California - Northern

[casportpony]

I think it can take a week or more to test for mycoplasma.

-Kathy

 

[ronott1]

Thanks guys. I will put "companion animal" under "Production Class" and leave the rest blank. I'm getting everything done and ready tonight so that I'm not scrambling to do it tomorrow. I expect I can pay my vet to box up the sample for me with a cold pack, but if not I'm prepared to do it myself. Just went to the FedEx store and Walmart, got two ice packs and a box to ship in, and tomorrow I will line it with the foam core if the vet isn't able to box up the blood for me. Don't want to cut up my foam core board unless I need to. But I now have all the supplies I need to ship, and the ice packs are in the freezer so they'll be ready to go tomorrow if necessary. I'm prepared! And very, very nervous. How long does it usually take the results once they receive the blood?

It is hard to say with a blood sample. They will likely have to grow a culture from it.

Normal Necropsy gets an initial report after a couple of days and a final a week later.

 

[AlpineButterfly]

Hello all! It has taken a long time to try to catch up, and I still only skimmed the last 2000 or so posts... was away from home most of May, and way too busy to keep up. There were things that I wanted to comment on... but it would take too long to figure out how to quote a post I just have a vague memory of. So instead, you get a rambling reply to "California-Northern" in general.

I was in Santa Barbara for 3+ weeks. I think someone else on this thread was talking about SB... maybe a new person? (Welcome, all the new people on this thread!) Or maybe someone else went down there too? Anyway, Santa Barbara! I like Santa Barbara! I grew up there, but moved up to the bay area after college for more job options. Anyway, I was in SB because my sister had a baby! I'm so excited about my new niece!

Some of you at Karen's Party may have seen my other niece (3.5 years old)... she's the one who could only be enticed out of the pool to have cotton candy, snow cone, and popcorn. I'm sorry I didn't really get to talk to people there. We were able to make it to the party only because I needed to come back home to check on my chickens and file Violet's cross-beak. My housemate was taking care of the chickens in general, but it's really too much to ask to also deal with special needs. I'm sorry to everyone who has had losses and illnesses recently!

Apparently my chickens were not entirely well-behaved while I was gone. They were let out to wander the yard sometimes, as usual. And on hot days, the run was hosed down. Elanor must have decided she was going to take matters into her own wings, and went for a dip in the pool one day. I guess she managed to get herself out, and didn't need extra drying. Both Edith and Mary went through some broody spells, and currently Sybil and Elanor are really hoping some of those pine shavings will hatch. Although my girls don't have any... Congratulations to everyone with new fuzz buckets!

Bantam eggs... I think someone was talking about blowing out eggs because they are so cute! I only have bantams, and it took me a long time to stop saving shells. I have two shadowboxes and an Easter basket on display, and have given others as gifts. I just recently decided I don't have to weigh and record every adorable egg, after about 400 data points. But speaking of weighing... Kathy, I am so glad I am not the only one who weighs her birds. Sometimes I feel like I am being silly, but I use the time to snuggle each one of them, and check for health issues.

Here's a log graph of my girls so far... you can see who likes to go broody:


I signed up for the Silicon Valley Tour de Coop this year. I had a great time biking around last year and visiting local backyard coops, and it was fun talking to all the people who were just like me! I got sort of behind on planting a garden (in the front yard) this year, but the fruit trees are doing well... pluots, nectarines, apples, and avocados all coming in! I hope the squirrels don't get them all before they are ripe. The chickens are helping with the compost, although we still have a bin also. Our compost worms died, but my mealworms seem to be doing well. I keep thinking I want bees, but then I realize it is much easier to call up my friends with bees and offer to help in honey harvest! My favorite part is using the hot-knife to cut off the caps, but spinning honey out of frames is a close second. I can do without the coveralls taped at wrists and ankles and the bee hat. Someone else can deal with calming the bees down while dismantling their house.

Speaking of coops... Good job, Chris, on the fancy new coop you built! And who was it who used extra garage doors as building materials? My run was built with spare lumber we already had, and the poultry nipple watering system is all random short PVC pipe bits we seem to accumulate. Some might say we are packrats... but it's so useful when you come up with a project! Debi, I want to learn how to build a PVC feeder! I was poking around the material we have, but I don't think I have what I would need... I'll have to do more research about what could work!

Ok, other references...
Ursula Vernon! We have all the Digger volumes, and some art of hers on the wall (it's a capybara though, not a steampunk cyber-rooster).
Lord of the Rings! "Hen's Deep"! "The One chicken Ring"! LOL
Hyperbole and a Half! Clean ALL the things! ("Set all the eggs!")

Alright, I need to work on dinner. It's the first weekend I've been home in a month and a half, and did a lot of chicken chores, gardening, errands, etc. Hungry now!

 

[BCollie]

Thanks, Ron.

Good news, I have an adoption appointment for the foster dog that I've had for 6 weeks now! Nice guy with a thick southern accent, he calls me "ma'am". I hope this goes well for Dallas, he deserves a forever home. And after he's gone I can start letting the chickens free range more often - he occasionally likes to chase them so I don't let them out into the dog yard all that often right now.

 

[BCollie]

Welcome back, @AlpineButterfly !

 

[SpringPeeper]

Thanks, Ron.

Good news, I have an adoption appointment for the foster dog that I've had for 6 weeks now! Nice guy with a thick southern accent, he calls me "ma'am". I hope this goes well for Dallas, he deserves a forever home. And after he's gone I can start letting the chickens free range more often - he occasionally likes to chase them so I don't let them out into the dog yard all that often right now.

Fingers crossed for this handsome boy!

 

[caychris]

I let the buffs into the run this morning and the Del's chased them all over. I think the only one who didnt joing in was Clara.

One of the buffs likes to be a lap chicken so she was easy to rescue from the others. This was the most aggressive I think Ive seen the dels with them. Of course this is only thier 3rd day in the new place so I think they are just a bit off. They still have not got the hang of going into the new coop. Came home late last night and didnt see the dels but could hear a few wimpers. Looked in the coop and there were no chickens. Couldnt see them in the run either. I though maybe someone had stolen them for a minute till I found them all huddled between the wall and the old coop. We picked them up and put them in the coop and they shuffled off to pile into the nest box. I was a little worried that they may have hurt one of themselves last night because they were all piled on each other in a little space but they seem ok. I guess they need more time separate to get used to each other and forget that the buffs are occupying thier old home.

 

[BCollie]

I let the buffs into the run this morning and the Del's chased them all over. I think the only one who didnt joing in was Clara.

One of the buffs likes to be a lap chicken so she was easy to rescue from the others. This was the most aggressive I think Ive seen the dels with them. Of course this is only thier 3rd day in the new place so I think they are just a bit off. They still have not got the hang of going into the new coop. Came home late last night and didnt see the dels but could hear a few wimpers. Looked in the coop and there were no chickens. Couldnt see them in the run either. I though maybe someone had stolen them for a minute till I found them all huddled between the wall and the old coop. We picked them up and put them in the coop and they shuffled off to pile into the nest box. I was a little worried that they may have hurt one of themselves last night because they were all piled on each other in a little space but they seem ok. I guess they need more time separate to get used to each other and forget that the buffs are occupying thier old home.

Have you locked them into the coop for a few days? As long as it's not too hot that is recommended as it teaches them that it's their new home.

 

[ronott1]

I let the buffs into the run this morning and the Del's chased them all over. I think the only one who didnt joing in was Clara.

One of the buffs likes to be a lap chicken so she was easy to rescue from the others. This was the most aggressive I think Ive seen the dels with them. Of course this is only thier 3rd day in the new place so I think they are just a bit off. They still have not got the hang of going into the new coop. Came home late last night and didnt see the dels but could hear a few wimpers. Looked in the coop and there were no chickens. Couldnt see them in the run either. I though maybe someone had stolen them for a minute till I found them all huddled between the wall and the old coop. We picked them up and put them in the coop and they shuffled off to pile into the nest box. I was a little worried that they may have hurt one of themselves last night because they were all piled on each other in a little space but they seem ok. I guess they need more time separate to get used to each other and forget that the buffs are occupying thier old home.

Keep trying to put them together. It can take time--sometimes two weeks for them to become a flock. I have Penes, rocks, reds, lorps, EEs, Dorkings, Barneveldners and have had the Amelias in with the layer flock. Oh yes, Bresse too. They all get along eventually.

 

[caychris]

Have you locked them into the coop for a few days? As long as it's not too hot that is recommended as it teaches them that it's their new home.

Its too hot her but i locked them in the first night. I think the ramp may be a bit steep for them I need to add more grip pads.