Illinois...

[jerryse]

Here are the little cuties. 1 in front is Junibutt's chick and her playmate is the easter egger in back. And so it begins, I have 4 of the SL bantam cochins and 4 Orpington eggs in the small incubator that have made it to day 7 and looking good. Better fertility this time around on the Orps, but still not 100%. I am going to let these go to hatch.

Have you tried trimming the vent feathers to improve fertility . English Orpingtons are very fluffy compared to American Orpington . Australop are Australian bred Orpington . Their climate is rough on fluffy birds . Much of the USA is also too hot and humid for fluffy birds .

 

[ChicagoClucker]

Have you tried trimming the vent feathers to improve fertility . English Orpingtons are very fluffy compared to American Orpington . Australop are Australian bred Orpington . Their climate is rough on fluffy birds . Much of the USA is also too hot and humid for fluffy birds .

That is going to be my next step, Up until now, I was chalking it up to inexperience because they are still young (7 months). At this moment, I only have 2 Orp hens that I am collecting eggs from, just sold off the other with a roo. So now I am waiting for the young pullets (5mo) to grow up and fill out so I can see who's staying and who is going. Then it will be time to get down to business and trim some butts!

I also took the heat into consideration when building the new coop, so the most I could do was to put their coop and run on the north side of the house. Last year had a mister going for them and am sure I will be doing it again this year since it is already record breaking temps for the 2016 start.

 

[Faraday40]

Cuddles is still hanging on. She's very quiet. I tried again & didn't feel an egg via vent, but her abdomen is so swollen & firm. She actually looks good (in color, not fluffed up, tail not droopy) but her movements are so slow.

She had a little tube feeding of liquids today (added calcium this time) & she also ate about 1 tsp yogurt - maybe less - on her own. I can't get her to eat cooked eggs. We gave her a 30 min soak, blow dry & she's been in a darkened tub for the last few hours. I feel if she could either pass an egg (if egg bound) or have a big poop, she'd feel all better. My gut says it's some type of blockage, but I just don't know how to help her dislodge it.

 

[ChicagoClucker]

Spent some time outside today with the guys, it was so nice. Here are some pics of my youngsters. I am missing the blue and black Orps. I am a bad chicken mama.

Partridge


Isbars, I think the splash is a boy.


My splash Orp


My Silver Laced Orps

 

[chickendreams24]

Faraday40 I would continue with crop massages as often as you can manage and I didn't think to worry about how hard I did it as long you don't feel anything that could be sharp I think just keep massaging I tried to massage Jazzy's crop every couple hours. I also completely stopped feeding her for three or four days to try to get her crop to empty until I could feel the impaction. I would also try another dose of stool softeners

Praying for Cuddles and you

 

[Faraday40]

Faraday40 I would continue with crop massages as often as you can manage and I didn't think to worry about how hard I did it as long you don't feel anything that could be sharp I think just keep massaging I tried to massage Jazzy's crop every couple hours. I also completely stopped feeding her for three or four days to try to get her crop to empty until I could feel the impaction. I would also try another dose of stool softeners

Praying for Cuddles and you

Her crop is actually empty. It's all stuck in her back-end. I keep thinking egg bound, but tried 2xs (with a lubed rubber glove) & didn't feel an egg. Did a warm soak Fri, a 30 min one this afternoon, & one more this evening. Epsom salt bath the most recent time. No change. Abdomen is so hard! Feels like a softball in there. Afraid to massage there b/c if it is an egg......POP! After the blow dry, I gave her about 2T tube feeding to keep her hydrated. (added electrolytes, stool softener, Kaytee baby bird food powder)

What's strange is how "normal" Cuddles looks. It all started on Thurs because she didn't RUN to me to get treats. She was still eating & pooping, but seemed "off." Slowly stopped eating & now less pooping. (Of course there's been less input.) She's quiet. Not her personality at all! Although she looks good, I fear we will lose her if it (???) doesn't pass.

 

[chickendreams24]

Praying like mad for all of you all I can say is I might try to push more calcium again. Keep us updated please.

 

[ChicagoClucker]

@Faraday40 I don't think its egg bound either, and since she had sour crop and its now clear, I say impaction. I would keep treating her for that.

 

[Faraday40]

Above are some of my 1st pics of Cuddles. (April 23, 2014) She's always been a beauty.

Even today with as sick as she must feel, she looks good. Things are slow but not completely stopped. Her crop went down overnight(but not completely) & she pooped some more. I think I will continue with the handfeeding bird formula that I got at the pet store. It's rough tube feeding but I know that's what's keeping her from quickly declining. DH keeps saying that we're going to get "Poop-ageddon" when she finally becomes unplugged.

Does anyone know if the soaking will help with intestinal blockage or just egg bound? It take a lot of time & I don't want to put her through extra stress if it won't help. The 20-30 min in the tub is no big deal. It's the 40min blow dry after each bath that's the bad part!

 

[cavemanrich]

@faraday40...... I don't offer advice if I don't know solution, but I have been reading the other website that you also bookmarked and came across something interesting. It is about treating sick chickens. Here is a copy and past from there and I will also post link to page. Cavemanrich is not a plagiarist.


If you do suspect a chick has contracted coccidiosis and is exhibiting these sick chicken symptoms, separate her and feed equal parts chick feed and milk mixed with some plain yogurt. This will cause diarrhea to help flush the intestines of the parasite. Follow up with a sprinkle of probiotic powder in the feed to help rebuild the good bacteria, and you can avoid antibiotics for chickens affected with coccidiosis.




http://countrysidenetwork.com/daily...solutions-for-7-common-sick-chicken-symptoms/


What I highlighted in red may be helpful. It is treatment for coccidiosis, but may work for condition you are encountering.

WISHING YOU BEST