Something to think about....

[cluckmecoop7]

"Back then" (like hundreds of years ago), people never vaccinated their pets or payed special attention to their chickens. They were just "there".
And so, the strong animals probably survived while the weaker ones died off. I know it's sad....but could that have been better? Because now we usually keep all the animals, strong or weak, alive. Just something to ponder. What are your thoughts?

 

[BlueBaby]

That's a good question, and I kind of agree with those old-timer's about that. I think that the weaker one's or one's that are born with issues should not be allowed to have chick's that could pass that on.

 

[Weeg]

"Back then" (like hundreds of years ago), people never vaccinated their pets or payed special attention to their chickens. They were just "there".
And so, the strong animals probably survived while the weaker ones died off. I know it's sad....but could that have been better? Because now we usually keep all the animals, strong or weak, alive. Just something to ponder. What are your thoughts?

I totally agree. Chickens vaccinated for Mareks actually help to spread the disease and make it more harmful to other flocks. If Mr. Browns hypothetical flock got Mareks, and died from it, the disease would be much more contained. Since Mr. Brown vaccinated his birds, they are constantly shedding dander, which spreads it to Mr. Harrisons flock, who is also vaccinated for Mareks. On goes the cycle. This is just an example.
I think your thinking in the right place. There was a thread someone started on a 100% forage diet. She let her birds free range 24/7. Plenty of predators. Her flock that was kept inside a coop/run and wasn't allowed to free range often got attacked by predators, and had losses quite often. The foraging birds didn't. Just shows how much smarter those birds can be.

 

[BlueBaby]

I totally agree. Chickens vaccinated for Mareks actually help to spread the disease and make it more harmful to other flocks. If Mr. Browns hypothetical flock got Mareks, and died from it, the disease would be much more contained. Since Mr. Brown vaccinated his birds, they are constantly shedding dander, which spreads it to Mr. Harrisons flock, who is also vaccinated for Mareks. On goes the cycle. This is just an example.
I think your thinking in the right place. There was a thread someone started on a 100% forage diet. She let her birds free range 24/7. Plenty of predators. Her flock that was kept inside a coop/run and wasn't allowed to free range often got attacked by predators, and had losses quite often. The foraging birds didn't. Just shows how much smarter those birds can be.

That comparison between the 2 flock's that you gave was interesting.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

One of my friends who raised sheep out in a free pasture said that every year during lambing season, sometimes the mother sheep would stay and take care of her babies like normal, and other times she would immediately leave the lambs when they were born.

The lambs that she stayed with always grew up to be healthy sheep. The lambs that she abandoned usually died even after being taken in and bottle fed, etc.

My friend thinks that the mama sheep can sense if the lambs are healthy or not. It seems harsh, but I guess that's just nature. And that's how we would have strong sheep everywhere if people let nature take it's course.

Just my story.

 

[Weeg]

One of my friends who raised sheep out in a free pasture said that every year during lambing season, sometimes the mother sheep would stay and take care of her babies like normal, and other times she would immediately leave the lambs when they were born.

The lambs that she stayed with always grew up to be healthy sheep. The lambs that she abandoned usually died even after being taken in and bottle fed, etc.

My friend thinks that the mama sheep can sense if the lambs are healthy or not. It seems harsh, but I guess that's just nature. And that's how we would have strong sheep everywhere if people let nature take it's course.

Just my story.

I think they know too. They don't want to waste their time on a lamb that wont live anyway, its more important for them to stay strong so they can produce more strong babies.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Exactly! I'm just wondering if more people think about it the same way I do.

 

[Weeg]

Exactly! I'm just wondering if more people think about it the same way I do.

 

[tripletfeb]

I think as long as you are not breeding the weaker animals to continue making weaker animals, it's fine to pamper some that need help. While I don't, lots of people think of their chickens as pets now, that wasn't the case not too long ago. I have a large family dairy farm that my uncles and cousins run. My family started it over 100 years ago. If you told my grandfather that his grandson was naming the cows, he would roll over in his grave. My uncle told the grandson(his son) to stop naming the cows, they are not pets. Hard lesson to learn for some

 

[TheFatBlueCat]

I definitely think along the same lines. I keep some hens that are old, and one with crooked toes. They're pets. I wouldn't take them to the vet though, i'd put them out if their misery if required.

When I hatch chicks I do not interfere with the broody hen or the hatching process. All I do is check the nest once a day in case an egg has broken and the nest needs cleaning up. I think it's easier to stay hands off when you can't see the chicks hatching, I'm sure if I was watching them struggle to hatch in an incubator I couldn't walk away. All my chicks that have made it past their first day have grown up to be strong and healthy.