Maine

[lazy gardener]

Super Coop: I got my chicks from Murray McMurray. Granted, hatchery is not at all competitive with breeder stock, but I only wanted a few, and it was the most cost effective way to get the breeds I wanted for this year. They are small, and are growing and feathering out fast. They bounce around in the brooder like little ping pong balls. I actually think that one of mine is a rooster... so, if I'm pleased with the way this breed performs, I may keep the roo and produce some chicks from them in the spring.

No more chick losses since yesterday, and all are acting well in spite of my yo-yoing brooder temps. I tweaked it down a bit at 3 AM, and woke up to 66 this morning. They soaked up some heat when I turned it back up again, and have been fine today. They are chowing on the fermented feed... but have dry available. They're getting Nutri-drench at every other filling of their waterer, and got a chunk of sod turned upside down today.

Q.T. Soon????

 

[dowgirl71]

LG, I just wanted to post a picture of the EE chick I got from you. She's doing great!! Still bigger than the other two I have and seems to be the boss, but she's so cute. She's fitting in quite well! It's funny, too. When I take out one of the others, she chirps quite loudly looking for them. Seems to have to know where everyone is.

We've named her Suzy and the other two in the back are Lucy (BR chick) and Saty (SLW chick). Thanks for Suzy!

 

[dowgirl71]

LG, I just wanted to post a picture of the EE chick I got from you. She's doing great!! Still bigger than the other two I have and seems to be the boss, but she's so cute. She's fitting in quite well! It's funny, too. When I take out one of the others, she chirps quite loudly looking for them. Seems to have to know where everyone is.

We've named her Suzy and the other two in the back are Lucy (BR chick) and Saty (SLW chick). Thanks for Suzy!

Those brown specks in the picture are pieces of mealworm, just FYI.

 

[quailtrail]

Still nothing...even DH thinks today way #21...& said I can't have kiddo count down...but nothing yet...

 

[farmgirl89]

I am newer to BYC and i have had chickens for a year now and of course i couldn't stop at the 4 that i had. I ordered 31 chicks through tsc and ended up buying 6 partridge rocks and 6 production reds from tsc then i ordered 10 silkies through ideal poultry and they sent 11 extra RIR roos for warmth!!! I have chicks coming out of my ears.

I also bought a BCM from a local couple but he has had diarrhea (most of the time) since i bought him. I am not sure what the problem is, he is four months old and he is growing nicely and has put on weight since he has been here, so I'm not really sure if it is a parasite problem. The people i bought him off said that they were feeding him tsc feed and I am also feeding that so no big change in diet. Can anyone help me? Anyone know of a good vet that is near the Bath area just in case?

 

[buckabucka]

I am newer to BYC and i have had chickens for a year now and of course i couldn't stop at the 4 that i had. I ordered 31 chicks through tsc and ended up buying 6 partridge rocks and 6 production reds from tsc then i ordered 10 silkies through ideal poultry and they sent 11 extra RIR roos for warmth!!! I have chicks coming out of my ears.

I also bought a BCM from a local couple but he has had diarrhea (most of the time) since i bought him. I am not sure what the problem is, he is four months old and he is growing nicely and has put on weight since he has been here, so I'm not really sure if it is a parasite problem. The people i bought him off said that they were feeding him tsc feed and I am also feeding that so no big change in diet. Can anyone help me? Anyone know of a good vet that is near the Bath area just in case?

Chickens out of my ears here, too. Do you think your Marans could have coccidiosis? Everyone's soil is different. I brought a chick here once, 5 weeks old, that looked active and healthy but quickly went downhill. I force-fed some medicated chick feed (not a normal treatment, I realize) and she sprang back. I don't know if diarrhea is a sign of cocci. Is he lethargic?

 

[Jazor]

I am newer to BYC and i have had chickens for a year now and of course i couldn't stop at the 4 that i had. I ordered 31 chicks through tsc and ended up buying 6 partridge rocks and 6 production reds from tsc then i ordered 10 silkies through ideal poultry and they sent 11 extra RIR roos for warmth!!! I have chicks coming out of my ears.

I also bought a BCM from a local couple but he has had diarrhea (most of the time) since i bought him. I am not sure what the problem is, he is four months old and he is growing nicely and has put on weight since he has been here, so I'm not really sure if it is a parasite problem. The people i bought him off said that they were feeding him tsc feed and I am also feeding that so no big change in diet. Can anyone help me? Anyone know of a good vet that is near the Bath area just in case?

I was going to (also) suggest either some medicated feed, or fermented feed. Some people swear it's the fix.

Not sure if it's coccidiosis or not, I'm not an expert--but I have heard that some breeds are more prone to digestive issues and the type of feed you give them may not be agreeing with them. I think this is more common in meat birds, but that doesn't mean your Roo couldn't be an exception.

Thread on Coccidiosis may be helpful.

 

[farmgirl89]

Thanks for the help. He seems happy other than the diarrhea. I'm going to try the medicated feed see how that works. I been wanting to try fermenting some feed so I guess I got a good excuse now. Hope this works.

 

[lazy gardener]

Chicks did much better last night. It seems that I finally have a better handle on the temp in the big brooder. The 3 Doms are looking like they are coming into their own now. From my experience, McMurray Doms are fragile chicks, but once they get past the first few days, they do great, and become pack leaders in foraging behaviors. However, I think these 3 little ones will have some stiff competition from the RCBL.

Dow Girl, the SLW you gave me is fitting in nicely also.

They all look like they have been in a perpetual food fight due to the slinging that goes on when they are wading in the fermented feed. I put out a pint of it before going to bed last night, and they had licked the bowl clean by morning.

I think that next year, any new chicks that I add will be by way of hatching eggs. I'd love to put out the challenge to every one who has the space and the desire, to maintain one breed of pure stock. Doesn't have to be show quality, as any thing that is home produced will be better than what the hatcheries are providing. Then, the state of Maine would be set up to be self supplying. It would be fantastic if we could develop a co-op of folks who have the capacity to hatch, as well as those able to provide good eggs. I have the supplies on hand to build a dorm refrigerator incubator. That should hold a lot of eggs! And, if my new coop plan comes together, it should have a 4 x 8 storage room. A little space heater in that room would turn it into the perfect hatching room, so I can keep all of the mess out of the house. (That should please Hubby!) That should be a nice winter project.

Farm girl '89: Ditto what Jazor said, particularly about the fermented feed. This little BCM may have his intestinal flora out of wack. If he is acting normal, not at all lethargic, I think the fermented feed would be a good starting place. I notice that when my flock is on it, their poos are a much firmer consistency, and not stinky like they are on regular feed. Also, fermented feed is very kind to the wallet. You'll find that your flock will eat less food, while maximizing the nutritional uptake from the FF compared to non-fermented. Also, there is no waste when they eat FF. I do hope that while you are indulging in the chicken math, that you are quarantining your new birds. The recommendation is 4 weeks, but IMO at least 2 weeks is helpful, and gives time for anything that may be incubating to come to the fore front, as well as giving you time to assess the birds for any problems inclucing mites/lice.

 

[lazy gardener]

Chicks did much better last night. It seems that I finally have a better handle on the temp in the big brooder. The 3 Doms are looking like they are coming into their own now. From my experience, McMurray Doms are fragile chicks, but once they get past the first few days, they do great, and become pack leaders in foraging behaviors. However, I think these 3 little ones will have some stiff competition from the RCBL.

Dow Girl, the SLW you gave me is fitting in nicely also. Suzy has beautiful legs. You got a very nice little girl there!!!

They all look like they have been in a perpetual food fight due to the slinging that goes on when they are wading in the fermented feed. I put out a pint of it before going to bed last night, and they had licked the bowl clean by morning.

I think that next year, any new chicks that I add will be by way of hatching eggs. I'd love to put out the challenge to every one who has the space and the desire, to maintain one breed of pure stock. Doesn't have to be show quality, as any thing that is home produced will be better than what the hatcheries are providing. Then, the state of Maine would be set up to be self supplying. It would be fantastic if we could develop a co-op of folks who have the capacity to hatch, as well as those able to provide good eggs. I have the supplies on hand to build a dorm refrigerator incubator. That should hold a lot of eggs! And, if my new coop plan comes together, it should have a 4 x 8 storage room. A little space heater in that room would turn it into the perfect hatching room, so I can keep all of the mess out of the house. (That should please Hubby!) That should be a nice winter project.

Farm girl '89: Ditto what Jazor said, particularly about the fermented feed. This little BCM may have his intestinal flora out of wack. If he is acting normal, not at all lethargic, I think the fermented feed would be a good starting place. I notice that when my flock is on it, their poos are a much firmer consistency, and not stinky like they are on regular feed. Also, fermented feed is very kind to the wallet. You'll find that your flock will eat less food, while maximizing the nutritional uptake from the FF compared to non-fermented. Also, there is no waste when they eat FF. I do hope that while you are indulging in the chicken math, that you are quarantining your new birds. The recommendation is 4 weeks, but IMO at least 2 weeks is helpful, and gives time for anything that may be incubating to come to the fore front, as well as giving you time to assess the birds for any problems inclucing mites/lice.