Last year, I got a free calendar from Meyer with a purchase. This was a very special calendar...can you see why?
INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!
- Thread starter Chaneys Ranch
- Start date
Very cold here too. We're almost at zero....isn't -2 close?? Actually, now that the sun is up we may have risen to 0 now!! The well guys are here and had to get into the well outside. They're replacing the wiring to the well pump. Hopefully that solves the problem.We haven't been able to get our barn chores done yet & I know everything's frozen out there.
Wow sept 31 and Oct 1 on same day...amazing!
I'm free!! 
e Today was my final final ( 
), so I'm off until January! 
Here comes your lesson in quarantine. Brace yourself!
For the best results, you should quarantine for a solid month. This will give enough time for the bird to show symptoms if there is anything it is carrying. When I quarantine, I also do the 'canary in the mineshaft' method. In the last week or two of quarantine, take your least favorite bird from your flock and put it in the same area as the new bird. This not only gives the birds mutual exposure to whatever they might be carrying, but also gives the new bird a buddy for introduction.
It is recommended that you quarantine the bird at least 100 ft away from the existing flock, or at least somewhere a good distance from your flock where they never go or can't get to. Absolutely do not quarantine the bird in the same building as your existing flock! During quarantine, you should take care of your main flock first, then tend to the new bird, and then wash up before going back to your main flock. You may even want to have a set of clothes specifically for taking care of your quarantine bird that you can change out of when you're done. Have another pair of shoes to use with the quarantine bird as well, or at least have a boot wash prepared to use when leaving the quarantine area (although in freezing weather, this might not work so well).
What are you looking for in quarantine? Well, signs of parasites are important, but not as important as signs of illness. Most respiratory diseases leave the bird as a carrier. If you detect any signs of runny nose, bubbly eyes, discharge, crackling lungs, or the like, then this bird could be carrying something nasty. This is another reason for the 'canary in the mineshaft', as if the new bird is an asymptomatic carrier, then your 'canary' will show symptoms of disease and you'll know you have a carrier.
Another thing to watch for is weakness in the legs, tumors, abnormal spots on the comb or in his throat, diarrhea, lethargy, pretty much anything that is unusual for a healthy bird. Stress from his new environment may be the cause of some moping or maybe even a few other symptoms, but if this continues for much of the quarantine, then something is probably wrong. One thing to remember is that during quarantine, you shouldn't treat the bird at all unless you can diagnose with absolute certainty what he has! If you treat the bird for something and then he seems healthy, he still may be a carrier for disease and spread it to your flock in spite of your efforts.
Be sure to look the bird over before taking him home as well. If he shows any of the signs I listed above, then don't be afraid to leave him with his owner. You should also be ready to cull this bird and the bird from your flock if you do the 'canary' method should they show signs of serious illness during quarantine.
If he passes quarantine, then next comes introduction, of course. I'm not sure if introducing a rooster to a flock of hens is any different than introducing hens to hens, but your method of introduction is pretty much what I do. If you have another rooster, I would be more careful in introducing him, but otherwise, you shouldn't have any issues doing what you do when introducing hens.
ETA: Oh, I forgot to mention. If you have any particularly bossy hens, they will probably try to fight your new guy when he's introduced. The rooster should be the head of the flock, and so he will fight back until he puts her in her place. This might happen a lot when they're introduced, but should settle down once the hens start respecting your new guy as their leader. Keep that in mind when you're introducing him, and don't get too worried if you see him fighting your hens a lot.
e Today was my final final ( ), so I'm off until January! Here comes your lesson in quarantine. Brace yourself!
For the best results, you should quarantine for a solid month. This will give enough time for the bird to show symptoms if there is anything it is carrying. When I quarantine, I also do the 'canary in the mineshaft' method. In the last week or two of quarantine, take your least favorite bird from your flock and put it in the same area as the new bird. This not only gives the birds mutual exposure to whatever they might be carrying, but also gives the new bird a buddy for introduction.
It is recommended that you quarantine the bird at least 100 ft away from the existing flock, or at least somewhere a good distance from your flock where they never go or can't get to. Absolutely do not quarantine the bird in the same building as your existing flock! During quarantine, you should take care of your main flock first, then tend to the new bird, and then wash up before going back to your main flock. You may even want to have a set of clothes specifically for taking care of your quarantine bird that you can change out of when you're done. Have another pair of shoes to use with the quarantine bird as well, or at least have a boot wash prepared to use when leaving the quarantine area (although in freezing weather, this might not work so well).
What are you looking for in quarantine? Well, signs of parasites are important, but not as important as signs of illness. Most respiratory diseases leave the bird as a carrier. If you detect any signs of runny nose, bubbly eyes, discharge, crackling lungs, or the like, then this bird could be carrying something nasty. This is another reason for the 'canary in the mineshaft', as if the new bird is an asymptomatic carrier, then your 'canary' will show symptoms of disease and you'll know you have a carrier.
Another thing to watch for is weakness in the legs, tumors, abnormal spots on the comb or in his throat, diarrhea, lethargy, pretty much anything that is unusual for a healthy bird. Stress from his new environment may be the cause of some moping or maybe even a few other symptoms, but if this continues for much of the quarantine, then something is probably wrong. One thing to remember is that during quarantine, you shouldn't treat the bird at all unless you can diagnose with absolute certainty what he has! If you treat the bird for something and then he seems healthy, he still may be a carrier for disease and spread it to your flock in spite of your efforts.
Be sure to look the bird over before taking him home as well. If he shows any of the signs I listed above, then don't be afraid to leave him with his owner. You should also be ready to cull this bird and the bird from your flock if you do the 'canary' method should they show signs of serious illness during quarantine.
If he passes quarantine, then next comes introduction, of course. I'm not sure if introducing a rooster to a flock of hens is any different than introducing hens to hens, but your method of introduction is pretty much what I do. If you have another rooster, I would be more careful in introducing him, but otherwise, you shouldn't have any issues doing what you do when introducing hens.
ETA: Oh, I forgot to mention. If you have any particularly bossy hens, they will probably try to fight your new guy when he's introduced. The rooster should be the head of the flock, and so he will fight back until he puts her in her place. This might happen a lot when they're introduced, but should settle down once the hens start respecting your new guy as their leader. Keep that in mind when you're introducing him, and don't get too worried if you see him fighting your hens a lot.
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My Fierce Hen
I just have a few minutes before I have to leave for a meeting, but something funny just happened. The utility guy has to walk through the hens’ fenced-in area to read the meter. I happened to see him looking like he was afraid of my EE. I stuck my head out of the door and said that she wouldn’t hurt him. He repied, “Word is that one of them is aggressive!” Ha! I told him that they were just hens. I know what he’s referring to-- one time Nene, my infamous RIR, chased one of the guys down the hill! That guy thought she was a rooster!
Btw, still waiting on Nene’s piano. It has shipped, at least.
Also, I got a beautiful green-blue egg from my EE today! She hasn’t laid for a couple of months
I just have a few minutes before I have to leave for a meeting, but something funny just happened. The utility guy has to walk through the hens’ fenced-in area to read the meter. I happened to see him looking like he was afraid of my EE. I stuck my head out of the door and said that she wouldn’t hurt him. He repied, “Word is that one of them is aggressive!” Ha! I told him that they were just hens. I know what he’s referring to-- one time Nene, my infamous RIR, chased one of the guys down the hill! That guy thought she was a rooster!
Btw, still waiting on Nene’s piano. It has shipped, at least.
Also, I got a beautiful green-blue egg from my EE today! She hasn’t laid for a couple of months
I would watch them carefully if possible the first couple of weeks you let the rooster meet the hens. I had some issues with a younger rooster being too rough on a younger pullet. I ended up losing the pullet to mating injuries.
I'll be watching to see how this works. Please keep us updated.
Also - do you notice any fumes when the heat tape is running?
No fumes noticed using the thermostatic heat tape. I'm a believer!!
I had to make time to take pictures of my babies this afternoon, of course! They are 7 months old today!
Beautiful Ihi the Golden Campine:
Marama the Egyptian Fayoumi:
My goofball, Rangi the Ancona:
Rangi again, thinking she might warm her feet up on my shoulder.
Roha the Exchequer Leghorn, who will not have any of this snow stuff, thank you very much:
My gorgeous Light Brown Leghorn, Whiri
Huka the Silver Lakenvelder, huddled on the perch with Cressida the Easter-egger:
And, of course, Marge!
Beautiful Ihi the Golden Campine:
Marama the Egyptian Fayoumi:
My goofball, Rangi the Ancona:
Rangi again, thinking she might warm her feet up on my shoulder.
Roha the Exchequer Leghorn, who will not have any of this snow stuff, thank you very much:
My gorgeous Light Brown Leghorn, Whiri
Huka the Silver Lakenvelder, huddled on the perch with Cressida the Easter-egger:
And, of course, Marge!
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Just finished setting 8 odd pullet eggs. Not counting on getting any chicks but I wanted to try. I was actually hoping my incubator was smaller, one of those yellow ones. But they cost a fortune to get digital and I like my digital options.
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