California - Northern

[ronott1]

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Thank You!

I believe you now--I see the logo by my Avatar.

I picked up 4 bags of feed today--King Feed Soy Free Natural. It is not Organic, but it cost $23.49 per bag. I bought the starter grower crumbles since I have so many Roosters now. I am going to put free choice calcium in a couple of places for the hens. The Basque hens are eating it now--They seem to like it. It smells good which I cant say about some feeds. Now to see how they do with it.

Ron

 

[zooweemama]

Did they swallow a feather? A month ago one of my Marans was running around with a quill hanging out of her beak--I caught her and pulled it out, LOL!

I was almost longer than her...Silly chickens eat the weirdest things.

Ron

I have seen them play chicken games with feathers (stray ones have blown into 'their' yard from the ducks). You know where 1 chicken grabs something and then 30 chickens chase him to grab the flag for a touchdown? I guess it's possible they have eaten them- that would be wonky if 3 of them had eaten feathers. When my hubby gets home I am doing the swab test on my Orp roo (we call him Joe Cocker bwahahah) and see if the swap comes ups with red strings or frankly if I can SEE anything amiss. Although I don't even know what the heck I am looking at rofl!

 

[zooweemama]

And thank you guys SO much for all your suggestions- I was trying not to panic!

 

[JerseyGiantfolk]

I've not dealt with gapeworms, but could it be angel wing?

One lone chick with curly wings? 2 weeks old.
If it doesn't make sense - I blame autocorrect. Sent from my sweet iPhone 4s.

 

[HighNDryFarm]

zooweemama I don't see anything in your video either but from your descriptions I would definitely check for gape worm and if that test is clear I would treat for respiratory. I wouldn't wait to treat. This stuff seems to move quickly. A couple of people on the Neveda? thread have recently had some problems similar to yours. Might help to go check out that thread. Also, call the breeder and see if she can offer any suggestions.

Good luck and don't worry about all the posts, that's what we're here for!

Ron, congrats on the award. You are always willing to help and share, good job.

 

[zooweemama]

I've not dealt with gapeworms, but could it be angel wing?

That's what I thought too. But I kept coming across so many people saying chickens don't really get angel wing. I am feeding them chick starter- the Purina Start&Grow. The first batch of chicks had that until 3 weeks old and I moved them to Flock Raiser. At 2 weeks old does chick starter have too much protein in it for them? I do not feed them table scraps- occasionally I offer them chopped kale (which is not a protein) but no eggs or milk or snacks yet. Maybe it is angel wing...it's just soooo odd?

 

[zooweemama]

zooweemama I don't see anything in your video either but from your descriptions I would definitely check for gape worm and if that test is clear I would treat for respiratory. I wouldn't wait to treat. This stuff seems to move quickly. A couple of people on the Neveda? thread have recently had some problems similar to yours. Might help to go check out that thread. Also, call the breeder and see if she can offer any suggestions.

Good luck and don't worry about all the posts, that's what we're here for!

Ron, congrats on the award. You are always willing to help and share, good job.

Thank you so much! The open mouth thing really has me freaked. I have never noticed them walking around with their mouths opened before and since they are doing in constantly now- it just doesn't seem like normal chicken behavior? Do chickens usually walk around with their mouths open most of the time? At the end of the video you see my Marans doing it. That is what they are doing all the time right now. Maybe it's a normal chicken behavior and I am a ninny? I have never before paid attention to chickens (I used to dislike them immensely) until I got some. Well now I am enamored with them and feel like a mama hen. I don't want to be the cause of something wrong either. Worst feeling in the world. I am getting ready to do the check...

 

[HighNDryFarm]

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My chickens do that when they're hot. Some chickens do it more then others. It looked like you had a cover on that cage could the temp inside be warmer then you think?

I went over to the Neveda? thread and looked back over the posts from Missy americanvalkyrie who had the problem and found this post from a thread she was looking for help on...anyway, check it out and maybe PM her with details and see if she can offer you some guidance, she's really nice and I know would love to help you. I know how attached we get and I think you need to do something sooner then later.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/665521/swollen-around-the-eye#post_8988568

 

[zooweemama]

Ok I hope it did correctly. I took qtips and swabbed their throats. I am not sure how 'far' you are supposed to swap though. I swabbed my Marans first- his swap came back with a little food debris. Nothing red.

I swabbed my Orp next (he is the one that has been the worse off) and he was breathing with a noticeable crackle. I swabbed him and each time I pulled back the swab and it was clean but extremely damp- maybe mucous? I really stressed him out. What I am just unsure of is if I swabbed far enough back. I went past the first part of his tongue. I also have to note his breath wasn't so hot. Smelled bad- like stinky dog breath?

 

[zooweemama]

My chickens do that when they're hot. Some chickens do it more then others. It looked like you had a cover on that cage could the temp inside be warmer then you think?

I went over to the Neveda? thread and looked back over the posts from Missy americanvalkyrie who had the problem and found this post from a thread she was looking for help on...anyway, check it out and maybe PM her with details and see if she can offer you some guidance, she's really nice and I know would love to help you. I know how attached we get and I think you need to do something sooner then later.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/665521/swollen-around-the-eye#post_8988568

No cover- it's a dog kennel. So it's all open. We covered the sides and back about 12 inches from the ground up to keep in flying debris but that's it. There is also no heat lamp in there. I checked the temp in there and it's about 78/79. I did just also post the results of my swabbing. Oh my gosh. I thought getting chickens would be nice because I wouldn't 'like' them as much as my ducks. Oh geez. Yeah right. Love these guys. Am checking out that thread now. TY!