Surviving Minnesota!

[BantyChooks]

Lost a chicken today . To a hawk .
Fox News . Amy is your coop secure .

Nasty buggers. I haven't seen any prowling the skies recently---they must be hibernating like ILL's hens.

 

[I Love Layers]

OMG - My husband and I were just talking about vaccines, in particular the Marecks vaccine and the MG vaccine. Does anyone have any experience with either? Thoughts ideas, Concerns?

I am wondering the same thing. I personally would want a natural immunity but at the same time it would be nice if they already had immunity. I think the hard part would be the fact that the birds who aren't vaccinated could be affected by the fact that the vaccinated birds are carriers. I would like to find out more on it though and see if it was bemeficial

 

[jerryse]

On Marecks vaccine . I no longer use it . Despite what others may say you really can rid your property of the disease . Skip a year hatching . All infected birds die and the cycle is broken . Any virus dies without a chick host during this time . Cull any invected birds at first sign . Cremate carcass . Keep a closed flock .

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Lost a chicken today . To a hawk .
Fox News . Amy is your coop secure .

Hawks have wonderful memories unfortunately. We do happen to have a nice raven population also that helps. But each spring a hen woody or two is sacrificed to a pestering hawk as they try to set up nests in our potholes. Poor ducks.

Fox News. There are two still. DH had our neighbor visit him at the bank just today. The home with the lights on that we tracked the fox to. Apparently Foxy Loxy lives. Shot passed through the chest to the leg not hitting vitals or through fur to the leg. At any rate, one of our neighbors pets has a bad limp. Son of a gun! DH was informed they like their foxes and have an open water culvert there that works for drinking et al. Must have a tank heater there or something. I guess foxes and deer drink there.
We informed them that their foxes have killed two chickens .

Anyways. Coop & run still holding its own. I have another small spot that could use hardware cloth. But is pretty secure with doubled up chicken wire. All nine birdies roosted and are well.

I have lots of blue and green layers in that coop...

 

[holm25]

I think I am going to raise all my birds off the dirt next year and in a building.... I might Vaccinate too... I don't know... I know I have Mareks here... Well I think I do. Another good reason to not hatch any chicks on the farm. I can still sell them without any issues correct?

 

[duluthralphie]

I am wondering the same thing. I personally would want a natural immunity but at the same time it would be nice if they already had immunity. I think the hard part would be the fact that the birds who aren't vaccinated could be affected by the fact that the vaccinated birds are carriers. I would like to find out more on it though and see if it was bemeficial

This is a Misconception spread by those with little knowledge. Mareks is a herpes Virus. The vaccine for Maraks is a live herpes virus, however, it is a turkey virus and not a chicken virus.

It is like small Pox and Cow Pox they are close enough related small pox is stopped by the Cow pox...Same with Maraks...

 

[holm25]

I set 17 eggs today... 14 of which could be possible show birds and three Cochin/Blue bearded hen from Ralphie eggs...

 

[MNChickMom]

Good Morning.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Morning folks. Kids getting ready for school.




Alleluia

 

[holm25]

Good morning