BYC Café

[Perris]

I found my head hen, Rhoda, dead in the coop right in front of the door at head count tonight.
Needless to say it was quite a shock. I examined her and other than a tiny bit of blood on her comb she looked perfect. Gorgeous actually. She was right up against the wall with her head tucked hard to her chest. It reminded me of when I found Malcomb dead in the run with what I think was a broken neck. Maybe she flew into the wall. I won't cut her open so I'll never know for certain.
I then found Seneca in a nest box. Her back side was messy enough that I brought her in for a clean up and found her straining to poop again. Sigh. I helped her out and the consistency really wasn't that hard. I just think her vent is swollen. I'm going to beg my vet to give me some metacam for her.
I can't keep doing this.
Oh. And my normal sister called to tell me that my mom's neighbors called the cops on crazy sister. They could hear her screaming in the house at my mom. She so has to go.
What a crappy day...

At times like this my dad used to say these things are sent to try us.

 

[DobieLover]

Good morning Cafe. Coffee is ready.
I hope today is better than yesterday.

 

[aart]

I can't keep doing this.

You know the answer to that.

I wonder if her problems aren't farther up the track?

 

[sourland]

Good morning , Cafe, and thanks Tonya. Wishing a good day for all, and for DL

 

[DobieLover]

You know the answer to that.

I wonder if her problems aren't farther up the track?

Could be. I brought her in this morning for a quick clean up and flush. I gave her a fermented mash with a tsp of ACV, 2 Tbsp of Greek yogurt and a probiotic capsule mixed in. She ate over half of it and drank about a 1/4 cup of water before I put her back in the hole.
There was a poop in the crate. The crusty patch under her vent is loosening at the edges. I packed TAO under the edges and around her vent too. My hope is that I can balance her gut and get her on meloxicam for a week or so to relieve swelling and pain and just hope her plumbing will be able to function.
She was due this morning for another egg and there were no signs of it so either the stress of her situation, the LD therapy or a combination of the two may have stopped the egg train. I have my fingers crossed but completely understand I may be fighting a loosing battle.
I wish she wasn't such a personable hen. She's such a character. I'd hate to lose her this way.

 

[cheepteach]

Good morning Cafe. Coffee is ready.
I hope today is better than yesterday.

Good Lord, you have had enough!! sending some spare endurance your way.

 

[LaFleche]

I'm going to beg my vet to give me some metacam for her.

No need to tell him that it is for a chicken. In case they want to know: Bella has her paw cut.

I am sorry you are having such a hard time with your chickens, it just all seems to be piling up.

Another bear hug for you:

 

[ronott1]

Is that weight of all the eggs.....depending on how many eggs there are?
I can't imagine it would be 0.67g per egg?

The easiest way I have seen is to take a sample of eggs to weigh, get the weight and then check moisture loss as an average of the sample.

figuring out the weight loss between weighings is tricky since it depends on the weight of the eggs-- The eggs should lose between 11 and 13% over the first 18 days of incubation.

It is too much work for the benefit so I just go by air cell size.

 

[ronott1]

I found my head hen, Rhoda, dead in the coop right in front of the door at head count tonight.
Needless to say it was quite a shock. I examined her and other than a tiny bit of blood on her comb she looked perfect. Gorgeous actually. She was right up against the wall with her head tucked hard to her chest. It reminded me of when I found Malcomb dead in the run with what I think was a broken neck. Maybe she flew into the wall. I won't cut her open so I'll never know for certain.
I then found Seneca in a nest box. Her back side was messy enough that I brought her in for a clean up and found her straining to poop again. Sigh. I helped her out and the consistency really wasn't that hard. I just think her vent is swollen. I'm going to beg my vet to give me some metacam for her.
I can't keep doing this.
Oh. And my normal sister called to tell me that my mom's neighbors called the cops on crazy sister. They could hear her screaming in the house at my mom. She so has to go.
What a crappy day...

It likely was a crash into the coop!

I am sorry you lost her like that.

 

[aart]

It is too much work for the benefit so I just go by air cell size.

Exactly!