NEVER buying full grown hens again!

[Judy]

I thought Adams flea and tick spray worked on mites as well? It is not the same chemical as Sevin, it is pyrethrins and permethrin (sp?) and I gather these are not as severe a chemical as Sevin (carbonyl or something like that.) Pyrethrins were acceptable back when I did organic gardening; comes from a flower.

Harder to spray a chicken than dust one, I admit.

 

[Kansaseq]

kschix, I am about an hour south of you, and in the past bought adult hens from a woman in Gardner. Not sure if she is still in the chicken buisness, but she had some very nice, healthy birds, and was always very honest about them. I would definitely go back to her if I wanted adult birds.

 

[kschix]

Quote:
Well we have enough birds for awhile. But thanks for the info. Wish I would have known it before We drove about an hour and a half south of here to get our hens. I'm thinking we will get chicks next time.

 

[mrsgibber]

I just had a NIGHTMARE experience with five month old pullets...carrying disease. NEVER again. I'm starting with Chicks always and forever.

 

[tdgill]

Quote:
you did mean to say be FRUGAL with the spray...or not liberal. or use sparingly ONE SMALL SQUIRT

 

[Huny]

I'm not reading everything, but make sure you QUARANTINE! I kept a roo separate because of lice/mites and he ended up getting really sick and dying. It could of been anything (I'm not one to figure it out) but was glad to keep him away from the rest of the flock for those two weeks I had him.

I think started birds would be ideal, but again keep them away for a while until you figure out more about them.

 

[Chicktastic]

We had a similar experience. I wanted a full grown roo and a couple of hens. We bought and it turns out that this beautiful sweet Roo was very sick. He died two days after purchase. The hens were old and taught our existing flock really bad habits like roosting in the wrong spot. Rats.

I have been much more careful when I buy adult birds from then on. I think it can be done. In fact many breeders sell adults who are healthy and happy.

 

[Hotwings]

If buying egg laying hens were as easy as buying roos there be no problems . Sometimes you can find people willing to sell a hen or even give you one. Many people just want to thin their flocks or not really as pleased about the breed. Whenever you buy or adopt a bird on blind faith you always have to expect why. Many want to pass off birds with bad habits ie for example egg eating hens. The Amish and I assume there are good ones out there don't see animals the way many of us do. Many don't adhere to good breeding or healthy animals. To them animals even dogs are there to provide a service whether to hunt or kill vermin. I have heard of the amish puppy mills. It is crazy how some people flock to amish food for example chickens, the unknowing public feel if it amish grown it must be healthy. What they don't know is the amish don't take the time to imunize their livestock or breed them carefully.

 

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

It's either quarantined eggs, quarantined day-old peeps, or nothing for this farm. I've read too many horror stories about introducing started birds.

It's not necessarily a matter of the new birds being "sick", it's a matter of them being "new".

 

[G15usmc]

I'm looking to buy laying hens already laying...do u still sell?