softened mash this morning as usual so I guess he won’t starve.

But he really looks like Rambo now - all battered bruised and limping.

I feel like he needs a bandana around his head and a bayonet…. Crazy Roo!

 

[Ponypoor]

Oh I have more choice words for him….

I gave him some (more) Tylenol this morning. He is such a turnip. He was eating the softened mash this morning as usual so I guess he won’t starve.

But he really looks like Rambo now - all battered bruised and limping.

I feel like he needs a bandana around his head and a bayonet…. Crazy Roo!

Don’t feel bad for him RC, he is garnering all sorts of sympathy from the older ladies. They seeem to find him ruggedly handaome

 

[Sylvester017]

Yes. I think it is either 1 or 3. If she accepts them she is in an OK place to raise chicks. I would have to move her down to the lower shelf but I think she will accept that.
I assume her acceptance or rejection of chicks would be immediate? I mean she wouldn’t mother them for a week and then kill them would she?
Of course I hate that I wouldn’t be there, but that is just selfishness!
My alternative is just to wait until a bit later in the season. Her pattern last summer was to lay 5 eggs and then go broody again all summer. June/July babies would be nice!

I am leaning towards later.
I think going away a week or even ten days after I give them to her feels very stressful. For me I mean!
And this is going to be tricky because I need to give the chicks time indoors for the vaccine to take. There is some data on how long that takes which suggests 10 days. I could do a week maybe and accept the higher risk.
So I will be hoping she accepts week old chicks as newly hatched overnight. My gut says she will accept them just based on her broody behavior where she accepts anything as worthy of sitting on and doesn’t peck me at all when I pull eggs out from under her. But who knows?!

Yes, my vote is wait till you're home. We got 3 chicks from our local feed store in 100 degree August & brooded them inhouse w/o a heat source cuz it was so hot here! No momma, we were their parents & enjoyed every minute w/them.

 

[Sylvester017]

That is a theoretical option too. Higher risk because they will be exposed to Marek’s the instant they emerge from the egg, but I could reduce the exposure by bringing her in before they hatch and changing bedding so the only exposure would be if she is shedding (which she may well not be).
The vaccine probably has a shelf life once opened but I am guessing that it may be OK for the span of time for the eggs to hatch.
I will add that to the list of options.
I still think trying to get her to accept 7-10 day olds is going to be the simplest. May not work but feels worth a try. Just prefer to try when I am here!

We don't hatch. We get Marecks vaccinated chicks only. Just our preference. Some feed stores order hatchery chicks w/o Marecks vaccination like our local feed store so we've chosen private breeders instead who absolutely offer only vaccinated chicks & are NPIP certified.

 

[RoyalChick]

Who me?

And here she is, the source of my anxiety.