MJ's little flock

[BY Bob]

I don't always have the time for detailed posts.

Also, it's a very changing situation. As the probiotics step down, the Brahma's poops may change. Maybe the Australorps eyes will improve?

They all certainly have high energy when first let out of the coop in the morning. They always dash around and have play fights.

But like every flock, things change daily and these words I write today will be a little inaccurate tomorrow and vastly out of step next week.

I understand. They are lucky to have been rescued by you.

 

[RoyalChick]

Does this look like the right cleaning product? https://tuckersstore.com.au/product/zychem-exstinkt-h2o-20g-10tab/

Ingredients not the same as Virkon-S.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virkon

I just read that the British Hen Welfare Trust uses Virkon-S as a footpath for biosecurity.

 

[MaryJanet]

I understand. They are lucky to have been rescued by you.

Thanks Bob. I don't think that elderly man should keep so many chickens. He said he was overstretched and I think he should either give it up completely or reduce to a small flock of pet birds.

 

[RoyalChick]

@RoyalChick what is your 10-15 year plan for the flock? I am considering patiently waiting for the ladies in the flock to pass away, deep cleaning, turfing over the soil, then waiting a few years before re-starting with vaccinated chicks. Trouble is, I'll be quite old by then.

I plan to keep chickens until I am physically unable to care for them.
If I have enough money to pay for someone to help me I will do so in order to extend the time I can enjoy these delightful companions.
I need to get my act together regarding my will so that the cats and chickens are considered. Basically I will appoint someone to make the rehome vs euthanize decision if I am unable to do so.
Need to do the same for myself of course.

 

[RoyalChick]

I remembered how to make a jigsaw puzzle!

https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=15caaf3bb223

That was perfect. Thank you!
@MaryJanet, did you know that Jigsaw Planet has all the puzzles you ever made and you can select how many pieces to play it as. I did this one as 100 pieces but I could have selected a range of other numbers up to 300 and there is a 'Custom' option which I assume means I could have chosen some weird number like 103 pieces.

 

[MaryJanet]

That was perfect. Thank you!
@MaryJanet, did you know that Jigsaw Planet has all the puzzles you ever made and you can select how many pieces to play it as. I did this one as 100 pieces but I could have selected a range of other numbers up to 300 and there is a 'Custom' option which I assume means I could have chosen some weird number like 103 pieces.

No I had no idea! It always asks me to set the number of pieces when making a puzzle, and I assumed that was for a reason. Why ask that Q if players can choose for themselves?

 

[MaryJanet]

In case anyone's interested, Australia was doing well on Marek's until imported birds brought it in. Why were they imported? Economic advantage led to disregard of risk of course.

http://flockandherd.net.au/other/reader/mareks-disease-australia.html

It's mostly controlled in industrial flocks again.

 

[MaryJanet]

I plan to keep chickens until I am physically unable to care for them.
If I have enough money to pay for someone to help me I will do so in order to extend the time I can enjoy these delightful companions.
I need to get my act together regarding my will so that the cats and chickens are considered. Basically I will appoint someone to make the rehome vs euthanize decision if I am unable to do so.
Need to do the same for myself of course.

I feel the same but I'm not sure new chooks would choose to live in a Marek's environment, if I could ask them. I'm also concerned about it spreading to neighbourhood flocks through my selfishness. It's a suburb, not rural like your place.

 

[MaryJanet]

Interesting detail. In all the Marek's reading I've been doing, reducing stress is mentioned as a control.

However, I observe heightened symptoms in moments of heightened joy. When Bernadette is allowed out of the coop into the run each morning, she's delighted but her right leg is extremely unreliable at first. I know she's delighted because I can see her trying to scamper and failing.

For this reason, compassion dictates that Bernadette has very limited time left. I may take her with me Tuesday morning. I'll call them to put that option on the table.

But my point is, should the advice focus on respiration rather than stress?

 

[RoyalChick]

I feel the same but I'm not sure new chooks would choose to live in a Marek's environment, if I could ask them. I'm also concerned about it spreading to neighbourhood flocks through my selfishness. It's a suburb, not rural like your place.

I only introduce vaccinated chicks so I think the ‘what would the chickens think’ piece is OK.
I mean, I would rather live in a world without measles, but as I am vaccinated it doesn’t really impact my life.
I don’t know how to think about neighbors. If it is omnipresent as an earlier post suggested, then your chickens won’t make it worse.
I sound like I am trying to persuade you of something but really I am not. We both have to figure out our approach so I am probably just thinking out loud.