Chickens for 10-20 years or more? Pull up a rockin' chair and lay some wisdom on us!

[babymakes6]

I thought this post needed both of these smileys!

 

[Beekissed]

WOW! If a redtail had plucked my hat off, I'd tell that one over and over....that kind of stuff just rarely ever happens to me. I did find a loon stranded on the road once and I thought I had landed in the middle of Nat Geowild, as they aren't your typical bird in our area.

Great posts! I agree with everything stated, particularly about the too fat chickens. A leaner bird is a better layer in the long run...just like us fat gals, fat hens tend to develop ovulation problems.

 

[polloprincess2]

OT Advice please. I have a 6 month old Dominique pullet that is jaundice looking. Her comb and wattle are pale, and her skin looks yellow. Her vent is yellow as well. She is eating and drinking but, usually stands around slightly puffed up. She does not feel thin but, is not as vibrant as the others. I do not use any chemicals so she has not been wormed. I use ACV in their water and DE in the coop and run. Is there anything I can do? Or should I just cull her for possible liver failure? Thanks.

 

[flocksalot]

OT Advice please. I have a 6 month old Dominique pullet that is jaundice looking. Her comb and wattle are pale, and her skin looks yellow. Her vent is yellow as well. She is eating and drinking but, usually stands around slightly puffed up. She does not feel thin but, is not as vibrant as the others. I do not use any chemicals so she has not been wormed. I use ACV in their water and DE in the coop and run. Is there anything I can do? Or should I just cull her for possible liver failure? Thanks.

I might think it's Lymphoid Leukosis

Here's a link for further research. It is somewhat contagious.

http://fowlfacts.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=afflictiondiseaseff&action=display&thread=1407

 

[polloprincess2]

Just wonder why you think it is that. This chicken has none of these symptoms. Symptoms:
In birds 16 weeks or older (especially those nearing maturity): depression, death
In birds over 6 months of age, death without symptoms or pale shrivelled comb, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and emaciation. Weakness; sometimes bluish comb, vent feathers spotted with white (urates) or green (bile); sometimes you can feel enlarged kidney, cloacal bursa, liver, or nodular tumors through skin.

She does have a pale comb but. not shriveled. No diarrhea, still eats, not emaciated yet. I will really check her over again tomorrow but, I am thinking she needs to be culled.

 

[flocksalot]

WOW! If a redtail had plucked my hat off, I'd tell that one over and over....that kind of stuff just rarely ever happens to me. I did find a loon stranded on the road once and I thought I had landed in the middle of Nat Geowild, as they aren't your typical bird in our area.

Great posts! I agree with everything stated, particularly about the too fat chickens. A leaner bird is a better layer in the long run...just like us fat gals, fat hens tend to develop ovulation problems.

Well my son went to school the next day and told everyone that a hawk stole my hat. He got to describe it in detail as he was sitting right next to me when it happened. He stole my thunder.

Our neighbor is friends with many of the teachers, administrators, and help staff and they hear all kinds of stories about us. He told everyone in town about the day he was sitting on his deck and a fox went running past and then about 70 of our chickens came charging after. When he called me to tell me my chickens were chasing a fox I just laughed and said "that's OK they'll eat most of it". I saw them go after it, but figured they would come home when they got out run or one got eaten. My neighbor is over a half a mile up a hill. Birds are just plum crazy around me.

Sadly by the time I got to town everyone had heard about my "fearless" (stupid) chickens. When someone at the grocery store asked me about it. I said I would run too if they came after me with blood lust. I walk with a cane, but I think I would RUN. Heck I might even be able to loose some fat myself. Hmmmm. So how do you get a chicken to chase you? Not that I would want to ovulate again. Ho no this bird is done with all that.

It's those Dark Cornish. They just want to eat everything they can forage. You would think there was no food in their feeders, but there is always some. Oh, and the fox never came back and our chicken count is the same every night. I love those Dark Cornish! Pretty and they pack a punch. They also make a great dinner. Something to think abour while choosing chickens.

 

[flocksalot]

Just wonder why you think it is that. This chicken has none of these symptoms. Symptoms:
In birds 16 weeks or older (especially those nearing maturity): depression, death
In birds over 6 months of age, death without symptoms or pale shrivelled comb, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and emaciation. Weakness; sometimes bluish comb, vent feathers spotted with white (urates) or green (bile); sometimes you can feel enlarged kidney, cloacal bursa, liver, or nodular tumors through skin.

She does have a pale comb but. not shriveled. No diarrhea, still eats, not emaciated yet. I will really check her over again tomorrow but, I am thinking she needs to be culled.

I guess the only time I have ever seen a chicken with pale comb and yellowed skin that is what it was diagnosed as. It was a long while ago and I haven't seen anything like it since, so maybe someone who has dealt with something that better matches your chickens symtoms will chime in. IDK.

You know your birds better than anyone else and you are the best expert as to what is and isn't right with your chickens. Me I have a chicken all pale in the comb and sitting with her feathers all puffed up I'm thinking I got me another broody and somebody threw her out of her nest. At least that's what I usually have.

Good luck!

 

[Beekissed]

Pollo, I agree. When trying to figure out what is wrong with an animal, I always review symptoms with the most common ailment or problem in mind instead of what contagious and horrible ailment it could be~usually it is just common causes. Contagious diseases never enter my mind and I must admit that I've never even researched chicken diseases. Wouldn't know the common symptoms of any of them....

From what you describe, this is probably a chicken I would cull.

 

[PtldChick]

It's those Dark Cornish. They just want to eat everything they can forage. You would think there was no food in their feeders, but there is always some. Oh, and the fox never came back and our chicken count is the same every night. I love those Dark Cornish! Pretty and they pack a punch. They also make a great dinner. Something to think abour while choosing chickens.

I don't have any dark or LF cornish, but I do have one WLR banty. She is so solid! If the LF ones are like that, too, I can see why they are a meat chicken of choice. Heck, I'd be scared of 70 of those chasing me - 500 lbs of chicken with 70 beaks and 560 claws...sounds like a godzilla movie or something. The pictures I have seen of them sure have the stink-eye, too.

 

[galanie]

Nothing useful to add but it just slays me how often I read Symptom: Death - when looking at chicken diseases. How very useful.