Arizona Chickens

[kevs-chickadees]

Hi Meg, long time no hear!
Sorry to hear about all the chick and chicken losses, that really sucks! Any idea what the disease was Nova?
Here's to hoping for a short, cooler summer with lots of good chicken vibe!

 

[Novaleigh]

Hi Puffy =) I am not sure exactly what was wrong. The illness hit hard and fast. It spread from 2 chickens to 50 in less then 12 hours. The illness did not discriminate, it hit all ages. I had chickens ages 8 weeks to 15 weeks and the illness hit them all. It hit the oldest of my flock first, and trickled down by age. Oldest to youngest (mostly). I highly suspect it was a tweety bird who came to my yard and graced my flock with its "gift". I suspect that because it has hit not only my flock, but some of my neighbors. Neighbors in whom there was no way my anyone of my family or my flock could have contaminated their flock. We have so many wild birds here who go from yard to yard. I am pretty sure that is the source.

Symptoms include, runny nose, sneezing, bad odor from the beak area, and swelling of the flesh that is located between the comb and beak. Not all birds had the same symptoms. Some had a snotty nose, but no sneezing and odor or swelling. Some had swelling and snotty nose and odor. Some had no swelling but had a snotty beak with odor. So I am not sure what my flock had. I don't have plans to get their bodies analyzed by a vet for I did not think of it at the time to save the bodies. I wrapped their bodies in 6 layers of trash bags each, and put them in the garbage can to be hauled off as soon as possible. Raising chickens is still so new to me. This is all a serious crash course.

Hi, Nova, So very sorry to hear that you lost everyone. Do you have any idea of what was wrong? Were birds of all ages ill? Are you going to have an avian vet do an necropsy? Sounds like you really need to use something strong to disinfect everything and make use if the sun as well. Do you think one of the new additions carried something in? Best wishes sent your way for the future .

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

How the heck is everybody?

Missing Meg Moringaseed! It is good to see you back!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Hi Puffy =) I am not sure exactly what was wrong. The illness hit hard and fast. It spread from 2 chickens to 50 in less then 12 hours. The illness did not discriminate, it hit all ages. I had chickens ages 8 weeks to 15 weeks and the illness hit them all. It hit the oldest of my flock first, and trickled down by age. Oldest to youngest (mostly). I highly suspect it was a tweety bird who came to my yard and graced my flock with its "gift". I suspect that because it has hit not only my flock, but some of my neighbors. Neighbors in whom there was no way my anyone of my family or my flock could have contaminated their flock. We have so many wild birds here who go from yard to yard. I am pretty sure that is the source.

Symptoms include, runny nose, sneezing, bad odor from the beak area, and swelling of the flesh that is located between the comb and beak. Not all birds had the same symptoms. Some had a snotty nose, but no sneezing and odor or swelling. Some had swelling and snotty nose and odor. Some had no swelling but had a snotty beak with odor. So I am not sure what my flock had. I don't have plans to get their bodies analyzed by a vet for I did not think of it at the time to save the bodies. I wrapped their bodies in 6 layers of trash bags each, and put them in the garbage can to be hauled off as soon as possible. Raising chickens is still so new to me. This is all a serious crash course.


Quote:
With that many hit that rapidly, and not just your flock but also those of neighbors, you really need to get the state vet involved. It sounds REALLY, REALLY serious!

 

[Mikey D]

DH set up the web cam so I can watch Gretchen any time I want. I will now be able to watch when I am at work!! They think I am a crazy chicken lady anyhow but they love to watch as well.


http://www.ustream.tv/channel/chick-coop-cam

Very cool!

Specs on the set up???

Please!!!

 

[Mikey D]

What's everyone doing to keep their chickens cool during this heat wave? We froze some grapes in water and put it in their run and they love picking through the ice for the grapes. They do look like they are panting a bit though. I have lots of shade in the run and lots of fresh water for them to drink but I still worry. Should I give them electrolytes or wait till it gets really hot?

I just bought a personal mister from Homer for $10 - It is working very well.

 

[Mikey D]

Quote: Sounds more like star gazing, encephalitis or an inner ear infection, not like Mareks. Treat with metacam, prednisone or aspirin, plus vitamin E with selenium and a vitamin B-complex. (infant vitamin drops (without added iron) are a good choice). Also, has she gotten into anything that could be moldy? If so give her an epsom salts or molassas flush.
My laptop has been down for a few days - Thanks Sonoran!

Nothing moldy although I trimmed the mold off of some squash & gave it to them last week

I'll get the drops today!

 

[Mikey D]

not an expert, but to me heat tolerant means they shouldn't drop dead of heat stroke in the middle of the summer. i think most chickens pretty much slow down in the laying when it hits 100+ here. i got 6 eggs yesterday from 14 hens that should be laying. granted, 3 are broody, some are dar's ameraucanas and if i remember correctly they seem to just shut down in the summer. i guess it will be brown eggs this summer, but i'll take what i can get.

the mediterranean breeds are supposed to fair better here than other breeds. i am slowly working out those that are less heat and disease resistant resistant and keeping those that are: sex-links, welsummers, basque. some breeds i just can't possibly do away with though like my silkies, dark brahmas and dar's ameraucanas.

fyi, the 5 week old muscovy quads are chasing flies this morning

ya hear that memphis?????????????????????

Yeah, but are they catching any of them?

Or is there karbunkle getting in the way?

 

[Mikey D]

How the heck is everybody?

MEG!

Welcome back!

Things are 100 miles per hour, *** backwards around here - as usual!

Any chickens yet?

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
That's CARUNKLE