Could this problem be related to the Earth changes???

[Kim B]

Didn't know where to post this as this has to do with raising chickens (didn't think it would fit under Gardening club lol).  Any how,  a few chicken breeders in this area, including myself, have noticed a significant drop in egg fertility rates.  Our hatches have been really crappy, for example, 3 chicks out of a dozen eggs (or worse).  My neighbor, who lives about 4,000 feet from me, also is having bad hatch rates (she said she just threw in the towel on hatching chickens this year).  And a friend of mine who raises chickens that lives 1.5 miles from me also is having the same problem.  Now is this just a fluke?  Or could this be related to earth changes?  Or the particles that the sun is throwing off changing dna?? 

 

[Kim B]

BTW I did with my last incubator hatch manage to get 8 live chicks out of 26 eggs (not good).  Four of those chicks I had to help hatch.

[Kim B]

Thanks for letting me know about that Mary V.  I am just shocked at how bad it has been with hatching eggs this year.  Now there are two more of my hens sitting on eggs.  I managed to candle the one nest of 10 eggs and it appears three have something growing in them.  The other nest I have not been able to sneak eggs out to candle as the hen is always on top of them when I am out feeding.  I have never seen it this bad with hatchability rates being so crappy.  BTW, I lost 5 chicks died in their eggs before they even had a chance to pip.   This is usually associated with rumpless Araucana, but not Easter Eggers and not Ameraucana.

[Mary V]

Well many of the babies we lost were early this spring - before Japan had it's Eq....

[Mary V]

We have some eggs in the incubator - first batch nothing hatched but we attributed it to the fact that we might have not kept up on keeping water in the bottom for humidty - trying again, will know more in a month or so....however: with our goats, many of the mothers this year simply didn't attend to the baby goats when they were delivered and they died - and some of them were born to mothers who had successful twins the year before - it was like the mothers didn't even bother to clean and dry them....it almost made me wonder if the goats knew something.....wondering if they were figuring "well the world is going to come to an end this year, why bother" type concept.....wonder if any other animals are having any similar problems...I do see plenty of calves as I drive around, but that doesn't tell me if percentages are down.....

[Kim B]

Solar radiation, maybe, but not Fukushima because this problem started before Fukushima.  But Fukushima could complicate things.

As to feed sources, I use a different feed store (different brand).  I have been feeding the same for years now.  My chickens do get out on pasture, so they are not eating as much scratch (which has BOSS in it) and I feed little egg layer crumbles.  They also get GQF or Avia Charge 2000 along with zeolite or radialgin (for potential radioactive contamination) and sometimes I put in their feed kelp powder.   Today they will be getting cantelope rinds added to their daily ration.  The chicken scratch I buy isn't organic so I know it's not the best this is why they get extra nutrients.  No one sells organic chicken scratch here in my area. 

Roosters, yes all in good health except for one who is recovering from bumble foot.  I have six roosters to about 15 hens. 

I will be checking out other local chicken sources to see if there are hatch issues.

[msred]

Have you checked with any large scale hatcheries (some local, some not) to see if they are having trouble, too? Or call a vet - if this is effecting chickens, it could very well be effecting birthrates for types of breeders. I know someone who breeds quail here in Texas. I should ask if they are having trouble. Do you and your neighbors use the same feed source?

How about your rooster(s). Is he (are they) in good health?

Wondering if something environmental might be affecting their rooster-hood... as some have said, the solar flares, a true 'bird' flu... what of generations of GMO feeds? If Monsanto is conquering our plant food sources, what if something similar is happening to other of our food sources.

[Kim B]

That is a good possibility Cheryl. 

[Cheryl Nelson]

It might be related to whatever is causing birds to die off en mass ... solar flares, earthquake gases, etc...

[Kim B]

As to my well water, no I have not had it tested recently.  My birds also get GQF (vit/min/probiotic mix) or avia charge 2000 mixed in it once a week.

[Kim B]

Well this problem started before Fukushima was damaged. :( And we are on the east coast U.S.  My chickens have been under treatment for excess radiation (from Fukushima) as a precaution.  Solar radiation could be a good possibility.