rehoming some exbatts

[petal]

No, I certainly would not breed from them. Luckily their outside pen will be entirely separate from the breeding pens which are set up now at the opposite side of the garden. My friend just told me there are many varients of mycoplasma anyway and that innoculation does not prevent all. On a positive note they really seem to be perking up today, eating drinking, jumping about. i have turned the heat lamp off, its really warm here.

[RichmondHens]

Why?

(Forgive my ignorance, if it's a stupid question )

Of course you can breed from ex batts and (probably) get a useful laying crossbreed. It's just that Petal is setting up breeding pens of pure breeds so assumed her ex batts were just rescued to give them a happy life.

But you shouldn't breed from anything that has myco as it is transferred through the egg so any chicks hatched would then carry it. Unfortunately a lot of people do breed from affected birds which is why it is so prevalent.

[Suechooks]

But you shouldn't breed from anything that has myco as it is transferred through the egg so any chicks hatched would then carry it. Unfortunately a lot of people do breed from affected birds which is why it is so prevalent.

Thats a really useful piece of info. Thanks Sally.

[Glutton4...]

Of course you can breed from ex batts and (probably) get a useful laying crossbreed. It's just that Petal is setting up breeding pens of pure breeds so assumed her ex batts were just rescued to give them a happy life.

But you shouldn't breed from anything that has myco as it is transferred through the egg so any chicks hatched would then carry it. Unfortunately a lot of people do breed from affected birds which is why it is so prevalent.

Cheers - it was just me being a Numpty again - I had completely missed the point that Petal is keeping true breeds. D'oh!

[petal]

Yep, the exbatts are just a good deed! We have (well my daughter has)pens now of: buff orpingtons, light sussex with buff sussex cockerel so they auto sex, gold, white,black silkies(with an araucana hen- should be interesting!), naughty pekins in many colours inc frizzle, fat brahmas, silver laced wyandotte bantams, polands(inc frizzle) , various ducks... a nasty transyvannian naked neck bantam= disgusting and I hope the cat eats him(can we get him some girlfriends mummy...!)and 1 pet turkey.We ate the other one today..

[petal]

By the way - shallow trug of ***** fluid placed outside barn for wellies has been installed to disinfect feet in when visiting the ex batts - just in case it is something horrid they have, they do seem a 100% better tonight.Only rattles is still rattling.

[chris]

lol, I just burst out laughing reading the remark about cat eating him.... because, a cat came in my garden, stalking a sole chicken - legs went to jelly (again) and as I was scrambling for my shoes (which were by the kitchen back door) I glanced up when out of NO WHERE my other two chickens came running over, wings outstretched and feathers all fluffed up - so funny. The three then chased the cat around in circles for about 30 secs, before the cat as low as possible to the ground slinked off as fast as possible up the side of the house. The chickens were up the side then standing by the gate peering underneath it for yonks!

Thought they deserved a treat so gave them some pasta :P

I wish I had of filmed it, everytime I think of it a laugh (and that's numerous times a day).. never seen something so funny in all my life.

I thought the light sussex was a gonner! Shalln't bother worrying now hehe, wouldn't mind seeing them vs a fox

[Glutton4...]

My Cat and my Hens totally ignore each other. The only reason the Cat is no longer allowed in the run is Asbo! He's only scared of the Geese. And water. And my Net.

[RichmondHens]

Think the fox might win there Chris. I did have a cat who once chased off a fox though - pretty amazing to see.

[Bramble-Poultry]

Petal - you probably have anyway, but make sure that your rodent control is upto date and effective as rats and mice can transmit it on their feet and also try and keep a cover over the birds as wild birds can also transmit it in their feaces dropped as they fly over.