California - Northern

[ronott1]

We have been talking about setting eggs so I did a search for some information:



Quote: The Small end vs big end up is clarified here. I collect for 5 days and put them into an egg flat tilted. I turn the eggs several times a day.

I guess I could just keep them small end up but I am not collecting them for more than 10 days.

The article also said:

Quote: If a seller collects for 5 days and ships on the sixth day, then the shipping time will put them into the 8 day old range. The hatch rate will be lower already by the collecting and shipping times. That is why it is better to get them into the incubator as soon as they are at room temperature. That would be in the several hour range. The eggs should be set big end up without turning for 3 to 5 days depending on the condition of the air cell.

 

[CackleJoy]

Went in the run today to let my flock out and there's quite a few piles of bright green poo. My one pullet that was sickly first seems fine now. My Roo crowed at me today . That's more then he did yesterday. But is still not getting down from the roost.

((

Now my Buff Orp hen isn't getting down either!

I'm so frustrated and nervous about all this! I have no experience with sick birds! And there was absolutely no signs of any illness before the rain storms.

I put Corid in their water. Removed the AVC water. I put Vetrx on their Combs and waddles. I treated them with frontline plus (there was not a single bug of any sort on any of them) that I could see. Putting cayenne powder on their food and giving them free choice fresh chopped garlic.

I'm at a loss! Feeling overwhelmed by their poor state. I want to help them! Is there anything else I could/should do?

I don't have any advice like some of the others on here but I do want you to know that I feel your frustration! Hope it all works out for you. Do you know, are they drinking? Hard to medicate an animal if it refuses to drink.

 

[Luvinmyhurd]

I don't have any advice like some of the others on here but I do want you to know that I feel your frustration!  Hope it all works out for you.  Do you know, are they drinking?  Hard to medicate an animal if it refuses to drink.

Thanks. He did yesterday. He hasn't today.

 

[WendyJeepchick]

Hello. I'm brand new to this thread. Im a first time BYC person but have reading a lot in the last 6 months we've owned our new house in the mountains, Forest Ranch (12 miles north of Chico, CA). I started with 6 chicks. Three Rhode Island Reds and three Barred Rocks from the local feed store here in Chico. The Reds seem to get the pasty butt thing as I've cleaned them off every couple days since I've gotten them on Friday but the BR's have been super clean. In the latest pictures they were alittle frightened with the. Camera in their faces. Can anyone tell by the pictures how old they might be? I'm thinking around ten days or maybe two weeks as I'm unsure how old they were when I got them.

Hello Andrew and welcome to BYC! These are by far my favorite chicken peeps: helpful and non-judgemental.

 

[ronott1]

Went in the run today to let my flock out and there's quite a few piles of bright green poo. My one pullet that was sickly first seems fine now. My Roo crowed at me today . That's more then he did yesterday. But is still not getting down from the roost.

((

Now my Buff Orp hen isn't getting down either!

I'm so frustrated and nervous about all this! I have no experience with sick birds! And there was absolutely no signs of any illness before the rain storms.

I put Corid in their water. Removed the AVC water. I put Vetrx on their Combs and waddles. I treated them with frontline plus (there was not a single bug of any sort on any of them) that I could see. Putting cayenne powder on their food and giving them free choice fresh chopped garlic.

I'm at a loss! Feeling overwhelmed by their poor state. I want to help them! Is there anything else I could/should do?

Make sure that they drink the corid water. If not then you need to make them drink it. The corid stops the cysts from feeding on the intestines. The intestines need to heal, which is fairly fast but takes a day or two to kick in.

I hope they get better soon!

Is the ventilation ok in their coop?(sorry if I asked this already)

 

[WendyJeepchick]

On the topic of Marans, I'm getting 6 tomorrow! The family is going outta town and doesn't want to hire a chick sitter and they're coming through sac so I get $5 black copper Maran chicks!

That's great Jessica. Marans are next on my list too. How many if your chicks hatched? How many lived? Sorry, I've been working and writing term papers. So I'm a little behind.

 

[Luvinmyhurd]

Make sure that they drink the corid water. If not then you need to make them drink it. The corid stops the cysts from feeding on the intestines. The intestines need to heal, which is fairly fast but takes a day or two to kick in.

I hope they get better soon!

Is the ventilation ok in their coop?(sorry if I asked this already)

Ok I'll go get some treated water in them. They roost in the run that's made up of 2x4s and chicken wire. We have a tarp as a roof :/ so yes lots of ventilation.

I know you've posted recently and I'm sorry to ask again but I want to send in a sample to UC Davis. How do I collect and send? Can you post the link again. Thank you!

 

[tommysgirl]

I have never heard that, but I learn something new every day. I always set my bantam eggs with my LF eggs and have never had any issues.

Well that is great to know too. I was feeling a little behind in setting up the bator so I don't have the time constraint I thought I did.

Tell me what you think of this...We have a pen dubbed Gilligan's Island. In it I have the hatchery NH roo (he used to share the bachelor pad with the NH roo I put in with my 2013 girls) and two EE girls I got from a friend of mine locally. He is the skipper and because one is black and the other red and blue they are Ginger and Mary Ann. Before I introduced him to his girls he would try to give me treats and dance for me.

He came at me once so I picked him up and carried him around then he did it again and I whacked him one and held him down so he has given me my space. I usually have my hair down. Yesterday I had it in a pony tail and he rushed me but when I yelled at him he stopped short and looked confused. Do you think he didn't recognize me as me? He is a great looking boy for hatchery and terrific with the girls but I am not above making him into a nice stew and putting a CA Grey cockerel in there this spring. He has never made contact but I don't want to wait until he does.

Your thoughts...I want to give him the benefit of the doubt. He was one of the boys for the first 2.5 years of his life so maybe he is just figuring things out now.

On a related note...one of my Icelandics, my avatar Hattie, has taken to roosting in the run instead of going into the coop at night. She is low on the PO. The General buc buc bucs at the girls to get them to go to bed but she won't. The last two nights I have found him on the roost with her instead of in the coop. How sweet is that? She won't listen so he gives up his spot indoors to protect her. I still pick them up and put them in but it is sweet. I hope to get a pic tonight to show you.

 

[ronott1]

Ok I'll go get some treated water in them. They roost in the run that's made up of 2x4s and chicken wire. We have a tarp as a roof

so yes lots of ventilation.

I know you've posted recently and I'm sorry to ask again but I want to send in a sample to UC Davis. How do I collect and send? Can you post the link again. Thank you!

Poo Sample?

Good idea!

Look for the Fecal test form--it was $10.50 the last time I looked. If you do not find it, then call them for help. They are very helpful.

You collect a sample from different birds in the morning and put it into a double zip lock bag. I carry it in since the lab is on the same campus where I work. I asked them to check for Cocci along with worms.

Quote:

 

[CackleJoy]

Many of you know that we had a sick cockerel. We are sure it was a mold issue and not contagious for several reasons.

First, this happened last time it got cold/wet and he never really got 100% after that. Always made odd noises and didn't crow right. No other symptoms. Eventually we took him out of isolation because he didn't act sick except for the weird noises. He ran with the other birds for about 6 weeks and none of them so much as sneezed.

That's reason number 2. Had the cockerels condition been contagious, I think we'd be dealing with more sick birds. Before he was found, he was badly sick for 2 or 3 days this time. Due to all of our out-of-state family, the children (often with cousins along) were doing chores. They do a good job but don't/can't equal an adult. When I found the cockerel, his comb and wattles were already blue from lack of O2, he'd been sick a good while.

Reason number 3 is that I was discussing Ron's post last night about black mold in straw. My son over heard the discussion and piped up (I have been very careful not to cast stones - it's a big burden for a boy) saying he had put some moldy straw in the hen house a couple weeks ago. The straw has since been replaced with fresh but the moldy straw could have generated the problem with the cockerel.

We obviously have a lot of learning and educating to do around here. We lost a friend due to combined ignorance and genetic weakness (none of the other birds got sick). I'm just glad it doesn't appear to be contagious.

My poor husband said he knew how it felt to shoot Old Yeller now.

Some things we've learned have been regarding what is necessary in a medicine cabinet for chickens. Mine is sadly lacking and we are remedying that straight-way. The other thing we've learned has been in regard to mold and educating our children. WE (adults) knew that the straw had got wet and was no good but it hadn't been disposed of so it got used while we were busy. We are having to rethink our methods and may go to sand in the winter, I don't know yet.

The stocked medicine cabinet is a big deal because so many really good products are only purchasable online.