Connecticut!

[Red Star Rob]

Beautiful chicks Jan. did you vaccinate them for Mareks?

 

[Red Star Rob]

Question for the group...

The last three eggs one of my olive eggers laid had some dried blood on them. I checked her out as well as the other 7 hens and cannot find anything wrong. They are all vigorous, normal looking combs (except for healing frostbite on one of my leghorns), normal vents, etc. i have seen blood tinge on an occasional very large egg but this seems like a few drops smeared on the egg. The egg itself is otherwise normal when you wash off the blood from the shell. She didn't lay today but I'll know likely tomorrow if it is continuing. Any thoughts or recommendations?

I'm going to search BYC as I'm sure someone else has had this happen before.

 

[Almichfarmgirl]

I did not bring her in. She is in her own cage close to our younger chicks and a heat lamp. I didn't know I cold give her electrolytes. My husband told me to not be to upset but use this as a learning experience. I did a small bumblefoot surgery on her. I believe I caught it early but she had already looked pale and was keeping to herself. Maybe the infection was more than I thought or something else. Not to mention it has been a rough winter.

 

[Red Star Rob]

Hope she recovers soon Almichfarmgirl.

 

[Almichfarmgirl]

Me too. But If she doesn't make it , I will know that I tried within my present knowledge.

 

[new chick 203]

Me too. But If she doesn't make it , I will know that I tried within my present knowledge.

If you think it may be infection from the surgery, I would bring her in and give her foot an epsome salt soak, check it out to see if swelling has gone down, put fresh bandages on it and keep her in. You'll need keep it clean and change the bandages every day. Antibiotics might be necessary though and you have to be the judge whether that is something you want to do. My chickens are pets rather than livestock so sometimes a trip to the vet happens. Good luck.

 

[TheNuttyChick]

I agree, make sure the wound is kept clean and dry.

 

[jan12]

Beautiful chicks Jan. did you vaccinate them for Mareks?

Thanks
No, I didn't. I haven't yet to any of my chicks, but I plan to as soon as I find out the logistics of administering it myself. So far the only chickens I have that have been vaccinated are ones from MPC, which are my easter eggers and buff brahmas.

 

[Vamvakas]

I agree, make sure the wound is kept clean and dry.

Do you still have that Dominique Roo that I gave/sold to you?

 

[Red Star Rob]

It really is a two person job, one to hold the chick still and the second to administer the shot. I recruited my wife for the job. It was amazing that the chicks didn't seem to mind the shot, just use a 25ga or higher needle (ie 27ga or 30ga). The chicks are pretty tough and resilient.

I know it is a personal decision, but I vaccinated my own hatched chicks after losing one that I got from MPC to mareks (per necropsy report). I was so upset at the whole thing, especially since she was vaccinated already. MPC was very good about it and refunded the cost of the chick but I also learned that the vaccine is only around 90% effective.