California - Northern

[ronott1]

I received the final report on the Bresse youngster I sent in for necropsy and didn't really get much info to go on. This is one of 6 that hatched under a broody from shipped eggs. All were doing well for the first 3 weeks, then they started to fade one at a time. I have lost 5 of them....all of which I believe were likely pullets. I have one left that is doing very well and it appears to be a cockerel. This is what the report showed:

G r o s s O b s e r v a t i o n s
A female juvenile chicken is submitted for necropsy in good body condition with sparse amounts of reserve fat and in good
postmortem preservation. No significant gross findings are observed.

06/17/2015:
No specific gross findings were observed that would indicate the cause of death. Ancillary tests including histopathologic
examination are pending


06/18/2015:
The histopathologic lesions observed in the skeletal muscle adjacent to the sciatic nerve is due to an unknown cause and is of
unknown significance. A mineral deficiency can cause the skeletal muscle necrosis, but would likely affect the flock as a whole
and not one chick at a time as described in the history. Unfortunately the sample needed to assess the mineral status of this
chick is no longer available. The significance of the epicarditis is unknown. All diagnostic tests have been completed.

BACTERIAL AEROBIC CULTURE
Results
Taylor Taylor Lung Swab Mixed Coliforms Mod# Proteus swarming - No further work up.

Taylor Taylor Liver Swab Mixed flora Rare#

Salmonella Culture Results
Feces No salmonella detected

Avian Influenza matrix gene qRT-PCR Results

Taylor Taylor Oropharyngeal Swab Not Detected

H i s t o l o g y
Skeletal nerve: There are multifocal areas of skeletal muscle necrosis scattered throughout the muscle adjacent to the sciatic nerves.
Heart: The epicardium is multifocally infiltrated by few heterophils.
Colon: There is a single adult nematode within the lumen (suspect Hetarakis gallinarum).
Brain, peripheral nerve, lung, bursa, spleen, kidney, proventriculus, ventriculus, small intestine, pancreas: No significant histopathologic lesions observed.
.

Look on the bright side, it was not something contagious.

There may have been a flock nutrition problem from the seller but Who knows?

 

[TheKeeper]

OK...I now have the Serama Bug.  I just received 24 eggs and they are settling.  I am wondering if there is any special incubation tricks for them.  temp/humidity?   Would it be better to use the Brinsea Octagon 20 or the Genesis 588.  I have had good success with other eggs in both.   Incubate upright or on the side?.  Any help from anyone with experience would be great.  I posted on one or 2 Serama related threads, but haven't gotten any response and don't really have time to read thru all of them..

I hatched a dozen this year, some under a broody, some in my Brinsea Oct20. 10 of 12 hatched & it looks like I have 2 boys and 8 girls. The eggs were local (not shipped) and I incubated them alongside orpington and ameraucana eggs. I have the humidity at 45% until lockdown, then up it to 65%. Chicks all looked great & hatched well.
They are so cute buy feisty lil' things! They are not fond of being caught or held and bite like the dickens ( it doesn't hurt at all).

 

[ronott1]

I hatched a dozen this year, some under a broody, some in my Brinsea Oct20. 10 of 12 hatched & it looks like I have 2 boys and 8 girls. The eggs were local (not shipped) and I incubated them alongside orpington and ameraucana eggs. I have the humidity at 45% until lockdown, then up it to 65%. Chicks all looked great & hatched well.
They are so cute buy feisty lil' things! They are not fond of being caught or held and bite like the dickens ( it doesn't hurt at all).

Some breeds just do not hatch well with shipped eggs. Penedesencas are like that and they are large eggs. Marans can have problems but not as much as Penedesenca eggs do.

One of the 21 week old Trader Joes pullets thought that a freckle on my calf looked tasty this morning. It did not hurt either but it is always a bit of a surprise.

 

[Sylvester017]

My experience is very similar to yours. The Marans is a jerk to every single bird in the flock minus the boss hen. She has no problem free ranging while I work in the garden, but she avoids me more so than any other bird. Won't take treats from hand, and can't wait to get away if I catch her to pet her. I've got a younger welsummer pullet that is very curious, and once caught enjoys being held, takes treats, but squaks like it's being killed when you grab it.

haha! Jerks! That's a good description of ours and our friend's various Marans varieties. They are strictly utility dual purpose and making fuzzy cuddly pets out of them is just not in the cards.

Wellies have Leghorn ancestry along with some other breed history - you'll notice the Wellies and Brown Leghorn cocks look almost identical - and very similar to the Red Junglefowl appearance. Even though Leghorns will come up to you and take treats and even sit on your lap or arm they still shy away from human touching/petting so not surprising the Wellies are not particularly fond of being handled. Still, of all the dark brown layers, the Wellies will probably be the best choice. I personally stay away from any of the dark layers - they are utility/production birds but if you want something close to being a pet too Wellies would be the first choice out of the dark layers. I'm still not convinced ANY dark laying breed is advisable to mix with gentle or non-combative flockmates.

 

[caychris]

Think Im going to try some wellies next year when I hatch out my own pitas.

 

[Audio51]

Quote: So it sounds like something I don't really need to worry about, but they fact that it killed 5 of 6 is a concern. I will make sure the breeder knows as they may want to look at what is going on. The cockerel is still looking bright and active. I am wondering if keeping them on medicated chicks starter too long may be factor on my end. with multi ages in the pen I have been giving it longer than I would have otherwise. I wish they had been able to run the mineral tests so I would know for sure what might have been lacking. Do you think amprolium could have affected that? Everyone is on Flock Raiser now, so perhaps the problem has already been addressed.....

Quote: Did you notice a difference in hatch rate between broody and Brinsea? I do have a broody right now but she has been at it about a 2-3 weeks already and might not stick it out long enough. I also got some Mille Fleur D'Uccle eggs that arrived today and are settling. They are only a little bigger than the Serama eggs and will go in the Genesis tomorrow. Air cells look good on most. Only 2 of 24 look lie they might be saddle. I did not think to check them on the Seramas, but will do so in a day or 2.

Quote: I do have a more local source for Penedesenca eggs.....someone who got some from Jason. I will probably give them a shot next spring. I think this is going to do it for me this year whether any hatch or not.

 

[ronott1]

So it sounds like something I don't really need to worry about, but they fact that it killed 5 of 6 is a concern. I will make sure the breeder knows as they may want to look at what is going on. The cockerel is still looking bright and active. I am wondering if keeping them on medicated chicks starter too long may be factor on my end. with multi ages in the pen I have been giving it longer than I would have otherwise. I wish they had been able to run the mineral tests so I would know for sure what might have been lacking. Do you think amprolium could have affected that? Everyone is on Flock Raiser now, so perhaps the problem has already been addressed.....


I do have a more local source for Penedesenca eggs.....someone who got some from Jason. I will probably give them a shot next spring. I think this is going to do it for me this year whether any hatch or not.

If the feed is not formulated correctly, amprolium can make them vitamin deficient. The Sheriff lost some from that last year or so. I do not use it but rely on corid if they start acting like they have cocci.

Good news on the local source for Penedesenca eggs! Crele or black?

 

[Sylvester017]

If the feed is not formulated correctly, amprolium can make them vitamin deficient. The Sheriff lost some from that last year or so. I do not use it but rely on corid if they start acting like they have cocci.

Good news on the local source for Penedesenca eggs! Crele or black?

A wise breeder and my vet told me to exercise caution about medicating unnecessarily. I use unmedicated chick starter until POL and if there's a positive on a fecal test for coccidia then I will use the Corid for a 21-day treatment. Why use medicated feed if it's not necessary? I received a new juvenile pullet and the very first day I took a fecal sample to the vet - my usual practice. She was negative for worms but positive for coccidia and I have her on Corid. The Corid treatment in her water seems to subdue her perkyness so I supplement with a drop of Poly-Vi-Sol on the beak.

 

[Sylvester017]

Bryan!

I've had mean Marans in the past and got rid of them. I think it depends on the lines. I have 2 from Wynette's lines, and they are both very nice pullets that lay very nice eggs. (one just went broody though)

I talked with GFF and they said of all their Marans varieties the Wheaten were the best tempered. I'm wondering if that's true of Wheaten/Blue Wheaten in other breeds also? We have a Blue Wheaten Ameraucana that is absolutely the best temperament toward her flockmates - she doesn't retaliate chest-bumping, will avoid conflict at all costs, submits to her Silkie flockmates even though she is twice bigger. She doesn't bully, is not pushy at feed/treats time, and carries on conversations with us humans. Though most chickens are not fond of human petting/handling she is very relaxed when we hold her or pet her. She's not interested in flock politics but is an excellent guardian/sentinel - while others sleep at roost she will awaken to check on nighttime noises.

 

[joydix]

i have ONE BCM and One Wellie....i had another BCM previously and i named her margaret thatcher...enough said! you can imagine! This one is not that bad. i rehired the other to someone with a large flock and she fits in there just fine. the one i have now gets on with everyone but not friendly. she will eat out of my hand but HURTS and has drawn blood....she HATES being picked up or held and when i put her down she turns on me and pecks super hard....so, not my favorite breed. the Wellsummer hen is very sweet, gentle and a little shy. she eats out of my hand but also does not like to be held. i am very fond of her tho. it is a pleasant breed....