California - Northern

[Audio51]

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.

I'm so sorry you had to put him down.

I know how attached you were to him. And you poor hubby....

I'm so proud of your son for speaking up about the moldy straw. Some kids would not, thinking they were going to get in trouble. And this will be a learning experience for all of you. And you will now have a well stocked medicine chest! Since it didn't seem to affect the others, it may be that he did not have good resistance and the others did.

 

[capayvalleychick]

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.

Sometimes males will see something as a threat and go after it, and it does not become a habit. Sometimes it escalates and they become people aggressive. Some people have an absolutely no mistakes policy with their males - one strike and they're out. Others wait and see, if the bird has extra value. I tend to be that way and probably shouldn't.

There is something that I need to point out, about the behavior you mentioned above... the "dancing for you". Remember when you were here and my rooster did that? I actually wanted to give him a kick and send him flying, but I knew that you would think I was awful mean. So, I tolerated his treating me like a hen behavior, even though that's not a good idea. It made me worry that he was going to escalate to aggressive behavior on the visiting people that day.

Roosters need to understand that you are alpha human and not treat you, or other humans, like a hen. If they think of you as a hen, they are more likely to assert their dominance over you and other people. That means aggressive behavior.
So, any behavior that they would display toward other chickens should not be allowed toward people. In addition, it's a good idea to always have them walking away from you, before you walk away from them. In their mind, this helps build their respect of you as alpha. So, if they start doing the dance to you, walk toward them quickly and make them move away. That sends the message, that you are not a hen but a human and lessens the chance of a future attack.

I know, many of you are now thinking that I'm a cruel person who doesn't love my chickens. That's not true. I've been living with chickens a long time and, just like with dogs and kids, being sweet and loving to them all the time without setting rules and boundaries leads to trouble. I've got spur scars on my legs and arms to prove it.

 

[tommysgirl]

I have a Pita Pinta pullet in a nest box today!!!!

Yay!!!!

My experiance with older broodies (silkies) is they can still decide to sit after henopause. They will lay 1 egg and sit . 5 years is a good like kudos to you and your banties!

I was just going to ask about that. That is good to know.

 

[Luvinmyhurd]

At this point I would make sure they are drinking the water. You might have to hand or tube feed them.

Green poo often means they are not eating and passing bile. Good luck sweetie .

Thank you! I took a dropper out there and gave my Buff Orp and Roo some. I'll continue as much as I can.

 

[chiqita]

Sometimes males will see something as a threat and go after it, and it does not become a habit. Sometimes it escalates and they become people aggressive. Some people have an absolutely no mistakes policy with their males - one strike and they're out. Others wait and see, if the bird has extra value. I tend to be that way and probably shouldn't.

There is something that I need to point out, about the behavior you mentioned above... the "dancing for you". Remember when you were here and my rooster did that? I actually wanted to give him a kick and send him flying, but I knew that you would think I was awful mean. So, I tolerated his treating me like a hen behavior, even though that's not a good idea. It made me worry that he was going to escalate to aggressive behavior on the visiting people that day.

Roosters need to understand that you are alpha human and not treat you, or other humans, like a hen. If they think of you as a hen, they are more likely to assert their dominance over you and other people. That means aggressive behavior.
So, any behavior that they would display toward other chickens should not be allowed toward people. In addition, it's a good idea to always have them walking away from you, before you walk away from them. In their mind, this helps build their respect of you as alpha. So, if they start doing the dance to you, walk toward them quickly and make them move away. That sends the message, that you are not a hen but a human and lessens the chance of a future attack.

I know, many of you are now thinking that I'm a cruel person who doesn't love my chickens. That's not true. I've been living with chickens a long time and, just like with dogs and kids, being sweet and loving to them all the time without setting rules and boundaries leads to trouble. I've got spur scars on my legs and arms to prove it.

Doing things to keep you from having to kill things isnt cruel. Ruthless compassion maybe.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Very nice!   Your girls must be very spoiled! 

Thanks! Yeah they get fairly spoiled. I gotta treat them right so they will treat me with eggs and chicks lol.

Very nice!

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 know I'm not going to spell this correctly, but search aspirilligosis. It's a fungal infection in the lungs caused by wet conditions.

 

[tommysgirl]

Sometimes males will see something as a threat and go after it, and it does not become a habit. Sometimes it escalates and they become people aggressive. Some people have an absolutely no mistakes policy with their males - one strike and they're out. Others wait and see, if the bird has extra value. I tend to be that way and probably shouldn't.

There is something that I need to point out, about the behavior you mentioned above... the "dancing for you". Remember when you were here and my rooster did that? I actually wanted to give him a kick and send him flying, but I knew that you would think I was awful mean. So, I tolerated his treating me like a hen behavior, even though that's not a good idea. It made me worry that he was going to escalate to aggressive behavior on the visiting people that day.

Roosters need to understand that you are alpha human and not treat you, or other humans, like a hen. If they think of you as a hen, they are more likely to assert their dominance over you and other people. That means aggressive behavior.
So, any behavior that they would display toward other chickens should not be allowed toward people. In addition, it's a good idea to always have them walking away from you, before you walk away from them. In their mind, this helps build their respect of you as alpha. So, if they start doing the dance to you, walk toward them quickly and make them move away. That sends the message, that you are not a hen but a human and lessens the chance of a future attack.

I know, many of you are now thinking that I'm a cruel person who doesn't love my chickens. That's not true. I've been living with chickens a long time and, just like with dogs and kids, being sweet and loving to them all the time without setting rules and boundaries leads to trouble. I've got spur scars on my legs and arms to prove it.

Thank you Kim! I learned from you that day and Ozzie and the General both are respectful of me as a human. I wouldn't have thought you were terrible for giving him a boot. I hope he hasn't escalated his bad manners. He was lovely...though I am easily swayed by a sharp dressed bird. Now you know that I whacked The Skipper you don't have to worry about asserting dominance over a rooster in front of me.

This is such good advice that I can apply to chicken raising in the future. Thank you. I appreciate it.

Don't know if it makes a difference but the dancing and treating happened late summer before he got his girls. The rushing came after. Did I go from being a hen to a threat in his eyes?

 

[Luvinmyhurd]

Very nice!
I know I'm not going to spell this correctly, but search aspirilligosis. It's a fungal infection in the lungs caused by wet conditions.

I looked it up. They haven't had any breathing problems...

What would I treat them with if I was going to?

 

[Robert Jordan]

Very nice!  I bought my DH a set of Dewalt cordless tools for Christmas!  He loves them and I'm looking forward to using them on our next chicken project! 

Thank you! I love the cordless package I picked up last night. Hated my Makita!

 

[Audio51]

Quote:

I do not think you are mean at all! I am a firm believer in getting the respect of animals fro the start. I am the same way with my dogs. They learn who is in charge from the beginning. They do not enter the house until I tell them they can. They are not allowed to go thru any doorways until I have gone thru.......in other wards, they know who the pack leader is.