California - Northern

[sewandgrow]

Sorry for your loss Kim. I haven't been keeping up with the threads too much trying to get things done around here for this week end. I have lost a few roosters in the heat but no hens. It is puzzling which succumb & which do okay. You would think a Black Minorca could take he heat but he was one to go. I sent a load of extra roosters to the auction Monday. Less to worry about & feed. We have istalled mister over shde cloth & hung big fans for circulation. We can only leave the misters on for short times to soak the shadecloth but leave the fans going alot. I have lost a couple of your chicks too but all in all they sre hanging in there. I hate this heat.

 

[Chooklet]

Karen, did you put in the order for lower temps for next Sunday? You may find me under the misters under the shade cloth! Oh yeah, that is what the pool is for.

 

[UrbanviewFarm]

This heat is really horrible this year... I just try and keep the birds as comfortable as I can when it's this bad out. I'll put waterers in the refrigerator, spray the coops down, dunk their little feet in cold water, whatever I can do to keep them happy. I've been feeling so sorry for the turkeys they get the run of the yard during the day (it seems to help keep the dogs on their best behavior too-LOL). I have seen a lot of panting and fluffing out of feathers but haven't had any losses due to heat this year.

 

[sewandgrow]

& what makes you think any order put in by me would make a difference???????? LOL We do have misters in the ptio in the pool area already. One time we actually set up a pop up tent that hsd misters all around & PVC chairs in there to sit in the mist. I hear the heat wave it til next Friday so maybe we will get SOME relief..........

 

[zooweemama]

The main part of the flock seems fine today. I didn't see anyone dragging or lagging or drooping. I didn't hear anyone sounding wet or sneezing. When I gave them their breakfast and freshc ool water they ALL ran up to get the grub. No man left behind- all were grubbing.

The 2 chickens in the garage (pullet and cockerel)- the boy is still very rattle-y. I can hear it very audibly when he breathing with every breath. The pullet tentatively sounds clear now though. She was no longer sneezing, sounding wet. The cockerel was the one that was very wet sounding yesterday and he even had bubbles coming out of his nose (and it was all crusty). Today it is not crusty though and no bubbles. Both are eating and drinking like champs though- so no decrease in appetite.

I think I will keep these 2 quarantined for the time being. They don't seem to be distressed being together. And it's very cool in the garage compared to outside. Even when 110 outside the garage is about 85 or so. Very comfy. And wait and watch and see what happens? Is that what you guys would do?

 

[ronott1]

The main part of the flock seems fine today. I didn't see anyone dragging or lagging or drooping. I didn't hear anyone sounding wet or sneezing. When I gave them their breakfast and freshc ool water they ALL ran up to get the grub. No man left behind- all were grubbing.

The 2 chickens in the garage (pullet and cockerel)- the boy is still very rattle-y. I can hear it very audibly when he breathing with every breath. The pullet tentatively sounds clear now though. She was no longer sneezing, sounding wet. The cockerel was the one that was very wet sounding yesterday and he even had bubbles coming out of his nose (and it was all crusty). Today it is not crusty though and no bubbles. Both are eating and drinking like champs though- so no decrease in appetite.

I think I will keep these 2 quarantined for the time being. They don't seem to be distressed being together. And it's very cool in the garage compared to outside. Even when 110 outside the garage is about 85 or so. Very comfy. And wait and watch and see what happens? Is that what you guys would do?

Yes, I would wait and watch them. They are quarantined and not suffering so it would be best to let them recover there. The Panting may have caused moisture to come up from their crop. Just guessing but I think they were on their way out yesterday.

Good job, you saved them once again!

Ron

 

[zooweemama]

hope that things cool off and your dark marans improve, Amy Beth! that must be incredibly frustrating, and worrisome, to be having such health troubles.

i have two cuckoo marans (in my small flock of six), and they definitely pant sooner/more than the others -- but i'm both relatively close to the coast (30 miles or so) and at a high-ish elevation (1625'), so it doesn't get quite as hot here as down in the valleys (or up in the sierra foothills), we've only been in the low-mid 90s at the highest.

and funny, the marans are the best fliers of the flock, so far -- one (Dixie) now routinely hops onto a lap or shoulder to check things out (doesn't want to be handled, though), and yesterday actually flew up about 5 of 6 feet into the base of one of my giant oak trees! adventurous girl!

on my lap, apparently interested in reading the New Yorker:



up in the oak tree -- she looks as startled as i was!



they are also now totally into free-ranging around in the late afternoons/early evenings when there's more shade -- lots of exploring going on, and the two cats and i just sit by & watch with amusement...

Beautiful Birds!!!

Hi Amy Beth,

I do not have the link to Humane Euthanizing. If they don't seem better this evening when it cools, I would give them the anti biotic.

It probably is the heat. They look awful when it is at hot as it is. If they die:

UC DAVIS

http://www.cahfs.ucdavis.edu/index.cfm

You can send dead birds here for necropsy testing. I hope you don't need it, but Debi/PetRock suggested this addition and it's a good one. Thanks Debi and Ron, for the link.

UC DAVIS FEDEX INFO: Their account # is 364343981. If you use their account number you will get to use UC Davis's discount which is up to 70% off. They said that they will bill you for the shipment after you get the report (or at the same time.) Also, FedEx and UPS both ship to the actual lab every day... the Postal Service doesn't.



CAHFS - Davis Laboratory
University of California
West Health Sciences Drive
Davis, CA 95616
Phone: 530-752-8700
Fax: 530-752-6253
[email protected]

CAHFS - San Bernardino Laboratory
Branch Chief: Dr. Hailu Kinde
105 W. Central Avenue
San Bernardino, CA
92408-2113
Phone: (909) 383-4287
Fax: (909) 884-5980
[email protected]

CAHFS - Tulare Laboratory
Branch Chief: Dr. Patricia Blanchard
18830 Road 112
Tulare, CA
93274-9042
Phone: (559) 688-7543
Fax: (559) 686-4231
[email protected]

CAHFS - Turlock Laboratory
Branch Chief: Dr. Bruce Charlton
1550 Soderquist Rd.
Turlock, CA
95381-2204
Phone: (209) 634-5837
Fax: (209) 667-4261
[email protected]

I pray you do not have to use this service.

Ron

Thanks Ron!!

My pen of BC Marans seems to be one of the pens that is being the least affected by the heat. I haven't seen a lot of panting or holding out of their wings.

And yes, I think heat could make them bubbly, which in turn could make their nostrils crusty. I think I would watch them first and see what happens as it cools down over night. See what they look like in the morning.

Deb

I really really hope it is just stress from the heat. That I can take. I won't be thrilled to lose any but I guess natural selection is better than disease. :|

The best treatment for upper respiratory disease is Denagard. Needs to be ordered so I would start the antibiotics to keep it under control until the Denagard comes. Here is the info on it. http://www.tiamutin.com/vet-poultry/diseaseproblems/en/index.shtml and here is where you can order it. http://www.qcsupply.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=denagard

I am SO sorry

I know how upsetting it is when your chickens get sick! I hope this helps.

Thanks- I will get some of this to add to our chicken first aide basket.

Amy Beth, I'm sorry you're having such a tough time. You've worked so hard to make a good home for your chickens and purchased from a reputable breeder. You did everything right. I hope you can figure this out and get back to just enjoying your chickens. Keep us updated.....and a good cry never hurt anyone!

Thank you. I did cry. Then my husband took me on a date to see the new Bourne movie. It was SO nice to get away!

lost my first bird to the heat today. it's been a long time since i got sad about losing a bird. This one made me quite sad.

Oh gosh, Jeff. I'm so sorry.

I am happy to hear they are better today. Those two may need to be inside today.

I really need to get you some Basque Hens. Mine kicked their water over on Friday and I was not home to check on them. My daughter did not notice there was no water, so they went all of Friday afternoon without water. None of them died or even looked stressed the next morning. They did did the same thing yesterday. They really are heat tolerant.

You could have a Basque cockerel any time....

Amy, you are doing the right things for them. Some just can't take the heat.

Ron

I REALLY hope it is due to heat.

Sorry

it has been so hot.... My air conditioning went out in my car yesterday. I was stuck in traffic. That is when I truly realized how hot it was.

Yucky icky caca doody sucky hot. bleck!

 

[ronott1]

This heat is really horrible this year... I just try and keep the birds as comfortable as I can when it's this bad out. I'll put waterers in the refrigerator, spray the coops down, dunk their little feet in cold water, whatever I can do to keep them happy. I've been feeling so sorry for the turkeys they get the run of the yard during the day (it seems to help keep the dogs on their best behavior too-LOL). I have seen a lot of panting and fluffing out of feathers but haven't had any losses due to heat this year.

It is great to hear from you!

What breeds do you have?

Ron

 

[zooweemama]

The two girls that I had to bring in the house yesterday, seemed to recover completely. I put them back into the coop about an hour before sundown. They both immediately started to eat, and at lockup time, were in the coop and up on a roost.

I came SO close to losing them. They are only HQ and in my egg flock, but they are Molly & Susie! Susie even laid an egg while in the bathtub yesterday. Her nickname is "Chicken Chicken". When she was little and the other birds would pick on her, she'd run to me for protection.

When I do my hourly check and spray down of the runs, I hadn't been spraying the run of the egg house. Their run has a solid roof over the whole thing and the coop/run is built right into the heavily leaved branches of a huge mulberry tree. They are always in deep shade, so I normally just check them and their water supply. Now I need to add that run to my spray down routine.

Deb

I am SO glad they pulled through!

Amy Beth, I agree with everything Pam has said above. X2

You people talking about the fog

110 here yesterday. I have a thermometer that says how many dogs you need to have with you in the igloo to stay warm, according to the temperature. It got to Dead Dog yesterday.

Lost another Delaware hen. The Dork cockerels were all hot but ok and they are right next to the Delaware coop, have less shade and don't get their run hosed down. My pigs were happy to get chicken dinner again.

I am really grumpy and wishing I lived in Oregon.
Kim

Kim, I'm really sorry. This heat is just nasty. It's been this hot before here- every summer really. But we've never had chickens before so it makes it SEEM so much hotter since we have to worry about other critters besides our spoiled butts in the a/c.

110!

I am so sorry to hear about the Delaware that did not make it. It has been a terrible hot stretch.

This is for Jeff, Amy, Deb and all losing or having sick chickens:

It will be better soon - in three days!

I cooked the Delaware Roo you gave me I have a Basque chicken recipe that uses onions, roasted bell peppers, Garlic, tomatoes and smokey paprika. I usually braise the chicken and the recipe calls for chicken breast but this time I pressure cooked the cut up chicken(boy that was a chore!). I put it under pressure for 20 min. then popped the top and added the tomatoes and bell pettper. I the pressure cooked for another 20 minutes.

It was so good!

The thigh meat was like a chuck roast in texture but tasted more like a pheasant.

You can cook a 6 month old roo, if you pressure cook it!

Ron

Ron- come this Spring I am so gonna want some hatching eggs or something. Totally willing to buy some. I need some heat tolerant birds and the Basques are just very attractive and I think would serve our needs wonderfully along side out Orps. I'd like to try the Basques next year. So I am pretty sure this is what we are looking at for us: Orpingtons, Basques (if that year work out for us) and Easter Eggers for egg stock.

I will 'let' the Marans fade out BUT I want to keep a rooster to maybe breed with the EE's for a season or two? Olive Eggers.

 

[zooweemama]

It's SO funny. We love all our birds- even the Marans. Especially BCM boys- they are sweet as pie! But the EEs have absolutely stolen EVERYone's hearts. How funny is that?? I cannot wait to get some more next year!!