Got my chicks

[dustawaits]

Rough travel and I will lose some  . They were chilled but fortunately it was basically warm not deep below freezing like we have had.
These are assorted bantams and really they are. If I can just pull them through, there is at least one Langsham, d’uccles, one or two Sultans , Japanese, Silkies and probably at least half a dozen or maybe more breeds. They are in the mud room behind the wood stove. I am going to put a couple of buckets of water on the stove in case the electricity goes off tonight...ice storm..... the buckets and the stove should keep the warm........ I do not think I have ever raised chicks at 90 degrees. Right now they are happy at 85. They have done nothing but eat since they found the feeders. I have worked on teaching them to drink. They look like they doubled in size.

[ceresone]

where did you order from? got mine in june--and they were laying in 5 months. i'm wondering if my lil crippled hen will try to lay--i'm afraid it would kill her. congratulations on your babies

[dustawaits]

Ideal , I was looking for hatcheries in Missouri. Said it was in Springfield so I thought that would
be close to drive to. Nope it was in Cameron Texas. They flew the chicks out the afternoon of the 7th.
I did not get them until 8a.m on the 9th. They do not look good.. I have called Ideal and they will take care of the
loss but not sure I want them too.

It should not hurt your crippled hen to lay, Years ago we had a beautiful bantam hen hit by a truck. We saw it happen.
It knocked her almost 10 ft. Knowing she was dead we ran to get her anyway. Her keel was broken, ribs, and the leg or
rather thigh bone. She was not dead nor wanted to be. Three weeks of being wrapped and in a shoe box , she was ready to
try to walk. We kept her wrapped until she regained her strength and could walk without our help. She rejoined the flock and
flew to us anytime we were outside, riding on our shoulder. Going into the 4 th year later..... a hawk got her.

[Woodpecker]

OH, after all that,she got well...darn hawk! Once when my daughter and I were sitting outside with Loretta, our only chicken left, 3 osprey kept circling above. My girl scooped her up and put her in the coop. I'm sorry you lost your pet chicken, shoulder rider.

[ceresone]

cackle hatchery is in lebanon, missouri, just off the interstate. i was there once to pick up my chicks. they were very unfriendly when i wanted to order last year--so i went to murraymcmurray. extra special place to order. they worked with me to get exactly what i wanted. they allwed me to get the amount i wanted in any breed, as long as i was willing to work with them on ship date.such healthy babies, one very tiny made it for 2 days, but it was just too tiny--trooper is crippled because of a misplaced shot--they insisted on crediting me with their cost. i would reccomend them to anyone

[dustawaits]

I do not know how many chicks I have gotten from Cackle over the years.
I got the station wagon completely full the last time. I picked up for three or four people.
But I went to the hatchery. This time, I thought I would try Ideal but if I can get the poultry I want....
I will dispose of all I got this time. I have lost 10% now and as I think about it, knowing what I do
about hatcheries....I am guessing some of these chicks are older than others. The hatchery does
not feed hatched chicks , that is the customers responsibility. But there are over hatch, cancellations, etc.
The surplus chicks are in the “showroom” and drop ins buy.
I ordered from MurrayMcmurray and got a bunch of chicks with out nails, that was a gross defect , twisted beaks
and I don’t remember what all. We called them and protested but they refused to replace or refund.
But then hatcheries do not for the most part raise their own flocks . They have growers that provide the eggs.

[ceresone]

sorry to hear that on mm--they have a forum on their site--you need to post it.when i to cackle, i was with my oldest daughter, she sneaked guineas into my boxes asa joke, since my hubby hated guineas. joke was on her--he would walk around, and they followed him, talking in a low chatter, long as he could remember, he wanted more guineas. ironic, few years after his death, a guinea feather floated down on my deck---hadnt been any here in 20 years.

[dustawaits]

I have not tried them again. I felt that way about Cackle but gave them another chance and they had improved drastically.
My DD was in 4 h and wanted to show chickens. The ones we got were supposed to be show birds and we paid more for
them. But then there are pros and cons about every hatchery, I do believe.
I am still losing chicks and fixing to do research on salmonella. They put a sheet in that said to wash diligently after handling as it is
transferable to humans. The little I read said there was no cure and highly contagious. If that is the case what is there to keep them
all from getting sick.
There are some really neat breeds too. Aruocona with ear tuffs, but I think I am going to lose it. Amercauna and EE. So several colored egg layers.
Looks like there are a lot of pallets which is unusual!!
I love guineas!

[ceresone]

is there a smell? rather like a older chicken house--a musty mouse smell?if so, think coccodia, it is prevalent in some areas--even in animals. i didnt realize it , untill i had these chicks vaccinated--and i dont have the smell i'm describing--even when i had in the house--and now garage. its not just me--visitors have mentioned the lack of the smell i'm trying to describe. i have scrubbed my hands so much, and over the years, handling strong disinfecting liquids--i have no fingerprints

[dustawaits]

My research last says no to salmonella. I believe the ones that died were weak
with little or no resistance. I lost one of the 3 I was watching this morning. The other two
are back to health. Also I believe that the most of the ones that died were black Japs.

I have pine shavings and just the natural poop smell. I did start a once a day treatment of Miracle2
.i have used it for a variety of things and will watch to see if it makes a difference.
Mine are in the mud room which is just off the kitchen. I do not smell them at all unless I am next
to their box.

They are so quiet and make very soft contented noises only unless something is wrong.
This is the first time I have ever raised them in the house, the first time to ever get them so
early.
Alway before on the farm I wait till July to get the first batch or maybe August. We used them for insects.
Never had a problem with grasshoppers, and they were crazy about Japanese beetles. They chased flies
and mice as well.
Now I want to do something different...time will tell if it will work.
But they are very sweet and if I cup my hand they will step inside.
It is nice to have babies around even if they are chicks.

[shellymay]

Sorry about the chicks, hope the balance make it..... dustawaits, not sure what state you are in but yes they may of gotten chilled and that is a sure bet that many won't make it.......

I have ordered hundreds of chicks from Cackle and even when the temps where real cold, but I ordered so many that it helps keep the chicks warm all packed together, I have changed my delivery to fall now and temps are much better for shipping....

Good luck and keep us posted, oh we love pictures!

[dustawaits]

Ok I will see if this works.