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

[delisha]

OK...I got curious and looked up this MG stuff. Ick. Here's a link with info for others not knowing about this poultry disease. From everything I'm reading, culling the whole flock is a good idea and NOT trying to hatch from the diseased flock is another great idea.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps034

I know you guys are going to roll your eyes and hit your forehead...but in further research on the gram negative coccoid bacterias when occurring in humans, the lack of healthy levels of lactobacillus was mentioned as something that was causative in the over growth of these types of bacteria. Particularly after the use of broad spectrum antibiotic usage, which kills the healthy flora in the mucosal lining.

Just a thought....

Bee,
I hope you understand most people are going to read your second paragraph and not understand it.(unless its just me)


When I read it, I am guessing it is saying:

Over use of antibiotics removes lactobacillus (healthy stuff).
MG shows the same thing is going on during testing

So using preventative measures like, ACV and FF will likely make your flock almost immune to diseases like MG, or at least less likely to get it?

This is the only thing I do not like about this sight. I now dream about chicken disease, and make people either spray their shoes or ware disposable booties when they come over.

In all of my years I never worried about diseases, never heard of them, never knew anyone who had flock issues except the *dirty* chicken farmer a few miles down the road. I attributed all the dead chickens piled on the top of the manure pile to poor feeding practices and dirty water.(small town gossip at the feed mil) I am a listening member.


Please let me know how off I am on my guess in nurse translation.

 

[Sally8]

For folks wanting to save money and have no smell in their coop, plus benefit from incredible good health in their flocks, increase laying and increased size of yolks the cost is practically nil...you can buy a bottle of mother vinegar at Krogers for around $2.50 and that's all.  That's it...no further costs.

You then use the mother vinegar to charge up some fermentation on the feed ration you are currently feeding and in short order you have a coop that has no smell.  Seriously.  None.  Used this on 50 CX this spring/summer and into 98* temps and 60% humidity levels and still no smell.  Confined the meaties to the coop for the final 2 wks...50 meaties in an 8x10 ft. coop for two weeks.  No smell whatsoever and in deep litter.  Didn't even have to even use much pine shavings throughout the whole 11 wks.  I think I used 3 bales total. 

Add to this the fact that I used about 1/3 to 1/2 the amount of feed that I would have normally used to finish out CX of this number and that adds up to considerable savings.  Didn't lose one bird to health or heat reasons..that adds more savings to the mix.  Less water usage, less feed consumption, no mess, no smell, good health.  There is no down side...for the price of a cup or two of vinegar. 

I'm still using the fermented feed and my coop still has no smell and very little moisture from feces...I'm actually dumping the dirty drinking water into my deep litter to increase the moisture there.  I can put my nose right down over poop on the roost and still not smell anything that resembles chicken poop...and, yes, I have done this.  I have a great sniffer and if I can't smell it, it ain't there.  The poop smells like...nothing.  Maybe a little like soil smells, if that. 

I'm not the only one enjoying the benefit of this very cheap method of feeding that saves money, increases health, eliminates smell in deep litter and makes chickens look like they are on high pro feeds...skip on over to the fermented feed thread and read all about it. 

I'm a gal who believes the glass is half empty.........but perked up when I saw that FF would cut my feed bill. They've been eating ff now for over a month. Not only are my eggs larger, but the poop doesn't smell and it is dryer and formed. Looks like my dog's poop and MY FEED BILL HAS BEEN CUT DRASTICALLY. Thanks.

 

[Beekissed]

You are not off, Delisha...sorry...got lost in research and vinegar dreams.

In other words, folks, flocks with healthy levels of beneficial bacteria and yeasts in their systems, a healthy immune system and a good pH level in their respiratory mucosa could avoid even contracting these types of bacterial infections. So, once again, I throw mother vinegar on the table as a possible preventative in managing all these nasty diseases in flocks.

Take it or leave it...makes no matter to me.

 

[Beekissed]

I'm a gal who believes the glass is half empty.........but perked up when I saw that FF would cut my feed bill. They've been eating ff now for over a month. Not only are my eggs larger, but the poop doesn't smell and it is dryer and formed. Looks like my dog's poop and MY FEED BILL HAS BEEN CUT DRASTICALLY. Thanks.

YW! Kind of tickles my whimsical side to know that one extra step in the feeding of the livestock can yield so much benefit and cost me nothing much at all..actually saves me a bunch. I know that takes all the fun out of it for folks who have elaborate feeding rituals that involve a lot of tweaking of feed rations but I tend to like simple and cheap and this method sure fits the bill for me.

Something so simple... big results. I can't imagine ever going back to feeding plain ol' dry rations.

 

[NikkiMiChickie]

I also feed FF, and am in love with it! It's made a huge difference in my feed bill, even raising chicks. And you're right, Bee: no smell! Well, the FF itself smells... Lol. I love to show visitors my "feed project" and watch them turn up their noses as the surprise smell underneath that cloth

 

[Beekissed]

Mine doesn't have much smell unless my nose is right over the bucket when I'm stirring or dipping some out. I keep it in my bedroom and I can't smell it at all as it's just sitting there in the bucket.

My bedroom stays pretty cool, so that could be the reason, but it wasn't smelling much when it was by the stove either. I think maybe by using the two bucket system most of the smell of the FF is located in that bottom bucket reservoir and can't escape much through the feed unless one stirs it. I also keep a lid on the bucket and it only has a thin crack open for air to escape.

Could all be factors in why my FF doesn't put out much odor...it's only opened once a day.

To me that smell isn't a bad smell but I can see where the uninitiated to pickled and fermented foods would turn up their noses at it.

 

[NanaKat]

I will be there Nana, gonna stay over either Friday night or Saturday night not sure which yet. I will be there by noon on Friday, is the old crew getting together for lunch or dinner at that Mezcan joint or anything I should know about???.

Haven't heard much on the OKIE thread about who is going or not, but I bet we can encourage a group to meet for lunch on Saturday for "Mezcan". Look forward to seeing you there.

 

[NanaKat]

I do not have MG in the flock.....Thank goodness! I was reading stuff on the internet and in the Gail Damerow book "The Chicken Health Handbook" and panicked at my own untrained diagnosis.
I have been in contact with a couple of other OT breeders in my area and the OT breeder/mentor where I have gotten many of my LF and OEGB birds.

They assure me that the symptoms I described are not MG but probably CRD because:
1) my birds did not develop the puffy swollen eye sockets that is characteristic of MG.
2) Some of the birds that died had no symptoms. MG symptoms are very noticeable.
3) the rooster pen attached to the main run has no symptoms at all.
4) I've never had any sign of this before in my flock. Some of my birds are more than 5 years of age.
5) The weird winter temperatures we are having right now has affected many of our local flocks with many different health issues. Even among birds that have not been exposed to wild birds because the breeder kept them inside to brood.

My birds do have a respiratory infection that is easily treatable with the Tylan 50 and an oxytetracycline medicated feed I will purchase on Monday. Then follow up with yogurt and probiotics to replenish the gut with good bacteria/flora.

When you have mycoplasma, it should be an all out. Keep what you have until they are all gone or cull the entire flock (It is what I would do). Do not introduce additional birds until the buildings have been sanitized. GM is pretty easy to get rid of. Simply removing the birds and exposing every thing to sunlight will kill it. As long as you have the birds you have, you will have MG.

It is non of my business, but are you seriously considering hatching more chicks at this time?

No, I won't be hatching more chicks in my current incubator. I've decided to get a Genesis incubator. Although I do have an OEGB broody sitting on 5 eggs in the brooder room.

Quote: Will definitely spend the time reading the thread for the information.

OK...I got curious and looked up this MG stuff. Ick. Here's a link with info for others not knowing about this poultry disease. From everything I'm reading, culling the whole flock is a good idea and NOT trying to hatch from the diseased flock is another great idea.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps034

I know you guys are going to roll your eyes and hit your forehead...but in further research on the gram negative coccoid bacterias when occurring in humans, the lack of healthy levels of lactobacillus was mentioned as something that was causative in the over growth of these types of bacteria. Particularly after the use of broad spectrum antibiotic usage, which kills the healthy flora in the mucosal lining.

Just a thought....

I had read that article earlier in the week... among many others....and had printed that one off to keep in my files. Any time I treat a bird or dog with an antibiotic, I give them probiotics and yogurt for that very reason.

I really appreciate the information shared by the OTs here and in my local area. While I've been at it many years, I find I still don't know it all.

 

[NanaKat]

MG more often than not will also get confussed and lost in translation with CRD, freaking out all but the most tenacious chicken folks. yes MG is terrible thing and liqudation in the burn pile of your entire flock is reccommended, even for the little cute banty hen's. CRD however can be treated successfully and may or may not pop up in acute cases every now and then when the humidity get's out of hand for a variety of reasons. Ok so let the barrage of links & articls begin for those who love that stuff.

Thank you Al. Chronic Respiratory Disease is what we believe my flock has instead of MG. As you know our winter in Oklahoma has been really weird with the two years of drought and these unseasonable warm humid days.

 

[Pozees]

NanaKat, just want to say how relieved I am that you don't have MG. WHEW!

Would you mind explaining why you have decided on a Genesis incubator? I am far from needing a 'bator, but would rather know well ahead what to look for.

Thanks!