Maine

[hoppy]

get yourself a few turkeys. they will "vaccinate" your chickens for mereks

Whoops I lied. They are only sold out till Feb for now it looks like! That is a bummer that they dont lay dark dark eggs. They mention it on their website even! I would love to go local for all my day old chicks with specialty breeders BUT since there is the risk of Myreks on my land I want to make sure to get vaccinated ones though, I have a few who are not vaccinated and they are fine. I don't think I want to risk it.

 

[ashandvine]

Whoops I lied. They are only sold out till Feb for now it looks like! That is a bummer that they dont lay dark dark eggs. They mention it on their website even! I would love to go local for all my day old chicks with specialty breeders BUT since there is the risk of Myreks on my land I want to make sure to get vaccinated ones though, I have a few who are not vaccinated and they are fine. I don't think I want to risk it.

The vaccine is simple and easy and you can retro vaccinate your birds. When ordered you get the smallest needles, usually diabetic ones in my experience, and give it to them near their nape. Its a one time dose and when you buy it, like most things, you have more than enough to do all your chickens. I am planning to hatch FCBM from dark layers and reputable breeding stock. I will pm pics of my breeders to those who ask and maybe on the thread later when they have developed a little farther. They are still under a year so they are still developing some traits. I have Wellie girls and have connections to very nice stock in NH for when they start to lay IF their eggs are dark and I need to learn more about their SOP standards. I 'think' mine are pretty good for type but I haven't spent a lot of time learning them like I have my other breeds.
For those looking for dark eggs who are NOT interested in standards or breeding ask anyone who is breeding for their melanized gals. Usually they are culled from the pen but the melanizers are linked with darker tinting of the eggs as well.

 

[MustardTiger]

Interesting. I am a newb and thus far not too concerned with SOP or breeding. I do however like rainbow eggs and pretty chickens Why are the melanized ones culled? Because they do not meet SOP - youd think there would be a demand for those just because of egg color even if they are not appropriate breeding stock.

Ah I was planning on getting a couple turkeys anyway. Id prefer that to vaccinating them myself but I am certainly not opposed to doing it on my own either.

 

[hoppy]

what does this mean?"melanized gals"?

ask anyone who is breeding for their melanized gals. Usually they are culled from the pen but the melanizers are linked with darker tinting of the eggs as well.

 

[gracejr]

what does this mean?"melanized gals"?

Wondering the same thing?

My mother really wants to add a dark layer to her flock. She couldn't care less about the bird color or breed standards, she just wants some dark brown eggs. I'd think there would be a lot of people out there who just want the color variety.

 

[gracejr]

Heated water, again...

This is the waterer I have: http://www.tractorsupply.com/harris-farms-double-wall-drinker-5-gal--2167191

Any suggestions on which/what kind of heated water base I should get? Or should I get one of those all in one dog waterers that has the water basin and heater all in one product?

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Heated water, again...
This is the waterer I have: http://www.tractorsupply.com/harris-farms-double-wall-drinker-5-gal--2167191
Any suggestions on which/what kind of heated water base I should get? Or should I get one of those all in one dog waterers that has the water basin and heater all in one product?

I use this one with the same waterer
http://www.tractorsupply.com/farm-innovators-heated-base-for-poultry-water-feeder-2167298

I have about 45-50 girls, I fill the thing up and change it every 2 days in the winter. I run a 100 foot heavy gauge cord to it. It's indoor. Works great. The waterer has never frozen over no matter how cold it is, and even though the waterer is indoors, it's probably only 4 feet from the big pop door and the pop door window, at the most.

 

[gracejr]

Thanks!



ETA: Do you know if there are any sort of battery operated heaters out there that work? In case we wait on getting an extension cord...?

 

[Widget]

Thanks!
ETA: Do you know if there are any sort of battery operated heaters out there that work? In case we wait on getting an extension cord...?

None that I have come across are battery operated. Not sure how long batteries would last in the freezing weather. Someone with talent could probably hook a heater up to a marine cell type battery to provide power.

 

[Mainechick168]

Thanks!
ETA: Do you know if there are any sort of battery operated heaters out there that work? In case we wait on getting an extension cord...?

I searched online for a battery operated one and had no luck. If anyone ever found one I would be interested though!