Arizona Chickens

[squeakyballs]

The quail chicks are absolutely adorable. I can't believe how tiny they are!

My silkies are looking so ratty and terrible. I think they went broody too soon after raising chicks, and I let them raise another set... they are looking downright skeletal and their feathers are falling apart. They don't seem to be gaining back the weight so I've started them on a super fatty diet.

They get a combination of: scrambled eggs, peanut butter, sesame seed butter (tahini), olive oil, fish oil, chia seed, flax meal, maple syrup, honey, rolled oats, and probiotics. The combination varies slightly each day (in other words, not all the oils at once). They still look abused, but it has only been a few days. If only I could start them on a diet of wine and chocolate... they'd gain it back in no time!

I got rid of our rooster today. The lady he went to has a lot of foster kids and said he'd be used for 4H. He was over-mating the silkies (adding to the ratty feather problem) and I hated having to worry about my toddler every time I went outside.

 

[NoSkiveez]

Cocci is short for a longer word I don't know how to spell. Its a organism that lives in the intestines of chicken poop (hope I'm explaining it right). When poop is wet and hot it can get toxic. I hosed the coop down and apparently have it an ideal germ breeding grounds. The chickens then come in contact with the poop and get sick from it. The first two died and I thought they died of thirst because they tipped their water over. The next one, I knew something was wrong but wasnt sure what. Today we lost two and I saw one poop blood. I googled 'bloody chicken poop' and it was exactly what happened. I have 5 more in crates, recycle bins, under carnation crates on the porch. They make it. They are between 8-12 weeks old. Drying the coop out should kill the germ but I'm ordering some stuff to be on the safe side. Last thing I need is a whole dead flock.

This disease is what they 'medicate' chick feed for, but obviously that wasnt enough in this situation. This is also why you always keep a new addition bird away from your existing flock for a month. A new bird could bring it in and it can seem like its okay long enough to infect your flock. I had 10 chicks in that coop but 70 with close proximity to that coop, plus about 80 further away.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Cocci (referencing chickens and other animals) is short for coccidiosis, an parasitic infestation of protozoa. The oocysts tend to remain in the soil, and are also passed by creatures the animal may eat. There are a number of different species of coccidia, and in general, a species is specific to certain types of animals. They thrive in moist environments. For lots of very specific details: http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/200800.htm

Basically, coccidia are EVERYWHERE.

 

[AZKat]

I went out to check on the broody and she had two chicks under her. One hatched from a very light brown or tinted egg, and the other hatched from a medium brown egg, both of them came from Mahonri. I'll post pictures in a couple of days, I didn't want to stress the broody too much.

 

[Mahonri]

Quote:
Wahoo.... if it was VERY light brown... or cream, the mom is a Giant Partridge Cochin X LB Leghorn.
Medium brown egg came from a Golden Cuckoo Marans under a FBCMarans roo.

 

[NoSkiveez]

Quote:
Am I correct to believe that once everything has dried out, is safe to put chicks back out in that coop. I plan to do a good clean down in that coop before hand but I'm unsure of what to even use to clean it. These are the younger chicks I have. I also want to be certain I don't pass this on to anyone else. I had an Opportunity to sell 7 Older chickens but decline because I don't want to risk my birds taking germs over their new place.

 

[newchickmom09]

Noskiveez~ That is terrible about the cocci out break. I guess it is just prime season for cocci, humid, wet, and hot. I hope everything gets under control and you don't lose any more birds. LOVE the quail, that is the next thing I want to get into!

Tufu~ sorry about the lost bunny.

It has been hot and humid here! This past weekend we got some good rain. Today and yesterday hasjust been misserable.

My hens are still laying like champs and everyone is up to a large size egg again. My female swedish duck has stopped laying. I guess that is all her laying season is, I am hoping maybe she might start up again for a while in the fall when it cools down before winter. If not I will just have to wait until next spring. My scovies are getting big and boy to they have some sharp huge claws. I really need to post some updated pics. My broody is done being mom now. The chicks are big, running around, and roosting with everyone. The two roos get picked on by everyone, poor little guys. I guess my gals just like that all hen coop.

Hope everyone has been having a great week!

 

[AZKat]

I got a better look at the chicks today, one has orangey-yellow down with chipmunk stripes on the back and head, and the other is yellow with black flecks. No sign of pipping in the other eggs, so I think that they aren't going to hatch. Still considering the circumstances, that isn't too bad.

My chickens seem to be coming out of their laying slump, I got five eggs yesterday.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
Am I correct to believe that once everything has dried out, is safe to put chicks back out in that coop. I plan to do a good clean down in that coop before hand but I'm unsure of what to even use to clean it. These are the younger chicks I have. I also want to be certain I don't pass this on to anyone else. I had an Opportunity to sell 7 Older chickens but decline because I don't want to risk my birds taking germs over their new place.

Lime is supposed to be pretty good at sanitizing ground. Either Oxine or Virkon-S is supposed to be effective. There was a discussion either here (emergency section) or on another site (probably the asbc yahoo group) about the best thing to kill off the oocysts. I know it was on one with Diana Hedrick, and she is on both of those. The Merck article has been expanded since I last looked at it in detail, so it may give some advice.

As for giving away or selling the birds, unless that particular bird has an active case of coccidiosis, I really don't think it is an issue to the extent that bacterial or viral diseases are. Just be sure to tell the purchaser that others in the flock have had issues with coccidiosis.

Really, if caught and treated early, it is seldom a serious issue. The biggest problem is catching it before a bird becomes seriously ill. Keeping the water and food clean, especially clean of feces goes a huge way towards preventing the problem. Housing birds on wire can help, although it can be difficult to fine wire with small enough spaces to preven chick feet from slipping through, and large enough to let poop fall through Feedig a medicated feed helps build the immune system. Keeping teh ground dry helps.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
pics? Here's yesterday's cutie for me: