The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[hoosiercheetah]

eventually
But first I will breed to assure 100% autosexing prior to offering eggs or chicks. And shipping is problematic for me since the closest post office is 45 minutes away.

Tennessee isn't *that* far away...

 

[BethanyS]

oooooh yay! what part of TN are you in RedRidge? What's the average weight of adult Rhoadbars?

 

[RedRidge]

I'm in East TN
The SOP for the RIR is 8.5 lbs for cocks and 6.5 for hens. Rhodebars should be the same.
I am butchering the extra cockerels at 7-9 months simply because that's when it's convenient each fall.

 

[BethanyS]

I'm in East TN
The SOP for the RIR is 8.5 lbs for cocks and 6.5 for hens. Rhodebars should be the same.
I am butchering the extra cockerels at 7-9 months simply because that's when it's convenient each fall.

your culling the ones that aren't pure right?what type of genetics WOULD they carry if bred to say a Production Red or a Black Australorp hen?

 

[lalaland]

@lalaland
I hope you can get a vet to do a blood workup. That would really set your mind at ease - whether it is or isn't Marek's. You'll be able to make a good decision about to handle the whole flock without wondering if you did the right thing or not.

Well, he was so much worse this morning, I knew it was time. He had stopped having dropping - only one yesterday, and again this morning, and only when I picked him up. He wouldn't eat or drink this morning either. I had been reading late into the night on Mareks and came to the conclusion that when both legs are involved, chances of recovery are poor.

So I brought him to the univ of mn pathology lab - they will euthanize him and do a necropsy. So I will find out ...am thinking that at least 3 of the 4 deaths this year might have been marek related because.....beginning spring of 2013.....I was bringing in unvaccinated chicks/pullets older than 36 hours. I wrongly believed they had to be vaccinated within 36 hours of hatch. Best to do it then, but can do it later if I understand it right.

Redridge, really cheered me up to see your chick photos!

 

[CoopChick719]

So sorry about your roo, lalla

I brought 3 of mine to our Univ. lab last year. It did give me piece of mind to know exactly what they died from.

 

[Leahs Mom]

lala, please keep us posted on their results.

You may have to "demand" that they do the test for Mareks. I know 2 situations in which they didn't test even though that as the whole point of taking them. Another one was told it was Mareks when it wasn't - and that was confirmed later with further testing.

So if there is a specific blood marker for Mareks I'd be sure to tell them you want them to run it.

 

[Lacy Blues]

From what I've seen, when you take a bird for necropsy and you tell them what you "think" it might be, that is generally always the result they give you. I don't know if everybody is really that smart or they don't test and just confirm your suspicions.

You have a chance at the pullets you got. I'd start treating them right away lalaland.

 

[cafarmgirl]

From what I've seen, when you take a bird for necropsy and you tell them what you "think" it might be, that is generally always the result they give you. I don't know if everybody is really that smart or they don't test and just confirm your suspicions.

You have a chance at the pullets you got. I'd start treating them right away lalaland.

That has never been my experience when necropsy has been done by a state poultry lab or by a university. A very detailed report is always given showing all the testing that was done and the results. Sometimes results confirm my suspicions with the benefit of giving me a specific diagnosis, other times I have been completely surprised at the findings. It has been a very valuable tool for me.

 

[Lacy Blues]

That is good to hear. I've never heard from anyone that they got a detailed report back, saving one person on BYC, and you.