Biosecurity - People Security

I sometimes list chicks or adults on Craigslist and Facebook when they are ready for new homes. I've encountered some "interesting" people that way. Generally they ask fifty questions and want to see fifty pictures and then go ghost.
Why..why pester someone and waste all that time when you were never serious about buying anything? They will also usually want me to take less than I'm asking.
I never let people come to our home unless they are someone I know well, or are local and right down the road. I've had people get extremely offended when I've said no I'm sorry, you can't come to my home, I will meet you in a public place.
Now being on the buyer end myself sometimes, I understand wanting to know that someone is keeping clean and healthy conditions. I gladly show pictures and videos of my coops. But, the world we now live in is too crazy and dangerous to give strange people your address and let them see exactly what you have, and exactly where you have it. Seeming tire-kickers have went to sellers homes to look at livestock, said they would think about it, then came back and robbed the people blind..their home AND their animals!
Nope, I won't do it, and if that offends someone, they'll just have to move on.

There's also the issue of visitors who have chickens, unknowingly bringing disease in on their shoes, clothes and hands to your birds. That's also why I've all but quit selling at swaps. Someone handles several other chickens,  then wants to handle yours..not good.
It's impossible to avoid all risk of disease unless your birds never get out of an indoors barn or coop because wild birds also carry some disease that can spread to chickens and waterfowl. You can also unknowingly bring disease home on feed bags but...we can at least use common sense and do the best we can to avoid sicknesses, which includes always quarantining new chickens for 30 days.

Biosecurity and people security.

They're Baaack! Buffalo Gnats

Updated Thoughts - Nurture Right Incubator

I thought I had found the perfect incubator.. unfortunately not, sigh. Short video sharing what issues I've had with them, and since I'm stuck with them, some things I've done to try to get use from them...

Playin' Possum

I caught someone having an afternoon snack..time to refortify the runs.

Coop Visitor

What I'm Currently Feeding

I've added this Kalmbach feed in addition to all of the adult chickens base feed, which Purina flock raiser. It's a little pricey and I have to have it shipped because I can't find local dealers, but they all absolutely love it. It has really good levels of protein and vitamins. All ages also get scrambled or boiled eggs often for extra protein, besides some grass time and things from the garden. I've searched out and tried out many brands and types of feed, but I'm pretty happy with this combination, finally!
I always say it, the chickens eat better than me lol.

Kalmbach Henhouse Reserve

Pandemic Chick Shipping

I was just going to post about possibly starting to ship chicks and juveniles when I saw this update from cackle...
I went ahead earlier today and priced express shipping to various areas for day olds, and it's around $72. After modifying the feather ex boxes a little, juveniles total weight with box under 10 lbs, were between $125 and $140 based on different areas.

Some info from Cackle hatchery about shipping at this point in time, May 5th, 2020.

Click Here To Read Cackle Blog Post