Illinois...

[cavemanrich]

(I would have thought the feeding & water stations would have been priority. Go figure.)

BOYS WILL BE BOYS

 

[Faraday40]

BOYS WILL BE BOYS

Definitely! When free ranging, the hens give the males a workout chasing them around the yard. The top boy is smart & waits until evening when the hens go into the run before bedtime.

This morning when I 1st let them out, a male chased a hen about 200' at top speed. As they passed the biggest cockeral, he stepped aside to body slam his brother. The smaller male went diagonally off course like a pool ball. No fighting, just a strong push to say "leave her be" & the male obeyed. I was happy to see some hen protection. I expected to see little fights, but the boys have been together since hatch. Next week will be 5 months, so I may be speaking too soon.

 

[Junibutt]

I agree, trying to find someone local can be tough, that's why I ordered online.

Thats why you will have your flock of Orpington's next year with fertilized eggs Have you planned for separate breeding pens?

 

[ChicagoClucker]

Thats why you will have your flock of Orpington's next year with fertilized eggs Have you planned for separate breeding pens?.

Well, I have my starter coop, that I plan on using as a breeding coop for the SL and Gold Laced. Just need to fence it in. Going to leave the blues in the new larger coop and run, but he will have a lot of girls to choose from in that run, might have to section it off to make sure the 3 girls, 1 blue, 1 black and 1 chocolate orp are producing fertile eggs. I also have my SL bantam cochin pair, that are doing just great with a the blue orps, so I am going to leave them with the blues in the big coop unless I see my Blue orp try to mount little Minnie. My husband just loves Mickey and Minnie. Will be hatching some of these too in spring. So far, Mickey is the only boy crowing. How bout you? What are you doing for breeding pens? This is going to be fun, isn't it!

 

[Faraday40]

Well, I have my starter coop, that I plan on using as a breeding coop for the SL and Gold Laced. Just need to fence it in. Going to leave the blues in the new larger coop and run, but he will have a lot of girls to choose from in that run, might have to section it off to make sure the 3 girls, 1 blue, 1 black and 1 chocolate orp are producing fertile eggs. I also have my SL bantam cochin pair, that are doing just great with a the blue orps, so I am going to leave them with the blues in the big coop unless I see my Blue orp try to mount little Minnie. My husband just loves Mickey and Minnie. Will be hatching some of these too in spring. So far, Mickey is the only boy crowing.

Love the look & the names of Mickey & Minnie!

 

[Faraday40]

Here's our little "Trouble." She dislikes being held, but will jump onto my hand with ease. Such a little attitude. DH calls her "useless" while DD argues that she's too small to be counted into the chicken number.


This is the Dominique, Bubbles. Trouble taught her how to fly up onto my shoulder. This one LOVES to cuddle. She's so calm, she can be scooped up with one hand. Of course if I do not scoop her up, she'll just fly up.


I'm not used to flying birds. Mostly orps here. They never leave the ground unless it's for a lap or involves a treat.

 

[Faraday40]

On a sad note, we're dealing with an ill chicken (my fav lav orp, Cuddles)
Yesterday when outside taking some pics, I noticed she wasn't in my face asking for treats. When I threw some scratch near her, she gently pecked- not pushed her way to the center. I thought perhaps it was the heat, but a cool bath didn't perk her up.

She came inside last night so I could examine her funk.
Had watery poop. Once was yellowish - maybe an egg issue. No blood or worms in poop.
Gave a warm soak & tried some TUMS. She kind of spit out or stopped eating whatever treat I tried to mix it with.
Crop is not full nor hard. When I laid her on her side in my lap, she lowered her head & clear fluid came out. Not foul smelling liquid, so perhaps it was simply the position & too much water consumption.
Comb looks nice & red, not floppy.
Eyes & nostrils clear
feather shafts looked OK.
Skin white - no irritation.
Behavior = dull, quiet, isolated

By morning, she pretty much stopped walking around.
I put a gloved, lubed finger 1.5" into the vent & felt no egg.
I mixed some Corid & electrolytes.
She's drinking on her own (not enough IMO) but not really eating.
I gave some yogurt (with hidden calcium). She ate some & pooped again.

Cuddles & a poop yesterday:


Cuddles & her poop this evening.




If anyone has gone through something similar or has an idea of what I should check, please let me know.
The only vet around here who sees chickens, also treats parrots & exotics. They are known to be very expensive. (Friend spent $385 to treat her rabbit.) Hate to sound cheap, but that's not an option. The rest of the flock seems fine.

 

[ChicagoClucker]

On a sad note, we're dealing with an ill chicken (my fav lav orp, Cuddles)
Yesterday when outside taking some pics, I noticed she wasn't in my face asking for treats. When I threw some scratch near her, she gently pecked- not pushed her way to the center. I thought perhaps it was the heat, but a cool bath didn't perk her up.

She came inside last night so I could examine her funk.
Had watery poop. Once was yellowish - maybe an egg issue. No blood or worms in poop.
Gave a warm soak & tried some TUMS. She kind of spit out or stopped eating whatever treat I tried to mix it with.
Crop is not full nor hard. When I laid her on her side in my lap, she lowered her head & clear fluid came out. Not foul smelling liquid, so perhaps it was simply the position & too much water consumption.
Comb looks nice & red, not floppy.
Eyes & nostrils clear
feather shafts looked OK.
Skin white - no irritation.
Behavior = dull, quiet, isolated

By morning, she pretty much stopped walking around.
I put a gloved, lubed finger 1.5" into the vent & felt no egg.
I mixed some Corid & electrolytes.
She's drinking on her own (not enough IMO) but not really eating.
I gave some yogurt (with hidden calcium). She ate some & pooped again.

Cuddles & a poop yesterday:


Cuddles & her poop this evening.




If anyone has gone through something similar or has an idea of what I should check, please let me know.
The only vet around here who sees chickens, also treats parrots & exotics. They are known to be very expensive. (Friend spent $385 to treat her rabbit.) Hate to sound cheap, but that's not an option. The rest of the flock seems fine.

Oh no, poor cuddles. I have not come across anything like this. When mine became egg bound, she hid behind a bush and didn't move all day. Not even for treats and her vent was pulsing, like she is trying to push out an egg. Maybe someone else has experience with this. But just so you know, the feed store has soluble antibiotics available. I bought some last time I was in just to have on hand just in Case. I hope she is OK!

 

[Junibutt]

On a sad note, we're dealing with an ill chicken (my fav lav orp, Cuddles)
Yesterday when outside taking some pics, I noticed she wasn't in my face asking for treats. When I threw some scratch near her, she gently pecked- not pushed her way to the center. I thought perhaps it was the heat, but a cool bath didn't perk her up.

She came inside last night so I could examine her funk.
Had watery poop. Once was yellowish - maybe an egg issue. No blood or worms in poop.
Gave a warm soak & tried some TUMS. She kind of spit out or stopped eating whatever treat I tried to mix it with.
Crop is not full nor hard. When I laid her on her side in my lap, she lowered her head & clear fluid came out. Not foul smelling liquid, so perhaps it was simply the position & too much water consumption.
Comb looks nice & red, not floppy.
Eyes & nostrils clear
feather shafts looked OK.
Skin white - no irritation.
Behavior = dull, quiet, isolated

By morning, she pretty much stopped walking around.
I put a gloved, lubed finger 1.5" into the vent & felt no egg.
I mixed some Corid & electrolytes.
She's drinking on her own (not enough IMO) but not really eating.
I gave some yogurt (with hidden calcium). She ate some & pooped again.

Cuddles & a poop yesterday:


Cuddles & her poop this evening.




If anyone has gone through something similar or has an idea of what I should check, please let me know.
The only vet around here who sees chickens, also treats parrots & exotics. They are known to be very expensive. (Friend spent $385 to treat her rabbit.) Hate to sound cheap, but that's not an option. The rest of the flock seems fine.

I would say that just give her electrolytes, yogurt and scrambled eggs for 3-5 days. If it was due to something she ate, she will get better. However, it its an egg tube issue, there is not much you can do except giving her warm baths or hot towel massage couple of time a day and let it pass. I don't think she needs Corid or any antibiotic at this stage.

Oh I forgot, some chopped garlic mixed with yogurt could help as well.

 

[Faraday40]

I've been keeping Cuddles in the house or garage since Fri night. She's very, very quiet & looks depressed. Not sure if she'd be better with her flock or inside with us.

She pooped runny again this morning & she's getting a soak now. She ate a little yogurt last night, so I'm going to try it again today.

I don't think it's egg bound (or at least not within 1.5" of the vent). I'm afraid it could be egg peritonitis. Could also be cocci (but no blood seen) or start of sour crop (but no major odor). This is the 1st illness I've had in the flock. All the other emergencies were from scrapes, pecks, or immature chicks. Why did it have to be my Cuddles?