INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Crafty chick]

Oh definitely. She's pretty, the feathered feet top it off

 

[Leahs Mom]

Here is 5 new chickens that I added to my flock today!

Well had to break up a fight!! A BIG FIGHT!!! My top rooster beat up the new one. Cut his waddles up bad. He had blood all over him. Brought him in gave him a bath and coated the waddles with flour to stop the bleeding. I have him in a cage inside for the night. Will try introducing them again tomorrow. Whats strange is the new rooster has spurs that is at lease a 1inch long and the other only really has nubs. So im guessing he got him with the beak. My top rooster didnt have any blood on him at all except little on the feet. The new rooster must be brave trying to go right up to the top of the order. He wasnt going to back down for nothing.

A few thoughts on bringing in new birds....

I haven't read to the end yet.... but I was going to ask if you had quarantined them before adding to your flock. I see from the second post that you didn't.

So...it's a bit late for me to say this but...whenever you bring new birds into your flock you should house them separately for a minimum of 2 weeks before putting them together. That way you can observe the new birds for any signs of disease or sickness.

I hate to say it, but when folks are selling birds that are older than new hatches, there are often health issues that you wouldn't want to expose your current flock to. Even if there aren't obvious issues, the old and new birds have different immunities based on the soils and the way they are raised which is different from flock to flock. It is just good practice to keep the new birds totally separate from your flock for at least 2 weeks. Some even separate for 4 weeks.

Then, when introducing the birds, rather than putting the new birds in with the old, a good practice is to add one of YOUR CURRENT birds into the new flock. That way, if your current flock does not possess the immunities to handle whatever the new birds are bringing with them, you only lose ONE of your current flock rather than having issues with the whole.

Not sure if it's possible for you to separate them at this point but if you have a way to accomplish that, I'd encourage you do do it even though they've already been exposed to one another.

 

[CluckAcres]

Thanks. I usually do seperate them first. but i knew where these came from.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Thanks. I usually do seperate them first. but i knew where these came from.

The problem is that even if they aren't sick, they have immunities that your flock doesn't and vice versa.

If they are given the time to "acclimate" to what's in your area - your soils, etc. - in quarantine, you can watch them to see how they're handling what's present in your area that they don't have exposure to where they came from.

When you're sure they are doing well in the new environment, then you add one of yours to their area to see how yours will handle the things that this new group has immunity to but yours may not have been exposed to.

I know it sounds like a hassle, but at least for me I'd rather take the precaution rather than risking more of my birds.

Just my thoughts (and I hope good sense) ... I know other folks do things different !!

 

[bradselig]

I don't have that much experience with chickens as I do reptiles, however I learned the hard way about quarantine and its benefits. Regardless of were they came from all new animals are quarantined now. I've been bit in the butt too many times.

 

[danand]

Thanks pbridheaven and cluckacres. I have never ordered either. I wanted to order from Meyer but they don't have what I wanted or slim chance of getting them. I did watch the video, very interesting! And I hadn't looked at Mt Healthy for a while,will ck them out again. So the sale on Feb 9th, is that the place on 46 east of Bushes? Or where is it?

 

[bradselig]

Thanks pbridheaven and cluckacres. I have never ordered either. I wanted to order from Meyer but they don't have what I wanted or slim chance of getting them. I did watch the video, very interesting! And I hadn't looked at Mt Healthy for a while,will ck them out again. So the sale on Feb 9th, is that the place on 46 east of Bushes? Or where is it?

I have ordered from ideal and was very pleased. This year I placed an order through Meyer for the first time and will be shipping mid march (placed order back in November to get that date). We will see how it goes. Ideal was very friendly and didnt have any deaths. I will not hesitate ordering from them again.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

I have ordered from ideal and was very pleased. This year I placed an order through Meyer for the first time and will be shipping mid march (placed order back in November to get that date). We will see how it goes. Ideal was very friendly and didnt have any deaths. I will not hesitate ordering from them again.

we have chicks coming in march too. I also ordered early.

 

[Crafty chick]

Pbirdhaven... I am interested in where this sale is also!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Oops--left out a line. I have a friend who buys from Mt. Healthy hatchery every year and swears by them.

My australorps came from Mt Healthy, I am so impressed with these chicks at 5 weeks i wrote in and thanked them! Lovely, active healthy chicks from day 1. No losses whatsoever. They turn 6 weeks tomorrow.
I plan to give Meyer a try on the turkeys, will be ordering in about 2 weeks. I plan on Mini whites, blue states and BBW's.