North Carolina

[Hollowoakfarm]

The first freeze of the year makes me wonder why I'm doing this at all. This year the Raynaud's attack was severe enough that I was doing chores in total tears. Add to that that I have some form of sickness in my flock again...and I am seriously thinking about quitting. The hatchery birds never seem to get sick. It's the "quality" birds that cost me lots of money and who seem to have weaker immune systems...at least here. Once we get through whatever this is in the flocks, I will be cutting back down to where I was before I joined BYC and got chicken fever. Enough for us and our egg customers. That's it.

Yes, that first freeze seriously reduces my optimism. As does sickness, after all I've done to protect my flocks. Combine the two...I'm defeated.

CSB, I will give Reilly lots of scritches from you. He's getting lots extra these days, anyway!

 

[BHep]

Hollow:

 

[scottcaddy]

Meg, I'm sorry to see this about you and your birds, let alone poor Reilly.
I hope all gets better fast!

Scott

 

[crazyhen]

Meg,
I feel so sorry , I wish all this weather and disease would just go away. I too have had a disease come in right lately. I lost my beloved two yr. old Deleware rooster from Kathyinmo. I have a small flock of 17 left. It was not a resp. disease it was internal? intestinal. I had my flock all tested for MS/MG, etc earlier and have not added any hens or chicks. wormed them too. No insect problems on him. Whatever it was , it came inside a covered run and nice coop. I too felt like a failure. My hens are mostly purebred too. I think in the future I will get the others for their value for giving eggs.
I esp love my barred rock hen Emma and my favorolle. You see I have one of each also a Norweijan hen.
I am sorry about your dog. I know it is part of your family. Dogs look so soulful through those big eyes.

 

[Coop Scoop Boogie]

MHO on purebreds......keep in mind it is JUST an opinion.

I see these lovely, HUGE, show birds and wonder why hatchery is
not on the same level but I also hear of 'purebreds' not thriving as well
as the 'mutts'. I hear lots of breeders talking about closed flocks and how
that is how they improve their birds and I also hear of breeding for resistance
to diseases. I have my doubts of closed flock breeding for improving the
health or genetics of the flock over many years but there are breeders who swear
by it as the only way to improve the birds.. We prefer to bring in new birds every time
we replace a rooster and sometimes hens to keep viable genetics and while doing that
we also try to breed in resistance but can it ever be attained?

 

[crazyhen]

I think you are right. The purebreeds are less likely to make it than the hatchery hens. I do keep my hens for a long time. They become pets so I only hatch a few each yr. I like a small flock, but I need new ones each yr. to lay through the winter. The older take winters off. Thats how I now have 17 left. A few here and a few there. I can not or will not have more than 18 if I can help myself. They would require more feed and room. I.d probably be happy with 12 but the eggs in winter would stop. Sigh,,, chicken math.

 

[scottcaddy]

I think you are right. The purebreeds are less likely to make it than the hatchery hens. I do keep my hens for a long time. They become pets so I only hatch a few each yr. I like a small flock, but I need new ones each yr. to lay through the winter. The older take winters off. Thats how I now have 17 left. A few here and a few there. I can not or will not have more than 18 if I can help myself. They would require more feed and room. I.d probably be happy with 12 but the eggs in winter would stop. Sigh,,, chicken math.

LOL, not chicken math, just how many eggs can I get math!

Scott

 

[Matt A NC]

High quality show birds are in breeding programs that have been closed for generations. That is the only way to get "stable" breeders. As in the adults produce offspring of potentially equal or better quality. As a result the gene pool ends up limited. This can lead to sensitivities as far as health goes.

Can also lead to infertility. This is something hatcheries will not make money with and that is ALL they care about.

 

[Coop Scoop Boogie]

High quality show birds are in breeding programs that have been closed for generations. That is the only way to get "stable" breeders. As in the adults produce offspring of potentially equal or better quality. As a result the gene pool ends up limited. This can lead to sensitivities as far as health goes.

Can also lead to infertility. This is something hatcheries will not make money with and that is ALL they care about.

I understand how a closed flock can help with quality but it also limits the influx
of new genetics and surely this will eventually compromise the birds health but
I'm probably just missing it all. I agree most if not all hatcheries are all about the
money, not quality.

 

[Hollowoakfarm]

Oh, yeah....hatcheries are not about quality, for sure. And my statements were pretty general, made with a sour taste in my mouth at the moment. With sick birds...again!...I'm being quite cynical at the moment. My birds aren't kept in dire conditions. They have room, pasture, clean food and water, roomy chicken houses. Several of you have been to my house and have seen how my birds are kept. I've seen people who literally keep their birds in a series of dog crates! Yet their birds are managing and mine get sick. I'm discouraged.