Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[Bigfamily4me]

Hey quick question...

What do I need to shoot the chicks up with when born? Something for Mareks? Where do I buy that locally? How about the coccidiosis..?

Ok that was several questions but since this my first hatch and I don't have any of that stuff yet...

 

[Bigfamily4me]

I just took our tree down Wed! Oh I wanted to mention that I too have 5 children. Busy busy busy... That's why the tree was still up till then!

 

[MustLoveHens]

CC-That is so cool!! I can't wait to hear what she hatched!!

Raim-I'd say 1 roo for 12 hens would be ok. I think sometimes it depends on the rooster too.

BF4-You can vaccinate for Mareks. I however do and I don't If I get chicks a hatchery I do have them vaccinated for it but those I hatch out myself I don't. Mainly because the vial for the vaccine treats about 100 chicks and once it's mixed it's only stable for I think 72 hours. It maybe be only 48 hours. I don't hatch enough chicks to bother with it and the vaccine has to be give at the time of hatch.
In all my years of owning chickens and having literally hundreds of them I have only had 1 die from Mareks.

Raim-So are you going to raise Sizzles too?

 

[Bigfamily4me]

Thanks MLH!

 

[Celtic Chick]

Bf4, for cocci, just get the medicated chick feed. It's medicated with amprollium to guard against cocci.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/manna-pro-reg-medicated-chick-starter-5-lb--1003043

I haven't had any of my chicks vaccinated as of yet, but I don't have alot of birds either.

I do recommend putting them on the medicated feed to start them out. But that's just me.
My banties were vaccinated before I got them, at least for Marek's, and they lived to be 9, at least. The roo is still kicking.

 

[bigzio]

Evening All On This Fishless Friday.... just to much good stuff in the fridge to warm up. I syre didn't need that big piece of pie either.

Yep, I agree that no shots are needed for your home raised flock.....I'm 100% for the medicated chick starter fed for the very minimum of 8 weeks and longer is better .

Medicated feed simply has a low dose to allow the chicks to develop and recover from infections and acquire a natural immunity. Good clean environments help also. This is really the best way to go. Coccidiosis is preventable...it just makes good sense.

Hope you see peeping eyes tomorrow CC... dang that's exciting and just dang fun.

Yep, a both date hatch for begin and finish on april fools does sound like fun. I think if you seperate the first week in march, that would be fine raim. Seems like the roo's always have their favorite women...one roo to 10 or 12 hens is usually the norm. I know some of the women aren't gett in their fair share of the OM...One could always remove the favorite couple hens with a week to go to allow the lonely women some lovin and assure they are laying fertile also, avoiding some clears later....however you would need to have a way to then keep track of those hens removed for collection of their specific eggs.

bigz

 

[raimnel]

Raim-So are you going to raise Sizzles too?

HECK YA! at least hatch some!

I'm not even sure the frizzle is laying? she should be, she'll be 1 I think in April??? I just don't know which egg is hers. So I'm gonna color her tooshie.

Oooo maybe with purple food coloring, I was thinking blue but I like purple best. lol

I give my chicks medicated feed usually just the first bag, depending on how many chicks are eating it lol I would say 2 weeks time ish, how many ever bags it takes lol I have 4 (5?) eggubators that we made from coolers. each holds like 2 dz eggs, and last year I loaded them up twice 1 week in between hatch/set.
I'm gonna talk with DH see if he wants to mix RIR and Dels. IDK
well I gotta get up tomorrow, later

 

[FrenchToast]

Quote:
I would sure hope so Raim !!!

I'm in for the hatch on April Fools day and on April 22nd. I also have to separate some birds. I have Dom, Barred Rocks, Ameracaunas, Buff Orps, Lav Orps, Polish, Showgirls, Silkies, Dutch Bantams, RIR's, Bantam Turkens, and Silkie Cochin crosses and cochin roosters I can pair up for first generation silkie cochin crosses.
I've also been contemplating pairing up the RIR roosters with the Doms or Barred Rock hens for sex links. At least I would know how many roosters I'd have the day they hatch but still wouldn't have the heart to cull them.
Decisions Decisions.
I see that the hatcheries now vaccinate for Cocci. I don't know how much the vaccine would cost to do it yourself. I try to vaccinate for Mareks disease. Silkies are prone to Mareks. Of course they would have to be exposed to it but I've seen videos of a bird with Mareks and it is horrible.
Just an FYI about Mareks, even if you vaccinate for it they can still get it but they won't develop the tumors that cause the devastating symptoms. So what that means is even though they don't show symptoms of Mareks they can be carriers of it. If you start out hatching your own chicks or ordering them from a hatchery you are pretty safe for not having a problem. However if you bring home a "Healthy" adult bird it could be a carrier and expose all of your birds to it.
Young birds are more susceptible to it. Chicks should be vaccinated at one day old and once you mix the vaccine it is only good for about 1 HOUR.
I've vaccinated my chicks older then that. The trick is to get the chicks exposed to the vaccine before they are exposed to the actual virus that may be on your property. That is why if you order chicks and have them vaccinated to make sure you keep them totally separate from any older birds for at least 10 days otherwise if they are exposed to the virus (It is a herpes virus) before the vaccine takes hold and they develop antibodies the Virus will win.
Some breeds are suppose to be more susceptible to it. Silkies, and either Barnevelders or Wellsummers (Can't remember which) and I'm sure others. Those are just a few that I've read about.
It is a personal decision of course and how keep your flock makes difference too. Going to swaps and shows increases your risk of bring some of these diseases home to your flock. I have brought home a few adult birds but it scares the H3LL out of me that I will bring something in that can jeopardize my whole flock.

Anyway on that note. CC whatcha waiting for ??? Lift up the hen and tell up what is under there already !!! LOL BTW Keep that bator empty CC you are getting the first Lavender Orp eggs to hatch !!! I'm getting an egg every other day from Lilly (which is on the top list of baby names for 2011 btw lol) Within the week I'm going to pair them up !!!
I am going to vaccinate my chicks this weekend and I will vaccinate Lilly as well.
Cleaned a bunch of pens today, Shower sure felt good after all that !!!

Oh and Tomski, Can you tell me how you made the track for your sliding coop door ? We have to make one and I'll go get the supplies so need a list.

We have to go to the dump too !! It's been weeks. They are only open on Saturdays and with Christmas and NewYears on the weekend we haven't gone. Good thing it is Winter !!! We have an enclosed trailer that we stash our garbage in (or I'm sure some wild animal would find it)

Ok, my short story is done for the day. Remind me to tell U'all about how I lost my marbles !!!

 

[FrenchToast]

PS Then we can have a chick swap at the bash !!! Oh and I think I'll start wishing for Roosters so I get hens !!!

Cind, maybe look into the symptoms for sour crop? Do you have any yogurt or lactobacillus acidophilus, Benebac ?

 

[Cindlady]

Hi All!

Thanks FT... just checked on the sour crop.... maybe. The crop was empty 'till I started feeding her. It is warm but not hot and seems to empty a few hours after I feed her. Last feed I put some fine grit in too. Breathing seems a bit better. I just don't know, she's still very droopy. She only had 1 poop, that looked OK. I massaged her tummy a bit too. Maybe a bit of olive oil?

Raim...Yes, my tree is up. But then with the broken hand I was too clumsy to take it down! LOL DH asked when it was coming down. I told him when my hand heels... He looked at it and said " I kinda like it there, looks kinda foresty." LOL So, I don't know

maybe it will sit there all year! The kitten likes it!

Sewing machine?! Gee, let me think... Great grandma made quilts and clothes. Grandma made quilts and some of my grandpa's shirts and other stuff, lots of mending. My mother had a stint as a professional seamstress and worked in a parachute factory. I learned to sew before I could reach the foot peddle! Got my first sewing machine as graduation present. My family were perfectionist when it can to sewing. I did allot of ripping out! In 8th grade I took sewing in school... what a joke! (for me anyway.) Our first project was washcloth slippers. We had 3 days to do them. I had just gotten done helping my grandma make 150 pair for charity! So, I got mine done in less than an hour including fancy trim and a heel. I spent the next 2 days helping the rest of the class, as I did with most of the projects. I so aced that class!

Yes, I have a sewing machine.

CC...We need chick pics!!!

If I have a broody hen I'll be in for the hatch! I have a 'bator, but I don't plan on using it unless I need to.

Well, I took the splint off my hand. Man it's stiff and sore! I think it felt better when I first broke it! I guess the "burning" pain is normal and could go on for months.

The pot of chili is done. Now it just needs to soak over night. Always better that way.

OK, night all!