Canadians check in here....

[chickcrack]

Several of my 3 year olds and some 1 year olds are from Freys as well. The barred rocks there, while beautiful, I have found to be targets for predators and aren't very bright. I like the Columbian Rocks the most from there but I have some of all of them pretty much. I have had a few clutches born from hens as well and then the rest were stupidly...auction finds (I was dumb and didnt know better

).
I have had more than my share of heartache and unfortunately rifht now have something mysterious going on with a hen and have to go to the University vet tomorrow to figure it out. So rewarding yet so difficult. ..my fiance is rather patient but must think I am nuts by now!!

Oh my boyfriend thinks I'm nuts...but he also loves them, knows all their names and almost cried when he saw me carrying a dead bird to him to bury. He thought it was his fav for a few moments. He has grown some patience with my chicken hospital in the basement lol! I let my two banty girls hatch last summer. And did the incubator thing once with their eggs. Very rewarding experience. My banty "Little" has been trying to hide eggs lately but not sure yet that I want to deal with integrating these little Cochin's in while dealing with a crazed little momma. I have had 3 barred rocks taken by coyotes in broad daylight. And 4 others die from reproductive issues. I have one more 3 year old that hasn't laid in 3 months and is showing same signs of swollen belly and beginning to waddle. I really do love them tho. They have huge personalities.

 

[Woobsie]

So interesting you say that. Last week I had a water belly hen (ascites) that I drained. Shes recovered very well but I drained out probably 700 mls. I have another with no water belly but seems to be on the downhill road and my fears are egg yolk peritonitis. What reproductive issue exactly did you pin point? Seems like the hatchery hens are set up to fail with high productivity in the early years. Unfortunate

 

[chickcrack]

Yes I would like to avoid hatchery now if I can after this experience. I have read a lot of threads by speckled hen about the same issues. I had a neighbour do a necropsy on one bird (because I didn't have the guts to) and there was a massive solid tumor filling her abdomen. That girl had only laid normal eggs for about 2 months. Then started laying tiny eggs or eggs with a flat side for another 4 months then stopped altogether. She would sit in the nesting box for hours a day because she felt like she had to lay I guess. She was first I took to a vet (only one I could find to see her was an exotic bird vet but she also raises chickens). She x-rayed and her abdomen was a solid white mass...couldn't identify most organs as they weren't where they were supposed to be. I brought her home and decided to just let her live life as long as she seemed to enjoy it. Boyfriend ended up putting her out of her misery not long after. I can't say all mine have had this same issue. But they all seem to be reproductive related.
I have found a couple of heritage breed breeders around here that I'd like to start learning more about. Just because they breed birds doesn't mean they breed for health and strength I'm guessing. I bought my Cochin's from a breeder but in conversation with him I think he bred what was popular and he felt would sell well. They hen that you drained...did her abdomen feel really hard or squishy with all that liquid? Just curious what to watch for.

 

[redfish]

Does anyone know where to get some American Game Fowl?

 

[chickcrack]

Does anyone know where to get some American Game Fowl?

Sorry redfish I don't.

 

[uncertainty]

Hello Woobsie;

It's a small world. Long ago I lived in Byron and worked in Ilderton. My daughter-in-law grew up on a farm outside of Arva. What is the current status of the Arva Flour Mill? It is such a cool place, a lovely example of living, working history. I would be a shame if the government forced them to close.

 

[Woobsie]

I think right now only the owner can work in the mill but the MPs and MPP is working with them to get them back up and running quickly. A shame really!! They have all the local government support it is just bigger guys I guess

 

[Woobsie]

It was literally like a big warm squishy water balloon with like 1L or more of liquid in it. She couldnt even walk!! I caught it the first day in the afternoon, thank god, and drained her that night even though the vet said he wouldnt because it would likely cause her to go into shock. But after reading enough on here about ascites I decided I had to do most of it because her breathing was very laboured. I took 700mL out and then once she was back in her cage on a towel she was able to stand and all the reat just dripped out overnight. There had to have been another couple cups because the towel was half soaked! I was worried but she started looking better. This was Friday. Today shes 90% back to normal. She even came running to me today for some watermelom and apple!!!thankfully I looked up other people's experiences and found it was probably the bwst thing to do. Tosay I went to the University of Guelph because I cannot figure out what was wrong with the other hen that mysteriously got ill around the same time. I was convinced it was egg yolk peritonitis or another reproductive issue but they did an ultrasound and found she looks totally normal internally! Her bloodwork indicates an infection though and ill find out more this week when results come back. In the meantime they gave me a better oral antibiotic. I truly wanted to rule out eyp or reproductive issues, worms, parasites etc. Could be viral but unlikely Mareks. Just driving me nuts not knowing. They were quite good today but previously not great..just depends how busy they are. Its going to be an expensive week with todays bill and now I have to get my front and rear brakes done tomorrow

fortunately seeing Martha happy and devouring food and running again makes it all worth it. Yes I am nuts for my pet chickens. Lol!!!
Ps you have a good man there! I have to cull birds myself...he can't even watch me do it. I hate it but someone's got to do it!! He will deal with the burial though. Lol

Yes I would like to avoid hatchery now if I can after this experience. I have read a lot of threads by speckled hen about the same issues. I had a neighbour do a necropsy on one bird (because I didn't have the guts to) and there was a massive solid tumor filling her abdomen. That girl had only laid normal eggs for about 2 months. Then started laying tiny eggs or eggs with a flat side for another 4 months then stopped altogether. She would sit in the nesting box for hours a day because she felt like she had to lay I guess. She was first I took to a vet (only one I could find to see her was an exotic bird vet but she also raises chickens). She x-rayed and her abdomen was a solid white mass...couldn't identify most organs as they weren't where they were supposed to be. I brought her home and decided to just let her live life as long as she seemed to enjoy it. Boyfriend ended up putting her out of her misery not long after. I can't say all mine have had this same issue. But they all seem to be reproductive related.
I have found a couple of heritage breed breeders around here that I'd like to start learning more about. Just because they breed birds doesn't mean they breed for health and strength I'm guessing. I bought my Cochin's from a breeder but in conversation with him I think he bred what was popular and he felt would sell well. They hen that you drained...did her abdomen feel really hard or squishy with all that liquid? Just curious what to watch for.

 

[Woobsie]

Wanted to mention to you, apparently for $25 you can get any vet in Ontario to submit a dead bird to the University of G and they will do up to $300 worth of necropsy and tests on it so you can get a pretty thorough indication of what happened to a dead chicken. They are doing a study there on byc flocks.

 

[chickcrack]

Wanted to mention to you, apparently for $25 you can get any vet in Ontario to submit a dead bird to the University of G and they will do up to $300 worth of necropsy and tests on it so you can get a pretty thorough indication of what happened to a dead chicken. They are doing a study there on byc flocks.

Really? I had no idea! Thanks for letting us know that. I'm going to call my vet to make sure they know the process so I'm prepared for the next time. Sadly there's always a next time. Good for you drawing your hen. I have read about that in here and would do it if I was in that situation but would be scared as hell lol. I take a good teasing from my farmer neighbours for the lengths I go to try to help my ladies. Don't care. I lose it tho when I hear "it's just a chicken" or "chickens are cheap just go get another one" I spoke to the owner of my local feed mill today and she tells me Frey's is selling out of chicks like crazy this year. And their chick orders are way up. More and more people starting a backyard flock. Hopefully veterinary medicine starts to wake up to this trend. I hope you get some good news on your hen. Fingers crossed!