CHICKEN SWAPS OF NH SWAP LISTINGS

[MeandSpoof]

After purchasing our first 4 hens NPIP tested we chose not to add non tested birds to our flock for just that reason. As you state, tested birds are healthy birds and we didn't and won't take the chance on non tested birds. We love our girls and boy, and want them to stay healthy just like all the members of our household. Thanks for the clarification and may you have good sales at the swap.

 

[nhnanna]

You are so welcome and also

.
There are a lot of good people with good information on here.
We are glad you found us.

 

[Sue1137]

Will someone be there this weekend at the swap that will have laying hens 6 to 12 months old??

 

[Narragansett]

Yes, it is always a big help when people bring their pet taxies or containers.
I just thought I would let people know why there aren't mature hens available unless they have bands on them. It is actually for everyones benefit. Atleast they know they are getting healthy birds. We have ours tested every year for that reason.

Does that mean that none of the waterfowl are healthy, because they're not tested?

It's actually a common misperception that "testing", which varies by state, always indicates healthy birds. In fact, the "testing" as done in most states, looks for only two or three at most, out of all of the many diseases that are known in poultry.

 

[keesmom]

Does that mean that none of the waterfowl are healthy, because they're not tested?

It's actually a common misperception that "testing", which varies by state, always indicates healthy birds. In fact, the "testing" as done in most states, looks for only two or three at most, out of all of the many diseases that are known in poultry.

Quite true. NH, and many other states, only test for avian influenza and pullorum. They do not look for mycoplasma - cause of CRD, cholera, pasturella, coccid, Marek's, or if a bird is a carrier for ILT, coryza, and the list goes on.

That is why buyers should quarantine any new birds for a minimum of 30 days, whether they're tested, untested or even hatchery chicks.

 

[DraigAthar]

Is anyone else in NH having losses of younger birds to sour crop? I lost two cockerels over the weekend, both 10-11 weeks old. The only real symptoms they had were soup crop (foul breath, squishy, balloon-like crop) and general lethargy. They both died within 24 hours of me noticing symptoms. I have one other cockerel that has been acting lethargic but is still eating and plugging along normally otherwise. He hasn't developed the foul smelling breath or squishy crop like the other two, but he hasn't gone back to energetic behavior yet either. I was so upset, I was convinced that somehow I've been a terrible birdy-momma. I went around scrubbing the heck out of every feeder and waterer, and changing the bedding, and watching all the other younguns for symptoms. I haven't lost any more since that first two, but I was feeling so bad. Then I just happened to be talking to a woman at the store down the road who also keeps chickens. I told her about the sour crop, and she looked stunned for a moment, then told me that one of her other customers told the exact same story earlier today. So now I wonder what could be going around that causes sour crop? Or, could it be a feed contaminant, since most people in my immediate area probably buy feed from the same place? Or could it somehow be weather related, since we had a streak of unseasonably warm followed by cold and wet? It's a mystery to me, so I thought I'd ask if any of you are having similar problems!

 

[puglady]

I have two big ladies in isolation tonight with what sounds like congestion. None of the others have it and I've picked them all up to listen. Hot days, and then rain, rain and more rain. I understand that chickens don't get "colds" but.... I'll be cleaning all coops 1st thing in the AM. I replaced bedding 2x last week so the coops were clean, waterers and food containers were scrubbed as well. They were out there "free ranging" getting soaked even though shelter was available (raised coop and the coop door is open during the day for them). Hoping that once it warms up again later in the week it'll help as well. I've got some VetRX coming and will see if it clears up. If not I may need to step it up to antibiotics. Fingers crossed.

 

[Cowgirlup22]

looking for some ducks... please PM me if anyone has any they are looking to selll..... open to any breed

 

[vnsseed]

Is anyone else in NH having losses of younger birds to sour crop? I lost two cockerels over the weekend, both 10-11 weeks old. The only real symptoms they had were soup crop (foul breath, squishy, balloon-like crop) and general lethargy. They both died within 24 hours of me noticing symptoms. I have one other cockerel that has been acting lethargic but is still eating and plugging along normally otherwise. He hasn't developed the foul smelling breath or squishy crop like the other two, but he hasn't gone back to energetic behavior yet either. I was so upset, I was convinced that somehow I've been a terrible birdy-momma. I went around scrubbing the heck out of every feeder and waterer, and changing the bedding, and watching all the other younguns for symptoms. I haven't lost any more since that first two, but I was feeling so bad. Then I just happened to be talking to a woman at the store down the road who also keeps chickens. I told her about the sour crop, and she looked stunned for a moment, then told me that one of her other customers told the exact same story earlier today. So now I wonder what could be going around that causes sour crop? Or, could it be a feed contaminant, since most people in my immediate area probably buy feed from the same place? Or could it somehow be weather related, since we had a streak of unseasonably warm followed by cold and wet? It's a mystery to me, so I thought I'd ask if any of you are having similar problems!

I have not seen sour crop because of feed issues. Here is the best advice I have seen online for sour or impacted crop:
http://poultry.allotment.org.uk/advice/chicken-health/sour-crop

 

[DraigAthar]

Yes, I'm familiar with that link and the information in it. I did all of that to help the second one that died (the first one was my sentinel, his death seemed sudden and when I examined him he had the sour crop symptoms, but he was gone before I could try to help). The second one had the symptoms in the middle of the day Sunday, and in the evening I emptied his crop. He perked up quite a bit and I was hopeful. In the morning he was dead. It moved very fast, from symptoms to death.