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

[satay]

Hi everyone. On Saturday I took my son for a 1/2 hour driving lesson. All was fine before I left, all the chooks were out on the lawn going in and out of each others runs. When I got back my little Mille Fleur was dead. Just lying on the pavement, my other son was home and it was found not far from his room he said there wasn't any noise. When we picked it up is head flopped so we assumed a broken neck. As she was quite feisty and willing to take on a bigger chook. I thought perhaps she had pecked Bear (German shepherd) and he had picked her up and accidently broken her neck. The girls share the shade with him when its hot he's never hurt them. Occasionally he might nip their tails if the granddaughters are trying to catch them.
Today my  son went out to feed and water them at lunch time and found my Araucana dead in the fenced and netted run. She was next to the undercover perchimg  area in the run, he picked her up and he said she was stiff but her head flopped. Is it possible it is unrelated or do some chooks have floppy heads when they die. We had quite a lot of rain, thunder and lightening last night, could she have broken her neck falling of the perch in fright. Or is there some condition that does this.  Thanks for any help.

I have found they all have floppy necks when they die. I usually look for signs of attack, check beaks and butts for signs of illness. Sometimes there really isn't any signs .

 

[satay]

We got 44mm of rain last night. Over the moon happy. saves me 2 hours of watering today and water in the tanks. e

 

[Susan Hampshire]

Teila .. I just checked and they do have a few pin feathers ...what about feeding them natural organic yogurt two or three times per week? And Chia seed ok for them?

 

[Teila]

Teila .. I just checked and they do have a few pin feathers ...what about feeding them natural organic yogurt two or three times per week? And Chia seed ok for them?

Hey Susan

I try and steer clear of yogurt and only give it to them as a treat or if someone is unwell. There has been and will probably continue to be debate on giving chickens yogurt and dairy products but I err on the side of caution.

Sorry, I have never looked into Chia seed at all.

I ensure my gals are getting plenty of protein during a moult:
Mealworms
Fish
Meat
Chicken
Eggs and
Sprouts are some good sources of protein.

 

[Fancychooklady]

LuckySmum so sorry to hear you have lost two chicken....so so sad.
Teila ....sounds like you employer values you....

I am bit fascinated on what type of work you do?

OldMacDonald I hope pigeon is recovering well

My girls; Madge, Tillie, Black Betty, Milly and Molly are being very contrary not laying for days at a time and some days I find feathers then other days none...not sure what wrong with them! They have vegetarian layer pallets and shell grit at their disposal all day every day. Garlic in one water feeder and Apple Cidar Vinegar in the other. Morning tea is usually yogurt with chia seed or tuna a couple of times per week. Daily greens left overs and purpose grown silver beet or chard. In the afternoons they get wheat, black sunflower seeds and dried meal worms ... mine aren't ready yet! Is there anything else I should be doing!
.

The weather patterns have them all confused. Mine are heading into another moult. Laying usually ceases while they are moulting and that can be a soft moult or a full moult.
In warmer weather it is best to cease ACV and just provide clean fresh water. ACV also has an effect on the absorption of calcium in birds.
Chia seeds are quite high in calcium , protein and phosphorus so be careful to keep it as a treat.
High protein and or calcium diets can lead to visceral gout and is a very disabilitating disease.
Glad to hear that pigeon is on the mend.

 

[LuckysMum]

Thanks for the replies. I looked over the dead girls and there wasn't a mark on them, they had been going about doing there thing before they died. They do tend to hide any illness really well. Everyone else looks good so hopefully that's the end of it. Our weather is so unpredictable too so I don't know if that has anything to do with it. We have had the coldest days and the hottest day close together record rain its been the weirdest summer I can remember. Maybe the chooks find it hard to cope with the drastic changes. I will watch them today its hot again.

 

[satay]

Saw this on facebook. Had to share
Though of @Teila and her girls.

 

[sjturner79]

Saw this on facebook. Had to share
Though of @Teila and her girls.

Yes It's a great video. I got sent it last week.

 

[Teila]

Saw this on facebook. Had to share

Though of @Teila and her girls.

Loved it! Definitely sharing that one! Thank You!

 

[Sparky74]

Well, here goes. My first time using an incubator.
I went to pick up a dozen fertile eggs this morning and was given 3 dozen! A dozen from Black Leghorn show birds and two dozen mixed bantam eggs. Hopefully I have some chicks in 3 weeks time. I'm raising them to sell at a fete at the beginning of May.