INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[ellymayRans]

Hey Ya'll!! I'm in desperate need of advise!!

So I took my girl Pepper in to the Avian vet in Indy again this morning because she hasnt been using her foot correctly shes been walking on the knee joint instead of her foot we orgininally thought it was broken. Did xrays and it was not broken so they said she probably just hurt it because she did sqawk in pain while they did the exam. They sent us home with an anti inflamatory pain med. So on wed I notice she isnt roosting like she normally does and called back they said bring her in. Today they tell me it could be one of 3 things #1 she injured herself and it caused nerve damage (they think this is unlikely since there was no "known" trama) #2 theres an inflamation where the neveres are causing her to limp and they can do an endoscapy to see (a few hundred MORE dollars) or #3 it could be Mareks!!! If its Mareks she'll get progressivly worse and will need to be put to sleep of course. Apparently vaccinated chicken can get Mareks. They suggest I put her down and do an autopsy (another $200) to "see" if thats the problem. She a hatchery chick I got her at Rural king I've had her since she was only a few days old I cant just put her down to "see" if thats it. We love her! I dont know what to do at this point I thought Mareks was a faster moving disease. Shes been limping for 3wks. Still eating and drinking. Anyone with Mareks experiance or experiance with a limping chicken or lameness???

Am, I'm really sorry to hear that Pepper isn't getting better. Just a note though..and you might want to check back in with your RK but I didn't think their chicks were vaccinated. I've never bought from them but my aunt works for the one here and I'm pretty sure I remember her saying they weren't in previous conversations. But yes everything I've read does say that even if vaccinated they still have a chance of contracting it but shouldn't grow the tumors associated with the disease.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

Lovely!
Ask them if they price match. Its why I stopped going to the other stores a long time ago.
Saved me a small fortune on feed, and supplies.

ugh, I wish we had a local feed mill. We have several within 30 miles, big box feed stores.
I go to TSC (Anderson) for the fantastic lady that works there, she even gives me coupons out of her own purse!
She is always friendly, helpful and has great ideas. She keeps horses and ducks herself.
If she is working, I know i will get an extra discount. But after 2 years, 2x a week they know if I am coming in there I am spending some money too lol.
Rural King (New Castle) has more selection but the staff is not trained, poorly managed and have no clue about the products they sell.
Muncie has been about the same.
Let alone the animals you are feeding!

Grrrr

, not worth the headache for me anymore.
The closest mill is about 40 miles, gas prices, its not worth it. Our dually is 8 miles a gallon, suburban gets 13.
And Their prices don't come close to what i get feed for. My lil tracker I can load 4-5 bags shavings, feed.. 2x a week LOL!
26 MPG and 4X4 so it even goes in the snow

I would love to reach the point of GMO free feed. Its a long ways off for us yet.

Sounds like your TSC is nice. But Stupid and rude versus stupid and poliet, I choose the second one. N one at the TSC were I am at knows what they are doing and they are rude, People at rural king where I go also dont know anything but they are nice. I like going into the local feed mill, I sometimes go in just to talk. The owner told me that if I ever have any pictures from shows he will hang them up on the wall.

 

[flockman]

...

Sounds like your TSC is nice. But Stupid and rude versus stupid and poliet, I choose the second one. N one at the TSC were I am at knows what they are doing and they are rude, People at rural king where I go also dont know anything but they are nice. I like going into the local feed mill, I sometimes go in just to talk. The owner told me that if I ever have any pictures from shows he will hang them up on the wall. 
[/quote

That is too bad. My TSC does a nice job.

 

[pginsber]

Okay.  Got it.  Does she want them right away or does she want them when they are grown enough to be incorporated into her flock when they're a little older and mom has "weaned" them?

If she wants them young (like right now) and there is one staying with mom, I don't see why you couldn't remove them at night and just leave the one.  But it will also be a bit harder on the kiddos since they've had their mom taking care of them. 

These kiddos have become a kind-of "sub flock" within the group you have so it will an adjustment either way.  If the mom is still caring for them, it might be an easier transition for the remaining one... 

So you can see there are pros and cons of either way.  But once you decide when they go, I think either way, there are things you could do to make it easier for each side. 

As always, your insight is appreciated. I'm waiting to see vicki's preference, but didn't want to sweep them out from under Mom too soon.
Once she decides what works for her, naturally, I'll pulse for your thoughts!

 

[AmLambson]

I have the information for Purdue the vet gave me however its $120-$200 for them to check her body for Mareks. I'm still not sold on the Mareks quite yet. if she gets worse and shows other sgins I will of course PTS but I will not do it just because its one of the 3 options. Im so hoping its not because we just love her so much but realisticly I know it could be, 3 wks just seems like a long time to not get any other symptoms of Mareks.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Hey, folks, sorry if I missed anything posted for me.

This evening, I made the tough decision to put Chickie down. She was lingering, and though I had some doubt in my choice, I think I've made the right call for her.

Chickie was one of our first chickens, having arrived as a day-old in April 2005. She was always quiet and was picked on a lot before we knew that we weren't providing the girls enough space. She had survived the era known as 'before I knew better' at the beginning of my chickening time. She lived through so much... She was 8 1/2 years old.

Edit: Hit post too soon.

 

[Leahs Mom]

8.5 years is a wonderful, long life for a chicken. After having her for so long it will seem strange not to see her.

 

[goodb]

That's a long-lived chicken. My condolences in losing a friend.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

Sorry about your loss pipd. I think you made the right decision and she had a long happy life. I remember seeing pics of her on the EE braggers thread

 

[amwchickin]

Pipd - thinking of you as you let Chickie go today.

SallyInIndiana - I'm not huge into the heritage thing, I want decent quality birds and I think I need to start out again with most from the same place. So, I'll probably do online hatchery. Unless I get crazy and drive all over the tri-state to fellow BYC'ers and get some good birds!

pginsber - MY LIST: BR, BA, BCM, blue cochin, Blue CM, BLRW, buckeye, lav orp, light brahma, speckled sussex, blue andalusian, silver laced polish, blue Ameraucana, EE's,Olive Egger, salmon faverole, wheaten Ameraucana, Cochin Bantams, Mille Fleur Bantams.

I will probably start out at good ole Rural King and get the basic ones they normally have. Like I said, I'm not huge into heritage lines, I don't show my birds. I really just want a colorful flock and colorful egg basket.

Counting down the days until "Chick Days" are here again!!