Michigan

[teeville5]

I must be a glutton for punishment. I have 6 roosters and 5 of them are in the same building. Sometimes they have quite a symphony going or maybe it's just a duel.

It only takes 1 for a crow-a-thon to begin!

 

[Farmerboy16]

Huh, I have 15 roosters- 11 Icelandics, 1 Tomaru, 2 Buff Orpingtons, and they all crow right after each other.
Anyone want an Icelandic roo or two?
I want to keep 5, rehome the other 5 as one is spoken for.

Olive- I do not not if there is any Icelandic cattle imported here. I know that Icelandic sheep have been, for RBahmer has some. I hope to have some in a few years.


I caught Helga the Icelandic pullet in the nest today, and when she went out, she left an egg!! Proof that she is laying!! So, all three pullets are laying!!

I got the names for all of my Icelandic flock-

So, here is what I picked out-


Fridrik

Birgir

Daði

Ingi

Boginn

Jóhanna

Lilja

Helga

 

[RaZ]

You are very fortunate Olive to have quiet roosters! In my neighborhood even one crow a year would be too much!

RaZ - you might want to see if anyone on here has taken a hen and put them with chicks. I did it and the hen wanted nothing to do with them.
I did not slip new chicks under a broody hen. I just brought home chicks and my hen was not interested at all until they were more her size.

Coccidia is in about one out of nine Michigan flocks. Not sure how many flocks carry respiratory disease. So the odds are in your favor but the risk is still there.

Sorry to be so negative, that happens when illness comes to your flock after introducing new birds. It is a powerful lesson.

I don't think you are being negative at all. Your experience and willingness to share is invaluable. I started last year not really knowing what I was getting into. I came to this group for advice and guidance and I've found that, along with friendship among people with similar interests. I can't begin to tell you how must I value that.

I take all advice into consideration and certainly appreciate the ernestness in which it is shared. As a steward to the critters that depend on me, I want only the best for their welfare.

Also, as a biologist, I am willing to try some techniques that may seem to be experimental to some. But never will I cause active harm to my flock. Nor will I attempt any questionable practice.


OK, so maybe having cable TV in the coop is detrimental to the intelligence of the flock.

 

[Mom 2em All]

If I were you, I would try to get a flockmate of Gravy's because she has already lived with 1Muttsfans chickens and did well.......mixing in chickens from a third flock might bring in something to your flock that you don't care to bring in.

No offense to MOM2EM but honestly, the less different flocks you pull your birds from - the less risk you take of losing your existing flock.

I understand that you say no offense to me, but I can't help but feel some. If we all followed what you are proposing, there would be no chicken exchanges at Chickenstock, or from the farm supply store, or from the hatcheries- none at all. We would all have completely closed flocks. forever. And with no roos, that would make it end very quickly.
I am so sorry for your hens, and sickness, and what you had to go through to make the decision you did. Im sorry you had to learn a hard lesson, and I feel really bad that it happened.
However, I feel that sometimes, people can be too cautious. With their animals, with their kids, etc.

I was always a mom that didnt worry about my kids getting dirty- they played hard, and they washed up before eating, before going to bed. I was a kid- I grew up jumping in creeks and catching crawdads-and sinking neck deep in the swamp to catch a turtle. Salamanders in my pocket- and putting worms on hooks to go fishin..pettin cows and puppies and pullin ticks out from between puppies toes and ears, sittin in the dirt. Thankfully we are washable. I raised mine the same way.

In tech school, I did the vet tech part of endurance races in Big Rapids area- and to say its a dirty job is puttin it mild. I shared a sandwich with the top vet of the Dept of Agriculture- our hands covered in dirt from the sweaty horses out on the trails. We laughed and said- sure do hope we have good immune systems.

I spend my days sending out cultures and fecal samples and blood samples and being exposed to leptosporosis- and educating the public about zoonoses, and coccidia and giardia and parvo and how a dirty water puddle can carry these single celled organisms that their pets have contracted. How squirrel urine can carry leptosporosis and if humans get it, it can destroy your kidneys. I preach the importance of cleaning up after your pet and vaccinating. I get urinated on, vomited on, bled on, oozed on, pooped on, sneezed on- Then, I come home, and I garden without gloves on.

There are risks in everything we do. I believe that we can either live in a bubble, or we can take precautions and hope for the best. I have brought home chickens from other people, and I have been fortunate. I have not had an entire flock fall ill like you did, and like Farmerboy did. The risk is there, but I still take the risk. I also feed the wild birds and squirrels out back, and I rehab some wild animals.

I would feel terrible if someone lost their flock because I unknowingly gave them birds that were carrying something. However, everyone needs to realize that every single time they carry in a bag of feed from the feed store, they run the risk of bringing something home. You arent the only one that has handled that feed, and also grain/feed mills have mice and rats. Or if they give their birds vegetables from the grocery store- or if they walk through the garden center and then plant things from there into their own yards. The soil is not sterile.

You didnt say anything wrong- I just have baggage. I have spent the past eighteen years defending myself and my animals because every single time one of my kids get sick, someone in the family tree on some branch somewhere wants to say its because "of all those animals" I have. So, its simply baggage- my own, and nobody elses to deal with.

I don't disagree with anything that you have pointed out. I consider bio-security as a top priority. Especially as I learn more from this forum and outside research.

I may have started this flock adventure not knowing anything except childhood memories of keeping chickens based on what my parents and grand-parents did 40 some years ago. I've learned a lot and still have lots to learn.

Having said that, my current flock is from at least 3 different sources and were raised with chicks and ducks in more-or-less open conditions. The first batch of chicks came from TSC, then a batch of ducks came from another TSC. The a few more chicks were added to the mix from the second TSC but about 2-3 weeks later. Then I had the episode with my neighbor and I got rid of some chicks by giving them to another BYC member. After a month or so, I got those BO chicks back and re-introduced them to the BSLs without any quarantine process at all. Other than a bit of pecking order re-organiztion, no problems were encountered.



I do appreciate the comments everyone has offered and I will not do anything that may bring any harm to my flock.

I live close and I have them if you decide you would like to have a couple. If not, I understand.



Goodnight everyone.

 

[Chickmate]

Also, as a biologist, I am willing to try some techniques that may seem to be experimental to some. But never will I cause active harm to my flock. Nor will I attempt any questionable practice.


OK, so maybe having cable TV in the coop is detrimental to the intelligence of the flock.

And groping would be "experimental"? I certainly consider it questionable!

 

[RBahmer]

Huh, I have 15 roosters- 11 Icelandics, 1 Tomaru, 2 Buff Orpingtons, and they all crow right after each other.

Anyone want an Icelandic roo or two?

I want to keep 5, rehome the other 5 as one is spoken for.
Olive- I do not not if there is any Icelandic cattle imported here. I know that Icelandic sheep have been, for RBahmer has some. I hope to have some in a few years.
I caught Helga the Icelandic pullet in the nest today, and when she went out, she left an egg!! Proof that she is laying!! So, all three pullets are laying!!

I got the names for all of my Icelandic flock-
So, here is what I picked out-
Fridrik

Birgir

Daði

Ingi

Boginn

Jóhanna

Lilja

Helga

I like Boginn. He is gorgeous. There is a lady that lives about 3 miles from me that has a whole flock of Icelandic sheep. So expensive though. I would have to sell at least 5 of my hair sheep just to get one from her and then it wouldn't be a registered one at that !

 

[Farmerboy16]

Good point Mom 2em all.

 

[fuzzybutt love]

I use Kent multi flock, I'm feeding ducks, geese, peafowl,guineas, and chickens, & quail. I give them free choice scratch, wheat, and multi flock, the quail, I have been giving kent's gamebird 27%, the hens I give layer. Everybody is doing well. I think Kent is a better food than purina, I hope so, its more expensive.

Thank you. I am tired of fancy packaging and wanted a real person's opinion. I will not do purina/dumor on account of my cat getting sick off it and my chickens getting the runs from the chick starter. I like the manna pro a lot, but they don't make a 50# feed bag.

 

[RBahmer]

I understand that you say no offense to me, but I can't help but feel some. If we all followed what you are proposing, there would be no chicken exchanges at Chickenstock, or from the farm supply store, or from the hatcheries- none at all. We would all have completely closed flocks. forever. And with no roos, that would make it end very quickly.
I am so sorry for your hens, and sickness, and what you had to go through to make the decision you did. Im sorry you had to learn a hard lesson, and I feel really bad that it happened.
However, I feel that sometimes, people can be too cautious. With their animals, with their kids, etc.

I was always a mom that didnt worry about my kids getting dirty- they played hard, and they washed up before eating, before going to bed. I was a kid- I grew up jumping in creeks and catching crawdads-and sinking neck deep in the swamp to catch a turtle. Salamanders in my pocket- and putting worms on hooks to go fishin..pettin cows and puppies and pullin ticks out from between puppies toes and ears, sittin in the dirt. Thankfully we are washable. I raised mine the same way.

In tech school, I did the vet tech part of endurance races in Big Rapids area- and to say its a dirty job is puttin it mild. I shared a sandwich with the top vet of the Dept of Agriculture- our hands covered in dirt from the sweaty horses out on the trails. We laughed and said- sure do hope we have good immune systems.

I spend my days sending out cultures and fecal samples and blood samples and being exposed to leptosporosis- and educating the public about zoonoses, and coccidia and giardia and parvo and how a dirty water puddle can carry these single celled organisms that their pets have contracted. How squirrel urine can carry leptosporosis and if humans get it, it can destroy your kidneys. I preach the importance of cleaning up after your pet and vaccinating. I get urinated on, vomited on, bled on, oozed on, pooped on, sneezed on- Then, I come home, and I garden without gloves on.

There are risks in everything we do. I believe that we can either live in a bubble, or we can take precautions and hope for the best. I have brought home chickens from other people, and I have been fortunate. I have not had an entire flock fall ill like you did, and like Farmerboy did. The risk is there, but I still take the risk. I also feed the wild birds and squirrels out back, and I rehab some wild animals.

I would feel terrible if someone lost their flock because I unknowingly gave them birds that were carrying something. However, everyone needs to realize that every single time they carry in a bag of feed from the feed store, they run the risk of bringing something home. You arent the only one that has handled that feed, and also grain/feed mills have mice and rats. Or if they give their birds vegetables from the grocery store- or if they walk through the garden center and then plant things from there into their own yards. The soil is not sterile.

You didnt say anything wrong- I just have baggage. I have spent the past eighteen years defending myself and my animals because every single time one of my kids get sick, someone in the family tree on some branch somewhere wants to say its because "of all those animals" I have. So, its simply baggage- my own, and nobody elses to deal with.





I live close and I have them if you decide you would like to have a couple. If not, I understand.



Goodnight everyone.

Having studied vet tech myself I agree whole heartily with you. Just like I used to tell people who bought puppies from me when I bred Cockers. I have vaccinated your puppy with one vaccine. Do NOT take your puppy to the park or to your friends house then call me or bring it back because it has parvovirus !!! Vaccines are NOT 100% even when given the right amount of shots. Everything is a risk. Just go with it and do the best you can.

 

[Farmerboy16]

I need some tech help. I am fed up with those ads pop ups on the monitor, its slowing it down and interfering too much. Anyway to prevent ads popping up out of nowhere? It has nothing to do with BYC. Thanks for any help.