Messages

571

Housing, Health & Hatching / Embryo Vaccinations

« on: March 10, 2012, 10:53:12 PM »

One advantage to using an alcahol swab is that when you swab the neck area the fuzz almost disappears and you have a clearer view of the skin below. I have done as Mike said and not swabed the area and have not had any bad effects. I do make sure the needle is swabed with alcahol between injections.

572

Housing, Health & Hatching / Embryo Vaccinations

« on: March 10, 2012, 07:58:42 PM »

Using a 1-1/2 needle you could get by if you are careful to not let it protrude through and go out the other side. It will sure slow down the process and with open time of about 1 hr after mixing the vacine you won\'t get as many chicks done. I have used \"1  needles and even with them you have to slow down and be careful- 1/2 inch works much better. We usually gather the chicks in 30 gal rubber storage tubs all lined up. My daughter is the catcher and holder. I swab and vacinate. When we first started we could only do about 50-60 chicks an hour. But with practice our best has been about 174 an hour. That\'s with about 70% bantams which are much harder than LF. That\'s smoking! You do not have to rub the bubble on the chicks neck. Just watch them and keep them warm. I think the alcohol swab cooling them down is harder on them than the vacine. I have never had a chick have adverse reactions to the vacine. All in all, it\'s probably harder on my daughter and me trying to beat the clock and use as much vacine before time runs out!
Good Luck- It\'s not as complicated as it sounds. You\'ll be a pro in no time!

573

Housing, Health & Hatching / Embryo Vaccinations

« on: March 10, 2012, 10:37:12 AM »

I use a 22 gauge x 1/2 inch needle on day old chicks. I buy these at my local Orscheln store. Yes you are correct for the .2 ml dosage per chick.

574

Housing, Health & Hatching / Laryngotracheitis Vaccine

« on: March 08, 2012, 03:19:32 PM »

What is the suggested vacination procedure for adult birds?

575

Breeding / My first breeding decision for type instead of color...

« on: March 08, 2012, 08:53:18 AM »

Find a good Black hen and breed her to your Splash cockerell and you will have all the blue chicks you want!!!!

576

Exhibiting & Promoting / Chickens magazine article

« on: March 02, 2012, 06:02:16 PM »

I read the article a few years ago when I was given a subscription by my brother. Great stuff. If a person didn\'t know the difference between true ameraucanas and easter eggers, they had no excuse after reading the article. Clear and to the point!

577

Exhibiting & Promoting / Chickens magazine article

« on: March 02, 2012, 12:42:31 AM »

Maybe I\'ll have to go to the doctor more often to read the free magazines. Better yet, maybe I can just hang out in the lobby!

578

Housing, Health & Hatching / Feed Prices

« on: February 28, 2012, 05:48:33 AM »

Wow, what a varience in feed prices. I am paying 13.85 for a 18% egg layer at a local coop. That\'s down from 14.50 a month ago. Purina flock raiser is 15.50. These are all 50# bag prices. I hate having to recalculate when you have to start figuring in 40# bags. Sometimes I think my birds eat better than me.