Or maybe I'm not.
As is pretty common with me, I, once again, find myself trapped in indecision.
Here's my current plan, based on my two, local farm & feed stores' chick delivery schedule:
Tomorrow, 3/04:
2x Silver-laced Wyandottes
2x Black Australorp
2x either Buff Orpington or Light Brahma (not sure yet)
Wednesday, 3/05:
My birthday. Damn, I'm getting old.
Thursday, 3/06:
2x Rhode Island Red
2x Araucana
2x Barred Rock
This is where the indecision comes in. As most of you know, a little more than one month ago, I moved to a rural property that has, to my knowledge, never had chickens on it before. After some research (and determining my own personal feelings), I decided *not* to purchase chicks through any of the more well-known mail-order hatcheries - all very far away from Oregon - because I wanted to limit the amount of stress "my" new babies would undergo during shipping. I also wanted to buy as locally as possible.
So...I have been talking to two of my local farm and feed stores, anticipating the arrival of my chicks tomorrow and Thursday. Since everything I had read led me to believe that all chicks are routinely vaccinated against Marek's disease, I had assumed these hatcheries supplying my farm and feed stores would vaccinate, too. Wrong-o!!! Neither of the hatcheries (Dunlap in Idaho or Phinney in Walla, Walla, Washington) will be vaccinating prior to shipping to the stores!
I have also now missed my window of opportunity to buy from the well-known hatcheries because they are now sold-out (except for cockerels) until pretty late in the season.
While I'm not anxious to vaccinate these babes myself, having never done anything like this before, I would do it if I had to, however, everything I've read says that you need to vaccinate them within a day of being hatched or the vaccine isn't effective.
Old timers are telling me that if the property has not had chickens before and I'm not planning to show my birds, then there is no need to vaccinate. Further, there are numerous strains of Marek's and the vaccine only protects against one strain - so my birds still may be vulnerable. Even others tell me they have never had their birds vaccinated and they have never had any trouble. Then why the fuss over this thing called Marek's?
Is my fear really about something else entirely and not at all about a poultry disease? Why am I so dang nervous and uncertain about my first venture into chick-rearing? Is it that I don't trust myself? That maybe none of the knowledge that I've acquired in my lifetime will actually help me keep these little guys safe and sound? I really don't want this event to be a deadly disaster for my chicks! "Suck it up", I say to myself in a stern voice. "Be the farmgirl you believe yourself to be, make the best decision you can, and deal with it!"
But then there's the part about me getting chicks in two separate batches, two days apart, from two different feed stores. Is this a problem? (Repeat earlier mantra to myself ...the one about sucking it up.)
In the mean time, I aspire to:
...be farm-smart like Robin at Season's Greetings Farm
...have morning tea with my hens like Twinville at Laughing Orca Ranch...
...have the sense to know that an impacted crop can be helped with olive oil and sand like DeconstructingVenus at A Journey in your Dreams...
...take gratuitous chicken photos like Michelle at Sugarcreekstuff...
...tell wonderful chicken anecdotes like El at Fast Grow the Weeds ...
...and figure out how to convince my hens to assist in making awesome compost like Meg and Kelly have at Future House Farm...
In parting, I leave you with my own gratuitous photo...of my Easter wreath:
What is it made of, you ask? Why, eggs, of course! :-)
Someone said something that put chickens in perspective for me. Chickens will be as complicated or as simple as you decide to make them. There's lots of truth to that.
ReplyDeleteSo...I have been talking to two of my local farm and feed stores, anticipating the arrival of my chicks tomorrow and Thursday.
Where are the feed stores getting the chicks? Most feed stores get them from the big hatcheries and resell them. Your chicks will probably be making a flight to Oregon today and Wednesday.
Since everything I had read led me to believe that all chicks are routinely vaccinated against Marek's disease, I had assumed these hatcheries supplying my farm and feed stores would vaccinate, too.
I've raised hundreds of chickens. I've never vaccinated them for anything and only once wormed them after seeing a worm.
everything I've read says that you need to vaccinate them within a day of being hatched or the vaccine isn't effective.
When you get the chicks (get the chicks!) look at their wing tips. If they have feathers they're probably three days old. Then, you've worried for nothing 'cuz then it's too late. Millions of unvaccinated chickens don't get Marek's every year.
Then why the fuss over this thing called Marek's?
Cha-Ching! $$$
You know how they push drugs for people on tv all the time? Same thing. If someone tries to tell you your hens need Viagra you should seriously question them about this. *running out of sight now!
Why am I so dang nervous and uncertain about my first venture into chick-rearing?
In comparison to human babies, chicks are a breeze. They're a lot alike. You feed them, water them, change them. They make a lot of noise and they're incredibly cute. You can do this.
But then there's the part about me getting chicks in two separate batches, two days apart, from two different feed stores. Is this a problem?
They'll hop around at each other, try to look bigger, and they'll get over it.
...be farm-smart like Robin at Season's Greetings Farm
Well thank you! But truth be told, I used to work in offices. I'd never touched a chicken until 10 1/2 years ago. Some day I'll tell the story about Matty the pig. I'd seen plenty of pigs but I'd never touched one until the day I became the owner of a 350 pound sow. "Dear Lord, please don't let her eat me."
Your wreath is awesome! How did you do that?
Ok now, suck it up and get your chicks. You can do this!
Robin has kickass advice.
ReplyDeleteWe got our chickens when they were a couple months old. We were totally worried that we'd do something wrong, which we kind of did--PeggyO flew the coop on the first night and we found her roosting in a pine tree the next day. Oops! That made us realize that the chickens were pretty much gonna do what they were gonna do, and that aside from giving them food and water, our interventions weren't going to change much.
Now we have a surly teenager/disgruntled parent sort of relationship. We act nice to them, feed them, try to lure them with treats, but for the most part they ignore us and spend their days hanging around behind the neighbors garage. If they could sneak cigarettes, I'm sure they would.
Basically what I'm trying to say is, go for it! They'll be find, vaccinations or not. They'll be hugely entertaining, a nice curiosity for your pup, and they'll make you breakfast, too.
I can't wait to see photos!
You said it yourself...suck it up and get the birds already!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday! I solicited my mother for chicken advice. I'll report back. I bet she says get them. She loves her chickens and has a big flock. She jokes that many are getting old and she doesn't care, its the chicken retirement home. They can stay even if they don't lay.
ReplyDeleteWe don't know anything about chicks. Mom grew up on a farm and she never learned about that stuff. She just went out and collected the eggs.
ReplyDeleteBig Sloppy Kisses
Gus and Louie
Get the chicks already, chickie!
ReplyDeleteChickens are easier than puppies to raise. And you've done an awesome job with Roxy, so chickens will be a piece of cake!
Because we wanted our eggs to be as natural and organic as possible, it is important to us that we don't use vaccines or feed them medicated feed. So we only feed our chickens organic feed and healthy scraps.
I'd also like to add that I made a big boo boo and did feed my chickens medicated feed for five days back in December, because my husband came home with a bag by mistake and I thought that one bag wouldn't hurt.
Well, it did. I don't have any concrete proof, but just two days after feeding my chickens the medicated stuff, one of our barred rocks went lame in both her legs.
She was that way for almost 3 weeks. We thought we were going to lose her, but we stopped feeding the medicated feed and she pulled through.
So don't stress about the Marek's. Go as natural and organic as possible.
Hey I love your egg wreath!!
Oh and before I forget....HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
I bet you're not as old as ME! I'll be 42 this year! haha
~~March 5th is my daughter's birthday too!!!
She'll be FIVE this year!
(Where has the time gone?)
Get them! Get them! They will make you giggle everyday! Even if they make you mad by not going in their coop when you want them to. Oh, and get a big stick!
ReplyDeleteM
Listen to what Robin said. Get the chicks. You'll do fine.
ReplyDeleteMixing very young chicks together that are only a few days apart in age should be fine. It's when you mix much older ones with the very young ones that it can be a challenge. I once mixed some that were 3 weeks apart in age and the bigger ones did pick on the younger ones, but everyone survived just fine.
Just remember to keep them warm, dry, away from dogs, raccoons, possums, maybe cats, etc. You've read the chicken raising books. You know what to do.
My guess is that you are feeling your own "Mother Hen" instincts kicking in when you are insecure and worrying about taking good care of them. You've already given your heart to them. You want to protect them and see them thrive. This is a good thing. Go with it!
I want to see pictures of your new babies when you get them please. Have fun with them and enjoy your birthday. What a cool birthday gift. Soft fuzzy peeping chicks!
But Danni if you don't get them how will you ever realize your dream of having a farm? You have to just jump in and try. Chicks are not that hard and I have had chickens all my life and have never even heard of Marek's, I'm embarrassed to say. You may want to find out why those hatcheries don't vaccinate. They probably have a good reason. We tend to overvaccinate everything. Especially our dogs and cats. It is a way for vets to make money getting you in there every year. Think about it, we don't vaccinate our children every year.
ReplyDeleteYou can do this. Yes, you may make a mistake now and then but that ok too. Nothing ventured nothing gained. Get yourself in the car on Wednesday and point it toward the feedstore. That is a nice selection of chicks.
P.S. I am a dog trainer and have read a lot about the overvaccinating of our pets. I am a bit radical about it.
Nice wreath!
Hey, thanks for the shout out. You already read all the books and all the other gals kicked in their insight. Nice job ladies. The truth is you can do the minimum or you can do all the right things and you will still lose some. Kind of how things work on a farm. Don't let your worry keep you from jumping in with both feet. I just wanted to gather fresh eggs and be a bit more self sufficient, I wasn't expecting love.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much to each of you who took the time to answer my fearful post. Your tips, advice and cheerleading did wonders for me this afternoon. The wealth of information contained in all of your heads, as well as the way you communicate it to me, just blows me away. Please oh please, couldn't we schedule a blogger weekend where we can all get together and laugh and share experiences?! ...get back to me on that :-D
ReplyDeleteRobin: See?! You are the voice of reason, experience and wisdom. Thank you. And I look forward to the story of Matty. :-)
Meg: I loved the comparison to surly teenagers!! I've got TWO of those already, so I think I should be able to handle 12 more no-problem, don't you? (aaack)
Judy: Yes, ma'am! I have sucked it up and am back on track. Thank you - everyone needs a push off the diving board occasionally. :-)
NW Nature Nut: Thank you for asking your mom - she's got kick-ass advice - I think the last thing I got from her was that interesting recipe for mole-b-gone! I can't wait to hear what she'll say about the chicks. :-D
Gus and Louie: Let's hope it will be as easy for me as it was for your mom! Thank you. :-)
Twinville: I love hearing from you - your positivity constantly buoys me. Did I spell that right?! LOL
Oh, and by the way...you lost the bet. :-D
(Your daughter, gafarmgirl's grandmother, and I all share a most lovely 3/05 birthday - the birthday of goddesses!!)
Ms In-Between: Thanks, Mindi...pls tell Wheat thanks for the advice, too!
Farmer Jen: Ah yes, your words struck a chord with me, too. You and Robin (Season's Eatings) should meet! :-) Thank you for the great advice and the confirmation that I can add new babies in the next couple of days without too much trouble!
Goatgirl: Thank you so much...you aren't that far away from me and if you haven't even heard of Marek's disease, this is definitely good news. Thanks also for commenting on the types of chicks. I wanted an assortment, but was hoping I hadn't gone overboard! :-)
Sugarcreekstuff: You and my husband...he told me the same thing earlier this evening...that no matter what a great job I am doing, I still may lose a couple and I just have to be ok with that. You are absolutely right - this is farm life, isn't it? Thank you.
I do believe that you got the point...lol Enjoy your birds and don't sweat the details.
ReplyDeletepeace