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

[Beekissed]

Morning All,

I know there is the sick bird forum for this, but I wanted an answer from the OTs.

Yesterday evening I noticed one of my 12wk olds standing stock still out in the yard with her eyes closed. One minute she seemed fine, the next it is as if she had gone into a trance. I picked her up and she opened her eyes but didn't fight me. I let her sit there on my lap until all the others had gone in to roost then I took her in and placed her on the roost. I half expected to find her dead this morning but she came running right out with all the others when I opened the pop door to the run so they could come get breakfast. However, I noticed she ran over to one side of the run and while she is moving around a bit, she still acts a bit like she is in a trance and can't seem to fully open her eyes.

The have all been on fermented feed for over a month now. The feed is medicated, and they have a dry version inside free choice to nibble until I come down in the morning to feed them. They free-range from 10am until they put themselves to bed. ACV in the water, cayenne pepper on their feed, scratch thrown in the run for early morning fun before going out. The Chicken Shack is 'healthy clean' - deep litter with DE, roosts painted with burnt motor oil. I pick up at least 3 different chickens each day and inspect for mites of any kind and watch their poo - no sign of mites or worms at all. All the others appear healthy and strong, and so does she other than this 'trance' she appears to be in.

So, what do you think it is? Cull now, or wait and see how she does today? (Notice, taking her to the vet is NOT an option

)

Thanks so much.

I'd wait and watch....could be an eggbound issue. You could check for that, if possible.

 

[thedragonlady]

Anybody?

Ghee is really clarified butter that is used in Indian cooking. Once clarified the butter oil will keep unrefridgerated.

 

[Maven]

I'd wait and watch....could be an eggbound issue. You could check for that, if possible.

Morning Bee! I was hoping you would be on this morning and weigh in on this!

She's only 12wks old - could it be an egg issue already?

Well, since you said to wait and watch that is what I'll do. If Bee doesn't say 'cull immediately' that is good enough for me.

We have an auction to go to this morning so I'll go to that and see how she is when we get back.

Thanks bunches - have a great day!

 

[Back2MyRoots]

Got another question........

A "friend" (I use the term loosely) went to a local hatchery with me a couple of weeks back and bought 2 chicks when I bought 10. Very reputable small scale hatchery state licensed and also belongs to several breeders clubs.... lots of awards for his heritage rirs, rose combs doms and buff orps.

The "friend" said she "forgot" to leave the light on her two a couple of days after she brought them home and one froze to death. She felt bad for the other being lonely and offered it to me, so I took it---a little dominique roo. Well a couple of days later I noticed that his toes sort of curled to the side on one foot, but not too badly. But a few days after that, he was practically walking on just one toe. I read up on-line and found a way to brace and fix his foot. It's been a little over a week and his foot is almost normal again. (By the way, I totally understand why many would say cull because it is a HUGE PAIN to re-brace his foot every couple of days!) I also read that curled toes is usually caused by temperature fluctuation in the incubator or shortly after hatching. He is a super pretty little roo and I would love to keep him to breed with my little girls. Might be nice to have some heritage chicks this spring. BUT is the whole curled toes thing a sign of weakness? And can you breed brothers to sisters? Or will I get goofy little chicks with twitches or something?

 

[Beekissed]

Morning Bee! I was hoping you would be on this morning and weigh in on this!

She's only 12wks old - could it be an egg issue already?

Well, since you said to wait and watch that is what I'll do. If Bee doesn't say 'cull immediately' that is good enough for me.

We have an auction to go to this morning so I'll go to that and see how she is when we get back.

Thanks bunches - have a great day!

Nah...shouldn't be an egg thing at that age. Had one hen do this a long time ago....when I picked her up and held her, she went into a seizure and died. No reason, no other birds had any symptoms like it. Just happened for no apparent reason...and that's how it goes sometimes. Sometimes a bird just....goes. I hope she snaps out of it for you.


Quote:

From everything I've heard, the toe curling thing isn't or shouldn't be a genetic cause...but maybe a breeder can weigh in on that one? Never had that problem in any of my chicks.

You can breed brother to sister with chickens and you shouldn't get any bad results...happens all the time, since time began. Wouldn't advise it with humans though....

 

[Suzierd]

Morning All,

I know there is the sick bird forum for this, but I wanted an answer from the OTs.

Yesterday evening I noticed one of my 12wk olds standing stock still out in the yard with her eyes closed. One minute she seemed fine, the next it is as if she had gone into a trance. I picked her up and she opened her eyes but didn't fight me. I let her sit there on my lap until all the others had gone in to roost then I took her in and placed her on the roost. I half expected to find her dead this morning but she came running right out with all the others when I opened the pop door to the run so they could come get breakfast. However, I noticed she ran over to one side of the run and while she is moving around a bit, she still acts a bit like she is in a trance and can't seem to fully open her eyes.

The have all been on fermented feed for over a month now. The feed is medicated, and they have a dry version inside free choice to nibble until I come down in the morning to feed them. They free-range from 10am until they put themselves to bed. ACV in the water, cayenne pepper on their feed, scratch thrown in the run for early morning fun before going out. The Chicken Shack is 'healthy clean' - deep litter with DE, roosts painted with burnt motor oil. I pick up at least 3 different chickens each day and inspect for mites of any kind and watch their poo - no sign of mites or worms at all. All the others appear healthy and strong, and so does she other than this 'trance' she appears to be in.

So, what do you think it is? Cull now, or wait and see how she does today? (Notice, taking her to the vet is NOT an option )

Thanks so much.

I would get some Corid in her, sounds like Coccidia.

 

[Beekissed]

I'm seriously doubting that. The ACV and the feed she is on is creating a bowel environment that isn't really conducive to cocci overgrowth.

 

[Back2MyRoots]

You can breed brother to sister with chickens and you shouldn't get any bad results...happens all the time, since time began. Wouldn't advise it with humans though....

*giggle fit*

I was just wondering..... I know some folks that I swear must have parents from the same family tree.......

 

[WalkingWolf1]

I also read that curled toes is usually caused by temperature fluctuation in the incubator or shortly after hatching.

I've had more "curled toes" when I have eggs that hatch early (ie. temp was a bit too high). Very few, if any, toe issues when the hatching stays on time.

 

[normanack]

She is absolutely lovely!!! What a pretty chicken! If you can fence her off inside the coop, I'd go ahead. It would still give her time with the youngster without the other hens sticking their nosy beaks into it. If you want to move her, it doesn't matter if you move her with the chick inside the shell or outside the shell...I've done both and it works out just fine.

Next time she goes broody? Load that hen up! Get more babies for all that brooding....

Ah well. On days 19 and 20 I thought I heard a faint clicking inside the egg -- couldn't be sure as the hens were being noisy.

Nothing last night on day 21.

Nothing early this morning on day 22. Hen still sticking to the nest.

Midmorning day 22: coops smells awful. Half an eggshell on the floor with a thin smear of green goo on it. And that's it. No eggtopsy, no clean-up, all has been done by the hens, who were thoughtful enough to leave just a bit of evidence to let me know what happened.

My broody is still sitting on the nest. Should I leave her there? Shoo her out? Take away the box? I don't want to interfere if I don't have to, but I don't want her to sit inside indefinitely instead of spending her days outside being a chicken.

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