Arizona Chickens

[K9Dave]

So, I took Polly out of the pen this morning and put her in the little pen under the tree. I didn't really expect her to stay there. The fence isn't high enough. But my Blue Copper Marans decided to fly the coop and join her free-ranging this morning. Meanwhile back in the pen ... Eminem is fluffing up in the coop hopefully laying another egg. One of my barred Plymouth Rocks (BPR) is sitting on her hocks, getting up and walking around like an egret in deep water. Could she have an egg working its way out? It would be her first. Isn't she pretty? @desertmarcy bred her and her sister. She is heritage bred. There is such a difference in the barring between them and Polly, who came from a feed store. That said, Polly has much more personality, but I've had her since she was a chick. My two younger BPRs and my Marans don't really have good names. Since I went with naming the RIR and NHR after towns their breeds are named for I could do this with Massachusetts towns for the BPRs. And maybe a French town or something for the Marans? Maggie (Maginot)? I looked up Marans, France on Google Maps and it seems most of the villages are named after saints. Saint-Jean, Saint-Pierre, Saint-Michel ... Saint-Saveur (huh? a taster saint? patron saint of food testers maybe?). Here are some funny names (it's in the southwest, so I think the language there is influenced by an ancient language of d'Oc, which is not all like French):

• Cramchabon
• Niort
• Nieul-sur-l'Autise
• Triaize
• Torxé
• Pyla-sur-Mer

Just thought they were funny.

She should not be sitting on her hocks. Something is wrong. Her comb does not look developed enough to begin laying soon.

I'm a newbie too but her comb is doesn't have any color yet.

I was playing fashion photographer and Minnie the Hen loved it. See how red? All of mine that are about to lay have bright red combs. I know it's not true for every breed but BPR should be I believe.

 

[Papas Chickens]

So my friend came over yesterday so we can catch up on old times, we were sitting outside by the fire pit drinking some beers when my SLW Roo named RugaRoo jumped on my lap to visit. He seemed very intersted in my corona bottle so I tilted it down so he could inspect the bottle and he starts drinking some of the beer that was at the opening of the bottle so I pored a little in a dish for him and he drank it down quicker then mu dog does. He looks up at me as to say more please so I gave him a bit more, after he drank that he started clucking and walking around with his chest out and his head held high and now everytime I have a beer he wants his share. What have I done I created a alcy roo im going to have to take him to Chicken AA now so he can kick the sauce and get back on the wagon lol.

 

[desertmarcy]

What could be wrong? Do you think it's some sort of nutritional deficiency?

It could be Marek's. One of the symptoms is poor coordination and they can't walk. Marek's disease is very common. I just put down a young cockerel that was doing the same thing

That line of Barred Rocks will not be in lay until about 8 months old.

 

[MrsFitzDarcy]

It could be Marek's. One of the symptoms is poor coordination and they can't walk. Marek's disease is very common. I just put down a young cockerel that was doing the same thing

That line of Barred Rocks will not be in lay until about 8 months old.

I put her my little side cage that I use for the bunnies when I'm cleaning their run. With food and water, of course. She seems happy and comfy for now ... I don't know if I'm brave enough to put her down ... maybe my boyfriend or roommate.

 

[desertmarcy]

I put her my little side cage that I use for the bunnies when I'm cleaning their run. With food and water, of course. She seems happy and comfy for now ... I don't know if I'm brave enough to put her down ... maybe my boyfriend or roommate.

I am really sorry if she doesn't pull through, but from my experience that is a bad sign when they do that. I have not had one get better so I don't even mess with them now. You can vaccinate for Marek's but then you are in a never ending loop of vaccination. A lot of people think it is better to breed for natural resistance. Some breeds/lines seem more resistant than others. I crossed that line of Barred Rocks to 2 others, I think I told you, so hopefully they will get better with diligent culling on my part, but the cockerel I just put down was from a crossed line. Yours is pure Good Shepard.

 

[cyborg]

I am really sorry if she doesn't pull through, but from my experience that is a bad sign when they do that. I have not had one get better so I don't even mess with them now. You can vaccinate for Marek's but then you are in a never ending loop of vaccination. A lot of people think it is better to breed for natural resistance. Some breeds/lines seem more resistant than others. I crossed that line of Barred Rocks to 2 others, I think I told you, so hopefully they will get better with diligent culling on my part, but the cockerel I just put down was from a crossed line. Yours is pure Good Shepard.

Whenever I order from a hatchery, I always opt for the Marek's vaccine. (10 or 15 cents is cheap insurance). But, even so, the vaccine doesn't always "take". About 1 in 10 can still come down with Marek's.

 

[Papas Chickens]

Whenever I order from a hatchery, I always opt for the Marek's vaccine. (10 or 15 cents is cheap insurance). But, even so, the vaccine doesn't always "take". About 1 in 10 can still come down with Marek's.

Same here I get the Mareks and Cocci vaccine.

 

[cyborg]

When it rains, it pours! Went out this morning for the morning feed, and one of my BJG pullets was hiding under a bush, with one eye closed. When I picked her up to check her out, that eye had bubbles in it. Usually a sign of some kind of respiratory infection, but she is not having any breathing difficulty, or nasal discharge.

 

[MrsFitzDarcy]

Whenever I order from a hatchery, I always opt for the Marek's vaccine. (10 or 15 cents is cheap insurance). But, even so, the vaccine doesn't always "take". About 1 in 10 can still come down with Marek's.

Sigh, poor Stubby.

 

[MrsFitzDarcy]

When it rains, it pours! Went out this morning for the morning feed, and one of my BJG pullets was hiding under a bush, with one eye closed. When I picked her up to check her out, that eye had bubbles in it. Usually a sign of some kind of respiratory infection, but she is not having any breathing difficulty, or nasal discharge.

Not a good day in SoAZ.