I wish I knew.. DO YOU KNOW?

[room onthebroom]

NOW if you mean the tongue and cheek jab at people raising chickens as "vegetarians", I do find that funny. They are little omnivores, they do not understand the concept of not eating meat. They will find meat whether it is a fly, a spider or a mouse. I just pray I don't hit my head, start bleeding and fall down ased out in my yard. I know my feathered friends will have eaten my face and a few appendages before I awaken.
QUOTE]



Ralphie you crack me up!
PS. You forgot lizards, wild fledglings that fall from the nest & entrails accidentally dropped by hawks. My vegetarian hens LOOOOOVE these little, meaty delicacies. I've also heard of hens that eat baby snakes, but I've never actually seen one of mine do it.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

The only thing we can control is how we react. I cannot control how others communicate - I also can't read their minds to know their intentions. I get what information I can and move on. Life's too short.

But a code of silence is equally unproductive.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

This is the only discussion forum I've ever visited where people respond with decency when someone dares to voice an opinion that may run a bit against the grain. I'm grateful for that.

And now I'm moving on.

What's surprising me about Mereks is the crapshoot element. So does this mean that all the Mereks research is pretty much determining that developing strains exist, the death rate is high, and aside from vaccination nothing can be done?

As young children we're all exposed to herpes viruses when we share sippy cups in preschool. But it's not lethal. Why is Mereks lethal, while other forms of herpes aren't?

 

[Krazyquilts]

Frankly, when I see one of my bird galloping around with a mouse clamped firmly in it's beak my first thought is YAY! Extra Protein!

Me too! I thought I was going to burst with pride a few weeks ago when I saw two of our layers fighting over a mouse. So proud of my little velociraptors!

And I've deliberately tossed mostly dead mice (that I've stomped on while doing chores - not poisoned of course) to our guineas who literally shred the mice in their excitement to eat real MEAT. Made my husband say he was going to be veeeeery careful not to trip around our guineas in case they decided that he was in the menu too.

And no, it's not gross that chickens scratch through cow poop for bugs. It's natural. The chicken-ness of chickens and all that. Plus it helps lower my feed bill!

 

[Krazyquilts]

I just wanted to say how useful this thread has been. Thanks and hugs all around!

 

[Sunshine Flock]

Me too! I thought I was going to burst with pride a few weeks ago when I saw two of our layers fighting over a mouse. So proud of my little velociraptors!

And I've deliberately tossed mostly dead mice (that I've stomped on while doing chores - not poisoned of course) to our guineas who literally shred the mice in their excitement to eat real MEAT. Made my husband say he was going to be veeeeery careful not to trip around our guineas in case they decided that he was in the menu too.

And no, it's not gross that chickens scratch through cow poop for bugs. It's natural. The chicken-ness of chickens and all that. Plus it helps lower my feed bill!

Ha, I thought the same thing about lizards. Two hens had a tug of war with a poor lizard, and I actually referred to the warring ladies as velociraptors!

 

[CSAchook]

I have not purchased birds in ages from a hatchery, but I thought they had a place to add vaccinations to your order. The cost to a large hatchery is less than a penny for Marek's vaccine. I think the last I recall they added 80 cents for this. Not a bad mark up.

I would ask before ordering, what vaccines they use and have available.

If you order direct from a hatchery you often have the option to purchase vaccinated chicks and you can ask them for more info about the type of vaccine etc. The issue that I believe @aart was referring to (and I agree it is a real problem) is that many feed stores and other places that re-sell hatchery chicks may choose to buy un-vaccinated chicks because they are cheaper. AND most of the time the employee in charge of supervising/ selling chicks to customers is not the one in charge of purchasing. So the person caring for the chicks, and helping customers pick them out often cannot tell you anything at all about vaccinations. That has been my experience at least.

Also thanks to everyone sharing their knowledge and experience on this thread. It really does help so much.

 

[duluthralphie]

If you order direct from a hatchery you often have the option to purchase vaccinated chicks and you can ask them for more info about the type of vaccine etc. The issue that I believe @aart was referring to (and I agree it is a real problem) is that many feed stores and other places that re-sell hatchery chicks may choose to buy un-vaccinated chicks because they are cheaper. AND most of the time the employee in charge of supervising/ selling chicks to customers is not the one in charge of purchasing. So the person caring for the chicks, and helping customers pick them out often cannot tell you anything at all about vaccinations. That has been my experience at least.

Also thanks to everyone sharing their knowledge and experience on this thread. It really does help so much.

Ahhh... I never buy from feed stores, I figure that is a good place to get a ton of diseases.....and the help has no idea 99.78% of the time what they or you are talking about..

 

[Sunshine Flock]

If you order direct from a hatchery you often have the option to purchase vaccinated chicks and you can ask them for more info about the type of vaccine etc. The issue that I believe @aart was referring to (and I agree it is a real problem) is that many feed stores and other places that re-sell hatchery chicks may choose to buy un-vaccinated chicks because they are cheaper. AND most of the time the employee in charge of supervising/ selling chicks to customers is not the one in charge of purchasing. So the person caring for the chicks, and helping customers pick them out often cannot tell you anything at all about vaccinations. That has been my experience at least.

Also thanks to everyone sharing their knowledge and experience on this thread. It really does help so much.

The feed store guy told me they never order vaccinated chicks; it costs them too much.

And at Tractor Supply (we didn't buy our chicks there), the few times I've gone in and asked questions about their chicks, not one employee could answer them, even basic questions. It was really surprising.

 

[CSAchook]

Ahhh... I never buy from feed stores, I figure that is a good place to get a ton of diseases.....and the help has no idea 99.78% of the time what they or you are talking about..

We have IMHO a really fantastic local feed store near my house. They take really great care of the birds and the guy they have in charge of the chickens is generally very knowledgeable (about ages, breeds, temperaments etc) just not about vaccinations. Unfortunately, now that my father has had a Marek's outbreak he won't be purchasing chicks there anymore. He's decided to go the vaccinated route so he will be buying direct or hatching then vaccinating. I am still debating whether or not to keep buying birds there myself.... Think I might try my hand at hatching next year (although I will have to buy eggs).