Cochin Thread!!!

[wildwoodcochins]

Quote:
I love your photo, what a beautiful bird.
Yes, I have had a problem not with bantam cochins but with silkies getting sour crop. I was told that scratch is like candy to chickens so we don't really use it anymore.
I know that it can be a good treat in the winter to help them stay warm but we don't get intense cold here in NC so I live with out the scratch now.

We feed flock raiser pellets because of the higher protein content and just to be cautious, I add oyster shell to it or keep it in a bowl for them to eat if desired. Someone always seems to be molting around here and the higher protein in the feed helps with feather re-growth. I think it helps to keep their feather nice too.
I feed similar nutritious treats as you and anything with seeds like cucumber, berries, fresh pumpkin, greens and watermelon this time of year.
I hope that this helps.
Posey

I love the roo in your avatar, he's beautiful~

 

[posey]

Quote:
I have done everything except the flushing. Here is what worked for me, several times. This info came from BYC but I forgot to save the original link info. These instructions are for sour crop but they worked for a full / impacted crop for me as well. I do think that witholding food for a bit is helpful - it gives the crop some time to begin to pass the contents through the chickens system. We did exactly as instructed, including the massage and had good sucess each time. Here is the info:

I suggest withholding all food except lots of water with ACV (4 tbsp to a quart of water) to let the crop try and empty - the acv is antifungal, antibiotic, and an anti yeast agent and will help kill any organism causing the issues - no sugars (molasses, honey, sugar, or fruit) sugar feeds the organisms that are growing in the crop. They are producing gas and the sour, rancid condition in her crop.

After 6 - 8 hours, of nothing but the ACV water, you can begin to feed her some bread soaked in olive oil, every couple hours. The oil makes things slippery and anything stuck can begin to move out. Continue with lots of water with acv.

Gently massage the crop without pushing upward (you could choke her).

Don't give her any other food but the oil and bread and acv water for at least a full 24 hours straight. The crop need to be completely empty and whatever organism that is living in there creating the problem needs to be killed off and pooped out.

Make sure she is on bedding that cannot be ingested. They will eat anything trying to get relief for themselves. After 24 hours check her crop and gently without pushing up massage the crop to help things move along. Massive gross poops are good. If the crop is still sour and smelly and gassy you can give her 1/4 tsp mylanta (plain flavor) to help settle the acids.

Don't give into temptation and give her anything else otherwise you are prolonging the issues and not healing them. If she gets hungry she will eat the oil and bread. She won't starve in 24 hours. After 24 hours of the oil, bread and water, then give her the wet feed - no fruit - the sugars will feed the problem.

Once the crop has emptied don't be too quick to start feeding her again. You have to give the crop a chance to heal and begin to function before you let her have a free diet.

Start off with the oil soaked bread; chicken pellets that have been wet and are mushy, a little yogurt and very finely mashed boiled egg. Cooked rice, yogurt, mashed boiled eggs. Only give soft, bland food that takes little effort to digest, this will give her crop the much needed time to heal and recover.

After 3 - 5 days slowly begin to introduce her regular food and a little grit to help it along.

If you feel corn in her crop I have to ask if you are feeding cracked corn or whole corn? Whole corn is very hard on them. Only cracked corn should be given to them as a treat. Corn is like chicken crack. It's candy and they will eat it and nothing else if given a chance.

Save the cracked corn as a treat. Also with winter coming corn in the evening takes a lot of work to digest and helps keep body temps up - much the same way we eat a carb loaded heavy meal for supper on winter evenings to keep ourselves warm and toasty. Don't withhold it completely. It can be a good thing in moderation.

From you post it wasn't clear if your roo has an impacted crop or one that has become sour, which is usually the second stage. There is other good information on this site about impacted and sour crops just do a search about them.

If you need more help or to talk just PM me.
Hoping this will help out.
Posey

 

[posey]

Quote:
I love your photo, what a beautiful bird.
Yes, I have had a problem not with bantam cochins but with silkies getting sour crop. I was told that scratch is like candy to chickens so we don't really use it anymore.
I know that it can be a good treat in the winter to help them stay warm but we don't get intense cold here in NC so I live with out the scratch now.

We feed flock raiser pellets because of the higher protein content and just to be cautious, I add oyster shell to it or keep it in a bowl for them to eat if desired. Someone always seems to be molting around here and the higher protein in the feed helps with feather re-growth. I think it helps to keep their feather nice too.
I feed similar nutritious treats as you and anything with seeds like cucumber, berries, fresh pumpkin, greens and watermelon this time of year.
I hope that this helps.
Posey

I love the roo in your avatar, he's beautiful~

Thanks. That is Cezanne my darling LF cochin rooster. I can't take any credit for his beauty or his lovely temperment because I got him from Amy of West Knoll Farm. I was fortunate enough to purchase the last of her large cochin stock, every one of them are precious to me. As much as most on this thread love the bantam, I love the giant cochins. Who wouldn't love a giant ball of fluff with gentle temperments?

I hope things begin to "move" for your beautiful little guy.

 

[rnorris1234]

I had a surprise hatch this morning! They're not due until Thursday, but I got my first chick from my mottled girl, Abigail Frizzypants. All of her eggs this spring were zero percent fertile. (I guess her pants may be too frizzy). Then she went broody FOREVER! Now she is laying regularly and fertility looks good, but this is the first to hatch.

 

[wildwoodcochins]

Quote:
I love the roo in your avatar, he's beautiful~

Thanks. That is Cezanne my darling LF cochin rooster. I can't take any credit for his beauty or his lovely temperment because I got him from Amy of West Knoll Farm. I was fortunate enough to purchase the last of her large cochin stock, every one of them are precious to me. As much as most on this thread love the bantam, I love the giant cochins. Who wouldn't love a giant ball of fluff with gentle temperments?

I hope things begin to "move" for your beautiful little guy.

Thank you so much, I guess I was at least on the right track by making sure he was taking in water with antibac meds and was also giving him mineral oil. Hopefully we'll get some relief for him soon~ I'll keep you posted.
This is Piccasso, My beautiful Birchen roo that's having the problem. I had his first chick hatch a few days ago~

 

[wildwoodcochins]

Quote:
Can't wait to see pictures! I haven't forgotten about your lemon blue eggs Robert, just been working and dealing with my sick roo~ I still want to get some eggs from you soon!

 

[thecochincoop]

Quote:
Thanks. That is Cezanne my darling LF cochin rooster. I can't take any credit for his beauty or his lovely temperment because I got him from Amy of West Knoll Farm. I was fortunate enough to purchase the last of her large cochin stock, every one of them are precious to me. As much as most on this thread love the bantam, I love the giant cochins. Who wouldn't love a giant ball of fluff with gentle temperments?

I hope things begin to "move" for your beautiful little guy.

Thank you so much, I guess I was at least on the right track by making sure he was taking in water with antibac meds and was also giving him mineral oil. Hopefully we'll get some relief for him soon~ I'll keep you posted.
This is Piccasso, My beautiful Birchen roo that's having the problem. I had his first chick hatch a few days ago~

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/67387_wwcm.jpg

very pretty pic, almost looks like a statue

 

[wildwoodcochins]

Quote:
Thank you so much, I guess I was at least on the right track by making sure he was taking in water with antibac meds and was also giving him mineral oil. Hopefully we'll get some relief for him soon~ I'll keep you posted.
This is Piccasso, My beautiful Birchen roo that's having the problem. I had his first chick hatch a few days ago~

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/67387_wwcm.jpg

very pretty pic, almost looks like a statue

Thanks~ He's a sweetheart too, I just hope I get him feeling better soon~

 

[posey]

Quote:
Thanks. That is Cezanne my darling LF cochin rooster. I can't take any credit for his beauty or his lovely temperment because I got him from Amy of West Knoll Farm. I was fortunate enough to purchase the last of her large cochin stock, every one of them are precious to me. As much as most on this thread love the bantam, I love the giant cochins. Who wouldn't love a giant ball of fluff with gentle temperments?

I hope things begin to "move" for your beautiful little guy.

Thank you so much, I guess I was at least on the right track by making sure he was taking in water with antibac meds and was also giving him mineral oil. Hopefully we'll get some relief for him soon~ I'll keep you posted.
This is Piccasso, My beautiful Birchen roo that's having the problem. I had his first chick hatch a few days ago~

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/67387_wwcm.jpg

Oh my gosh, he is gorgeous!!!! I just love birchen roos, to me, they are the prettiest. Your boy is so lovely and I really hope that his crop begins to empty soon. Try the olive oil instead of the mineral oil, it's better for him. I agree with the cochin coop, he does look just like a stately statue.
Best of luck
p

 

[wildwoodcochins]

Quote:
Thank you so much, I guess I was at least on the right track by making sure he was taking in water with antibac meds and was also giving him mineral oil. Hopefully we'll get some relief for him soon~ I'll keep you posted.
This is Piccasso, My beautiful Birchen roo that's having the problem. I had his first chick hatch a few days ago~

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/67387_wwcm.jpg

Oh my gosh, he is gorgeous!!!! I just love birchen roos, to me, they are the prettiest. Your boy is so lovely and I really hope that his crop begins to empty soon. Try the olive oil instead of the mineral oil, it's better for him. I agree with the cochin coop, he does look just like a stately statue.
Best of luck
p

Things are looking up this morning, the Birchen roo's croup was completly empty and his comb is starting to stand back up and get a little more color. His eyes are brite again and he just looks like he's feeling so much better~
Thank you so much for all the info and advice!! I'll post new pictures of him once he gets a full recovery~