Dixie Chicks

[hennible]

Lol crap
Nice typo lol

 

[Outpost JWB]

@Beer can , after many deaths (between 15-40), the deaths have slowed down quite a bit. I've done a lot of research and have come to the conclusion they have MG (Mycoplasma Gallisepticum). None have been professionally diagnosed, so, it's just my best guess. From my understanding, its bacterial and once they have it, they have it forever and it spreads thru the flock. I've cleaned and bleached everything possible and then some! Some birds had swelling of the eyes, others had watery eyes, some had coughing, sneezing, or labored breathing, just all different stuff. I gave antibiotics to all the pullets, one rooster and 2 hens that were sick. The rooster died, the hens are isolated and showed some improvement, but are slowly going back to the original symptoms-I will most likely cull them this Saturday when I have time. Most that died were from purchased pullets from the 2 feed stores I shop at. Pretty sure it all happened from purchasing an EE hen at a chicken swap. If you looked at my birds now, you'd have NO CLUE that any of them are sick. I've had 3 people call me wanting to buy my birds. I told them all the story. Hopefully they will only buy from good breeders so they are not put through this. I thought by isolating them before introducing them to the flock, everything would be alright. She was isolated for 60 days. Once the pullets grew bigger, I put them in the larger isolation pen....where the infected hen was. BIG LESSON LEARNED HERE!

Working on the house today. Babysitting dad tonight

Hoping he goes to bed at a decent hour. He and mom stay up and drink coffee until midnight. Then go to bed. Guess that's what it's like being retired! I've got work, kids, hubby and most important, chickens!

 

[Alaskan]

Oh man! Outpost that sucks!!!!

 

[Ravynscroft]

x2

@Outpost JWB

 

[ApiaryandAviary]

Outpost may I ask?
Did you spray a weed killer in your garden?
Did you spray an Insect killer in your garden?
These things all can weaken the chickens systems if not mame or kill them.
To be sure, please take at least one of the dead ones to your county ag person for testing. You never know. The fact is your ground may be contaminated and you will not be able to have chickens for years to come in some cases of disease. Have their water checked for bacteria too. When we just dont know what it is, sometimes it is best to go to the county extension office. Ours county ag office is in direct contact with VIrginia Tech, so they can help. Good luck, I hope you find what is causing this destruction of your birds soon. Here is hoping everything works out.

Edit, I had a problem with predators and brought that under control. On to my garden,...had sprayed weed killer and thought it was japanese bug killer. Then sprayed bug killer after I killed my garden. Then I had a problem with predators again. If the weed killer did not take them down then the bug killer did not get them, some were snatched by predators. Right under our noses! Bold hawk!

 

[Beer can]

That's just awful Outpost, hope you get it under control.
You said it was very wet there this yr, have you checked for black mold in the coop, or mold in the bedding?

 

[Beer can]

I use deep litter, don't clean coop. My coop stays dry but I still don't use straw hay or grass clippings for bedding because of the potential of mold. I only use sawdust from our firewood and maple leaves in the fall. Just put a foot deep of maple leaves in the coop, they will have it scratched and shredded to a few inches deep in no time. Spring and summer I rake up the sawdust and add. Haven't cleaned the coop out in two yrs, might next summer. Doesn't smell and no poop piles visible. As long as I add to it occasionally I don't get poopy eggs. They say it is healthier for the chickens, and for chicks.

 

[hennible]

Man I wish that worked with the ducks, it just gets to sloppy... Yuck.

 

[vehve]

Whoa... crickets.

Phew, long day today, started making some tomato-ginger-lemon jam, and some caraway&dark syrup bread. Then we went for a 10 km walk in the forest with the doggies, and then we raked and shredded two maple trees worth of leaves. Then some stir fry for dinner, next it's sauna time, then I still need to bake the bread and boil the jam and then it's a wrap!

 

[hennible]

That jam sound very interesting. Not sure I'd like tomato with ginger.

And cue the crickets