June Hatch A Long

[CluckNDoodle]

I haven’t hatched goslings and don’t have that incubator so I’m no help. Best of luck with your hatch, CluckNDoodle!!!

Thank you!

 

[CluckNDoodle]

You’re stressed, and I’m excited! isn’t that how it goes with sideline coaches?!?

Have you been rotating positions in the new incubator? Ugh I keep forgetting, myself. Baby steps.

It's true! I'm perfectly comfortable with chicks. These goslings have me all worked up. lol!

Ugh, NO! What a rookie mistake! My Nurture Right 360 spoiled me because it rotates the eggs all the way around the incubator...I only have 4 goose eggs in there...it would have been so simple to rotate them.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Oh my goodness, I'm soooo sorry you're contending with Marek's disease! I'm so very careful about not bringing in outside chickens to my flock because I'm terrified of contamination. I will hatch a dozen chicks when I just want one of a specific breed or color just to avoid contamination. Is there not a way to get it under control or is it something you would have to have an empty coop for a period of time to get past?

Without extreme measures, like no chickens for a year and a half, you are stuck with Marek’s. We got the disease in the flock when we bought chicks from a well-known, NPIP certified, Oklahoman (2 hr drive) breeder. A co-worker of mine has the disease in her flock from Atwoods or Tractor Supply chicks. We both have kids who were devastated by these losses. I really really wish that we had been as cautious as you in acquiring our birds! I see all of these people on BYC who swap and buy and rehome chickens and am amazed that they don’t suffer these same consequences! I wouldn’t wish this disease on anyone; this has been a very sobering life lesson for my teen daughter, whose project this is. She is so tender hearted and had never lost a beloved person or pet before this.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Without extreme measures, like no chickens for a year and a half, you are stuck with Marek’s. We got the disease in the flock when we bought chicks from a well-known, NPIP certified, Oklahoman (2 hr drive) breeder. A co-worker of mine has the disease in her flock from Atwoods or Tractor Supply chicks. We both have kids who were devastated by these losses. I really really wish that we had been as cautious as you in acquiring our birds! I see all of these people on BYC who swap and buy and rehome chickens and am amazed that they don’t suffer these same consequences! I wouldn’t wish this disease on anyone; this has been a very sobering life lesson for my teen daughter, whose project this is. She is so tender hearted and had never lost a beloved person or pet before this.

Wow, I'm so sorry to hear it has been so difficult. I can only imagine and I wouldn't want to be without my fluffy butts for over a year either. In the very beginning, I wasn't as cautious, I just got lucky. Now I'm so cautious it's probably a bit extreme and my local chicken friend's laugh at me but I don't care! When I go to anyone else's property that owns poultry I go straight to the laundry room and put the outfit I was wearing in the washing machine and even clean my shoes. When they come to my house I have a shelf of unopened "chicken shoes" (flip flops) to offer them if they want to visit with the girls. Haha! If the people buying chicks from me knew the lengths I went to in order to offer them a healthy chick I could probably charge more. Haha!

 

[jolenesdad]

Without extreme measures, like no chickens for a year and a half, you are stuck with Marek’s. We got the disease in the flock when we bought chicks from a well-known, NPIP certified, Oklahoman (2 hr drive) breeder. A co-worker of mine has the disease in her flock from Atwoods or Tractor Supply chicks. We both have kids who were devastated by these losses. I really really wish that we had been as cautious as you in acquiring our birds! I see all of these people on BYC who swap and buy and rehome chickens and am amazed that they don’t suffer these same consequences! I wouldn’t wish this disease on anyone; this has been a very sobering life lesson for my teen daughter, whose project this is. She is so tender hearted and had never lost a beloved person or pet before this.

So sorry. I think it’s comforting to know in the LONG RUN with Mareks on your property, you’re building some VERY strong birds, those that make it. Perhaps it would be interesting for your daughter to learn about landrace breeds? I’ve always sort of thought if I ever get into breeding THATS what I want to do... develop birds specifically for my area, working on the long game, taking into account the health and longevity of the producers in the flock.

I feel like I have read after a set time, like 2.5 years, the disease is inactive on your property? But does that mean while you may not continue to suffer losses you still shouldn’t be sending chicks elsewhere?

I keep a closed flock and I just almost blew it adding a few five week old Delawares to my meat bird pens. What was I thinking? Yes it was a very respected breeder.... but they also sold me straight run chicks that oh so conveniently turned out to ALL be male.

@CluckNDoodle i hatched 50 eggs, really just wanting one Opal legbar.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

I feel like I’m bringing down what should hopefully be a pretty happy thread about our love for hatching chicks! So, to make up for it, I’m posting pictures of BCM 9-ball, our hen that successfully hatched 12 chicks! All 12 are still going strong at 1 mo of age. 9 Ball is so amazing, working so smartly and diligently to keep her babies happy and to integrate the babies with the flock.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

I feel like I’m bringing down what should hopefully be a pretty happy thread about our love for hatching chicks! So, to make up for it, I’m posting pictures of BCM 9-ball, our hen that successfully hatched 12 chicks! All 12 are still going strong at 1 mo of age. 9 Ball is so amazing, working so smartly and diligently to keep her babies happy and to integrate the babies with the flock.

Not at all! We're all learning from each other and these things are part of the chicken/duck/goose experience and good to know and be prepared for!
Look at all those babies!! So glad to hear they're all doing well too!

 

[starri33]

We have "hatch" , my broody was sitting on 4 eggs, 2 of which have hatched, I have 22 in one incubator and it's on day 4, 6 in another and they are on day 3. Don't know if you can make out the little yellow ball of fluff.. went to show he/she to a friend and she spotted another that blended in with the pine shavings.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

We have "hatch" , my broody was sitting on 4 eggs, 2 of which have hatched, I have 22 in one incubator and it's on day 4, 6 in another and they are on day 3. Don't know if you can make out the little yellow ball of fluff.. went to show he/she to a friend and she spotted another that blended in with the pine shavings.

Congrats on the broody hatch and good luck in the incubator!!

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

We have "hatch" , my broody was sitting on 4 eggs, 2 of which have hatched, I have 22 in one incubator and it's on day 4, 6 in another and they are on day 3. Don't know if you can make out the little yellow ball of fluff.. went to show he/she to a friend and she spotted another that blended in with the pine shavings.

Yeah!!!!