NY chicken lover!!!!

[vmdanielsen]

I've seen everything from "never, ever do it" to "go for it." It appears to be a "your mileage may vary" thing, and depends on your location, whether or not any domestic or wild fowl have ever had it, how big your flock is, and on and on...

I'm going to house them separately, both to keep down the possibility of transmission and to protect the chicken-hens from any amorous advances from turkey toms. From what I've gathered from both scientific and agricultural sites, the highest chance of infection comes when young poults are exposed to chicken droppings (older birds apparently aren't as easily infected), so limiting/eliminating exposure should stave off difficulties. I'm going to take the chance - if I see a problem, I'll cull without hesitation. It's worth a shot.

A little light reading

:

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/poulsci/conference_proceedings/turkey_days/2008/mcdougald_2008.pdf

http://back40forums.com/index.php?topic=276.0 (the bottom post is the interesting one)

http://www.millerhatcheries.com/information/diseases/blackhead_disease.htm

Ok, I am in the lust stage.......

I will read more about Turkeys Rancher!!

 

[rancher hicks]

I've had a number of breeds, 12 to be exact.

The quiet ones IMO, are Orpingtons, Delawares, Wyandottes. Stay away from Dominiques they are the noisiest of the ones I've had though of course there are exceptions to all breeds. Any of the game hens forget. The large breeds are less likely to go over the fence.

In the city watch out for Racoons, skunks, possums and dogs.

 

[Alioop]

Thanks for all the replies! Yes Rancher, the Hotel Cali analogy is extremely accurate. I'm never leaving... don't want to

!

I was thinking stealth mode too... but felt guilty until you all supported it so strongly, lol! We've got coyotes and foxes in our part of the city too, as well as a hawk, so I'm going to make sure our backyard, the run and the coop are as secure as possible. I wasn't really thinking about choosing quite breeds, but thats very good advice, I'll have to do some more research. I'm only planning to have 3 or 4... or 6 hens, and was going to do an assortment of breeds. Does having a loud breed matter much if you only have one? (I really like the Dominiques...)

 

[Cass]

Thanks for all the replies! Yes Rancher, the Hotel Cali analogy is extremely accurate. I'm never leaving... don't want to

!

I was thinking stealth mode too... but felt guilty until you all supported it so strongly, lol! We've got coyotes and foxes in our part of the city too, as well as a hawk, so I'm going to make sure our backyard, the run and the coop are as secure as possible. I wasn't really thinking about choosing quite breeds, but thats very good advice, I'll have to do some more research. I'm only planning to have 3 or 4... or 6 hens, and was going to do an assortment of breeds. Does having a loud breed matter much if you only have one? (I really like the Dominiques...)

Yes, one loud chicken can give away the location of the whole flock to anything or anyone who was unaware that they were there, be it coyote or Animal Control. So stealth mode requires quiet chickens. (DO NOT get Sumantras...first they are very able to fly and second they NEVER shut up. I swear they chatter in their sleep)

 

[stonykill]

Yes, one loud chicken can give away the location of the whole flock to anything or anyone who was unaware that they were there, be it coyote or Animal Control. So stealth mode requires quiet chickens. (DO NOT get Sumantras...first they are very able to fly and second they NEVER shut up. I swear they chatter in their sleep)

they sure are noisy lil buggers.

. The whole flying thing is quite cool though

 

[Tab's chicken obsession]

I haven't been on here in a week and have just been catching up. The girls and I were hit with the stomach bug monday afternoon. It's awful picking up and caring for 2 little ones when you yourself are sick. DH got home in time to steam clean the couch and recliner for me. I then picked up a head cold from work in my weakened state. I'm feeling exhausted. Thanksgivng was good. I love food! I was worried to give any germs to my family. My brother is still in the hospital, holding steady. I haven't seen him in over a week because I don't want to give him a bug.

Ginny-- You don't look anywhere near 51!

I'm sorry to hear of pumpkin.

Congrats to those getting new peeps!

 

[vmdanielsen]

I haven't been on here in a week and have just been catching up. The girls and I were hit with the stomach bug monday afternoon. It's awful picking up and caring for 2 little ones when you yourself are sick. DH got home in time to steam clean the couch and recliner for me. I then picked up a head cold from work in my weakened state. I'm feeling exhausted. Thanksgivng was good. I love food! I was worried to give any germs to my family. My brother is still in the hospital, holding steady. I haven't seen him in over a week because I don't want to give him a bug.

Ginny-- You don't look anywhere near 51!

I'm sorry to hear of pumpkin.

Congrats to those getting new peeps!

Thanks!! (ido feel it some days though!!))

 

[cheeka]

well... I'm going to have to perform my first killing cull tomorrow. my gorgeous EE cockerel, Osiris, went after my little dog, unprovoked, and pinched her cheek/ear. she yelped, but halted on my command (good girl!) as she was going to retaliate... the crazy bird actually fought me while hanging upside down! so he's in the portable run, alone... til tomorrow when I get home from work. I need daylight and tools to do the job, although I darned near ripped his head off with my bare hands... I want to keep his cape, so a slit to the throat, bleed him out, and skin him. he's not a big bird, but he'll make a fine meal. for that one split moment, I thought he got her eye, little Pug with those big round bugged out eyes...

got a little snow today, when I got home from work, the waterers were like slushies, but still liquid. the gang did NOT like the snow one bit! quite funny to watch them taste it, but it was short lived, they wanted back in the enclosure immediately!

 

[stonykill]

well... I'm going to have to perform my first killing cull tomorrow. my gorgeous EE cockerel, Osiris, went after my little dog, unprovoked, and pinched her cheek/ear. she yelped, but halted on my command (good girl!) as she was going to retaliate... the crazy bird actually fought me while hanging upside down! so he's in the portable run, alone... til tomorrow when I get home from work. I need daylight and tools to do the job, although I darned near ripped his head off with my bare hands... I want to keep his cape, so a slit to the throat, bleed him out, and skin him. he's not a big bird, but he'll make a fine meal. for that one split moment, I thought he got her eye, little Pug with those big round bugged out eyes...

got a little snow today, when I got home from work, the waterers were like slushies, but still liquid. the gang did NOT like the snow one bit! quite funny to watch them taste it, but it was short lived, they wanted back in the enclosure immediately!

it isn't so bad to do. I did 2 Thanksgiving morning, 5 this morning and at least 6 more I'm going to do tomorrow. Maybe a few more than that.

 

[cheeka]

it isn't so bad to do. I did 2 Thanksgiving morning, 5 this morning and at least 6 more I'm going to do tomorrow. Maybe a few more than that.

the pics you posted on Thanksgiving looked really delicious! I've never done the killing myself, but I've skinned lots of animals, and butchered lots of deer, I'm quite good at skinning... once it's dead, I'm totally cool... the killing part was never "my thang", but I'm just angry enough at this bird, that I want to do it myself. a buddy of mine will come up when I get home from work, in case I "chicken out"... pun intended...