Unobtanium
Songster
As some of you may have seen, I am absolutely new to chickens. For a time-line of my last month...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new.1244149/
and then...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/worried.1246238/
The result:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/sterilizing-coop.1246852/#post-20014252
To say this was shocking and painful would be right. I got into chicken raising because I thought it would be fun, stress free, and I love animals. Instead I brought home a violent pathogen infected flock that manifested in the birds in less than a week, had to cull them and burn them.
Here I sat, with a nice coop, hotwire, and all the accouterments to raise chickens...and none. At this point I honestly would have walked away from the idea if I were not invested to the tune of around $700. But I am. So I didn't. Instead, I spoke with the state pathologist lab doctors in both Arkansas and Missouri, and they both recommended 1 week for die-off of the MG. 2 weeks would be ABSOLUTELY SURE, and so that's what I waited.
Yesterday morning, my solution arrived. I now have a 100% closed flock on the intake side to prevent ever having a recurrence of this! I didn't want to raise baby chickens, but the only way I knew to ensure that my flock was pure was to do so, it seemed. I purchased 10 Welsummers from here:
http://www.deerrunfarmmd.com/the-cleanest-hatchery-in-the-us
Still not a 100% thing, but definitely better than buying someone's local back-yard flock (as I found out).
Anyway, I also spoke with them on Facebook, and they were kind enough to sex the baby chickens, sending me 10 hens, and 1 rooster (they send 1 extra on orders of 10, they said). They have been amazing to communicate and work with! I highly recommend them if you have needs similar to mine.
At this point,I am looking for advice for Sir PipPip and his harem.
1--Is this environment okay? They are being kept under a 250W red heatlamp. The ambient is 70-74*F in this room. I have observed them sleeping spread between the "cool" and "hot" areas of the enclosure, leading me to think I nailed it, as they aren't all huddling in any one area to get to/away from the heat.
2--How long until they can go outside into the coop/run? (it is predator resistant to a very high level.
3--I am feeding them organic starter/grower and tap water (well water in my case) with the electrolyte packets for baby chickens. It should last a week or two. Is this a good move? The flooring substrate is low dust pine chips.
4--How long until they can escape this tub?
5--At what age are these chics "hardy" and out of the handle-with-caution stage where I shouldn't expect some mystery malady of killing one?
6--What do I need to know that I am not asking?
Thank-you for helping my chickens and I!!!
After-the-fact questions:
How good are Welsummers for free-range? Are they wary? Can they escape and the roo fight well, etc? I shouldn't trim his spurs, should I? When are they old enough to free range during the day while I sleep? Why is my Maine Coon terrified of Sir PipPip and his harem? For how many years can I expect a minimum of 1 egg per week from a Welsummer hen?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new.1244149/
and then...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/worried.1246238/
The result:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/sterilizing-coop.1246852/#post-20014252
To say this was shocking and painful would be right. I got into chicken raising because I thought it would be fun, stress free, and I love animals. Instead I brought home a violent pathogen infected flock that manifested in the birds in less than a week, had to cull them and burn them.
Here I sat, with a nice coop, hotwire, and all the accouterments to raise chickens...and none. At this point I honestly would have walked away from the idea if I were not invested to the tune of around $700. But I am. So I didn't. Instead, I spoke with the state pathologist lab doctors in both Arkansas and Missouri, and they both recommended 1 week for die-off of the MG. 2 weeks would be ABSOLUTELY SURE, and so that's what I waited.
Yesterday morning, my solution arrived. I now have a 100% closed flock on the intake side to prevent ever having a recurrence of this! I didn't want to raise baby chickens, but the only way I knew to ensure that my flock was pure was to do so, it seemed. I purchased 10 Welsummers from here:
http://www.deerrunfarmmd.com/the-cleanest-hatchery-in-the-us
Still not a 100% thing, but definitely better than buying someone's local back-yard flock (as I found out).
Anyway, I also spoke with them on Facebook, and they were kind enough to sex the baby chickens, sending me 10 hens, and 1 rooster (they send 1 extra on orders of 10, they said). They have been amazing to communicate and work with! I highly recommend them if you have needs similar to mine.
At this point,I am looking for advice for Sir PipPip and his harem.
1--Is this environment okay? They are being kept under a 250W red heatlamp. The ambient is 70-74*F in this room. I have observed them sleeping spread between the "cool" and "hot" areas of the enclosure, leading me to think I nailed it, as they aren't all huddling in any one area to get to/away from the heat.
2--How long until they can go outside into the coop/run? (it is predator resistant to a very high level.
3--I am feeding them organic starter/grower and tap water (well water in my case) with the electrolyte packets for baby chickens. It should last a week or two. Is this a good move? The flooring substrate is low dust pine chips.
4--How long until they can escape this tub?
5--At what age are these chics "hardy" and out of the handle-with-caution stage where I shouldn't expect some mystery malady of killing one?
6--What do I need to know that I am not asking?
Thank-you for helping my chickens and I!!!
After-the-fact questions:
How good are Welsummers for free-range? Are they wary? Can they escape and the roo fight well, etc? I shouldn't trim his spurs, should I? When are they old enough to free range during the day while I sleep? Why is my Maine Coon terrified of Sir PipPip and his harem? For how many years can I expect a minimum of 1 egg per week from a Welsummer hen?
