California - Northern

[PetRock]

Hey, Kelly! Since you are our Wellsummer expert on this thread, I have some questions for you. How often do yours go broody? Are they known for that? I have 3 Wellsummer pullets that are just 1 yr old. 2 of the three have been broody. The first one was great at sitting just not good at keeping others out of her nest or getting back on the correct nest after she was booted. None of her eggs hatched so I slipped a couple of newly hatched chicks under her and she and my CL mix Trinket are co-mothering 6 chicks. I wouldn't say that she is the best mother but between the 2 hens, the chicks are doing fine. My second one has been faithfully sitting on a ceramic egg for the past 7-10 days. I'm hesitant to give her fertile eggs because the other girls are laying in her nest. She does get back on the correct one unless my head hen and her two babies take it over. I don't have a place to separate her right now but maybe I should work on that. I could give her a couple newly hatched chicks. I miss getting their dark eggs and was wondering if broodiness is a breed characteristic of Wellies.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Hey, Kelly! Since you are our Wellsummer expert on this thread, I have some questions for you. How often do yours go broody? Are they known for that? I have 3 Wellsummer pullets that are just 1 yr old. 2 of the three have been broody. The first one was great at sitting just not good at keeping others out of her nest or getting back on the correct nest after she was booted. None of her eggs hatched so I slipped a couple of newly hatched chicks under her and she and my CL mix Trinket are co-mothering 6 chicks. I wouldn't say that she is the best mother but between the 2 hens, the chicks are doing fine. My second one has been faithfully sitting on a ceramic egg for the past 7-10 days. I'm hesitant to give her fertile eggs because the other girls are laying in her nest. She does get back on the correct one unless my head hen and her two babies take it over. I don't have a place to separate her right now but maybe I should work on that. I could give her a couple newly hatched chicks. I miss getting their dark eggs and was wondering if broodiness is a breed characteristic of Wellies.

Wellies are not supposed to be a broody breed, and many say they do not make good mothers. With that said, I have had 1 hen go broody twice. The first time, she was not the greatest sitter (would switch nests), but she was great with the one chick she hatched out. The 2nd time she was much better. I'm going to remove this hen from my breeding because I do not want broody welsummers. (I have other hens for that)

 

[InWrongCentury]

They sleep a lot at first.  If she's eating and drinking, I wouldn't worry too much.  She isn't panting? (beak open and neck pulsating)  If so, they are too hot.

No panting, just a little bulge on the right side of chest that feels... Sproingy. None of the other chicks feel similar. I'm trying not to handle her too much to avoid stressing her out.

I have to go to work, but I'll check on her at lunch time.

 

[Audio51]

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[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
That is normal, that is the crop. She's eating well.

 

[casportpony]

Hope you know that I'm not saying it *is* worms or Marek's. Many other things it could be, but I just a made a guess as to what I thought it could be based on my experiences and the symptoms you described. Worms are easy enough to treat for with the right amount of the right wormer. Most bacterial infections are treatable is caught soon enough.

-Kathy

Wouldn't mareks have the stumbling, not able to walk well? No experience, but I've seen videos.

If they have the neural form, yes, but just the visceral form form, no. Just the visceral form you would expect to see wasting and death from tumors on the organs.

-Kathy

 

[Audio51]

My little Cream Legbar girl is getting so big!! Tonight will be her second night outside.

How cute! I think this breed looks more like a prehistoric bird thtn any other I have seen!

I had an interesting morning yesterday. I heard our dog barking in the backyard at 8:30am, i looked to see what he was barking at & i see a yellow fluff ball. I go out for closer inspection - it‘s a canada goose gosling, maybe a day or 2 old. Seemed healthy & unharmed. I spent the morning looking for any sign of the rest of the family with no luck. We are waaaaaaay out in the country and there are lots of nesting wild ducks and occasionally geese but all at least 1/2 mile away. I ended up taking it to a rehab facility in the afternoon. We were starting to imprint on each other. I had no idea how cute, soft, & charming baby geese are. Had to keep reminding myself that they grow into stinky poo machines. Plus, my hubby was giving me "the look" - no dear, you can't keep it. >:[

How fun! And a mystery to boot! I wonder if you will eve br able to figure out where it came from. How were you able to figure out the specific goose breed? DO you have neighbords who might have geese with babies? I know some of the softer mouthed dog breeds (retrievers, etc) will sometimes carry babies away without hurting them. I wounder if someone brought you a gift..

Alright new symptoms, 1. this is gross but i did a home necropsy and founda tiny piece of metal in his i forget what its called, the hard organ that holds rocks. and there was a weird white spot on his heart.
also his beak has a metalish tint maybe from death tho.
and the roo i have that lives away from everyone else has the same colored poo as the ee did.
idk how to post the graphic thing so sorry

NIkki....I hope someone is able to help you figure out the problems. I would definitley suggest sending it off to Davis next time though. They will figure it out for you and you would likely know for sure what killed it instead of having to guess.

 

[casportpony]

Wouldn't mareks have the stumbling, not able to walk well? No experience, but I've seen videos.

I lost a 2 yr old hen to Mareks a couple years ago.  She had been vaccinated at the hatchery and showed none of the typical Mareks symptoms.  She just stopped eating and faded away.  Within a week, she was dead.  I sent her to Davis and the results were Mareks tumors.  

I did a necropsy on one like that and I sure was surprised by the number of tumors all over the inside of him. Mine also had Marek's eyes, so I'm just assuming he died from the visceral form. He was three years old and not vaccinated.

-Kathy

 

[EZFarms]

I plan on sendinf it off next timr. i think it was heavy metal poisoning though from what i found

 

[InWrongCentury]

That is normal, that is the crop.  She's eating well.

Thanks for the response and advice! I used to foster infant kittens, and they would just go downhill so very very fast, I think it's made me rather paranoid about baby things in general. I hate to think how I'll be when I have a child of my own someday.

I'll keep an eye out for a good poop, and her continuing to eat and drink. Thanks again!!