MJ's little flock

[Ribh]

Reading posts like this, and there are many of them on these forums makes me sad and angry.
How is it possible for chickens that should live to ten and twelve years old as a natural lifespan be dying at three and four.
This is a topic we often discuss at the chicken club and a topic I and a few others write to each other about.
The backyard chicken keeping movement is often unwittingly supporting the shortening of the chickens lifespan. Those who make money from the craze don't care.
I've been asked by some chicken keepers I know why I joined BYC; they would like to see the site closed down.
Getting chickens with good genetics in Australia and the USA is a major problem, particularly for heritage breeds. The cost and complications involved in importing a sufficient number of these breeds to enhance their genes is truly staggering so very few get imported and these are bred and bred to provide the thousands of heritage breeds wanted.
I can in theory travel to say Italy and go and inspect a flock of proper Leghorns; speak to the breeder, pick a breeding pair and return home with the minimum of paperwork and for not a huge amount of money. Many European enthusiasts do exactly this. If for example I wanted to keep Campines as Ribh does I could travel to Belgium and pick a pair or buy eggs and never go anywhere near a hatchery.
What I find even more angry making is on this and other forums, one gets told that hatchery stock are fine and you can buy with confidence. It's a lie. Anyone who knows anything about how the breeders and hatcheries operate must know that the chickens they stock are in general going to be genetically sub standard.
There are few areas where disinformation is perpetrated by the industry, the above is just one.

Trying to be ethical when your options are limited is difficult. I've bought from registered breeders each time knowing the birds are immunized, wormed, lice & mite free & have the best chance @ living out their expected life span. Importing is fraught with difficulties here but the difficulties are one reason we don't have so many of the diseases & illnesses that plague the U.S.

What I won't do is buy from back yard breeders who have no idea @ all about the genetics, & take no care or thought for anything but making a quick buck.

Optimally what I should do is invest in the very best breeding pair & go from there but that is not possible without a rooster & a rooster I cannot have. Most urban councils don't allow roosters & all this information is something we learn as we go along. My first flock were mostly rescues ~ ISA browns past their egg laying best but all I knew was they were being given a reprieve from the butcher & the pens. I'd never heard of reproductive issues. Now I won't touch them because I am much better informed. I have tried to choose genetically healthy breeds from reputable breeders & as I'm not after show quality birds I can go for as healthy as I can get ~ but when you want rarer birds your options become even more limited. I don't want to give up my birds so I do the best I can with what I have. I guess most people do.

 

[Shadrach]

Trying to be ethical when your options are limited is difficult. I've bought from registered breeders each time knowing the birds are immunized, wormed, lice & mite free & have the best chance @ living out their expected life span. Importing is fraught with difficulties here but the difficulties are one reason we don't have so many of the diseases & illnesses that plague the U.S.

What I won't do is buy from back yard breeders who have no idea @ all about the genetics, & take no care or thought for anything but making a quick buck.

Optimally what I should do is invest in the very best breeding pair & go from there but that is not possible without a rooster & a rooster I cannot have. Most urban councils don't allow roosters & all this information is something we learn as we go along. My first flock were mostly rescues ~ ISA browns past their egg laying best but all I knew was they were being given a reprieve from the butcher & the pens. I'd never heard of reproductive issues. Now I won't touch them because I am much better informed. I have tried to choose genetically healthy breeds from reputable breeders & as I'm not after show quality birds I can go for as healthy as I can get ~ but when you want rarer birds your options become even more limited. I don't want to give up my birds so I do the best I can with what I have. I guess most people do.

I'm not having a dig at anyone here. I understand the problems. Everyone on these threads seems to me to be wonderful chickens keepers which is part of what makes me so angry.
Many are just going to get heartbroken because despite all their care and love their lovely chicken weren't even in with a shout.
When Fat Bird dies I shall be terribly sad, but at ten years old or more I can look back and think she lived a full life. It was the same with Blue Spot. While she died from the same complaints that many will, at eleven years old or more, it's bearable. At three or four years old it's a tragedy.

 

[Ribh]

I'm not having a dig at anyone here. I understand the problems. Everyone on these threads seems to me to be wonderful chickens keepers which is part of what makes me so angry.
Many are just going to get heartbroken because despite all their care and love their lovely chicken weren't even in with a shout.
When Fat Bird dies I shall be terribly sad, but at ten years old or more I can look back and think she lived a full life. It was the same with Blue Spot. While she died from the same complaints that many will, at eleven years old or more, it's bearable. At three or four years old it's a tragedy.

I understood you weren't having a go But change will have to come from the keepers & far too many people seem oblivious to what has been done to so many breeds. I don't know how you change that. When I know better I do better but that is not always the case. I'm thrilled my Rocks are heading into their 3rd year & most of my older flock are now over 2 so I am hopeful they will continue to have long healthy lives.

 

[MaryJanet]

I'm not having a dig at anyone here. I understand the problems. Everyone on these threads seems to me to be wonderful chickens keepers which is part of what makes me so angry.
Many are just going to get heartbroken because despite all their care and love their lovely chicken weren't even in with a shout.
When Fat Bird dies I shall be terribly sad, but at ten years old or more I can look back and think she lived a full life. It was the same with Blue Spot. While she died from the same complaints that many will, at eleven years old or more, it's bearable. At three or four years old it's a tragedy.

Sandy's only one hen among billions bred to produce eggs and be killed at 2. Even so, she was found wandering around the streets and I gave her a home, so both of us have already gained almost a year that we wouldn't otherwise have had.

That's a comforting thought.

 

[Shadrach]

I understood you weren't having a go But change will have to come from the keepers & far too many people seem oblivious to what has been done to so many breeds. I don't know how you change that. When I know better I do better but that is not always the case. I'm thrilled my Rocks are heading into their 3rd year & most of my older flock are now over 2 so I am hopeful they will continue to have long healthy lives.

It's a very difficult problem to tackle. Here on BYC a start could be made by the Educators in theory but they become part of the industry by default. An Educator that writes don't buy hatchery stock, don't feed commercial feed, don't deal with untested and untried breeders won't last long.

 

[MaryJanet]

Sandy's only one hen among billions bred to produce eggs and be killed at 2. Even so, she was found wandering around the streets and I gave her a home, so both of us have already gained almost a year that we wouldn't otherwise have had.

That's a comforting thought.

I just checked my dates and April 13 will mark one year that Sandy's lived here with us.

 

[MaryJanet]

It's a very difficult problem to tackle. Here on BYC a start could be made by the Educators in theory but they become part of the industry by default. An Educator that writes don't buy hatchery stock, don't feed commercial feed, don't deal with untested and untried breeders won't last long.

That would be a good start.

 

[MaryJanet]

It's a very difficult problem to tackle. Here on BYC a start could be made by the Educators in theory but they become part of the industry by default. An Educator that writes don't buy hatchery stock, don't feed commercial feed, don't deal with untested and untried breeders won't last long.

It was because of your posts that I came to value bitzers as much as heritage breeds. I figure Peggy and Ivy have some hybrid vigour going for them.

 

[Shadrach]

This shows how much easier it is to move birds throughout Europe.
There is always the problem of diseased birds. But, if you are an enthusiast and I'll assume a responsible one you'll get the birds tested by a vet before purchase. That seems to be the way it's done.
http://www.britishbirdcouncil.com/importing-birds-advice

 

[MaryJanet]

This shows how much easier it is to move birds throughout Europe.
There is always the problem of diseased birds. But, if you are an enthusiast and I'll assume a responsible one you'll get the birds tested by a vet before purchase. That seems to be the way it's done.
http://www.britishbirdcouncil.com/importing-birds-advice

Yeh, that's very easy. I feel for British bird fanciers now they've had Brexit. Hopefully things won't get too much harder for them at the border.

For Aussies, pretty much forget importing live birds. If someone really wanted to, they'd be better off importing fertile eggs. Even then, there'd be loads of restrictions.