NY chicken lover!!!!

[Cass]

If one treated their chickens with antibiotics, it might be important to let egg customers know. For example, I have a friend who reacts poorly to antibiotics, and rarely eats chicken or meat because of this sensitivity.

Isn't there a recommended "egg withdrawl" on the antibiotic package? But it was my understanding that these were chicks and not laying hens she was worried about. Antibiotics last 14 days in the human body and are then processed out by the liver and kidneys. (Longer if you are old or very young or have liver/kidney damage) So even if the antibiotics given to the chicks lasted 3 months in the chicken body they still wouldn't be laying eggs, so no reason to notify anyone. Now if you treat your laying flock? That's another story.

 

[Lapeerian]

Isn't there a recommended "egg withdrawl" on the antibiotic package?  But it was my understanding that these were chicks and not laying hens she was worried about.   Antibiotics last 14 days in the human body and are then processed out by the liver and kidneys.  (Longer if you are old or very young or have liver/kidney damage)  So even if the antibiotics given to the chicks lasted 3 months in the chicken body they still wouldn't be laying eggs, so no reason to notify anyone.  Now if you treat your laying flock?  That's another story.

Yes, these are March chicks. They are in the Eglu, so they can see the main flock through the cage and barely peck each other, but they have not mingled otherwise. The main flock occasionally sits on top of the cage and poops in the chicks, but the chicks are the 'infected' ones. It would be great if I could treat them all now. The bantams are no bigger than nugget size, so won't be culling them any time soon.

 

[Nuttyfrom6kids]

So I would be treated and the rest of you would suffer.

But as far as concern about the birds having it they could be treated then the original poster (I forgot who already) wouldn't have to worry as much about the eggs she sells, as she had done as good as she could?

Hey now their are a few of us that would qualify to be treated

We got our coop! We bought an "used" coop that was built last year from a family that is "done" with chickens. We have to do a lot of modifications - the windows have screening on them, but we're going to replace that with hardware cloth. We will also build a run and change the chicken door to a pull-up/down style (right now it opens like a traditional door). I need to clean the coop as well, to make sure there are no bugs or germs from previous chickens.

How do you "clean" a coop (disinfect it)? It is wood on the inside.. should I hose it out and use a mild bleach solution to wipe everything down with?

Anyway - pictures of the new coop!

That coop is nice you definitely got a good deal there.

 

[JLaw]

Well I moved my broody inside. I started her out with 4 eggs and when we got home from the stock she was down to 1 after a few missing through the week. Others jump in the small box with her so not sure if they did it or her. So I gave her 7 eggs that was going into lock down tonight. The one egg she had under her I threw away it had detached air cell from moving so much. I think i'll put her in the silkie coop once she spends a few days with the chicks in the house. She's a nice LF cochin and I think they would do ok with the silkies.

Just put all the eggs I got from the stock in the bator so hoping I get a good hatch rate. 46 eggs. I think this will be first time I hatch in a while that I actually want the chicks only other time was my sons silkies we hatched.

 

[PhoredaBurds]

So I would be treated and the rest of you would suffer.     But as far as concern about the birds having it they could be treated then the original poster (I forgot who already) wouldn't have to worry as much about the eggs she sells, as she had done as good as she could?

I'm no expert, not a vet, or even a nurse yet. I was just paranoid about getting sick from my birds and earned credit for researching it for a project. What I found was that the really bad outbreaks involved large scale egg production facilities where the birds were kept in tight horrible conditions. If an egg shell is washed within a reasonable amount of time after it's laid, there's no reason why intestinal bacteria should be inside a product of the reproductive tract, unless of course the laying birds are really sick and the conditions the eggs come out in are filthy. I found that eggs from backyard chickens are much safer than large scale production eggs.

If there is a fear that ones birds are sick which is valid w rumors about Mt Healthy birds, one might contact their vet. A test could be as easy as bringing a poop sample to the vet office. Then ask the vet what the next step is. In sure there is treatment available.
In the mean time, wash hands, wash eggs which are to be eaten, and enjoy chicken therapy.

I wonder sometimes if periodically large companies submit propaganda about how "dangerous" back yard chicken eggs are so that the masses are afraid to eat anything but the tasteless cheap eggs from those poor caged hens.

 

[Gramma Chick]

Quote: Cute Coop What a Find !
I was going to suggest white vinegar ...ACV - has a apple smell that may be there for a while . May draw flies ..
white Vinegar when it is dried out should have no smell

 

[Sweetpea3829]

I'm no expert, not a vet, or even a nurse yet. I was just paranoid about getting sick from my birds and earned credit for researching it for a project. What I found was that the really bad outbreaks involved large scale egg production facilities where the birds were kept in tight horrible conditions. If an egg shell is washed within a reasonable amount of time after it's laid, there's no reason why intestinal bacteria should be inside a product of the reproductive tract, unless of course the laying birds are really sick and the conditions the eggs come out in are filthy. I found that eggs from backyard chickens are much safer than large scale production eggs.

If there is a fear that ones birds are sick which is valid w rumors about Mt Healthy birds, one might contact their vet. A test could be as easy as bringing a poop sample to the vet office. Then ask the vet what the next step is. In sure there is treatment available.
In the mean time, wash hands, wash eggs which are to be eaten, and enjoy chicken therapy.

I wonder sometimes if periodically large companies submit propaganda about how "dangerous" back yard chicken eggs are so that the masses are afraid to eat anything but the tasteless cheap eggs from those poor caged hens.

Define "reasonable" lol! I don't normally wash my eggs until I'm using them. Unless the egg is really dirty. With only three laying hens right now, eggs sometimes sit out for 2-3 weeks before I end up using them.

 

[leahlefler]

I'm no expert, not a vet, or even a nurse yet. I was just paranoid about getting sick from my birds and earned credit for researching it for a project. What I found was that the really bad outbreaks involved large scale egg production facilities where the birds were kept in tight horrible conditions. If an egg shell is washed within a reasonable amount of time after it's laid, there's no reason why intestinal bacteria should be inside a product of the reproductive tract, unless of course the laying birds are really sick and the conditions the eggs come out in are filthy. I found that eggs from backyard chickens are much safer than large scale production eggs.

If there is a fear that ones birds are sick which is valid w rumors about Mt Healthy birds, one might contact their vet. A test could be as easy as bringing a poop sample to the vet office. Then ask the vet what the next step is. In sure there is treatment available.
In the mean time, wash hands, wash eggs which are to be eaten, and enjoy chicken therapy.

I wonder sometimes if periodically large companies submit propaganda about how "dangerous" back yard chicken eggs are so that the masses are afraid to eat anything but the tasteless cheap eggs from those poor caged hens.

I saw that Meyer Hatchery offers a salmonella vaccine, but not for chicks (only for started pullets). I was wondering if you could get that same vaccine at home.. we're getting chicks but I wouldn't mind vaccinating mine for salmonella. I wonder if the vaccination only works if they haven't yet contracted it, though? I have to do some research on the idea! We have 2 boys and we will enforce hand washing/proper hygiene (and no kissing the chicks) - I'm glad the hatchery we ordered from wasn't involved, but I'm still going to look into the vaccine...

 

[leahlefler]

Cute Coop What a Find !
I was going to suggest white vinegar ...ACV - has a apple smell that may be there for a while . May draw flies ..
white Vinegar when it is dried out should have no smell

That is a very good point! I will probably stick to plain white vinegar. I saw a recipe online for an insect-repellent orange oil vinegar (you soak the orange peels in white vinegar for 3-4 weeks) so I might try that, too.

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

Morning all. Little chilly this morning but quiet! The terrorist girls are still quite quiet and subdued since Bill was removed from the coop. Hopefully they will lay more eggs today. Opened up the brat/monsters coop and nobody was dead or injured so I guess they are working things out sort of. Last night when I locked up the brats were all huddled in their corner of the coop and the little monsters in their far corner of the coop. Too funny. I guess they will work things out. Silkies are out enjoying the morning. I have to trim around Galadriels eyes as I see her feathers have gotten real thick again and she doesnt see well. Poor thing.

Jlaw--good luck with your hatch! I hope they all hatch so you have a nice crop of babies!

Later all.