Michigan

[chicken grandma]

I am almost to the point of they are chickens. Sometimes they just get sick. We would all need to live in bubbles to not spread diseases from clothing, shoes, hair, whatever. If one gets sick and dies, just try to fix the problem, learn from it, and try to take steps to not let it happen again. Just my two cents.

Theron, you and Daron are in business of selling chickens to backyard farmers. When we buy from you we want to know that we are not buying chickens who will bring MG or Coccidia to our flocks. Because those two diseases in particular are almost impossible to get off your farm/yard.

Some of us who have had to put down our flocks because of illness are warned, but a new backyard farmer may not know to ask if the chickens he/she is buying are healthy or carrying disease like MG or Coccidia. MG and Coccidia will eventually kill your chickens. Because the chickens over time will develop complications from those chronic diseases.
When I buy chickens again, I will only buy from someone who tests their chickens and can sell me healthy birds.

 

[chicken grandma]

The short answer: Because it requires people to put logic and pragmatism ahead of emotion.

YES, I am the biggest softie on the Michigan Thread. And I euthanized my favorite 'duccle hen 'Bobbi' and my new pullets. And do you all know why I did that? I chose that so that I did not spread this disease of MG to YOUR FLOCKS. As much as I love animals, I love people more.
I live two miles from SJ3364. I go to the feed store. And if I kept a flock with MG in my backyard, I would be putting your flocks at risk. The wild birds carry this disease from farm to farm.
While I hope that Farmerboy finds a cure for MG, the vets at M.S.U. are trying to help us stop the spread of the disease. I think we should listen to their suggestions and try to protect each others flocks as best we can.

http://www.bah.state.mn.us/diseases/mycoplasma/mycoplasma-testing.html
They were able to clean up their flocks, why can't we?

We can and I would like to suggest that WE DO. In the 1960's farmers in Michigan lost 50-60% of their flocks to Mareks disease. That was changed because of vaccines. It may be that we have to pay a bit more for chicks and vaccinate for MG and Cocci. Meanwhile, if you have flocks who have those diseases, please consider not selling//giving your birds or eggs to other BYC members.

 

[un-named543]

Theron, you and Daron are in business of selling chickens to backyard farmers. When we buy from you we want to know that we are not buying chickens who will bring MG or Coccidia to our flocks. Because those two diseases in particular are almost impossible to get off your farm/yard.

Some of us who have had to put down our flocks because of illness are warned, but a new backyard farmer may not know to ask if the chickens he/she is buying are healthy or carrying disease like MG or Coccidia. MG and Coccidia will eventually kill your chickens. Because the chickens over time will develop complications from those chronic diseases.
When I buy chickens again, I will only buy from someone who tests their chickens and can sell me healthy birds.

I only have 11 birds, all pets not to be bred, shown or sold, but nevertheless I should study up on the major diseases. How can you trust one's word that they test and the birds you buy are healthy? Perhaps only buy from folks you know well?

 

[Wickischickies]

Hi Daron, If you hatch 38 chicks you would have to do 38 swab tests to know that they are all free of MG. If one has MG it will be spread to the others within a week. So that is why it is recommended that you cull chickens who have MG and then wait two weeks, sterilize everything and then start over with eggs or chickens that are not from a flock that has MG.
I know you want to make this a business and sell these chickens to others so I know you really want to get rid of the MG on your farm. I think the cost of all these swab tests are going to be very expensive. If you do a swab test on a random few chicks in the brooder, that does not mean that another chick in there is not carrying it I think you may have to treat, test and retest for quite a while before you can ethically sell a chicken to someone as MG free. And that is just expensive.

To be MG free, one must swab a sample of each coop. You can swab up to 6 chicks per swab. MSU has a site with all the information needed at www.animalhealth.msu.edu pertaining to where to send your swabs and the price. I think the price was $18 per swab. To be labeled as MG free in Michigan you have to have your flock tested every three months.

 

[Mom 2em All]

THERON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Check out the super cool coloring on this chick from you:

This is one that came from one of the Ostrich eggs. Half ostrich, half chicken?



And more of them:

 

[Olive Hill]

YES, I am the biggest softie on the Michigan Thread. And I euthanized my favorite 'duccle hen 'Bobbi' and my new pullets. And do you all know why I did that? I chose that so that I did not spread this disease of MG to YOUR FLOCKS. As much as I love animals, I love people more.
I live two miles from SJ3364. I go to the feed store. And if I kept a flock with MG in my backyard, I would be putting your flocks at risk. The wild birds carry this disease from farm to farm.
While I hope that Farmerboy finds a cure for MG, the vets at M.S.U. are trying to help us stop the spread of the disease. I think we should listen to their suggestions and try to protect each others flocks as best we can.

See, but that's the problem. Very few people will inconvenience themselves for others.

 

[Olive Hill]

I only have 11 birds, all pets not to be bred, shown or sold, but nevertheless I should study up on the major diseases. How can you trust one's word that they test and the birds you buy are healthy? Perhaps only buy from folks you know well?

As with any type of stock, if they're testing they will have the test results and should have no problem showing you.

 

[theron]

Theron, you and Daron are in business of selling chickens to backyard farmers. When we buy from you we want to know that we are not buying chickens who will bring MG or Coccidia to our flocks. Because those two diseases in particular are almost impossible to get off your farm/yard.

Some of us who have had to put down our flocks because of illness are warned, but a new backyard farmer may not know to ask if the chickens he/she is buying are healthy or carrying disease like MG or Coccidia. MG and Coccidia will eventually kill your chickens. Because the chickens over time will develop complications from those chronic diseases.
When I buy chickens again, I will only buy from someone who tests their chickens and can sell me healthy birds.

Don't get me wrong, my birds are healthy and I have never had a sickness in my whole flock. We have had one or two pass away from heat exhaustion or untreatable wounds, but never a sick bird. If I ever had a severe outbreak or problem, I wouldn't sell any birds to other people. I would deal with the problem, try to understand where I went wrong, and prevent it from happening again. To tell you the truth, I haven't had my birds tested for diseases. I have boughten eggs and birds from those I know do or have only ever bought birds from me. So unless there is a problem, I can't see going out and getting tests done unless they need it. If people don't want to buy birds from me, then don't. That is your own decision. I am not trying to sound harsh. Just want to let everyone know how I see it.

 

[theron]

THERON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Check out the super cool coloring on this chick from you:

This is one that came from one of the Ostrich eggs. Half ostrich, half chicken?



And more of them:

They are cute!

 

[SillyChicken]

Remind me never to go to TSC at lunch....

I found this little guy w/ PB really bad.. so.. I cleaned him up and got some water in him.
Wow did he have alot of poo backed up!
I'm actually sitting here at work with him in my lap trying to keep him warm.
I hope he makes it. Any suggestions on helping him along?
Do you think vitamin or antibiotic water would be best?