INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

I learned one things today.

Apparently the snow on my boot tastes better than the snow on the ground. At least in a chickens mind.

I also got to try my first home grown chicken tonight. Tasted pretty good.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Pipd - i wish you the best with your flock. It was so hard putting my flock down last year. I've been more vigilant with things this year and I hope i never have to go through that again. So good luck with everything!

It's tough to know it's here, but harder, I'm sure, to start over from scratch. Wishing you the best for your flock as well!

[COLOR=4B0082]So sorry to hear your flock is carrying.  Thank goodness you took the steps to diagnose & prevent further spread. You have beautiful birds. I too am very bonded to my flock favorites, so I can understand your decision.[/color]

Yes, I am very, very attached to the vast majority of my 41 hens. It was more than I could take, to think about losing them all at once. I'm not afraid to admit some tears were shed. I think I can at least make it very, very difficult for my girls to spread the disease from here. The good news is, we're in the middle of nowhere with only a hand full of houses nearby and only one flock that I know of, so it shouldn't go far as long as we're careful about not tracking it out.

I was beginning to wonder where you had been. I'm glad to see you back. But I am sorry for the news you recieved. I had something go through my flock at the end of fall that freaked me out a bit. Some of my babies got runny noses and watery eyes. I treated them with tylon and they are all better now, but I was so very upset when I thought I might have to put some of them down. The first one to get sick is one of my favorite polish roosters. This spring my DH and I are totally overhauling the coops and making some drastic changes to make things a little safer for all the birds and people. I hope everything else is going okay for you. Did you finish school yet? Are you in collage, I just remember you talking previously about classes and homework. I am right there with you. I am getting ready to start my second semester of nursing school.

No, not yet! Next week begins my second semester as an Ecology and Evolutionary Biology major at IPFW. I missed out on my concentration classes again, though, so I'm in German 2 and Statistics this semester.

Awww love the pics (especially violet but I am partial to Bielies of course!).  I'm so sorry about what you are going through.  I've read literature that speculates that a lot of backyard flocks carry a mild form of MG but very few backyard flocks ever get tested so no one knows.  You are right that it is everywhere.  I have a Purdue chicken farm a mile from my house and am trying to adopt a zen approach.  I will deal with the cards I am dealt and not stress too much.  Like you I wouldn't de-populate.  Welcome back and sorry for what you are having to deal with!

Ah, my lovely Violet. I think she may have begun to lay last month, around 7 months old, but I haven't been able to catch her in the act so I'm not 100% sure! She's such a grump sometimes, but I love her. Bieles have definitely made my 'list', whether I have to put off breeding them or not.

Aww pipd, I'm sorry about your news. Honestly something in the amount of like 90 percent of flocks have MG. It's not surprising your girls have it. You didn't do anything wrong, it was probably wild birds. I have a girl with a runny nose now and my barn has been closed for the last 4 days and everyone was fine, so who knows what her deal is. About my little silke chick, thanks yeah she is going to be an interesting grow out, not because she is smooth, that was expected, but because she is half smooth half silkied. That's a bit different lol!. Glad to see you back. I lurk a lot, but don't post as much as I used to unless I get the camera out.

To the question about the snow blindness in chickens, I don't remember where I saw that. It was just recently I read it somewhere. and then saw a discussion about it. I guess it's something you just have to test for yourself lol.

I'd heard that statistic before, and honestly didn't believe it until now. I mean, there was no evidence of it being here and yet here it was! :/ Hope your girl is fine!

I must have misread your post about the silkie baby. She's cute, either way! Do you have any other chocolate birds, or just the one? And any pictures of her? That's one of my favorite colors for chickens...

Sorry about the news pipd. There are sooo many ways it can be spread. All te illnesses ou there are super frightening. I don't know what I would do if I was faced with the problem. I have so much fun showing and breeding and love every bit of it. But I have have a ton of emotional attachment to my flock. Kudos to you for being able to make the decision. Beets wishes for you and your flock

It really has been shaking to experience! I suppose it was easier for me to decide because my birds are pets and never leave the property (except once last month, for a vet visit--that was interesting!). I'm not sure in your shoes that I could choose so easily!

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

It's tough to know it's here, but harder, I'm sure, to start over from scratch. Wishing you the best for your flock as well!
Yes, I am very, very attached to the vast majority of my 41 hens. It was more than I could take, to think about losing them all at once. I'm not afraid to admit some tears were shed. I think I can at least make it very, very difficult for my girls to spread the disease from here. The good news is, we're in the middle of nowhere with only a hand full of houses nearby and only one flock that I know of, so it shouldn't go far as long as we're careful about not tracking it out.
No, not yet! Next week begins my second semester as an Ecology and Evolutionary Biology major at IPFW. I missed out on my concentration classes again, though, so I'm in German 2 and Statistics this semester.
Ah, my lovely Violet. I think she may have begun to lay last month, around 7 months old, but I haven't been able to catch her in the act so I'm not 100% sure! She's such a grump sometimes, but I love her. Bieles have definitely made my 'list', whether I have to put off breeding them or not.

I'd heard that statistic before, and honestly didn't believe it until now. I mean, there was no evidence of it being here and yet here it was! :/ Hope your girl is fine!

I must have misread your post about the silkie baby. She's cute, either way! Do you have any other chocolate birds, or just the one? And any pictures of her? That's one of my favorite colors for chickens...
It really has been shaking to experience! I suppose it was easier for me to decide because my birds are pets and never leave the property (except once last month, for a vet visit--that was interesting!). I'm not sure in your shoes that I could choose so easily!

Hope whatever reason you ha to make a vet trip-that all turned out well.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Apparently the snow on my boot tastes better than the snow on the ground. At least in a chickens mind.

An undeniable truth. Also, mud, dirt, sand, leaves, even fine twigs when stuck to your boots become edible. Watch your step!

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Hope whatever reason you ha to make a vet trip-that all turned out well.

Actually, that was to get the swabs done to test for MG, so... Not really. But it was interesting juggling two hens for the car ride since I didn't have anything to put them in.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

An undeniable truth. Also, mud, dirt, sand, leaves, even fine twigs when stuck to your boots become edible. Watch your step!

Anything and everything!

Actually, that was to get the swabs done to test for MG, so... Not really. But it was interesting juggling two hens for the car ride since I didn't have anything to put them in.

Ohh. Considering the time frame I figured it was something else. Traveling with chickens is always interesting. Last month I went to Tennessee with 10 or so. Definitely makes fr a smelly trip

 

[ellymayRans]

Anything and everything!
Ohh. Considering the time frame I figured it was something else. Traveling with chickens is always interesting. Last month I went to Tennessee with 10 or so. Definitely makes fr a smelly trip

Lol! Yeah I made my first vet trip several weeks back when things had froze over. One Peachick about 5 mos old and a long trip to go about 45 miles took me 3+hours! It was a horrible....sitting in traffic battling the slick road conditions all the while it was pooping up a storm in the carrier! Yuk! I'm not sure but I'm pretty convinced pea poop smells much worse than chicken poop! Hahaha!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote: Whistling girls and crowing hens,
Both will come to no good ends.


This is too funny not to post the video here where folks can see.

 

[kabhyper1]

It's tough to know it's here, but harder, I'm sure, to start over from scratch. Wishing you the best for your flock as well!

Yes, I am very, very attached to the vast majority of my 41 hens. It was more than I could take, to think about losing them all at once. I'm not afraid to admit some tears were shed. I think I can at least make it very, very difficult for my girls to spread the disease from here. The good news is, we're in the middle of nowhere with only a hand full of houses nearby and only one flock that I know of, so it shouldn't go far as long as we're careful about not tracking it out.

No, not yet! Next week begins my second semester as an Ecology and Evolutionary Biology major at IPFW.

I missed out on my concentration classes again, though, so I'm in German 2 and Statistics this semester.

Ah, my lovely Violet.

I think she may have begun to lay last month, around 7 months old, but I haven't been able to catch her in the act so I'm not 100% sure! She's such a grump sometimes, but I love her. Bieles have definitely made my 'list', whether I have to put off breeding them or not.

I'd heard that statistic before, and honestly didn't believe it until now. I mean, there was no evidence of it being here and yet here it was!

Hope your girl is fine!

I must have misread your post about the silkie baby.

She's cute, either way! Do you have any other chocolate birds, or just the one? And any pictures of her? That's one of my favorite colors for chickens...

It really has been shaking to experience! I suppose it was easier for me to decide because my birds are pets and never leave the property (except once last month, for a vet visit--that was interesting!). I'm not sure in your shoes that I could choose so easily!

I don't have the mother. These are from shipped eggs. If it's a roo it will be split to chocolate and will produce chocolate off spring. If shes a girl she is just black not split. Pipd keep some Denagard on hand and do preventative treatments. There are instructions on here somewhere for the amount and frequency. You do not have to withhold eggs with Denagard, and it is amazing for respiratory stuff. I have also been doing some reading online about how it may actually wipe out MG not just treat it. Don't quote me on that though lol. There is a lot of info about a lot of things but not all of it is accurate.

 

[ellymayRans]

Actually, that was to get the swabs done to test for MG, so... Not really. But it was interesting juggling two hens for the car ride since I didn't have anything to put them in.

I just hate that for you Pipd! When I took my pea they suggested testing but with already $180 vet bill I just couldn't afford another $75. I have many young peeps all the time it seems and I've never dealt with respiratory issues here. The two came here from SD and were in quarantine for a little over a month. Treated with baytril and the pea was good within a couple of days.

What made you think to go have testing done if no symptoms? Mine came from an NPIP cert flock but not tested for MG.