A Bielefelder Thread !

[bluejean55girl]

Well that's quite a challenge! In the photo the feet and shanks look more pink than yellow. Is that right? I'm leaning towards Bielefelder, and actually suspect that this is a boy, but it's just a guess. I hope you'll post photos as it feathers out. LOVE those puffy cheeks!

x2

 

[Red Banks]

x2

Feet/legs are yellow. Name is Sunny. Keep your fingers crossed for a girl, I will post pics every Sunday. I have hope for a girl with the eye mascara, chipmunk strips and already getting a tail but of course..... it is probably wishful thinking. I could find a place for an Easter Egger pullet but not an Easter Egger cockerel. In the meantime, Sunny is the sweetest thing albeit probably very lonely. All by itself in the house.

 

[Coop de Grass]

Hey, I've been around long enough to see the knowledge that you have. Thumbs up!

Yup! @DesertChic is incredibly helpful!

 

[Coop de Grass]

Crap - others are now having problems???? Boy, you and yours are in my prayers...

Quote:
Originally Posted by DesertChic


Thank you, but its @Coop de Grass 's flock that's having problems, not mine.

Sorry Biele fans...I've been running around trying to keep on top of everything. The coop is worse because they all seem to be coming down with this thing. Not gapeworm! Respiratory, and I think it might be my fault because I wasn't that diligent about their water last week - DH was not happy, and now we are going to run water down to the coop. I can't carry more than 1/2 gallon at a time.

My Buff Orp has her mouth full of mucous last night. I don't think she ever got off the roost to get to the medicated water.

ANy advice on how to clean out her mouth other than with a kleenex?

Gotta go dose them individually. Wish me luck!

 

[otakalhasas]

Quote:
Originally Posted by DesertChic


Thank you, but its @Coop de Grass 's flock that's having problems, not mine.

Sorry Biele fans...I've been running around trying to keep on top of everything. The coop is worse because they all seem to be coming down with this thing. Not gapeworm! Respiratory, and I think it might be my fault because I wasn't that diligent about their water last week - DH was not happy, and now we are going to run water down to the coop. I can't carry more than 1/2 gallon at a time.

My Buff Orp has her mouth full of mucous last night. I don't think she ever got off the roost to get to the medicated water.

ANy advice on how to clean out her mouth other than with a kleenex?

Gotta go dose them individually. Wish me luck!

Geeze, this doesn't seem to be getting better, does it? I don't know all that much about chickens, but with puppies we would use a small syringe (without needle) to suck mucous out then use an eye dropper to replace fluids (think Gatorade, or with a bird, perhaps Apple Cider Vinegar diluted). With other pet birds, I have used a dilute calcium (Cal-D-Solv) dropped directly into the beak (can't hurt), a bit of yogurt, ACV in their water, and hospital cage with a heating pad underneath it. But I've never done it with chickens. But to my mind, be they mammal or avian, soft heat, hydration, and isolation can't hurt. Good luck!

 

[Coop de Grass]

Geeze, this doesn't seem to be getting better, does it? I don't know all that much about chickens, but with puppies we would use a small syringe (without needle) to suck mucous out then use an eye dropper to replace fluids (think Gatorade, or with a bird, perhaps Apple Cider Vinegar diluted). With other pet birds, I have used a dilute calcium (Cal-D-Solv) dropped directly into the beak (can't hurt), a bit of yogurt, ACV in their water, and hospital cage with a heating pad underneath it. But I've never done it with chickens. But to my mind, be they mammal or avian, soft heat, hydration, and isolation can't hurt. Good luck!

I've discovered that treating sick hens takes a lot longer than when they are healthy. I've also discovered that I need a much, much better system of water delivery to the coop.

First discovery is that the syringes that I had on hand were to small to work well giving their meds. Also found out they are useless to adminster ivormectin because they squirt even though i've pulled the needles out!

I now have the nipple waterer in the inner run with meds in it, a small glass waterer with plastic bottom in there too with meds. That was the right solution! The Schnitzel was happily drinking from that surrounded by the Ameraucana teenagers. Inside the coop, there is another nipple waterer with meds, and I placed a plastic Chinese food c ontainer on the poop board for the girls that have yet to come down off the roost - Just in case they get thirsty. It is in a place that is clear, and I will check that frequently.

I am thrilled that most of the hens have been dosed by me and are drinking the medications from the waterer, and that the three on the roost have at least been dosed by me.

I love having the Nest cam in the coop. It was a splurge - sort of like everything down there including the chickens... but it allowed me to spot the problem when it began and see the progression.

It's early - just 36 hours into it, 48 at the most, so I am optimistic.

BTW, I am using the ivermectin to treat lice/mites. I hadn't noticed them before, but they are definitely having a fine time on the chooks.

Gatorade is a great idea! I used to have tons of it in the house til my son headed to college. He went from playing soccer to running middle distance - 800 meters. Lots and lots of medals, but even better, a wonderful young man. Not to mention he likes the girls!

I will keep you posted. If you don't want to wade through my novels, I completely understand!

But I have to say, that you guys/gals are the best! Thank you for being there!

 

[Coop de Grass]

Okay, here's my funny story for the day...

and then Zoey whipped around and just stared at the egg, seemingly confused about where it had come from for a moment, and then began singing at the top of her lungs and strutting her stuff. I laughed so hard I scared the chickens!

I can hear you laughing now, mainly because I am laughing pretty hard myself! Actually my Black Australorp laid an egg in the inner run while I was changing the water and I didn't even notice it. I wonder if she noticed it - she is semi out of it!

On the other hand, listening to the snoring coming from the coop is pretty funny! They sound just like we do.

Laughter is the best way to put things in perspective.

 

[Sylvester017]

Quote:
Originally Posted by DesertChic


Thank you, but its @Coop de Grass 's flock that's having problems, not mine.

Sorry Biele fans...I've been running around trying to keep on top of everything. The coop is worse because they all seem to be coming down with this thing. Not gapeworm! Respiratory, and I think it might be my fault because I wasn't that diligent about their water last week - DH was not happy, and now we are going to run water down to the coop. I can't carry more than 1/2 gallon at a time.

My Buff Orp has her mouth full of mucous last night. I don't think she ever got off the roost to get to the medicated water.

ANy advice on how to clean out her mouth other than with a kleenex?

Gotta go dose them individually. Wish me luck!

My girls get respiratory problems. Right now I have one inhouse we're treating with topical medication after vet did nostril surgery to remove gunky crusted mucous - I could never do what he did surgically as there was blood that made me woozy. I have to use a Q-tip to dab medicated ointment on the outside of the nostril openings and then use a Q-tip to go into the roof of her mouth where some of the surgery occurred to swab the same medicine in the top airway slit that connects to the nostrils. Ugh! It's a long process with sick birds and this one girl is my problem child every year. Just to be sure I'll be taking the other 3 hens for nasal checkups as they all don't look right to me. They're acting normally but I don't like the looks of their nostrils - they're not runny but look blocked. I'm just glad I don't have more than these 4 hens to take care of !!! I'll have to take in one bird at a time and treat each for a week before taking in another to the vet because DH will be out of town for 2 weeks and unable to help me if all 4 birds are inhouse at once. Illness and vet bills and medication expenses are strong things to consider before acquiring too many chickens in a flock.

 

[Coop de Grass]

My girls get respiratory problems. Right now I have one inhouse we're treating with topical medication after vet did nostril surgery to remove gunky crusted mucous - I could never do what he did surgically as there was blood that made me woozy. I have to use a Q-tip to dab medicated ointment on the outside of the nostril openings and then use a Q-tip to go into the roof of her mouth where some of the surgery occurred to swab the same medicine in the top airway slit that connects to the nostrils. Ugh! It's a long process with sick birds and this one girl is my problem child every year. Just to be sure I'll be taking the other 3 hens for nasal checkups as they all don't look right to me. They're acting normally but I don't like the looks of their nostrils - they're not runny but look blocked. I'm just glad I don't have more than these 4 hens to take care of !!! I'll have to take in one bird at a time and treat each for a week before taking in another to the vet because DH will be out of town for 2 weeks and unable to help me if all 4 birds are inhouse at once. Illness and vet bills and medication expenses are strong things to consider before acquiring too many chickens in a flock.

Sorry to hear about your problem child...

I hope she gets better soon!

 

[Coop de Grass]

To everyone who has been so supportive, Strudel died in my arms about 30 minutes ago. She was still stretching out her throat to breath, and then started to gag. When I lowered her so that her mouth could drain onto the towel in my lap, fluid ran out. This happened several times. The last time I tipped her head down, she suddenly shuddered and went completely limp. I am very sad because she is a chick that I hatched - the very first hatch.

I hope that I didn't do anything to cause her death. Did I give her meds that went down the wrong way? Did I exacerbate the situation? Should I not have put her head down?

As with all things, I did the best that I could.