What do you wish you had known before you got your chickens

[Fluffychicky]

I've only had chickens for 4 months and I wish I had known it was so unsafe to introduce new started birds to a flock, I was trying to be a good samaritan and rescued an abused hen. I separated her but unfortunately I didn't keep her separate for long enough. because once I was "sure" that she was ok acting normal and healthy I put her in with my other completely healthy flock. 2 days later she came down with what looked like a head cold and puffy eyes, turns out she has all the symptoms of coryza and now my whole flock is infected and will become carriers I am treating them one by one as the symptoms show up with injectible Tylan 50. I feel terrible that I unknowingly brought this disease to my undeserving hens and roos and now can not bring any new chicks onto my property until all infected birds are dead and the area cleansed.

 

[PurplePoppiPpl]

Start out small! i ordered 20 straight run chicks and never counted on the fact that i would want to get more! i had to add-on to my coop so i could add to my flock.

 

[Wednesday]

quote name="Fluffychicky" url="/t/817826/what-do-you-wish-you-had-known-before-you-got-your-chickens/90#post_11950990"]I've only had chickens for 4 months and I wish I had known it was so unsafe to introduce new started birds to a flock, I was trying to be a good samaritan and rescued an abused hen. I separated her but unfortunately I didn't keep her separate for long enough. because once I was "sure" that she was ok acting normal and healthy I put her in with my other completely healthy flock. 2 days later she came down with what looked like a head cold and puffy eyes, turns out she has all the symptoms of coryza and now my whole flock is infected and will become carriers I am treating them one by one as the symptoms show up with injectible Tylan 50. I feel terrible that I unknowingly brought this disease to my undeserving hens and roos and now can not bring any new chicks onto my property until all infected birds are dead and the area cleansed. 
[/quote]

We share the same sad story. So sorry you are going through this. Head of UF poultry vet program I spoke with does not cull these sort of flocks. He keeps chickens as a hobby as well. He also does not treat with meds and lets nature weed them out. Said CRD dies not have huge effect on egg production. i had Coryza too. he said some people lance the chicken sinus and pour in antibiotics. Coryza takes forever to get better he said. he also said CRD chicken viruses are very fragile and will only survive 3-5 days once flock is dead. He is a consultant for large commercial flocks here in Florida and estimates 80 percent of birds have been exposed to CRD. I know how hard this can be. You have my condolences.

 

[Finley2]

If you have ever had a bantam rooster you know that bantam rooster's aren't just small and cute because I'm well aware that it is a natural instinct but bantam rooster's will attack you if you come near any hens with it and it can hurt

 

[scooter16]

Hehe I now have my sights set on dwarf milking goats! I don't have the land now but will someday!

Hey, Check out Miniature Nubian goats. Supposedly good milk production. I am also thinking of goats. No land yet either. Lynn

 

[wein315]

Egg Hatching math..... when starting your flock be prepared for the possibility of a high hatch rate! I bought a large amount of hatching eggs counting on a low hatch rate and ended up having to re- home lots of chicks. The other challange I had was finding homes for my roosters.

 

[Fluffychicky]

We share the same sad story. So sorry you are going through this. Head of UF poultry vet program I spoke with does not cull these sort of flocks. He keeps chickens as a hobby as well. He also does not treat with meds and lets nature weed them out. Said CRD dies not have huge effect on egg production. i had Coryza too. he said some people lance the chicken sinus and pour in antibiotics. Coryza takes forever to get better he said. he also said CRD chicken viruses are very fragile and will only survive 3-5 days once flock is dead. He is a consultant for large commercial flocks here in Florida and estimates 80 percent of birds have been exposed to CRD. I know how hard this can be. You have my condolences.

It's good to know not everyone culls their flock, I am in the process of trying to make a decision on whether or not to have all my pet chickens slaughtered and start new or keep them and accept the fact I can't bring anything new into this flock.
Thank you for sharing.

 

[wein315]

This is exactly what I was going to say. I got a terrible case of "The Gotta Have-It's" from the get go. I spent countless hours in pursuit of many breeds, only to regret it later and be stuck with them. I now have a bantam pen, and 2 coops (more advice: drastic age differences often don't mix well). After 2 years of much trial and error, I have almost gotten my flock where I want it, Large Breeds Only.

Concerning a certain hatching addiction I also developed, I would also recommend NOT going overboard here either, unless you have a reliable outlet for all of the unwanted roos that will hatch. Yep, they really do hatch at about 50/50. My property was over run with them. Then I realized that as no one wants them, I was having to sell in pairs & trios just to rehome them. Parting with my precious pullets and many times not even ending up with one bird left from those eggs I just had to have.

It is definitely trial and error, and the best advice I can give is to get a seasoned chicken friend, ask for advice and TAKE IT. It will save you quite a headache & a good bit of $$, LOL!

SOOOOO TRUE!

 

[Chickens R Us]

I will not buy straight run chicks.I thought since they are cheaper it would be worth it even at 50% chance of getting roos .I bought 3 NH got 3 roos I bought 10 GLW 8 turned out to be roos,then I bought 8 BA 6 turned out to be roos. Okay now I learned my lesson and I bought 6 black pullets from TSC 4 were roos. Dang the luck!!

My daughter bought me an incubator, cool I'm going to hatch my own chicks 8 eggs hatched 6 were roos

I bought 4 CM pullets 3 were roos

I sold 15 roos and have to butcher the rest this fall I am going to keep 2-3 roos for breeding, because I want to hatch eggs in the spring. Must be the year of the rooster. I did buy10 pullets from Townline hatchery guess what, all pullets.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

If you see a predator out with your chooks always Always ALWAYS bring out the big guns first! I have some hawks around and one got to one of my birds... I brought out Big-Well-Behaved Dog instead of Small-Killer-of-Livestock Dog because my chooks were out there in a pen she could get to them through the fence if they were too close (how the hawk got one) and she had nipped one a day prior. I regret that now. Big dog didn't even try to give chase, and the hawks are still around. Sometimes I see them in the trees. Small Dog would have ripped out the tail feathers of the loose moving target and ignored the chickens in the pen.