INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[hoosiercheetah]

Not too long ago, I read about someone that got two new roosters and kept them in quarantine for the full month. They appeared healthy and so they passed quarantine and were put in with the owner's flock. Less than a week later, the rest of the flock started showing signs of a respiratory disease (MG if I recall correctly).

The so-called sacrifice is the only way to know if a bird is an asymptomatic carrier. Stories like the above are the reason why I never quarantine without a 'sacrifice'. As a matter of fact, from what I gather from that story, if you aren't going to 'sacrifice' one of your birds, you might as well not bother quarantining at all! Yes, the bird might be stressed for that time, but I would much rather have one stressed bird than a flock of sick ones.

And I'm not meaning to scold anyone, of course.

This is one of my causes (this and fire safety are the big ones to me). The quarantine is one of the most underrated, but still one of the most important parts of chicken keeping, and very few seem to acknowledge that fact. It's a pain in the butt at the time, but worthwhile--at least to me--to know my flock will remain healthy.

Hmm. This makes sense to me, too. I hate to stuff another bird into such tight quarters. How long do you think the canary has to be in the mineshaft?

 

[kabhyper1]

Quick question: Will my hen give up on her two eggs if they aren't viable? Its possible they were in her nest a few days after the first egg as she was moving around a lot in the beginning. I just don't know if I should do something like touch the eggs to feel for movement or get them out of there so they don't break and get gross. She's good with the baby, so should I just trust her to know what she's doing sitting on the other two?

I would candle them and see if they are internally pipped. They could take longer than the rest. If you have an incubator, maybe fire it up and put them in there. A hen will get up with chicks and show them how to eat and drink. That's why staggered hatches are discouraged. It's possible they are bad, and she can tell, but it's also possible they could still hatch. Maybe try the float test on them. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ng-egg-viability-for-late-or-overdue-hatching


If she is up and around with the baby, she is done sitting. You will have to use an incubator to let them hatch.

 

[CRSelvey]

Not too long ago, I read about someone that got two new roosters and kept them in quarantine for the full month. They appeared healthy and so they passed quarantine and were put in with the owner's flock. Less than a week later, the rest of the flock started showing signs of a respiratory disease (MG if I recall correctly).

The so-called sacrifice is the only way to know if a bird is an asymptomatic carrier. Stories like the above are the reason why I never quarantine without a 'sacrifice'. As a matter of fact, from what I gather from that story, if you aren't going to 'sacrifice' one of your birds, you might as well not bother quarantining at all! Yes, the bird might be stressed for that time, but I would much rather have one stressed bird than a flock of sick ones.

And I'm not meaning to scold anyone, of course.

This is one of my causes (this and fire safety are the big ones to me). The quarantine is one of the most underrated, but still one of the most important parts of chicken keeping, and very few seem to acknowledge that fact. It's a pain in the butt at the time, but worthwhile--at least to me--to know my flock will remain healthy.

I've never heard that theory before. Thank you for sharing!

That part of it makes sense to me. I have been trying to get them out on the grass as often as possible, on a part of the yard my flock doesn't go near. They're out enjoying the weather today!

Ok, here is another thought on the subject (I almost edited for your benefit

). I have lost one hen that tested positive for MD. If I had not had her tested, I could just go on thinking that she had a random illness (stay with me) and since the rest of my flock is currently asymptomatic, continue to assume the rest of my flock is fine. I have a gorgeous little Welsummer roo that would need to be rehomed because I have too many roos. So, I give him to you without realizing that my entire flock is a carrier. Now your flock is infected and we both have to be overly cautious ALL THE TIME. See how this can go? Some things can be treated, but some can't. As it happens I do have a gorgeous Welsummer roo, but I will probably end up eating him at some point. As a firm pet chicken owner that kind of freaks me out, but its better than having his life sacrificed for nothing since I can't give him to anyone else.

I would candle them and see if they are internally pipped. They could take longer than the rest. If you have an incubator, maybe fire it up and put them in there. A hen will get up with chicks and show them how to eat and drink. That's why staggered hatches are discouraged. It's possible they are bad, and she can tell, but it's also possible they could still hatch. Maybe try the float test on them. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ng-egg-viability-for-late-or-overdue-hatching


If she is up and around with the baby, she is done sitting. You will have to use an incubator to let them hatch.

Kab, Thank you. I will check out the link! She is actually still sitting on the eggs and doing so with purpose and moving them every so often. I have put the food and water right next to her so that she and Chicklet don't have to leave the eggs to get what they need. She won't let me near the eggs without a fight and I've never candled anything before. Chicklet is all over the place though. That is one adventurous little bird. The last two times I went to check on them Chicklet was sitting on her back just hanging out.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Hmm.  This makes sense to me, too.  I hate to stuff another bird into such tight quarters.  How long do you think the canary has to be in the mineshaft?

Bare minimum, I would do a week. But longer would be better. It all depends on how cramped it is in there. Is there any way to get another pen built in the same area so that they don't have to be cramped together but are still exposed to one another? Or if you happen to have a dog crate or bird cage of some sort, would it fit in the same area for that purpose?

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

I didn't get around to posting these here yesterday (it was a loooong day for me), but here are the babies as of yesterday.

Elda (she is always begging to get out on my lap for cuddles! )

Kit-kit (Both Kit and Elda are Silver Gray Dorkings) :

Little miss Mabel the Welly:

A very guilty looking Black Copper Marans named Louise (she's found her legs and I keep having to clean shavings out of the feeder and waterer now ) :

And Georgette, also a BCM:

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:

Quote: HC.... why not keep them separate for 2 weeks,

Then figure out a way to put your "sacrifice bird" into something next to them but that they aren't together in the same little pen. That could save you some fighting and a bad scene altogether, but still give you the same effect like pip is saying. Then just keep them there another 2 weeks which makes the 1 month total.

Would it be possible to do that?

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote: It needs to be at least a week. At which point hopefully the sacrificial bird is now integrated with the new birds. Once that integration takes place then start the look but don't touch with the other original flock. I would keep the canary with the new birds until you release them into the original flock.

 

[hoosiercheetah]

Bare minimum, I would do a week. But longer would be better. It all depends on how cramped it is in there. Is there any way to get another pen built in the same area so that they don't have to be cramped together but are still exposed to one another? Or if you happen to have a dog crate or bird cage of some sort, would it fit in the same area for that purpose?

Quote:
HC.... why not keep them separate for 2 weeks,


Then figure out a way to put your "sacrifice bird" into something next to them but that they aren't together in the same little pen. That could save you some fighting and a bad scene altogether, but still give you the same effect like pip is saying. Then just keep them there another 2 weeks which makes the 1 month total.

This is basically what I'm doing already. The new girls are three 8-wk old RIR pullets, so they're not exactly tiny. I have a crate I built thats 2' wide, 2' tall, and 4' long. Next to that I have a standard wire dog crate that's almost the same dimensions. I have the doors of the two crates open and pushed together to make one space. There's a little roost at one end. When I take them outside it's just the dog crate.


I don't really have time to build another crate. I think if I pick one of my smaller birds to go in with them, they should be alright. The nice thing about my setup now is I can close a crate door and do a week of look-don't-touch with the one flock bird, then open it again for a week of the four of them together in quarantine, then put all four in look-no-touch in the coop for a week.


The real issue here is that I think chickens need a lot more space than they probably do, especially when it's temporary housing for a few weeks. Does anyone have a thought on that?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Don't know if weasels or minks are in my area but we have not had an attack. We have lots of yard markers though. Boys just love that sort of thing.

I saw this today and thought of you. Maybe it could be converted into a rooster coop, more costly but more permanent than a tossed out dog house.
http://meijer.shoplocal.com/Meijer/...kPeek=N&StoreID=2465809&ListingID=-2040413559

And guess what? I just looked and saw the exact same one at home depot for $449!!!! Compared to Meijers $179!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[LonelyPageTurne]

 


This is basically what I'm doing already.  The new girls are three 8-wk old RIR pullets, so they're not exactly tiny.  I have a crate I built thats 2' wide, 2' tall, and 4' long.  Next to that I have a standard wire dog crate that's almost the same dimensions.  I have the doors of the two crates open and pushed together to make one space.  There's a little roost at one end.  When I take them outside it's just the dog crate.


 
I don't really have time to build another crate.  I think if I pick one of my smaller birds to go in with them, they should be alright.  The nice thing about my setup now is I can close a crate door and do a week of look-don't-touch with the one flock bird, then open it again for a week of the four of them together in quarantine, then put all four in look-no-touch in the coop for a week.


 
The real issue here is that I think chickens need a lot more space than they probably do, especially when it's temporary housing for a few weeks.  Does anyone have a thought on that?

I think that you are being over cautious about space. That's plenty of space if I'm picturing it right. 2x8 is 16 sq feet so that's enough for 4 birds.