California - Northern

[zooweemama]

Picked up a little giant and turner today! Super excited!!
Now just have to dial this thing in and then I'm gonna be orderin some Basque hen eggs!!!
Any tips for a newbie bator??
I've heard the "dry incubation" method has a high success rate. Has anybody tried this method??

And let the chicken math multiply in the biggest way! hehe

 

[ronott1]

I have a sick chick. Copper one of my cockerels. He is 8 weeks old. I found him acting very low last night. Trying to sleep a lot- seems incredibly sleepy. My mil said he was acting low yesterday morning (why she didn't TELL ME I will never know geez) and I had my oldest change their water yesterday (I usually do) and he also did not report anything amiss. Note to self- do it myself. I fed them last night (nightly treats- shredded meat or lettuce or fruit leftover from that supper we had). I didn't notice at first that he wasn't eating the treats. Then as soon as I noticed I ran in, snatched him up and carried him up to the house. He was still trying to sleep on me. Since my new EEs are in the house- I didn't come inside just stayed outside with him.

I put him a dog kennel, fresh clean water, some food and probiotics. He wants to eat and drink just fine. Actually- his appetite and thirst seem quite normal. Very lethargic When he drinks though I can hear gurgly noises (like the sound your tummy makes when it is digesting food) and he seems to slightly struggle a bit. Right after eating or drinking- he starts drooping over and closing his eyes real tired like. There is no sneezing, wheezing, coughing- nor is there any mucous, wet eyes, foamy eyes, drooling nor any moisture of any kind. I do not suspect respiratory at all. His poop is firm and green. Green? His food is not even green! He is on flock raiser.

Neither last night nor today is anyone else exhibiting any symptoms. He is quarantined in my garage (all my chickens are at the other end of our 2 acres and the EEs are quarantined for the customary couple weeks in my house currently)- so Copper hasn't been around anyone new.

I felt his crop- and I am just not sure what it is supposed to feel like. It does not feel large that I can tell.

Any ideas? Thanks!

At 8 weeks old I would suspect Cocci, even with green poops. Try corid.

You should watch the EEs too.

Ron

 

[zooweemama]

impacted crop. i feel it. like a golf ball. help!

 

[ronott1]

impacted crop. i feel it. like a golf ball. help!

I have read about cleaning the crop. I have never had to do it.

Sorry you have to deal with this!

Deb, Happy Chooks or one of the many experts here are sure to have instructions for helping.

Ron

 

[ronott1]

Picked up a little giant and turner today! Super excited!!
Now just have to dial this thing in and then I'm gonna be orderin some Basque hen eggs!!!
Any tips for a newbie bator??
I've heard the "dry incubation" method has a high success rate. Has anybody tried this method??

It is a still air, so look for ChookChicks Still incubator hatching tips.

I have not found that dry incubation works well with a fan forced incubator. The Last hatch I kept humidity at 40 to 45% and it worked well--only a couple of sticky chicks and all that pipped hatched.

You will love the Basque Hens!

Ron

 

[Meg2000000]

impacted crop. i feel it. like a golf ball. help!

This is what I found in my Chicken Health Handbook:

 

[zooweemama]

We cleaned out his crop. I have the Chicken Health Book. I then You Tubed the procedure. My husband and I watched it. Then did the procedure. Wow that was intense. We trimmed feathers, slit the neck and crop open with a tiny incision - then using scissor looking tweezers we grabbed what we could. It was FULL of flock raiser and oat hulls. We didn't come across anything else though- no grass or string or anything. Maybe sour crop? It smelled like buttermilk- sour. Then we made a solution of tepid water and anti-biotics and flushed the crop out and the surrounding area. We haven't sewn the incision. No where did I read that you should do that. Maybe you should - I don't know. But my mil is getting some Vetricyn spray right now from TS so I can apply that several times a day. I put fresh water in with him and it has electrolytes and probiotics in it. And we wait...I think by tonight I should offer him food- but I read it should be moistened.

If anyone has anything else to add, suggestions we are open. I told Copper if he pulled through he has a forever home with us. He is one tough chicken. He just let us do all this. He is amazing!

 

[zooweemama]

This is what I found in my Chicken Health Handbook:

Thank you so much! This is what i read too. I am so glad I was told to get this book. It was either botulism or....I finally felt his crop and was like ohhhhh my is that the crop??? It was about the size of a duck egg. I know some chickens get them larger but for whatever reason this was taking him down. I can't find anything anywhere that some other disease can trigger or cause impacted/sour crop. I welcome input from people!

 

[Meg2000000]

I've read apple cider vinegar and plain whole fat yogurt helps. Put the ACV in the water.. 1 tbsp per gallon. Make sure you get the unfiltered, unpastuerized kind. Braggs is the kind I have. Keep him hydrated and if you have to hand feed him water make sure to only dip the tip of his beak in the water.

You probably already know all of this but just wanted to let you know what I've read. It's common for the crop to smell sour when they have impacted crop. The yogurt and ACV should help.

 

[zooweemama]

I've read apple cider vinegar and plain whole fat yogurt helps. Put the ACV in the water.. 1 tbsp per gallon. Make sure you get the unfiltered, unpastuerized kind. Braggs is the kind I have. Keep him hydrated and if you have to hand feed him water make sure to only dip the tip of his beak in the water.
You probably already know all of this but just wanted to let you know what I've read. It's common for the crop to smell sour when they have impacted crop. The yogurt and ACV should help.

Thank you! I will get some of both items today. Thank you Meg!