2014 Stockton CA pre-sale

[SilkiesForEver]

Yes, I was sure to check for scaly leg. My cockerel has smooth scales but I think one of the pullets may have scaly leg. Easy and simple to treat. I rub and coat their legs throughly with olive oil then cake on some D.E.

 

[poltroon]

Scaly leg is completely treatable, just requires some regular attention for a few weeks.

I know some birds came home from the sale room with mites also, so definitely observe proper precautions.

 

[Darcy0502]

I started treating them right away. I just wanted to warn anyone who went to check their birds before adding them to their flock. My sons show bird is the worst and had a hole in the webbing on his foot when a scale that was infected came off. He will take awhile to heal. I'm hoping we have enough time to get him back to normal. They are on the mend. Luckily the hens feet are not bad at all. And the frizzle is my own personal pullet so she's not an issue(i have plenty of time to baby her). I learned my lesson on checking my birds before i buy. Although, he's so beautiful i prob would have took him anyway lol

 

[chiqita]

Scaly leg is completely treatable, just requires some regular attention for a few weeks.

I know some birds came home from the sale room with mites also, so definitely observe proper precautions.

Everyone coming and going from my house gets de and frontline. I always assume there are mites.

 

[SilkiesForEver]

Quote: Yep. I make sure to look everyone over very carefully. One of the pullets we bought had toe nails almost an inch and half long. Didn't notice it at the show. She's good now though.

 

[One Chick Two]

I definitely 100% agree about looking our your birds VERY carefully when at a show. I admit we are guilty of not being careful enough. Like we would be in a less distracting situation. Plus, we were inexperienced at buying quality birds for breeders, especially with big groups milling about at many cages. Not excusing what happened at the show, but I think there were some contributing factors for us.

After starting the day at 4 am, we had a very long drive, Stockton was loud and crazy... people everywhere, roosters crowing, and it was hard to get around at first, with lots of beautiful distractions. (Was it just me, or were those Buff Orpingtons just HUGE- like small dogs?)

Being newbies and looking to purchase a breed new to us, we were interested in purchasing some birds, but my husband was talking with the breeder before I even had a chance to carefully comb over a group being discussed. The breeder was nice, seemed knowledgeable, and chose a grouping for us, explaining why she chose certain birds for type. Knowing what we do know, it all seemed reasonable at the time, then together all of us put the birds in their transport containers. (I took the roo and looked him over while everyone else looked at the others.)

BUT, even so,... we discovered upon getting them home and into quarantine, that one of the hens had some deformed toes that got missed. (I don't actually think the breeder was purposefully trying to pass over a bad bird. She was horrified and apologetic when I explained to her what'd happened. She explained that she'd taken off her birds from the roost at night and packed them without noticing that she'd grabbed the one with bad toes.) Mistakes do happen.

Even with our inexperience... it was still pretty apparent, even to us, that this is not Mareks, (her legs or walking are not affected at all) but some developmental (or genetic) issue that has been there for a long while, but just was not caught or corrected. The hen otherwise looks and acts perfectly healthy, and walks fine despite her condition, and lays pretty eggs. Her eyes and poop look fine. But, even so, I am ever so glad we have a contained quarantine area away from the main flock!

We are driving up to get a replacement hen this weekend, and we're bringing the hen to the UC Davis campus so that the breeder can 100% confirm what the underlying condition actually is. (She is a responsible breeder, and has sent any past birds that have died suddenly to them.) She insists she has never had Marek's or any other sickness in her flock. Even so, it will be another long drive in the car for us, gas, dealing with the campus, and hopefully having a better choice (not worse), just to get what we had paid for.

You can believe this time I will personally be looking the new hen over myself, VERY carefully, and not leave such examinations to even a good breeder (or DH) again! lol Live and learn.

 

[Darcy0502]

I definitely 100% agree about looking our your birds VERY carefully when at a show. I admit we are guilty of not being careful enough. Like we would be in a less distracting situation. Plus, we were inexperienced at buying quality birds for breeders, especially with big groups milling about at many cages. Not excusing what happened at the show, but I think there were some contributing factors for us.  

After starting the day at 4 am, we had a very long drive, Stockton was loud and crazy... people everywhere, roosters crowing, and it was hard to get around at first, with lots of beautiful distractions. (Was it just me, or were those Buff Orpingtons just HUGE- like small dogs?)

Being newbies and looking to purchase a breed new to us, we were interested in purchasing some birds, but my husband was talking with the breeder before I even had a chance to carefully comb over a group being discussed. The breeder was nice, seemed knowledgeable, and chose a grouping for us, explaining why she chose certain birds for type. Knowing what we do know, it all seemed reasonable at the time, then together all of us put the birds in their transport containers. (I took the roo and looked him over while everyone else looked at the others.)

BUT, even so,... we discovered upon getting them home and into quarantine, that one of the hens had some deformed toes that got missed. (I don't actually think the breeder was purposefully trying to pass over a bad bird. She was horrified and apologetic when I explained to her what'd happened. She explained that she'd taken off her birds from the roost at night and packed them without noticing that she'd grabbed the one with bad toes.) Mistakes do happen.

Even with our inexperience... it was still pretty apparent, even to us, that this is not Mareks, (her legs or walking are not affected at all)  but some developmental (or genetic) issue that has been there for a long while, but just was not caught or corrected. The hen otherwise looks and acts perfectly healthy, and walks fine despite her condition, and lays pretty eggs. Her eyes and poop look fine. But, even so, I am ever so glad we have a contained quarantine area away from the main flock!

We are driving up to get a replacement hen this weekend, and we're bringing the hen to the UC Davis campus so that the breeder can 100% confirm what the underlying condition actually is. (She is a responsible breeder, and has sent any past birds that have died suddenly to them.) She insists she has never had Marek's or any other sickness in her flock. Even so, it will be another long drive in the car for us, gas, dealing with the campus, and hopefully having a better choice (not worse), just to get what we had paid for.

You can believe this time I will personally be looking the new hen over myself, VERY carefully, and not leave such examinations to even a good breeder (or DH) again! lol Live and learn.

Wow, so sorry! I've had chickens for years but never went to one of these shows/sales. It was a good experience. Learned a lot. My bantum roo has gotten worse unfortunatley. He had a cement type poo on his vent and i was up with him til 5 this morning, took him a nice warm bath(in the sink of course haha) and got it unplugged. I think some skin came off but it could of just been very red. He hadn't been pooing at all and he did this morning but it was much bigger and harder then it should be. Any ideas what that could be? He seems in much better spirits today. He was shaking like a leaf last night. I just held him in a towel next to our fire to warm him up. I googled all day to try to find an answer for what it was. Hope he doesn't die. It would break my sons heart.

 

[Lacy Blues]

He may not have been properly cared for while in the sales cage and may have been without water for quite a while.

If you have some plain, unsweetened yogurt, it will help him with the stress of his last week. Also, maybe put some vitamins/electrolytes in his water (or even better, use unpasteurized apple cider vinegar). You could wet his feed to be sure he's getting enough moisture.

 

[One Chick Two]

Quote: Wow, so sorry! I've had chickens for years but never went to one of these shows/sales. It was a good experience. Learned a lot. My bantum roo has gotten worse unfortunatley. He had a cement type poo on his vent and i was up with him til 5 this morning, took him a nice warm bath(in the sink of course haha) and got it unplugged. I think some skin came off but it could of just been very red. He hadn't been pooing at all and he did this morning but it was much bigger and harder then it should be. Any ideas what that could be? He seems in much better spirits today. He was shaking like a leaf last night. I just held him in a towel next to our fire to warm him up. I googled all day to try to find an answer for what it was. Hope he doesn't die. It would break my sons heart.

Thanks ever so! Hopefully, we will work this all out.

With your banty... the hard sticky poo does sound somewhat like dehydration and probably stress. I am glad to hear he finally did go, and he seems happier. Lacy Blues is giving excellent food advice. I also like the idea of moistened food. All of those things would likely be beneficial for his system. Just remember, he also does require grit for digestion too. Rootin' for the little guy!

 

[rambob59]

Now up is the FRESNO CA Show Pre Sale thread! Look for it and post on it if your going.