Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[LozzyR]

I need me one of these signs!

 

[BY Bob]

2fer

I give you tailess orpingtons.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

No. Well yes and no.
- Bella clearly had respiratory issues and had a positive test for Infectious laryngotracheitis
- Lulu and the Roadrunners were quite similar in that one minute they were fine and then in the course of a few hours were not fine.
The only localizing symptoms in that lot are Lulu's anema and liver function tests, and both Dotty and Minnie (as well as Maggie) had diarrhea for a long time.
Minnie tested negative for Bella's virus.

The feed of course unites them all.

AI doesn't pass on easily or "thrive" in the heat right? You've been going through heat waves down there, haven't you? Or, once in a flock it goes around regardless? Bella was tested. Was that one of the things tested for?

Maybe a call to your vets for ideas? Or are they compelled to report any possibilities?

I understand your uneasiness, since there's no treatment for AI. I imagine my thought process would be: are the three are going to get it anyway, are they at risk, if that's the common link, then I'd consider giving them the chance at surviving it and living out their lives. If so, that means watching and waiting. In this scenario is it something where one couldn't introduce any more birds until or unless you knew one way or another, because it can hang on in a latent way?

It's not clear to me that a necropsy would identify problems from the pink feed, if that is a /the culprit, but I've heard about household mold testing. That could be a thing to try regardless. I don't know how that is done, maybe one takes swabs of suspected areas?

Very difficult time, I'm so sorry. Thinking of you this morning, for strength.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Such a cute twofer. Hard to believe this was as recently as Sunday evening.
My poor lost Lulu was so happy less than 36 hours ago.
I woke up crying because I fear that by going to the state lab I will doom the others to be killed by the state but I think I have to do it.
HPAI causes sudden death. I guess you could say the Roadrunners and Lulu all suffered that.
View attachment 3241117

I am so sorry to hear about Lulu. This has been a devastating year for you. If it were not for the roadrunners I'd almost wonder if the chicks did not bring something with them from their breeder. I think you need to find out what is happening. I have zero doubt it is due to your care, any chicken would be fortunate to have you as it's owner.

 

[RoyalChick]

AI doesn't pass on easily or "thrive" in the heat right? You've been going through heat waves down there, haven't you? Or, once in a flock it goes around regardless? Bella was tested. Was that one of the things tested for?

Maybe a call to your vets for ideas? Or are they compelled to report any possibilities?

I understand your uneasiness, since there's no treatment for AI. I imagine my thought process would be: are the three are going to get it anyway, are they at risk, if that's the common link, then I'd consider giving them the chance at surviving it and living out their lives. If so, that means watching and waiting. In this scenario is it something where one couldn't introduce any more birds until or unless you knew one way or another, because it can hang on in a latent way?

It's not clear to me that a necropsy would identify problems from the pink feed, if that is a /the culprit, but I've heard about household mold testing. That could be a thing to try regardless. I don't know how that is done, maybe one takes swabs of suspected areas?

Very difficult time, I'm so sorry. Thinking of you this morning, for strength.

You are right in my brain. AI does not survive well in the heat so I think the risk is low.
But some chickens get it and survive it and some of those can become carriers - maybe that is Maggie or Diana. The state does not distinguish, so if there is an AI positive test that automatically means they destroy the whole flock and I think any within some radius of my home (I don't know the radius).
So one option is not to necropsy Lulu and wait until one of the others gets sick/dies and test for it then.
It is a reportable disease so the vet cannot test for it quietly and nor can the private lab I use in Texas.
So, I could choose not to necropsy, send swabs to the private lab for a range of things but not AI and wait and see. That is what I did with Minnie.
Or, I could give Lulu into the lab and just hope it is not AI.
It feels like a crap shoot.
The chances that the necropsy really tells me anything feel slim. I mean if it is egg binding I missed or some weird anatomical abnormality it will tell me, but otherwise chances are I will be as much in the dark as I was from Minnie's swabs. I agree it is unlikely they can tell if it is the feed unless they tell me they test feed - it will be one of my first questions when I call in 10 mins.
If they can't test feed, maybe I should find someone who can and skip the necropsy and go straight to the feed analysis.
Or maybe I should just wait and see.
Sorry for long post - it is helping me think - and now I am veering towards wait and see.

 

[featherhead007]

RC, I was up most of the night thinking about what I could say to you. I have no answers! But I know it’s hard to be rational in times of great emotional stress. So, I did a lot of praying for you all night.

 

[bgmathteach]

State lab could be in Springfield. It would make more sense for it to be more rural.

Nope, it is in Jamaica Plains, Boston area There are still a fair amount of farms in southeastern-ish area ( Mendon/upton and surrounding) Though more and more they are slowly leaving/being bought up by developers. Unfortunately, this state operates as if nothing of importance is west of Rte 495.

Tax on State Lamenting:

Lulu, I miss you already. I was looking forward to having a radio signal friend.

 

[featherhead007]

You are right in my brain. AI does not survive well in the heat so I think the risk is low.
But some chickens get it and survive it and some of those can become carriers - maybe that is Maggie or Diana. The state does not distinguish, so if there is an AI positive test that automatically means they destroy the whole flock and I think any within some radius of my home (I don't know the radius).
So one option is not to necropsy Lulu and wait until one of the others gets sick/dies and test for it then.
It is a reportable disease so the vet cannot test for it quietly and nor can the private lab I use in Texas.
So, I could choose not to necropsy, send swabs to the private lab for a range of things but not AI and wait and see. That is what I did with Minnie.
Or, I could give Lulu into the lab and just hope it is not AI.
It feels like a crap shoot.
The chances that the necropsy really tells me anything feel slim. I mean if it is egg binding I missed or some weird anatomical abnormality it will tell me, but otherwise chances are I will be as much in the dark as I was from Minnie's swabs. I agree it is unlikely they can tell if it is the feed unless they tell me they test feed - it will be one of my first questions when I call in 10 mins.
If they can't test feed, maybe I should find someone who can and skip the necropsy and go straight to the feed analysis.
Or maybe I should just wait and see.
Sorry for long post - it is helping me think - and now I am veering towards wait and see.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

It's out. I now need to find another wormer and coop cleaner I wish we had the same here as you

I keep getting bitten when I go out the back I'm at my wits end keeping up with it all
I've just seen This anyone have any thoughts?

Goodness knows how I'd cope with more right now

For coop cleaner, is your coop that plastic kids playhouse? You could power wash for mites, and you may even be able to disassemble it too.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Not recommend
View attachment 3240158

Do you keep track of when you worm? Didn’t you just worm them some weeks ago? Worms can get resistant to treatment. Isn’t twice a year what those who do it preventatively use for a schedule? I thought you were in a drought, worms aren’t going to be at a high level in your yard during a drought.