East RIver - South Dakota

[jessicaagross]

I haven't made any changes either as far as the bird flu goes. I live on property, so the girls still get to free range, they don't really like to wander as far as the fence line, so I'm not that worried about it. I do have issues with barn swallows nesting in their coop, but for the past couple years I've been knocking down nests, so it's less and less that try every year. So I'm just crossing my fingers too.

 

[mystry]

I haven't changed anything really either. I've always kept things pretty clean to keep the neighbors happy, and I don't have wild bird feeders up anyway after the dog brought a dead bird into the house (and put it on my bed!!!). I've cut back on their time in the yard some, I guess, but that's less about bird flu and more about keeping the garden plants safe.
I know we're in the migratory birds' flight path, but it's not like they land IN my yard or even close by, so I don't think there's much else I can do.

I have wild geese that are 1/4 mile or less from my home, so I guess I am close to. I just keep watching and hoping for the best.

 

[julie42a]

I think that's really all we can do.

 

[SD Bird Lady]

I agree

 

[Adam n Angie]

Thank you for the answers,
I also have a question about one of my girls. I noticed a month or so ago that she was coughing, nothing bad and not very often. She seemed good otherwise. What if anything should I do for her?
Also what do I do for this same hen because she is laying wrinkly eggs. We get a rippled egg at least one a week. We already give oyster shell. I've heard that sometimes when chickens are sick they will have that happen even long after they heal up. (T/F?) The insides seem fine but my neighbors are scared of them. I feel bad sharing scary eggs lol
Thanks for the help again.
Angela

 

[SD Bird Lady]

Sorry, I'm not much help. I have a hen who lays a shell that is very rough like sandpaper and only brown one side. Not sure who she is but they are 2 almost 3 and everyone seems fine. She has always laid the weird egg. Good luck

 

[SD Bird Lady]

Also, on a side note. I keep all the "misfits" for myself. Weird shells, some that were too dirty to give/sell. We keep them because we know they are still good just a little odd.

 

[mystry]

Wooohooo!!! I am so happy right now!! Got home from work today to find out my keets are hatching! The mothers won't let me near them to see how many I have though. Now, I have to figure out how many I want to keep and how many I want to get rid of.

 

[julie42a]

As far as the weird shells, I had one that coughed a bit during the winter, and she's
laid slightly wrinkly eggs since then. They've gradually improved over the months though, now they're just pale and slightly rough. I read this could be from infectious bronchitis, but none of my others got sick.

 

[SD Bird Lady]

Congrats! Hatch days are always so exciting.. Hope they all arrive healthy.