Michigan

[NovaAman]

Hi guys, I feel like I am party crashing here...

I live in West Michigan and soon will be picking up 5 new 8 - 10 week chicks from Destiny Farm over in Brighton area.

I was hoping I could hear from one or more people who have had experience with them, particularly in reference to how insanely carefully I should quarantine the new chicks.

I have heard that you don't need to quarantine chicks from a hatchery, but as this is a farm hatchery and also because the chicks are not day olds, I am assuming I should.

We have 5 hens that we have had for a year now, so adding to the flock is a new enterprise for us. I would appreciate any info anyone has for me, thanks!

Welcome Juise. If they still need light and a brooder, they'll be separate anyway... Mine were 2 wks when I got them, and at 6 weeks, they were moved to their own coop outside next to the other coops. Then they were followed the door open, and finally I let them in their own run where they could be seen but not hurt. Now they run around the yard with the big girls. That was the extent of the separation...

 

[RaZ]

I don't expect anything... Only I am prepared for nothing! Lol. Heaves all excited when he got home over Dr. Seuss birthday... They celebrated it at school...

October 21st was officially named as Will Carleton Day in Michigan.
I'd rather read Over the Hill to the Poor House than get the heaves over Dr. Seuss.

 

[NovaAman]

are you all ready for the 60 mph winds they are calling for SW michigan

 

[Juise]

NovaAman - Thanks for your reply. These will be between 8 - 10 weeks old, so they will not be going in a brooder. Did you get yours from Destiny Farm?

 

[NovaAman]

no, from another byc member here in Norton Shores.

Since they are 8-10 weeks, I would quarantine just to be on the safe side. Then let them be seen for a while, then mingle. Better safe than sorry.

 

[NovaAman]

There is a Metra seminar/something... Going on at msu Tuesday I think it is. I saw that you posted for info on it previously on a different thread...

 

[Stacykins]

I feel like I am such a bad chicken mama! The snow is starting here, so I went and closed up the chooks early. I did a quick glance to check and make sure everyone was in. I thought I saw everyone! NOPE! I came back inside, and before long the beagle mix is barking at the front door! Lo and behold, my rooster Abe was tapping on the glass at beak level! He literally looked like he was saying "What the heck, lady?! You locked me out!"

He had no qualms about me scooping him up and bringing him inside the house until I could get snow boots on to bring him back to the coop. In fact, I am sure he would have happily spent the night with me!

I am just flabbergasted that he went to the front door. It isn't much of a wind break, not at all sheltered, so there isn't much of a reason for him to be there in the snow and wind. Unless he knew humans come too and fro out that door sometimes?

 

[NovaAman]

he was trying to guilt trip you.

 

[RaZ]

Hi guys, I feel like I am party crashing here...

I live in West Michigan and soon will be picking up 5 new 8 - 10 week chicks from Destiny Farm over in Brighton area.

I was hoping I could hear from one or more people who have had experience with them, particularly in reference to how insanely carefully I should quarantine the new chicks.

I have heard that you don't need to quarantine chicks from a hatchery, but as this is a farm hatchery and also because the chicks are not day olds, I am assuming I should.

We have 5 hens that we have had for a year now, so adding to the flock is a new enterprise for us. I would appreciate any info anyone has for me, thanks!

If you are bringing beer then you are not crashing the party Juise.

Bio-security and quarantine are never bad ideas. You'll find quite a few horror stories as well as successful introductions that have taken place. I can't speak about Destiny Farms as I haven't dealt with them. I can say that I've introduced new birds a couple of times over the past year with no problems or obvious signs of illness or disease. Maybe I've been lucky, but the birds I've introduced have been from fellow Michigan BYCers.

Still, I would suggest that if you have the means to keep the new birds separate from your existing flock for a time then do that. If not for the illness factor then for the pecking order issues that might arise.

Good luck and welcome to the forum.
Check out my signature links for ChickenStock information and make plans to attend if possible.

 

[RaZ]

I feel like I am such a bad chicken mama! The snow is starting here, so I went and closed up the chooks early. I did a quick glance to check and make sure everyone was in. I thought I saw everyone! NOPE! I came back inside, and before long the beagle mix is barking at the front door! Lo and behold, my rooster Abe was tapping on the glass at beak level! He literally looked like he was saying "What the heck, lady?! You locked me out!"

He had no qualms about me scooping him up and bringing him inside the house until I could get snow boots on to bring him back to the coop. In fact, I am sure he would have happily spent the night with me!

I am just flabbergasted that he went to the front door. It isn't much of a wind break, not at all sheltered, so there isn't much of a reason for him to be there in the snow and wind. Unless he knew humans come too and fro out that door sometimes?

It's not quite the same, but I get blue jays tapping on my kitchen window if I'm not out quick enough with the peanuts.