[COLOR=8B4513]Despite pipd's past warnings about coop fires, I have heat in my coop just as I had last winter. I understand the danger and I am as careful as possible. However, I have what are known as Anthromorphized Domesticated Pets who are my surrogate children since I have an empty nest. They clearly enjoy a little heat after a cold, wet day.[/COLOR]
...Just kidding, but I do have something I want to say here.
My birds are Anthropomorphized Domesticated Pets as well, and beloved at that. I would do anything for these birds. I know them individually, I know what each and every one of their temperaments are like, what each one of them likes and dislikes, and how each one prefers to be held (some of them, the answer is not at all, but most have their preferred method). And don't even get me started on Frou-Frou, my darling baby who comes running to mommy when the older hens pick on her and must have her nightly visit to the house ore she mopes on the perches. I don't have any human children of my own (though I have a niece and nephew--talk about the poster children for abstinence). These birds are my children. They are that important to me.
That being said, the difference between our methods of caring for our birds is that I have taken the time to research extensively, and I have made a rational decision about what my birds need.
I do not coddle them to make myself feel better in a case where the disadvantages and dangers are greater than the advantages of doing something. I am absolutely sure they appreciate the heat on a cold day.
I'm equally as sure that they appreciate getting treats, but this does not mean I'm going to stop feeding them their balanced diet and only give them mealworms and table scraps. As a matter of fact,
it would be more rational to provide them with air conditioning in the summertime than it would be to heat a coop. Chickens do
far worse in the heat of summer than they do with cold, and this goes especially for many of the breeds you have listed in your signature (Easter-eggers and Wyandottes are practically designed to take the cold with those tiny combs and fluffy bodies).
As much as I can say it, though, I know that I can't make anyone do what they don't want to do. I do my best to educate, and from there it is out of my hands. Your flock, your choices. That is all.
A discussion of Mareks Disease (MD), Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG), and [COLOR=FF0000]bio-security[/COLOR] that just finished on the Heritage Large Fowl thread might be of interest to all on this thread, but to [COLOR=0000FF]amwchickin[/COLOR] and [COLOR=0000FF]pipd[/COLOR] in particular. The upshot of much of the talk between those mostly showers and breeders, as I read it, seems to be that MD and MG are everywhere, and it is inevitable that chickens will contract them, so there is no sense in taking bio-security measures or culling sick birds. Some believe that the strong will survive and will produce stronger progeny, while those birds who need meds to survive or who survive poorly should be culled. A few saw no reason not to take these survivor birds (who carry and spread disease) to shows or sell them, since they believe that the diseases are unavoidable anyway. It all seemed like a great way to ensure the spread of disease The discussion runs on the Heritage Large Fowl thread from page 1588, post #15873, through page 1595.
This burns me up a bit. This has to be the most irresponsible thing I have heard in a long time.
I'm not going to say anything else because others have said it better and I don't want to be banned for the language I'd be tempted to use.
Thanks to everyone who commented on my sick flock and gave me info. I really appreciate it. I'm going to try and find some Erythromycin. I think it's pretty common and will check with my vet on price there. Even though I am surrounded by Perdue and Farbest farms, the vets around here do not do much with chickens. I think awhile back someone was talking about Perdue doing necropsies, anyone have info on that?
What are people's thoughts on eating the eggs after medicating? I know we can't contract the actual disease, but is there any residual effects from them? I won't ever incubate any now...
The most practical thing for me would be to probably cull the whole flock. But how do you do that being so attached!! I have a list of breeds I would love to add, but that would only be trouble in the long run.
There are so many possibilities and what if's, etc. There are no easy answers or solutions.
Well, it looks like I have my work cut out for me. I'll keep everyone posted.
Usually, when medicating a flock, eggs are withdrawn for two weeks or so. As someone else said (sorry, missed the quote button), a lot of these meds aren't tested on chickens, so you really don't know. I generally withdraw eggs for 10-14 days after the last dose of a medicine unless I've seen where a longer withdrawal period is recommended.
