A Journey Through a Different Way - Funny Story Pg. 69

[speckledhen]

Beautiful eggs!!

 

[ruth]

The batch of chicks (Cochins, Polish and assorted others) that suffered through and/or survived Cocci followed by some sort of upper respiratory disease are now running around free ranging and looking the picture of health. They run out the front door of the coop the minute it's opened.

Here's one of my favorite Cochins - I lost one or two just like it to the Cocci.

Here's one of the two that survived the respiratory illness that followed the Cocci.

It and it's twin lived in my bathroom for two weeks. I first found them with their left eye swollen closed and the start of "gunk" in the roof of their mouth. I found two others (Polish) that were so bad off that they could not close their mouth because the inside roof of mouth was a large mass of swollen and infected flesh - they also had left eyes swollen shut. I had to cull them because I just didn't know anything else to do for them because their throat was closed off due to the swelling from the roof of the mouth and they couldn't close their mouth or eat or drink. It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do and pray I never have to do it again but I know with well over 100 birds, there will always be something. Not sure what they had but these two weren't as bad off so I brought them and flushed their eye with Saline solution twice a day, applied eye ointment I got from my vet, and put Terramycin in their water. I also cleaned out the crack in their upper mouth each time and shoved some Neosporin up there. Both are looking great now and no one else came down with the mystery illness. I'm convinced it's from living in a brooder for so long. But now I'm not sure it's Cocci that the first batch had because I lost a few of the next batch too and they too had never set foot on ground and I had them in my bathroom tub in a brooder box and they came down sick. I also just turned out my latest batch because I'm smelling "that smell" again and I'm seeing bloody poop and they also stayed in brooder bin in my bathroom for first two weeks then Chick-N-Hutch, wire floor, never touching ground. Time will tell if they get better or not. But I do know all deaths amoung all three back to back hatches, occured while in brooder box and all got better and no more died once being turned loose to freerange. I'm not hatching any more this winter because they are having to staying in hot brooder box too long because it's sooooo cold here. Only symptoms are bad cecal poop smell, bloody poop and then lethargic and death.

O.K. - Graphic picture warning - Here's one of the hens that got her back shredded by the roos - this has happened at least 5 or 6 times now - different hens - and I sew them back up and they are good as new. I'm posting this because there are many who think they can't do this (sew them up and have them live) but these birds are amazingly tough.

Here's the gash:

I was using regular needle and thread to sew them up as best I could but my vet just gave me a box of sterile, sealed, individually wrapped cutting needles with sutures and they work sooooo much easiser. I've since had to sew up a peacock (bad Scarlett) and another hen. Fortunately I have some chicken saddles on the way to help protect these girls.

Here's after being sewn up:

Then sprayed with Furall:

Then getting a treat for being so good and still during surgery:

Then two weeks later - all healed with new feather growth.

Finally, posts of my peafowl:

Pterdactyl about to take flight from my clothesline:

Couple of others - who survived Scarlett's attack.

Scarlett is now having to stay on a tie line unless we are out with her. She just can't control her size and energy and puppy self. We will repair the backyard fence as soon as we can - the hurricane knocked down our huge old oaks and they took out the fences. She got my Opal peacock the other day and I found it, I thought dead, upside down in the rain in the freezing cold in shock. I brought it in and held it in front of heater till it recovered then had to sew up a small gash, using my new sutures from the vet - I can't believe how much easier they are to work with than regular needle and thread - that needle just cuts right through and the suture pulls through so smoothly. I was able to sew beautiful tiny stitches that I haven't been able to do before and since I had to sew up another badly ripped hen that same day, I've become an expert in the stitching department.

Well those are my updates - just call me Dr. Doolittle.

 

[Scrambled Egg]

Great job Dr. Doolittle

 

[speckledhen]

Well, you are certainly getting an education by experience, aren't you? Praying for a wonderful, healthy year for you, your family and all the creatures, great and small, on your Tara.

 

[ruth]

Happy New Years 2009 Everyone. Today we begin our second year here at Bethel Farms. We moved in last Christmas and it's been an exciting, sometimes drama filled year. Our flock has expanded from the original 13 hens I brought here with me to now somewhere around 150 (I lose count) chickens; 6 peafowl; 18 ducks; 2 cats; 4 dogs.

It's a somewhat warm and sunny day and all the little chicks and big ones and ducks and peafowl are all out enjoying the beautiful day. We are trying to finish the Marans breeding pen and coop today.

It will be exciting to see what 2009 will bring. God bless the Journey.

 

[Zookeeper9000]

So far this year brought A huge ice storm and 5 degree's LOL. Sure hope this year is better then last for most. Cyn for one she sure could use a better year. A few more could as well.


Happy New Year one and all. Keeping you all in my prayers.

 

[invalidsession]

Here's the gash:

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x204/chicklady/hensback1.jpg

I was using regular needle and thread to sew them up as best I could but my vet just gave me a box of sterile, sealed, individually wrapped cutting needles with sutures and they work sooooo much easiser. I've since had to sew up a peacock (bad Scarlett) and another hen. Fortunately I have some chicken saddles on the way to help protect these girls.

Here's after being sewn up:

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x204/chicklady/hensback1b.jpg

Then sprayed with Furall:

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x204/chicklady/hensback1c.jpg

Then getting a treat for being so good and still during surgery:

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x204/chicklady/hensback1d.jpg


regular needle and thread - that needle just cuts right through and the suture pulls through so smoothly. I was able to sew beautiful tiny stitches that I haven't been able to do before and since I had to sew up another badly ripped hen that same day, I've become an expert in the stitching department.

Hi Monique, I sat and read through your entire year the other evening, absolutely fascinating reading. A life time of despair and euphoria somehow encapsulated within 12 months and 39 pages !!!!
Regarding your "sewing". Do the birds show any outward sign of pain or distress during this process ? The only time I have ever seen any creature go through this practice was an England Rugby player who refused anaesthetic, had ten stitches in a head wound and promptly rejoined the game. Tough bugger he was.

Chris.

 

[ruth]

Quote:
Hi Chris - so glad to hear you enjoyed my journey thus far. It has been an amazing, Lord inspired, adventure.

Regarding stitching them up, no they don't seem to show any sign of distress. I cover their heads with a towel, lay them on their side, wait a few seconds for them to settle down, then it's as if they fall asleep and I can sew them up. The only time they squawk is after I'm done and I let them up and spray them with the Furall. It's icy cold going on and it's the only time I have to hold them or they will bolt. During all surgeries I've performed, I don't even need anyone to help hold them because they just lie so still. I've even had them stick their head out of the towel and drink water off the counter or peck at something they think they can eat. Then afterwards, they get a treat of scrambled egg or cheese (their two favorites) and they gobble it down so obviously not in shock or distress. I've read they don't have the same pain receptors we do and it must be true because when I find them all torn up like this, they are running around, ripped wide open, dripping blood and acting like nothing's wrong with them. I don't usually discover the damaged ones till they come in to roost at night and I get to check each one out. Hopefully the chicken saddles will arrive today - they are a lot more fashionable then duct tape.

Regarding the rugby player - now that's just dumb.

 

[Smartie_Pants]

Ruth, what does Furall do exactly?

 

[hcammack]

How did u treat the upper respertory disease?