Why keep chickens if they're so disease prone?

[Illia]

I'll be very honest. When I first had hatchery and feedstore bought chicks/hens, yes, they came under quite a few illnesses and defects and the sort.

When I switched to better quality birds (non-hatchery, show, etc) I have yet to ever come across a problem with mine. I don't think chickens are really disease prone, I think badly bred ones are.

My current girls came from other people who raise their chickens just as I do. My hatchery girls came from a warehouse stuffed with mixed roosters and hens, fed only commercial feed. I think right there is the main source of why there's a difference in hardiness.

Also to add - I do not worm my chickens except through the natural way of feeding them worm paralyzers like pumpkin seed. I do not vaccinate them. I do not feed them antibiotics. I do not feed them medicated feed, either. I like my chickens naturally hardy, the way nature intended. If I have to, yes, I will vaccinate them.

 

[Akane]

We had one issue of mites that was easily solved with a thorough cleaning and that was it. Never saw a chicken disease. Just occasional injuries and predator issues. It helps to rarely if ever bring in adult chickens. Only twice and from the same person did I buy adult chickens. Otherwise all I got were eggs I hatched myself or day old guinea keets and chicks.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Quote:
Same here, never vaccinated, never used medicated feed, but I don't have thousands of birds - in which case it may be necessary.

 

[Inkheart]

It is true - you dont hear about the HUGE amount of healthy chickens on this thread! I raise Guppies as a hobby - they are known to be fragile and prone to mysterious deaths - but some just live a long long life and never have an issue - but yes some pass early on
The thing i heard from an old timer is " Where there is live stock - there is dead stock" With that said i lost one of my first chickens to unknown weirdness - but that theory helped me understand and her sister carries on to this day - ornery as ever! Just keep in mind all the healthy ones that will live a long normal life - Just stay clean - feed right - and be proactive

 

[Illia]

Well, you certainly have to consider, this section is specifically for the ill and in need.

So of course it is going to make chickens seem weak and prone to disease.

But step outside, there's a lot of other sections filled with healthy birds. The Breeds/Genetics/Showing section especially has a lot of healthy birds.

 

[scbatz33]

When I first started a bit over 3 years ago I was given chickens. They were mite infested. That isn't the chickens' fault, it was how they were kept. I treated it, no problems since. Then I have had one bought of cocci, due to my own stupidity and inexperience. I lost some chicks, learned from it and now do things differently. No further problems. And I had a real bad raccoon problem last summer. But I know better now and it won't happen again.

Like all beginners, it's a trial and error process. I didn't have anyone to teach me. I have learned from reading and from this site and from my own mistakes. I think a good portion of the issues arise form folks just not knowing how to prevent the problems in the first place.

I also see threads where there is disease/health issues because people got birds from somewhere and then brought them and their disease home. And it's a lot of "what do I do now?". Because they didn't implement proper quarantine, didn't trust their gut about the condition of the bird, or simply wanted to "save" birds from bad conditions. As they say, no good deed goes unpunished.

Further, I don't think chickens are any more disease prone than any other animals. I do think some are born weaker and that can lead to problems especially since folks have such a difficulty with culling. If you keep a weaker animal, throw it into your breeding program you are going to get offspring that have the same genetic weaknesses. You see it in all animals/species. We have the ability to selectively breed for the heartiest animals, to then propagate a flock that is strong and healthy. It is my opinion that it is our duty, as animal keepers/breeders/owners to do just that.

 

[woodmort]

Quote:
In over 25 years I've never used either but then I don't inspect every chicken every day and if one dies now and then, I just bag it up and sent to the landfill. Also, as I've said other places, I'm careful about who gets near by birds and the source of new ones.

 

[scbatz33]

I've never wormed or dusted anything. In fact, the only thing I worm regularly without some indication of a problem or a fecal test is my horses. They are on a worming schedule based solely on the fact that they will eat right where they defecate and are more prone to recycling of worms. I don't see the point of medicating unless there is a known problem. Clean area, fresh feed and water, sunshine and good ventilation are preventive enough medicine IMO.

 

[tammye]

thanks so much for your replies

 

[motoclown]

I love my chickens.
I often wonder I didn't start raising them a long time ago.