JJMR, I would feel the same way as you if it wasn't for one thing that most doesn't realize! (I'm pretty sure you do!)
All it takes is ONE mistake.. and you are starting all over again.. Some things chickens carry, most of the times without any symptoms at all, can wipe out your entire flock of game birds.. Even if it doesn't kill them all, they are carriers now too, and pass it along to any others they come in contact with.. That's right, even 3 years from now!! Some can even be passed from adult to chicks through the eggs...... so if it starts, they all must dye in some cases!
Now why would I care if you just wiped out most of your flock?? Well, if it is some of the more serous diseases that can be passed from parent to chick, anyone could easily get it in their birds from egg swaps, buying eggs, and so on.. while your birds show no symptoms, they still pass it along.
Most people think eggs are a "safe" way to introduce birds to their flock, but there is NOTHING 100% fail safe unless everything is kept apart until proper "testing" can be done.
I start those chicks in a brooder all by their self, and introduce birds from my flock at about 8 weeks of age.. if nothing happens, they are most usually safe.. If I see problems with disease, they are GONE!!
