Hatching Eggs / Paypal CHAT Thread

[Hurley]

I may have missed it...what exactly is the rule on state inspections and where they are allowed to tread?

 

[Bettacreek]

Okay, thanks guys! I knew of mycoplasma, so I don't feel quite as ignorant, lol.

 

[Dahlisgrams]

I'm a huge proponent of strict quarantine. Total, complete, rigorous, OCD quarantine.. as far away from other birds as possible and definitely not in the house. Clothing changes, showers between and shoes for each pen left at the pen. Lots of Oxine. Testing is good but not everything can be tested for unfortunately, Mareks being a big one. A necropsy and histology is necessary for that. Getting new birds is always a risk and sometimes it works out perfectly and sometimes things don't go as well. I personally am sticking with hatching eggs from now on. I realize there are risks with eggs too, but they are not insurmountable whereas with a live bird, things can take on a life of its own.

The school of hard knocks just plain stinks.

 

[pysankigirl]

I guess because mine free range, inside the house is the only place I am convinced that they wont come into contact with the other birds.
there isn't anywhere outside where I can guarantee that.

 

[cluckitall]

Oh my!!! I'm offline a day and over 200 new posts? Ack!

Well, I'm gonna go skim, at least, see if I can catch up a little!

 

[Daloorashens]

Madamwlf... if I can't find those roaches locally, I may send you a little extra $$ and have you put some in with the eggs when you send them.... would they work in there??

And with all this discussion about illness.... is it truly best to cull ANY bird with ANY sign of illness, especially respiratory?? which leads again to my question about using Denagard... is there then an appropriate time/place to use it??

 

[Dahlisgrams]

I guess because mine free range, inside the house is the only place I am convinced that they wont come into contact with the other birds.
there isn't anywhere outside where I can guarantee that.

I used to free range the laying flock but since our driveway gets a lot of traffic and I'm concerned about biosecurity, we have built large pens with aviary netting covers to contain all of them. Separate pens for each breed, one for the layers and another for growing out juveniles. I have become a confirmed chicken germaphobe, I guess... was never like that before though.

If I lived in a more remote location with less daily visitors, I'd free range for sure. It's a healthy lifestyle for a chicken in my opinion. The best I can do is covered pens with a few hours each day on the grass surrounded by electric netting so they don't go stir crazy. I think every situation is different. No one is allowed in the coop/pen area though. No one. And I'm a total ***** about it too.. lol

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

evening all.

DC for Krafty's eggs 9405 5036 9930 0274 0149 79

 

[Dahlisgrams]

And with all this discussion about illness.... is it truly best to cull ANY bird with ANY sign of illness, especially respiratory?? which leads again to my question about using Denagard... is there then an appropriate time/place to use it??

This probably goes against popular opinion, but that's what I do. I also cull any bird that was exposed to an infectious disease as well. Personally I would use antibiotics for an infection or injury that became infected, not for respiratory issues since they'd remain carriers/shedders of the infection for life anyway even if they recover and never show another symptom. Another option I considered was to keep the carriers and close the flock permanently but at the time that didn't make sense. There are many schools of thought on this subject though and everyone has the right and opportunity to make whatever choice feels best for them and their flock. It's never an easy choice though. Keeping chickens responsibly is hard.. Something an old-timer said has stuck with me. Your flock will be whatever you'll tolerate. If you tolerate sick birds, your flock will be sick. If you tolerate weak birds, your flock will be weak. It aint easy but it's the choice I made for the greater good of the majority. I really do love my birds.

 

[pysankigirl]

I guess we are lucky in that we get no visitors most of the time. and the ones we do get occasionally think we are nuts to raise chickens...LOL they have cats and fish. not so worried about them

Only have one roo for now, so Barnevelders are the only purebred eggs I have.

I was kind of worried that Xander wasn't fertilizing the chickens until today, but was thrilled to finally see him fertilizing one of them. He doesn't force his way with them like Spike used to. (Spike had caveman manners) if they won't squat for him, then he leaves them alone. but one of the girls squatted and he seemed to know what he was doing!

it was actually a pretty civilized encounter. I like the guy!

4 of my eggs from the original 6 are still growing!!!

I got a better flashlight at lowes today and a plumbing fixture to make a cradle for the egg and I think I now understand about the detached air bubbles that people were talking about.
all 6 of the Silver laced Brahma eggs I got have detached air cells. does that mean they won't grow? I am bummed.

I still couldn't see into the Marans eggs.