Topic of the Week - Chicken Myths, True or False?

[casportpony]

Kathy, is that somehow my fault? I sure didn't start that, LOL! There must be other people disseminating that information without caveats attached if it "morphed", as you say.

Oh, gosh no, not your fault! Sorry if I implied that. It's just the nature of the web. People read the post then carried on with what they thought it meant.

 

[casportpony]

How about a new myth? Chickens are only motivated by food, that's why they like you. NOT.

I have plenty of hens who show affection, who want nothing more than to be held and cuddled and to be with us. They know we have no food. In fact, we can put food down in front of some of them and they'll turn away to beg to be picked up and held. They are just not as dumb as people seem to think. They are complex, dignified and, even at times, selfless to dying comrades.

I have hens that come to me for "loving", if you know what I mean.

 

[speckledhen]

Oh, gosh no, not your fault! Sorry if I implied that. It's just the nature of the web. People read the post then carried on with what they thought it meant.

I was hoping you didn't mean that! Speckledhen is not all powerful and all-knowing, nor did she ever claim to be. People usually take half-baked information and run with it, that's the nature of the beast. It's like me trying to get folks to take three traits together as a whole to try to sex Barred Rock chicks and they invariably insist on using only the head spot. Nope, can't do that!

 

[shawthorne44]

How about a new myth? Chickens are only motivated by food, that's why they like you. NOT.

I have plenty of hens who show affection, who want nothing more than to be held and cuddled and to be with us. They know we have no food. In fact, we can put food down in front of some of them and they'll turn away to beg to be picked up and held. They are just not as dumb as people seem to think. They are complex, dignified and, even at times, selfless to dying comrades.

I totally agree with that. With 19 of them we literally can't hand feed them because that would start a fight. When they get treats they are just set on the ground in several locations.

 

[WVduckchick]

Ok, can we discuss the idea that a newly hatch chick can survive 3 days without food or water on their yolk?? It may be true, but personally, I'm not gonna keep food and water from one that long to find out.

 

[casportpony]

Ok, can we discuss the idea that a newly hatch chick can survive 3 days without food or water on their yolk?? It may be true, but personally, I'm not gonna keep food and water from one that long to find out.

I can tell you that I had a necropsy done on a 4 day old duckling, and it had visceral gout from dehydration, so you don't need to convince me that water and food sooner is best.
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/165/visceral-gout-nephrosis-baby-chick-nephropathy/

 

[WVduckchick]

I can tell you that I had a necropsy done on a 4 day old duckling, and it had visceral gout from dehydration, so you don't need to convince me that water and food sooner is best.
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/165/visceral-gout-nephrosis-baby-chick-nephropathy/

Great reference! I'm saving that one!

 

[casportpony]

How about the myth that Corid treats all strains of coccidia? Where/when did that myth start?

 

[casportpony]

Ok, can we discuss the idea that a newly hatch chick can survive 3 days without food or water on their yolk?? It may be true, but personally, I'm not gonna keep food and water from one that long to find out.

Back to this... I cringe when I read about people not giving after and food for 3 days, and it's been my experience that all birds do so much better if they start drinking and eating as soon as they fluff up.

What are you thought/experiences?

 

[WVduckchick]

How about the myth that Corid treats all strains of coccidia? Where/when did that myth start?

No clue on that one. Out of my realm.

Back to this... I cringe when I read about people not giving after and food for 3 days, and it's been my experience that all birds do so much better if they start drinking and eating as soon as they fluff up.

What are you thought/experiences?

Same! Someone mentioned it today for a chick that had a hard time hatching, that's why i brought it up.
I don't think I've ever had one go more than a few hours without starting to eat or drink, other than ones waiting to be pulled from the hatcher. So i guess i have no experience with it!