Michigan

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I agree

I have an extra large dog crate that I can put a nest box and food and water in. Should I still take her out so she can poop once or twice a day? How long is TOO long for her to be off the eggs, or will she know that? So if all goes well, I should have chicks on or about Jan. 19!
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Now I just have to figure out how to separate her and the chicks from the other chickens. That won't be so easy. See, the chicks aren't even here and I'm stressing out already.
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I don't know how you guys go through the incubation process! I'm also thinking about vaccinations for Marek's and instead of vaccinating for cocci I will just feed medicated starter. Does anyone else vaccinate their chicks and if so, any others I should be thinking about?

I just read the following and am now rethinking vaccinating.

DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE

Commercial poultry are usually vaccinated to protect them against a variety of diseases. Vaccination, however, is seldom practiced by small flock owners. There may be several reasons for this, including:

• Rarely have disease problems
• Unaware that disease is present
• Do not get the disease properly diagnosed
• Do not know where to purchase vaccines
• Too expensive because poultry vaccines usually come in 500 to 10,000 dose vials.

Unfortunately, small poultry flocks do suffer from many diseases which could be controlled through appropriate vaccination. These diseases may result in loss of income from the sale of eggs, meat or stock. Other losses may include death of valuable breeding stock, or the inability to participate at poultry shows. This can be especially devastating for youth with 4-H or FFA projects.

Deciding whether or not to vaccinate against a disease depends on the likelihood that the birds in a flock may be exposed to that specific disease. If a flock is closed, such that new birds are never introduced and the birds that leave the farm are not permitted to return, the likelihood of many diseases is greatly reduced. In these cases, since the risk is small, the owner may decide not to vaccinate.

Vaccination should be considered if the flock owner has experienced one or more of the following:
• Takes birds to poultry shows
• Buys birds from hatcheries, bird auctions, or other sources and adds them to an existing flock
• Has had disease problems in the past

Farmerboy - If you're still up for adoption I'll take you and your sisters!!
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Your cow barn is awesome and I can't wait to see pictures once the fence is up.
 
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Quote:
I agree

I have an extra large dog crate that I can put a nest box and food and water in. Should I still take her out so she can poop once or twice a day? How long is TOO long for her to be off the eggs, or will she know that? So if all goes well, I should have chicks on or about Jan. 19!
jumpy.gif
Now I just have to figure out how to separate her and the chicks from the other chickens. That won't be so easy. See, the chicks aren't even here and I'm stressing out already.
sad.png
I don't know how you guys go through the incubation process! I'm also thinking about vaccinations for Marek's and instead of vaccinating for cocci I will just feed medicated starter. Does anyone else vaccinate their chicks and if so, any others I should be thinking about?

Farmerboy - If you're still up for adoption I'll take you and your sisters!!
thumbsup.gif
Your cow barn is awesome and I can't wait to see pictures once the fence is up.

No, he's mine, I asked first
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I would let her out twice a day if possible so she can poo. I don't worry about keeping my hens with babies seperated after a couple of days. Mama hens are usually fierce protectors.
 
Quote:
I agree

I have an extra large dog crate that I can put a nest box and food and water in. Should I still take her out so she can poop once or twice a day? How long is TOO long for her to be off the eggs, or will she know that? So if all goes well, I should have chicks on or about Jan. 19!
jumpy.gif
Now I just have to figure out how to separate her and the chicks from the other chickens. That won't be so easy. See, the chicks aren't even here and I'm stressing out already.
sad.png
I don't know how you guys go through the incubation process! I'm also thinking about vaccinations for Marek's and instead of vaccinating for cocci I will just feed medicated starter. Does anyone else vaccinate their chicks and if so, any others I should be thinking about?

Farmerboy - If you're still up for adoption I'll take you and your sisters!!
thumbsup.gif
Your cow barn is awesome and I can't wait to see pictures once the fence is up.

Lol, well I have 5 sisters, so take your pick.
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But my parents will not allow that to happen.
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I plan to use a real camera, and take lots of pictures when the fence is done, and the bull calves exploring 3 whole acres. I am trying to convince my parents that we can get a cow for milk use. We go through about 2 to 3 gallons of milk a day, so it would be practical to buy a cow, like a Jersey. Right? I found a 3 year old Jersey cow that is due to have a calf in March on Craigslist. I would like to check her out before buying her. My mom said that its up to my dad. Will try asking again tomorrow.
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Quote:
You're BAD!! You and Keyt, EGGING me on!
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Well, today I put four eggs under my broody, I felt so sorry for her. I gave her a BR, a FBCM, and ISA and an EE egg. Now what? I'm nervous already. How long does it take and is there anything I need to do for her? I take her out of the nest box once or twice a day when I go out to the coop and make her go out in the yard and poop and eat and get a drink. Should I still keep doing that or should I be separating her from the other chickens? Don't laugh, I've never done this before! I have also been checking out the rare breeds at Greenfire farms and found one that is spectacular, but WAY out of my price range. Check out the Rhodebars at http://greenfirefarms.com/store/category/chickens/rhodebar/ They are auto-sexed and lay a sky blue tinted egg. I'm going to do some research and decide on a breed and then will ask you or Keyt or whoever is incubating at the time to hatch six of them for me. Thanks for offering to hatch for me babi!

Stacykins - That genetic hackle is awesome!!
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I just googled them and looks like it is not easy to find hatching eggs. Can I ask where you ordered yours from? What else do you know about them? Do they lay very well?

Lol!! I'd be to nervous to hatch those chickens. I'd have to take out insurance first! :lol
 
If we were buying chicks by the pound 99 cents might be considered expensive. However, a quick search of hatchery prices for chicks you will pay from $1.65 - $5.85 for each chick. Most private sales that I am aware of are usually $2.

Someone posted earlier about always washing their eggs and refrigerating them immediately to prevent them from "attracting" viruses. That is completely unnecessary. Eggs have a natural coating called the "bloom" that seals the egg. As long as they remain unwashed they are completely safe and will not absorb anything and can remain at room temperature for several weeks without spoiling. An additional factoid is that with the exception of ameraucana and auracana eggs, all eggs are white. The brown color, specks and spots occur as the "bloom" is applied as the egg exits the chicken. The color on a still wet egg can be smeared or even wiped off.
 
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