vituperation

The great chick die-off of 2008 appears to be at an end, thank goodness. We’re left with 13 chicks, out of 27 we were supposed to have. As it became evident that the hatchery was sending out diseased chicks, theories ran rampant. For a while, many of us believed that the chicks got a “hot” load of Marek’s vaccine, one that gave them the disease instead of helping prevent it.

Finally, though, people started sending off their chicks to be necropsied, and when the results came back, it turned out the chicks had avian encephalomyelitis. The hatchery, who had been very good about refunding the cost of the dying / dead chicks, released the following statement:

Avian Encephalomyelitis (AE) is passed from the infected hen (the only symptom being a drop in egg production) through the egg into the chick. Chicks from infected hens display AE symptoms within two to three weeks of age. Those chicks are infectious and should be quarantined until well after symptoms are no longer displayed. All equipment and housing should be disinfected and litter disposed of properly. Surviving chicks will be immune to AE in the future, will not shed the virus, and will pass this immunity on to their offspring.

In February one of our larger breeder flocks had a well water quality problem. We took corrective action and treated the well water. There was also a reduction in egg production as well as poor hatchability at that time. We falsely diagnosed the egg production problem as being water related. A few weeks ago we had reports of mortality in some birds and recently we have had a confirmed report of AE, for which our flocks had been vaccinated. As you can imagine this left us in a quandary as to how this could have happened.

By consulting with veterinarians we confirmed that AE runs it course in adult birds for 1 to 2 weeks and the surviving birds are immune. That period of time has elapsed; eggs and chicks from our now immune breeding flocks will not be infected.

We are sorry for any inconvenience and problems caused and thank you so very much for your patience and understanding of this most trying time for McMurray Hatchery. Just as we done for the last 90 years you can again expect the same high quality chicks in all future orders.

The part that strikes my funny bone is where after all of us have been dealing with dying chicks that stumble around, getting weaker and more uncoordinated until they’re trampled to death…the hatchery thanks us for being understanding during their trying time.

Speaking of trying times, I put six of those chicks down myself, using ether and a small container. It pained me to do it, but a large part of being responsible for the lives of animals means doing what’s best for them, even if it means killing them. Though it’s possible for chicks to survive AE, as the hatchery statement says, surviving chicks aren’t productive (egg-wise) and stay small and runty.

The wildlife rehabber was right. They just go to sleep.

I’ve been thinking more and more about hatching some of the fertile eggs we’ve been eating. It would be a lot of fun seeing what McLovin and the girls produced, plus it would be pretty cool to raise a chicken from egg to dinner plate.

After the avian encephalomyelitis thing, and watching this segment of How It’s Made -

- I’m kind of turned off to the idea of getting more hatchery chicks right now.

If you couple that with the video below, which covers the life of a grocery store chicken -

Warning: very disturbing

- I think you’ll agree that, as icky as it might sound to talk about raising chickens from egg to plate, it’s the best alternative.

I’ve also about decided to try and build my own incubator…and set up an egg-cam with the money saved.

In other Crooked Acres news:

• I planted a pear tree this weekend.
• I’ve started building a couple of wood things for Robyn, which I can’t talk about yet.
• Onions and potatoes are in the garden, and we have over 100 tomato plants growing in flats in the garage (from seed!)
• Having running water out by the pigs and in with the chickens is a godsend.
• I cut the entire property Saturday, using only the riding mower. It took most of the day. Once again I’m thankful I have a tractor, which I didn’t use because I was too lazy to swap the tiller for the mower, since I’ll need the tiller in a couple of weeks when I plant the garden.
• Speaking of planting, Nance’s husband Rick and I planted two muscadine vines a couple of weeks ago when they were visiting, but they’re still dormant. The vines, not Nance and Rick.
• Speaking of a couple of weeks, THANK GOD I’LL BE PLANTING THE GARDEN in two weeks. I’m going crazy with the wait.

And now, after those depressing videos, let’s see some happy.

The crested chicks are really starting to, um, crest.
Behold a white-crested black polish, aka a “Don King”

Rhode Island reds

A mix

The golden buff polish, aka Ivana.

A Flappy McGee lookalike (Ameraucana)

Another group shot

This was the free rare chick, which I think is a Dominique
If I’m right, it should look like our Plymouth barred rocks (the speckles)

A Delaware, whom we call George, short for Curious George.
She’s VERY reminiscent of Frick in this regard.

Don King

Ivana
Yes, I’m enamored of the crested chickies.

And the big ‘uns:

McLovin, my mighty cock

This is more or less what the Dominique will look like (if it’s a Dominique)

Quite the look, no?

My girlfriend, Frick

Rick and I built a bridge over the ditch while they visited.
I believe in putting the guests to work.

Finally, the pigs:

Holy crap, they eat a lot.

If you scratch his side, the big one will flop over like a dog for a belly rub.

Excuse me, you has the food?

Food for a cute little piggie?

This picture slays me.
JAZZ HOOVES!