Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

[satay]

Yep we are up to day 6 here with my frizzle. Talk about persistence! She roams the backyard during the day and then at night I block off the nest before letting her in. I go out when it gets dark to make sure she is on the roost. Tonight she had made herself a little nest on the floor of the coop:/ Gaaaahhhh!

Too funny. Some of them are just so determined.

 

[Teila]

Good morning folks

smhoekzema I reckon Hedwig probably wants to know where her pre peeled prawns are!

AussieChics I always type my replies on a Word Doc and copy & paste for just that reason. Also, sometimes, it takes me so long to reply, by the time I have typed in the reply window, a couple of new posts have snuck in.

Good to read that the bubs are doing well.

ChristieB Sorry to read about your loss

On the broody-breaking and the 'wander around the garden method'; I have broken a couple of broody’s using the crate method but in my experience, have found that they seem to have another attempt at broodiness within weeks.

I broke Cilla using the crate method but 3 weeks later, broody again so I blocked off the nest boxes as much as possible and cut off her access. She managed to push her way into the nest a couple of times when it was opened for someone else to lay an egg and she also jumped down from the roost some evenings and made a beeline for the nest box if I opened it up too soon.

This went on for 6 weeks during which time I ensured she spent lots of time with her friends in the garden, got plenty to eat and did not lose much, if any, condition.

While it took 6 weeks and lots of work, allowing her hormones to go through the process appears to have broken the broodiness for a longer period than the crate has in the past.

Obviously I am not recommending this method but as others mentioned they were trying it, thought I would share my experience with it.

 

[K Spot]

Loved reading everyone's stories. Sounded like a good day was had by all on Christmas

I'm battling what I suspect is a case of sour crop in one of my black sex links. I didn't even notice anything was wrong (I know, I'm such a bad chicken mum) until I picked her up and found she was very thin. I felt her crop and it was very squishy, but full. I tipped her upside down and all this foul smelling liquid came pouring out. Thank goodness I have a stronger stomach.
So after that I syringed natural yoghurt down her gullet and gave her crop a bit of a massage.

I don't think it's impacted as when I was sure most of the horrible liquid was out of her crop it was small and I couldn't feel anything in there.

So this morning was more massaging and more yoghurt. To be honest I don't know if she'll make it or not as I didn't catch it until yesterday but I'll at least try. I also read that red wine can be used to treat sour crop. Does anyone have any experience with that?

 

[K Spot]

Speaking about broodies, I have two of my own; my splash orp and araucana

 

[Teila]

Hey K Spot

I recently also battled with a bout of sour crop but I believe it may have been impacted.

I didn’t notice that anything was wrong until Cilla started stretching her neck and looking like she was uncomfortable. I picked her up and that was enough for her to regurgitate some fluid.

On the advice of others on the thread, I removed all access to grain and gave her yoghurt. At the suggestion of research on the net, I also tipped her upside down to remove fluid (not recommended by some due to the risk of choking and definitely only for very short periods of time) and frequently massaged her crop. Unlike your hen, her crop had actually become pendulous.

After a couple of days, while the fluid was no longer an issue, her crop was still not emptying overnight so at Fancy’s suggestion, I gave her a feed of sardines in oil and continued the massaging. The next morning, while not completely empty, her crop had definitely emptied some. Another feed of sardines in oil in the afternoon and the following day her crop was completely empty and she is now fine.

I also read about the red wine option but, to be honest, it kinda worried me and I chose not to go down that path.

 

[satay]

Speaking about broodies, I have two of my own; my splash orp and araucana 

It seems ot be the time of year for it. I have 9 broodies in the main house and 2 bantams broody, 4 muscovies as well.

 

[birdman55]

You are either a very brave or very crazy man working out in the snow .

lol...crazy man but eight coops down and only four left before I can take a break and enjoy the birds...yes I cant wait

today was exhausting beating at the ground...if you check out my forum you can see how far I got...I also posted pics of the dogs and the peafowl as well


my two pitbulls...the one on the left is female she is about 60 pounds and the right one is male he is almost 100 lbs

 

[K Spot]

Hey K Spot

I recently also battled with a bout of sour crop but I believe it may have been impacted.

I didn’t notice that anything was wrong until Cilla started stretching her neck and looking like she was uncomfortable. I picked her up and that was enough for her to regurgitate some fluid.

On the advice of others on the thread, I removed all access to grain and gave her yoghurt. At the suggestion of research on the net, I also tipped her upside down to remove fluid (not recommended by some due to the risk of choking and definitely only for very short periods of time) and frequently massaged her crop. Unlike your hen, her crop had actually become pendulous.

After a couple of days, while the fluid was no longer an issue, her crop was still not emptying overnight so at Fancy’s suggestion, I gave her a feed of sardines in oil and continued the massaging. The next morning, while not completely empty, her crop had definitely emptied some. Another feed of sardines in oil in the afternoon and the following day her crop was completely empty and she is now fine.

I also read about the red wine option but, to be honest, it kinda worried me and I chose not to go down that path.

Yes, I've read other people's suggestions about not to have them regurgitate the contents of their crop but in all honesty, I think it did help her some. I was very careful to not allow her to inhale the fluid.
It's very difficult for me to be able to separate her at this time as all my cages are being used to house chicks -sigh- She did seem a bit better this morning, so I'll see how she is this afternoon when I get home from work. The poor thing, when I offer her the yoghurt she is ravenous and will happily eat it. I've also syringed some oil down her throat too.

Thank you for your help Teila xx

 

[Fancychooklady]

Yes, I've read other people's suggestions about not to have them regurgitate the contents of their crop but in all honesty, I think it did help her some.  I was very careful to not allow her to inhale the fluid.  

It's very difficult for me to be able to separate her at this time as all my cages are being used to house chicks -sigh-  She did seem a bit better this morning, so I'll see how she is this afternoon when I get home from work.  The poor thing, when I offer her the yoghurt she is ravenous and will happily eat it.  I've also syringed some oil down her throat too.


Thank you for your help Teila xx

You really need to cease all grain. It sits and ferments in the crop if it isn't emptying properly. There are different stages of impacted crop, once it becomes sour crop the biggest worry is infection. You can use an antibacterial such as canestan or monistat for women ( with yeast infection ) . I give mine sardines in olive oil on a weekly basis and never feed hand picked grass. In the early stages oil and a good massage usually sorts it out. My little roo was actually bubbling at the mouth when I picked him up and vomiting him did relieve his discomfort . Hope she comes round.

 

[K Spot]

Thanks Fancy. I'll see if I can attempt to cordon off a section in the coop for her. She ate a bit of sardines in oil yesterday. I wish I caught it in the early stages so I wouldn't have this worry, but I'll do all I can for her.

With the canestan, obviously you are talking about the tablet; do you just pop it down the throat like you would a worming tablet?