California - Northern

[Flowers of Abba]

Mine have discovered the joy of Jerusalem crickets (which I *REALLY* didn't need to know I had in the yard). When they find one, they go bonkers.

Those are the creepiest bug . I should let my hens visit the wood pile just to rid it of those "weird geometrical bug" as dd puts it....

 

[dldolan]

@dldolan I just have to tell you that I am amazed with my chick's personalities, they are so friendly and smart! They see me coming and all crowd around the door and make a happy peeping noise

they are so cute. All but three have figured out how to get up the ramp into their coop where they sleep in a big pile on the floor. The Marans cockerels are going to be HUGE! I will get some pictures and upload them soon.

I'm so glad that you like them! I have found them to be a friendly, inquisitive, and fairly mellow breed, as a general rule. Good foragers, good layers, and once in a while, good mamas. And gorgeous! Full-grown roosters are pretty good sized.

 

[tommysgirl]

Rad,I'll check it out! I have Mendocino County Chicken Farmers on fb. New group.

I will check that out too Thanks

 

[HighStreetCoop]

Advice please: Two of the girls are shaking their heads. Not constantly, & not twitching, but like they're trying to shake something off. Should I treat for mites/lice? That's all Googling gets me.

 

[capayvalleychick]

OK...I finally got a gallon of Oxine and want to use it to clean out the hatcher so I can move the next batch over. I have been using diluted bleach and spraying it on with a spray bottle up to now, then rinsing after about 10 minutes. I did not get the activator. The directions on the bottle do not say how to use it for that. Can I do it the same way? Full strength or diluted? How long do I leave it on? Any other pertinent info?


Thanks in advance!

The distributor for Oxine is very good about discussing the product with customers. I've received answers to questions in less than a day when I've emailed them. Their directions are often contrary to what you find written by people who use the product. So, I always check with the company to make sure I'm using it correctly. Here's the link: http://www.revivalanimal.com/articles/how-to-use-oxine-ah.html

 

[capayvalleychick]

Advice please: Two of the girls are shaking their heads. Not constantly, & not twitching, but like they're trying to shake something off. Should I treat for mites/lice? That's all Googling gets me.

I don't know what causes the head shaking, but I see it briefly from time to time. I notice in shows that a lot of chickens do it. I wonder if they get water or crumbles up their nose?

I know crumbles was causing sneezing one time, which stopped when I switched to pellets.

Mites might be the issue. I know that I have found mites inside ears. So, I always take a q-tip with whatever treatment on it and swirl (gently) in the ear opening.

The other thing I found, which I never thought about, was the nostrils get packed full of dirt and crumbled feed. After a bath, I take a q-tip and gently clean the nostrils of the birds. I was amazed at how much debris gets stuck in there.

 

[casportpony]

Discalimer: I have not used the treatment below, but thought it might have some useful info.

. Brain injury is the cause I feel fairly certain about.

Water on the brain was seen in a necropsy of an affected bird in Florida. Prednisone (read on about different opinions on prednisone) was suggested as symptomatic relief and vitamin E and vitamins B complex are both good for neurological disorders. Selenium helps animals absorb vitamin E.

Here's what I do for affected birds. If started before symptoms get severe, the bird will usually totally recover.

The Most Important Treatment

It is important to be sure your bird gets enough to eat and drink while she has this problem. Birds with severe cases of crookneck can't eat and drink enough to survive. You will need to gently place their head in the feed dish and carefully dip just the tip of the beak in water. Be careful not to dip too far into the water and to not stress the bird while trying to help.

In severe cases, you will need to use a hand feeding syringe and hand rearing formula for cage birds. My boy Spot had to be hand fed for 2 months but he survived to father lots of healthy chicks.

If you and your bird are lucky, hand feeding and the vitamins will be all that is needed.

Giving Prednisone Must Not Be Abruptly Stopped

Before I present my treatment I need to mention that a couple vets have expressed concern about using prednisone. They suggested instead giving Celebrex or Metacam. They are also anti-inflammatory. I can understand their concern but I gradually reduce the dose and do not just one day stop giving prednisone. I have seen no adverse effects and prednisone is inexpensive while Celebrex and Metacam are expensive.

Many vets think prednisone OK and in fact is was prescribed for a bird of mine.

Veterinary Information on Prednisone

My Treatment for Crookneck

If started before symptoms get severe, the bird will totally recover. The following is for an adult about 2 pound bird. Scale back for smaller birds. Do not over do the selenium; it is toxic in large amounts. Animals are more tolerant of vitamin E especially and of vitamin B.

• For the first week I give
  • Once a day
    • About 1/4 piece of human vitamin B complex pill or a squirt of human B liquid vitamins
    • :25 micrograms selenium
  • Twice a day
    • 2.5 mg of prednisone
    • 400 IU of vitamin E
• For the second week I give
  • Once a day
    • 2.5 mg of prednisone
    • 400 IU of vitamin E
    • About 1/4 piece of human vitamin B complex pill or a squirt of human B liquid vitamins
  • Every other day
    • :25 micrograms selenium
• For the third and following weeks I give
  • Once a day
    • 2.5 mg of prednisone - less and less each day - none after third week
    • 400 IU of vitamin E
    • A piece of human vitamin B complex pill or a squirt of human liquid vitamins
  • Once a week
    • :25 micrograms selenium

Do not abruptly stop prednisone, the swelling rebounds. Decrease the dose gradually. Recovery can be slow; continue the vitamin E for several weeks at least.

You can get prednisone from a vet; just describe the problem of swelling in the brain probably due to injury. Yes Silkies' brains do stick out through a hole on the top of the skull. Print the pictures at Silkies Have a Hole in Their Head and show them to your vet.

Your vet might suggest a different anti inflammatory like Celebrex or Metacam.

You can get the vitamin E, selenium, and vitamin B complex or liquid vitamins at any pharmacy.

A Vet's Review of this Therapy

Diana Hedrick asked Janny Hermans, a poultry specialist in the Netherlands, to review this Therapy. Janny Hermans' reply is below. Janny Hermans warns about over doing the prednisone and agrees the vitamins E and B can also help. She does however address the possibility of poisoning causing the neurological problems. She suggests an antibiotic in case bacteria are the source of the poison.

Dear Diana,

I'll try to write English and I'm sure we'll understand each other. If you really found her on her back, that means she totally lost her balance. This is a severe neurological symptom and therefore I agree for a great deal with the article of Alan. I don't think your cat attacked her. Then you should see wounds on her head, if the symptoms are so bad.

It's more likely that she suffers from an intoxication of any kind. It's difficult how to react, because there are no real detoxification methods. Antibiotics are a good thing and I think your choice of amoxicillin was a right one. Amoxicillin passes the blood brain barrier and is our first choice antibiotic in Streptococcus or Staphylococcus infections in the brain. Amoxicillin also is the best antibiotic in an infection with Clostridium perfringens (a brother of the bacteria that causes botulism). These Clostridia bacteria all cause cramps or paralysis of muscles. The real problem is that these bacteria also produce toxins against which no therapy is possible.

So my therapy would be the same: Amoxicillin for a day or 7 and perhaps a little bit prednisone (I've never heard of the hole in Silkies brains, but prednisone causes no harm if you give it shortly). A little bit of vitamin E and B can help also.

I hope I helped you a bit!!

Janny Hermans Poultry veterinarian

-Kathy

 

[tj74roberts]

Just an update on my chickies...I started them on Corid last night. I accidentally gave them too much at first so I had to remake it a few hours later after I realized the dose was wrong. They are on medicated feed too so hopefully it will not be too much for them.

Today they seem a little sleepy compared to yesterday but still eating & drinking. They stuffed themselves yesterday after they got here and seem to be eating less today but they still seem to be eating. No more bloody poops. Some of them are eating the pine shavings. :-( I think I remember my chicks last year eating some of the pine shavings as well but they were ok.

My 3 year old has been with them ALL DAY.

A few pics:






A few you can totally tell are boys already, especially that black one.

 

[tj74roberts]

I have 2 bantam orpington pullets (chicks) that are 3 weeks old if you are interested. I have a few other chicks also that might be pullets but not sure yet. I am in Santa Clara, near San Jose.

 

[HighStreetCoop]

Advice please: Two of the girls are shaking their heads. Not constantly,

I don't know what causes the head shaking, but I see it briefly from time to time. I notice in shows that a lot of chickens do it. I wonder if they get water or crumbles up their nose?

I know crumbles was causing sneezing one time, which stopped when I switched to pellets.

Mites might be the issue. I know that I have found mites inside ears. So, I always take a q-tip with whatever treatment on it and swirl (gently) in the ear opening.

The other thing I found, which I never thought about, was the nostrils get packed full of dirt and crumbled feed. After a bath, I take a q-tip and gently clean the nostrils of the birds. I was amazed at how much debris gets stuck in there.

Thanks! I'll just keep an eye on them.