INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

I'm not trying to pick on any one, but this has to be corrected. Any egg wash will only affect the surface of the egg and potential pathogens there (which there may be, from poop, soil, what not). It would have NO impact on any bacterial or viral diseases transmitted to the egg before the hen lays down the shell around the egg. I do NOT want people to think these kind of attempts will affect AI. They won't! Only if the bacteria or virus on the OUTSIDE of the shell, not if it is inside the egg. Since the state tests the egg interior, it is clearly passed down through either the yolk or albumen, and not the shell. I do not want people thinking that any egg wash is a quick fix for AI. If it were, no one would have a problem with it. Commercial flocks probably all use antibacterial/antiviral egg washes, and that didn't stop them from being infected. Use egg washes if you want for other reasons, but don't kid yourself into thinking they will prevent AI or kill it inside the shell.

On this, I'm just wanting to clarify something for myself if you have the answer. I understand simply washing the eggs as some do before selling them will not work on the interior of the egg, but I've read many times about egg wash 'soaks', specifically in Tylan or some other antibiotic, to prevent certain diseases from spreading through the egg to offspring. The general idea is that the eggs are soaked for a day or two to allow them to absorb the antibiotic through the pores in the eggshell and for it to work inside the egg. So what I'm wondering is if this idea is flawed, or if this type of soak wash would work in this case? I've read some promising reports from other flock owners on Tylan soaks with eggs from MG infected flocks, but then I'm also finding through research now that the rate of MG transferring through the eggs is something like 5%, so I don't know how reliable these reports are...

 

[SallyinIndiana]

ducks consume oyster shell and broken eggs like a child does candy canes at Christmas.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Chicken Fest Tank Tops
https://www.booster.com/inbyc2015tanktop

As requested, this time there are color options. The price is the same for each color. We need at least 10 ordered in any color combination for the tanks to print.

There were not 10 votes for either the hoodie or the long sleeve shirt. The tank top fits with warm weather on the way. It was a choice made by a few but I think a good one.

Now for the fun part. The Design contest is open. I would like to see a few of our designers come up with some great designs for the 2016 fund raising items. The design needs to be limited to ONE color. The deadline to enter a design is May 31st this year. Voting will be in June. PLEASE Please do not post your designs but instead message them to me and I can post them all at once. The winner will be announced at the 2015 Chicken Fest.

 

[raisinemright]

Put the floor (temp osb) on my PVC milking stand this eve. Here are a couple nanny's taking the first test! It works great

Here is a front view

 

[Indyshent]

I'd go ahead and offer it, but in my experience, it's probably a hiccup. We have one duck who occasionally laid soft-shelled eggs when she was first getting going. I haven't seen any for months though. Same thing happened with one of our hens. Had a few and then no more. Never a b ad idea to give oyster shell though because duck eggs are particularly tough shelled normally, and that has to be a drain on their calcium reserves if they don't receive some kind of supplementation.




On a completely different note, anybody know what the difference between a partridge Cochin chick and a dark Brahma? So far, I've seen pictures that look very similar to my new babies or both of these types and just wasn't sure if there was some way to tell. The Jersey Giant is feathering out a little faster than the feather-footies (really hoping all those footies aren't boys

). Might just be a Brahma thing. Still no clue what the little red chick with the red beak is. It's also feathering slow, so I'm guessing boy.

 

[racinchickins]

So I finally dove into incubation season! I started with eggs from a customer to hatch them for her. So far she has given me 25 Sebastopol goose eggs over the course of the last month. The first two hatched Sunday, and they were adorable!! Just put 3 from the second batch into the hatcher. Should hatch in 3-6 days. Then it was time for my eggs. I now have 17 turkey eggs (mostly midget white), 12 Bresse, 3 Mottled Java, 1 Cream Legbar, two Legbar/BCM olive eggers, and two project eggs in the incubator. I can see life getting very busy very soon!


@ellymayRans - I was out in the garden today. Looks like almost all of the strawberries I got from you overwintered. Looking forward to lots of yummy berries this year!

 

[flyladyrocks]

I have never even looked/shopped for birds/eggs on ebay..best I don't! Hahaha

I got mine at walgreens. If you can find the vit E with selenium included that would be easier.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: It doesn't replace them, but is a good feeling to have one of the offspring. Good to hear you have him.

Update on my prolapse girl. She's moved on out to the garage as she has been intact with proper bowel movements since Sunday now. I felt so bad not giving her feed but it seems to have done the trick to allow her to recoup. I was dosing her water with poly vi so vitamins and today she's gotten to eat. All day she's eaten and done well. True tell sign will be how she handles picking back up laying.

Thats great news! Way to go on her treatment

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

In other news I was happy to see my little cochin girl layed today. I have my pair separated for breeding and will be setting her eggs for the Easter HAL. Then gathering near end of the month for a fellow BYCer!

So gotten past the grueling tasks of treating prolapse then today I noticed one of my white silkie girls soaked to the bone and after everyone was up for the evening before dark though she kept walking around head cocked sideways looking up through the ladder at the coop door but not going up. So I went out to observe and she wasn't straightening her head out..?? I have to admit I've had them on game bird breeding feed but it's only 18% they free range but with all the Peafowl and cold I figured that it would be beneficial for everyone. I brought her in and gave her a nice warm bath. Blow dried etc..but I'm not quite sure what to think. She can see. But the way she's holding her head..?? I noticed her crop was just Huge! Mind you my white silkie hens are some of the smallest silkies I've ever had or have. I held some vitamin water to her and she drank it. I'll take some pics of her tomorrow if she's not improved. Going off to do some research. I know silkies are prone to vitamin deficiency and wry neck so I'm wondering if it's that and maybe even a combo of cold wet stress. Hmmm

I would also wonder if her crop is huge if she isn't impacted. My birds are going crazy since the snow is gone, gobbling up all sorts of stuff.

Our original girls are now 2 full years old. Of the 6 we bought, still have 5. Our flock has endured a couple hardships, but have always been rewarded with beautiful, delicious, fresh eggs!

HEY! So good to see you!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Ugh! Just when I thought I was finished buying eggs/birds, these have to show up!
I don't need a new breed. I don't need a new breed. I don't need a new breed.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/201297055130?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

OH MY they are different! I have a feeling they are in the "game family" looking at the body type. Hey, just look at the current bids... just something to help enable ya!

Quote: Its a real gamble! I found 2 really good breeders within/just outside the state, and they are NPIP. Overly well packed, fertile eggs! One of my shipments was 100% hatch, that's unheard of in shipped eggs!. I have got a few sticky, nasty total loss boxes of eggs too and learned my lessons the hard way. I read all the feedback before I go through an eBay breeder. If they are not within the state, or state line I keep looking.