Frustrated!!!!!!!!!!

[bird-brain]

I think I am going to go ahead and call GA dept of agriculture just to see if there have been other complaints and make sure he is up to date on permits and inspections etc. I did not notice any banded birds so don't know if the facility has had typhoid inspection etc. He has over 100 chicks for sale right now and I have a feeling he is buying hatchery eggs and selling the chicks. I only saw one to two hens per breed and to have 25 same breed chicks around two weeks old and 40 eggs in the brooder seems excessive.

 

[Panth]

How ARE your chickies doing? Do they seem to be breathing easier or are they still weak? Have you tried giving them some scrambled egg? You may also wish to put some Apple Cider Vinager in their water if you don't have some in already.

 

[bird-brain]

Panth, I have a vitamin and electrolyte additive to their water right now and they are getting probiotics as well. They so far have refused to eat egg on their own. But are quite fond of meal worms and though not as vitamin rich are high in protein and fat. I have some comercial egg food that i feed my lovies when they nest mixed in with their chick starter but it is impossible to know how much they get that way. I don't give them too much because you CAN exceed calcium requirements combining too many fortified supplements.

The whole thing still just feels like a crapshoot. The two who have been the most seem stronger but the original sick chick still has some conjunctivitis and nasal discharge. They are eating and drinking without my help now. One of the others has begun to lay back and sleep a great deal now. I supplement fluid right now to this chick and will do the same with feed if she/he doesn't perk up soon.

If they are indeed over this in a few more days, it will be another clue as to the type of infection. I still have two chicks that have not shown noticeable symptoms. But the chick who died had shown no sign of illness either. Over all I think changing brooder has been an enormous benefit to them!

 

[n8ivetxn]

Those fat mealworms are a good energy source if the little ones still don't have a good appetite. My brooder box becomes a carnival when I add mealworms!

I wonder if the chick that died was dehydrated? - Because of the brooder box/lamp set-up?

 

[bird-brain]

Oh Gosh I know! Throw in a few meal worms and it's the great chicken stampede! Lol my Silkie gets most of them. She runs under everyone's legs and gobbles them up.

I suppose he could have dehydrated. I don't think I will ever know for sure. I know that most of us are not fans of that brooder set up that the breeder gave me but there are people that use similar set ups successfully. I think in the end it's a combination of the breed of chicken and also poorly bred chickens coupled with inadequate brooder set up.

It still makes me nervous that he has 100 chicks for sale and another 140 or so eggs in incubators. That's a lot of birds for a backyard breeder in a housing development.

 

[n8ivetxn]

That's a lot of birds, even for an experienced avian breeder!

 

[n8ivetxn]

He's in a housing development

- Somehow I missed that small fact....

 

[bird-brain]

Yep. Housing development. I am getting my numbers from his ads and I think I remember 4-6 incubators, i think 20 eggs each, all were full. And at least one hen brooding her own as well as young cockerals and pullets out of the brooders The coop is quite large and very nice and very clean. I saw 7 breeds of chicken there. Typically was two hens and one roo of each breed. More silkies than anything. Most of what he had were 1-2 week old chicks in fish tanks with 60 watt light bulbs. The tanks were quite clean well. I probably should have heeded the annoying voice at the back of my brain but didn't. I don't know how you'd know if you had a sick bird in the bunch.

 

[n8ivetxn]

Don't blame yourself. It's his responsibility as a breeder....And, it's easy to get caught up in the excitement of picking out chicks, etc....

I just cannot believe, a housing development?! I think you'd be doing the birds (and potential buyers, too) a favor by reporting him to the authorities - at least so they go and do a health inspection...

 

[Panth]

Hopefully your chicks are doing better this morning. I did some reading last night, and noticed that SF don't seem to be very vigerous as chicks. I know that the illness yours have is by no means breed related, but I can't help but wonder if you had gotten- say Easter Egger chicks- if they would have been healthier and stronger. You did say the silkie you have hasn't had any issues, right? Did you get any other breeds with the SFs? I've never personally owned SFs so I can't make any judgements other than what I am reading, anyone want to chime in with personal experience? I'm interested because I was thinking of getting some SF, but I won't if they are not a vigerous breed. If having such a terrible time with these hasn't completely turned you off to having chickens, you may wish to consider getting a more robust breed(s) for your next batch.