Easter Egger - Odd behavior

[aart]

I couldn't really find much information on how often, do you think that's too often/much?

Not really sure...maybe once a week where it's hot as hell all the time?
Trying to think who might know how much is too much electrolyes.
@ChickenCanoe @casportpony ??

Here we have heat waves that rarely last more than 4-5 days where it's over 85°F.
I give it every 3-4 days during those, depending on behaviors.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I've only used sav-a-chick once. When unsure, my philosophy is 'all things in moderation' and too much of a good thing is a bad thing.
We're going into a week or more of +/- 100 F temps. I'm happy I have heat hardy birds.
Plenty of shade and foot baths are the best and if heat gets extremely out of control in the coop, hanging a milk jug of frozen water from the ceiling at roost height so they can sidle up to it is helpful.
I freeze small water bottles and put one in the foot bath mid-day.
Cool water is better than ice water. Too cold and it can restrict capillaries.

 

[aart]

When unsure, my philosophy is 'all things in moderation' and too much of a good thing is a bad thing.

Exactly my thoughts....like chick heat, go by behaviors.

 

[techbsmith]

I believe this one has been solved - and without a happy ending. I have a RIR pullet who can be quite the little bully. I tend to let chickens sort chicken stuff out as long as there's no major blood or over zealous floggings taking place. A couple of days ago, Thelma got to the point she stopped moving around. She would rush out if I came out with some tomatoes or watermelon for heat relief, but quickly stop and not move.

I've picked her up, inspected her from head to toe several times. I've checked her vent, looked for any mites or lice, she did have one tiny spot on a foot that looked like early bumblefoot which was soaked in epsom salt, removed, and treated. While she was pecking at some watermelon, the RIR started flogging her. The poor girl laid down and appeared dead, I swatted the RIR off of her .. and luckily for the RIR, couldn't catch her at the moment.

I brought Thelma into the house and put her in one of my big brooding boxes so she could rest. She took some electrolytes and pecked at a bit of melon, but not much. I found a couple of open wounds around her eyes that were fresh. I believe the RIR has basically kept her from eating/drinking to the point she was just too weak to fight back. When I got her, she had a bald spot on her back from over zealous Roosters. The spot healed up nicely, but she's always been a bit skiddish and very easily pushed around.

I knew she was a special case when I got her - but feel in love when I first saw her, she was so beautiful and was one of the sweetest chickens I've been around. Last night she gave up the fight...

I have put the bully RIR in solitary before to try to break her, and I firmly believe the stress and heat were what killed my poor Thelma. The RIR is back in solitary, and I'm honing the edge of my axe. I'm absolutely heart broken... I have no issue with the processing of chickens, it's part of the chicken math. I buy, raise, hatch, sell, and eat chickens and their eggs all with no issue, but when one gets bullied to death...I feel like I failed her.

 

[aart]

Aww bummer. So sorry.
Could be a combo of things, the EE could have had some issues that drew the aggression, 'weak' birds can do that, separating then reintroducing could have exacerbated the situation.
Does the RIR bully other birds too?

 

[KikiLeigh02]

I'm so sorry for your loss. She was beautiful.

 

[techbsmith]

Aww bummer. So sorry.
Could be a combo of things, the EE could have had some issues that drew the aggression, 'weak' birds can do that, separating then reintroducing could have exacerbated the situation.
Does the RIR bully other birds too?

She does her best to bully others - but the other girls seem to just do better against it. There's a Golden Comet and Buff Orpington that seem to be top of the pecking order and are the same age as the RIR (about 10 months old). There are 5 GLW pullets, and 2 brahma pullets (one dark, one buff - 14 weeks old) in with her as well. She of course chases the younger pullets off but they are quicker and do a good job with avoiding her, or using the many obstacles in the enclosed run to get away. Some have even begun to push back on her. The RIR is the only one that is overly aggressive.

The EE would just immediately drop to a submissive posture and take the beating.

 

[techbsmith]

I'm so sorry for your loss. She was beautiful.

Thank you .. she held a very special place in my heart.

 

[aart]

The RIR is the only one that is overly aggressive.

She'll be delicious.

 

[techbsmith]

She'll be delicious.

Yup - I typically make chicken and dumplings.

2 C. flour
tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
3 Tbl butter
Buttermilk

Cut butter into flour - add buttermilk to form a dough ball. Roll out on a floured surface to about 1/4" thick. Use a pizza cutter to cut into strips about an inch wide and then about an inch long.

Bring about 2 Qts chicken broth (I use the stock I slow cooked the bird in) to a boil, add dumplings one at a time and cook on a low boil for about 10-15 minutes or until done. Mix a bit of flour in with some hot water and add to thicken as needed.