REALLY Disappointed w/ Hatchery

[knjinnm]

Quote:
Hi,
If you can't get the chick to drink, use an eye dropper to give it water. Hold the bird in your hand, open its beak and slide the eye dropped down into its crop and give it a shot of water. it will quickly process the water and be ready for more, don't over fill it crop.
Once it is re-hydrated it will perk up and start pecking around for food.
Joe

 

[PolloAdoro]

Yes, I agree with everyone, like I said I expected some losses but was more disappointed in the sprawl/ curled feet of the bunch. The little guy~ he is is so tiny but doing great. I have been hand feeding him and he is definitely MUCH better. He is like the size of a tiny key lime. Anyhow he is doing great, he definitely wont be kept for breading, as most of mine are meat and egg birds (all heavies). And I have the feeling he will be kept as a pet.

 

[abluechipstock]

sorry for your loss but i've had one bad shipment from murry mcmurry and many good ones from them, i think it's luck of the draw sometimes, i've got orders from ideal and meyer hatchery as well, hope the next time it's better for you

 

[Mervin]

Quote:
Robert,

I've been following your posts on the Heritage large fowl thread and another thread about BRs. I'm interested in becoming part of that 1% (I am especially interested in Ringlet birds in NE). In fact, I tried some Welsummers from a local "breeder" and have not been very happy. There is certainly a difference, in terms of confirmation, between those and the utility birds that I have. Their temperament just isn't acceptable to me though. The roosters have been more aggressive than I expected. I'm okay with it myself, but my concern is for my wife and children. They are not yet as comfortable around the birds (I'm pretty inexperienced as well), or livestock in general. My solution has been dispatching aggressive roosters, which sort of leaves me at a stand still with regard to becoming part of that 1%.

My interest has been peaked in Heritage fowl of the American class (BR, Wyandotte, NH and Dels to lesser degree). My preference is for yellow skin (I guess that's obvious), above average laying, and decent cold heartiness (Central PA). Keeping in mind that I am most concerned with temperament, can you offer an guidance with regard to helping to preserve our poultry heritage. I'm not necessarily concerned with showing, but I am starting to appreciate the difference between utility and heritage fowl. I think that I might be able to source some nice Light Sussex (I've heard great things about their temperament and size), but my heart is really with the Americans now.

Troy

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

You can put the chicks with the spraddled legs in a deep container, like a cottage cheese container. I make a "nest" out of toilet paper so that the bird is sitting in it with no room for it's legs to splay. It keeps the bird safe from being trampled by the others and helps keep the legs together. Of course, by doing this you have to offer water (I'd give poly vi-sol & electrolytes) every couple of hours and of course, food too. If they're going to make it you'll see a improvement within a day or two.

I never realized that buying hatchery birds was so....well, ....depressing

I had never thought about what happens to all the cockerels (most people want laying hens, not roosters). I've seen first hand how they're managed by people that are looking to make a few pennies off each chick. I don't know if I will buy from a hatchery again.

 

[Robert Blosl]

If you look at these threads the owners are taking orders for eggs. I am on the top of the list for Jerimeys list of Barred Rocks that he has in Nebraska that he got from Frank Reese in Kansas last year. There is two other ladies who got these birds from Jerimey and will share eggs as well. We hope by next year to have at least ten new familys with this super strain of Barred Rocks. I want them for eating purposes. Frank has won eating contest with these birds for taste. What is so strange is this strain is over 100 years old going back to 1905.

I found a fellow last night that has my Rhode Island Red large fowl that go back to 1912. They look just like they did in the 1950s when this line was famous.

So there are may strains or lines of birds that people can get. One guy called me and asked for White Face Black Spanish. With in three hours I found a strain in Tenn that was 35 years old or more for him and the guy said he would sell him a trio for $20 a bird what a steal.

They are out there but you got to look for them. The internet and this web site has made this possable. We have found many lost old strains of old chickens in the past two months networking these threads. A guy just wrote a new thread wanting Rhode Island Red bantams that he had as a kid 35 years ago. He was asking if this line is still going. The answer is yes. Now we have to get him some this spring so he can start his hobby of raising these little red chickens.

If you want a special breed send me a personel message I will send you in the right direction. Maybe a hatchery maybe not. There are a few out there that does have good birds. bob

 

[PolloAdoro]

Quote:
I am interested in the Barred Rocks for sure! P.S. the little one died today

 

[pinkyglory123]

I have only ordered from MM and have never lost a chick. One difference may be that in my case the regional post office called us the eve they received the chicks and asked if we would like to pick them up then instead of have them spend the night there and pick them up at the local PO the next day. That is what we did. Also we have had excellent luck with some of the birds we received from MM in large open shows in the NE. I would say don't let one bad exerience turn you off at this point. Make every effort to get to your chicks asap. If you have a choice.

 

[Minniechickmama]

Quote:
First, I think you should watch the Dirty Job episode on sexing chicks, you will see that the only thing they look at is the butt. They sex thousands of chicks a day, and that is all those individuals do. Squeeze the poop out, peek inside for a bump, and toss them in a bin. They could check everyone's feet and legs, but they are moving so many chicks and at a fast rate, that they do not have time. I am not saying this is a perfect way for them to process chicks, but it is what it is.

Second, the curled toes are normally the result of improper incubation methods. I haven't seen a high rate of them, in fact, not any in the chicks I have gotten from McMurray. I have had it happen in chicks I hatched myself, and I have gotten several from Sand Hill with curled toes. Sprattle legs is not terribly uncommon either. But both can be corrected some of the time if caught and managed early enough. It is not an accident that happened, it is just they way their legs work, or shall I say, don't work when they hatch out. Curled toes can be genetic if you are inbreeding, but usually, from my research on the topic, is from improper incubation.

In all honesty, it is amazing that so many chicks hatch without problems. If you look at it statistically, there should be way more of them, and humans and every other kind of critter in the world that does NOT make it to adulthood.

Back to getting chicks... if you want nice healthy baby chicks, go to a nearby breeder and pick them out and know what you are getting. It is like comparing something home/handmade to some mass produced, "Made in China" item from WalMart. The two really don't campare.