Consolidated Kansas

[Ivywoods]

Well my little ginger red old english pullet is doing a little better tonight. I think I am seeing progress each day. She seems to be holding her wing up just a little higher tonight and she is able to get her foot underneath her in a normal position at least part of the time. She still drags it behind her when she walks (hops) though. She still hangs her head back a bit but isn't holding it in quite as abnormal of a position as it she was.

I treated her for mites and lice today and hopefully tomorrow I can get out and get all of the rest of the birds treated. I want to get some heating lights installed in all of the little cages as well as some cage and coop cleaning done. We are going to go hunting in the morning, so I don't think I will get it all done, but I will get what I can, as long as my bum knee and foot hold up.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Quote:
What did you use to treat for the mites? I bought Hartz powder that says "ticks, fleas and lice" and I sprinkled it under their wings, and their crests, bodies, etc. They seemed like they were itching a lot. Is that good enough? Do I need to do it again? I'm glad your pullet is feeling better. Did she have a respiratory problem? How long does it take them to recover? Mine seem better too- but I still hear sneezing now and then!!

 

[Ivywoods]

Quote:
What did you use to treat for the mites? I bought Hartz powder that says "ticks, fleas and lice" and I sprinkled it under their wings, and their crests, bodies, etc. They seemed like they were itching a lot. Is that good enough? Do I need to do it again? I'm glad your pullet is feeling better. Did she have a respiratory problem? How long does it take them to recover? Mine seem better too- but I still hear sneezing now and then!!

I used Ivermectin pour on for cattle. 1/4 cc topical behind the neck. I have no idea about the Hartz powder. I've never used it.

My pullet was a victim of domestic abuse by her live-in boyfriend, a black rosecomb rooster. He must have beat the crap out of her and caused some kind of nerve damage. It was like she had a stroke and couldn't use her right side. I'm not having any respiratory problems with any of the birds right now. As far as how long it takes them to recover from a respiratory illness I think that can vary with a lot of factors, such as how bad they have it, just what they have and environmental conditions. The one I had that I treated for respiratory stuff was pretty well recovered in about 4 days, if I remember correctly.

 

[Candace69]

Quote:
They are super smart aren't they. Their mom will even try to nurse goat babies. She is a hoot.

AS far as WHEN you know for sure, when they are on the ground! lol That's what I always say. I have had ones I swore were pg, and they never had a single pup. They will not settle when predator activity is high, at least mine won't. I did have one do a false pg too. They are one of the most difficult to tell, I always say when they are on the ground, that's when I know I have pups! They are so long, they hide them so well, unless it is a huge litter (9-12) they really don't "bulk" up.

Candace

 

[Hawkeye95]

Quote:
What did you use to treat for the mites? I bought Hartz powder that says "ticks, fleas and lice" and I sprinkled it under their wings, and their crests, bodies, etc. They seemed like they were itching a lot. Is that good enough? Do I need to do it again? I'm glad your pullet is feeling better. Did she have a respiratory problem? How long does it take them to recover? Mine seem better too- but I still hear sneezing now and then!!

I used Ivermectin pour on for cattle. 1/4 cc topical behind the neck. I have no idea about the Hartz powder. I've never used it.

My pullet was a victim of domestic abuse by her live-in boyfriend, a black rosecomb rooster. He must have beat the crap out of her and caused some kind of nerve damage. It was like she had a stroke and couldn't use her right side. I'm not having any respiratory problems with any of the birds right now. As far as how long it takes them to recover from a respiratory illness I think that can vary with a lot of factors, such as how bad they have it, just what they have and environmental conditions. The one I had that I treated for respiratory stuff was pretty well recovered in about 4 days, if I remember correctly.

OMGosh, I must be brain dead- I now recall your cute story of the domestic abuse and how he is in "jail". I laughed and then... what? Promptly forgot it? Geez. Sorry about that, you're probably wondering where the heck I was! ha! Well, I sure hope she is feeling better soon. It must be some sort of brain damage, right? I hope she continues to pull out of it. She was flipping onto her back, right? Has she done anymore flipping over? I sure hope not! Maybe she has some swelling in the brain and it's just going to take some time for her to come out of it. Okay- so just one little drop of that liquid pour on protect their entire body from lice and mites?? That's awesome! I think I'll get some of that instead of shaking them down with the Hartz powder! My birds are probably thinking I'm crazy!

 

[chicken danz]

The hartz powder is the same thing as sevin (carbaryl). It works great for mites. I use sevin in my shavings in the spring when mites are most prone to become a problem. You didn't do bad at all Hawkeye. It used to be dirt cheap but it has gotten kind of pricy any more. I haven't gotten any ivermectin as yet. I need to though. The nice thing about sevin if you have lots of birds you can dust their quarters and a dust bath area then you don't have to treat the individual birds.
Candace, I've never had a dog with a false pregnancy but my daughter's dog did. Her dog was even lactating heavily. My dog had such a big litter and she has always been a very light eater so her last pregnancy really showed. She is heavier now than I think has ever been, so it will be harder to tell this time.
For not wanting to breed a second time I am kind of looking forward to pups again.
Well all I had two more silkie babies die during the night. None of the others, just the silkies. This has got me baffled. I hatched several chicks the last couple days and it is only the silkies that are effected.
I had 5 baby cayugas hatch this morning. Two of them were crested. I

baby ducks!

 

[ChooksChick]

Hi, everyone!

Hawkeye, you can cut off the legs and get some of those pre-formed cement blocks that have a socket for a 4" x4" in the center- we call them elephant feet. Once you pick your spot, put it down on those and you're as good as new!

I wish you didn't have this problem...I'll be praying it works out for you, too.

Danz, Silkies are weaker than other chicks, and if your line has vaulted skulls, there is lots of evidence that there are often large portions of brain with no protective structure. Sometimes this leaves them really vulnerable. I spray the rump of each hatch with vetericyn to protect from bacteria entering the umbilicus, but I also keep them on paper towels for the first week. I also use baby parrot formula from the pet store over their feed to stock up the gut immediately with good bacteria and electrolytes.

I hope this straightens out for you!

Candace, welcome! I'm just starting to look at GP- found out yesterday one of my dogs has breast cancer, and I'd been thinking about GP anyway...lovely dogs.

Stay warm, everyone- It's cold out there!

 

[Hawkeye95]

Quote:
Okay, Whew! Glad I'm not killing them with the Hartz powder. I wasn't sure what people used and it was suggested that maybe my birds aren't very sick at all and maybe their head shaking is mites. But I know they WERE sick, because they were doing the open mouth yawning and sneeze. Anyway, now that it's down to a sneeze every now and then and I haven't seen any more yawning... they are still shaking their heads and scratching their heads. A LOT. They shake and then scratch. I thought the head shaking was related to the yawn and sneeze... and maybe it was??? I don't know what I'm doing!!! But now that the other symptoms are mostly gone, I'm left with the shake and then I finally noticed that they seem to scratch right after a head shake. Sigh. So I dusted them two days in a row with the Hartz Flea, tick, and lice killer powder. Do they need more 'shake downs' with the powder, or is two days good enough for now? I was sure to put it under their wings and around their bottoms and their back, necks, and crest.

And sooooo sorry about your silkies! I have no clue!! That is just the oddest thing ever! You'd think they'd be just fine- they seem like they are pretty robust little birds. My two little white hatchery silkies (that I got from Atwoods--and came from Ideal) are super healthy and fiesty! They rule the entire chick-dom. The even put the barred rocks (who pick on everyone) in their place. They bump their chest out, flap their wings back and go at the barred rocks with feet first! I love it! They are so tiny now compared to my other birds, but they are great little peace keepers. They don't pick on anyone, unless someone starts fighting and then they dive into the fray and go after the trouble makers. It makes me think that silkies are very hearty and strong... right? But i guess that would have nothing to do with their genetics and them dying early. Maybe you could post on the silkie thread and see if anyone has heard anything about that??

OH-- and question, my two younger silkies seem fine except for an occassional sneeze. But Zorro, my cockerel, still sounds nasaly. He is fine-- no more sneezing, no more yawning, etc. But he still sounds like he is a bit congested. Sort of a nasal sound-- no real noise.. hard to explain. Maybe silkies just have that sound?? Or perhaps he is just not fully over whatever it is they had??? The more time that goes on, the more I'm wondering if that is just his normal "sound"??? And if that is the case, then maybe they weren't very sick to begin with!!?? I don't know.

 

[chicken danz]

From your other posts I am sure your silkie was sick. The roosters do make a weird little sound. Almost a warble sound to them. can identify my silkie crows from my other roosters. You only needed to dust the birds once with sevin, and then again in about 2 weeks to catch any eggs that hatched. It would be wise to throw a little in their bedding as well.
I know silkies have a skull problem like polish do. Maybe with my future hatches I'll separate them and put them in a different bin. Once I get them to the brooder I separate my polish in a different section so they can protect their heads but I haven't had a problem with really young ones like I am with the silkies. I raised my original silkie chicks with polish chicks for that reason. I guess I'll try that. I am only keeping these babies in the house so I can watch them more carefully since I'm not spending as much time out in the brooder caring for the chicks as I was before the surgery.
You know when you think you've got it all figured out there is always something new to deal with.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Quote:
He makes a nasal sound just while breathing. Sometimes it's there, and sometimes it's not. Last night I had him inside and was petting him and he did open his mouth and was breathing through it for a bit. He made a nasal sound while doing it. But he doesn't sound like there is fluid-- just sort of like a heavy breather might sound. He sounds fine when he's crowing and scratching around. Only one of my little ones are sneezing this morning. I sure would have thought they'd be all better by now. This is taking a long time, right? Despite it still lingering on, they are eating and drinking well. How long do these things last? They got sick right before Thanksgiving.