INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Chaneys Ranch]

It's sure been quite around here! Must be spring


I mowed everything between yesterday and today. Even had the headlight on last night on the tractor mowing after sundown.

We had a crazy busy weekend!

So happy to report both the pea eggs i incubated hatched. One on time the other a day early. I was glad though since i wouldn't have been home tomorrow if it would've hatched then.

How Precious! I candled and saw I have a fertile egg! Fingers crossed!

 

[ellymayRans]

Also managed to candle the 5 pea eggs my hen had that i took from her and all 5 are alive! Very excited about that! I was really surprised when i first candled them, granted it was during the day, just not a good look at them. All 5 were moving tonight when i checked them.

 

[Mother2Hens]

Hi everyone—I've missed you guys!

My three remaining chickens and I are doing well, but one reason I've been away from the thread is because of family illnesses. The worst is most recent. My oldest sister who lives in Louisville (she had successful cancer surgery a year ago) is in Intensive Care with a blockage to her left carotid artery that affects blood flow to the left side of her brain. She had gone to a hair appointment and started talking and made no sense. The conscientious hair stylist drove her to the ER. So far, (it's been a few days) she is improving from meds she receives to break up the blockage. I am just mentioning this because it's one warning sign of a stroke, and it's the only sign she's had. Just fyi, in case you ever need to know, here are other symptoms: www.mayoclinic.org//stroke/symptoms

Besides family illnesses and my usual work, I've been overexerting myself doing outdoor projects—with my chickens' help, of course. Before my sister's hospitalization, I had been working on my plans for new chickens in July. I will report about that soon—too tired now. I just wanted to check in, and I hope to get back to normal soon!

 

[Mishlerfarm24]

Looks like he may have had frostbite on the toes.

Also looks like possible scaley leg mite.

I was told he's not even a year old and that he was born like that. His middle toe looks swollen! What can I do for leg mites!? Can he die from this? Cause he didn't look too good this morning and I'm on my way to classes and won't be home until midafternoon and I'm afraid he's not going to make it! I've never had to deal with any sickness with any of my chickens so i don't know what to do!!!!

 

[Indyshent]

I seriously have no idea what's going on with my new rooster. I found him and his brother on Facebook and immediately went and got them! They are gorgeous! Especially the one that I had my eye on! When I went to go get him I noticed his feet were different. His toes never fully grew!! The lady said that his other brother was the same but worst feet, but there's nothing wrong with him. He walks and runs funny but he was totally fine!! Just recently I noticed he hadn't been out and about and staying close to the coop. Sleepy and wasn't eating much. The past 3 nights when closing them in he was on the ground, I picked him up and placed him on the perch. Tonight when closing them in he wasn't around. Thinking the worst I went looking for him. As I walked past the grain bins I heard a small crow and turned around and saw him hobbling out from the grain bin. I picked him up and carried him to the coop. As I placed him down he fell to the ground. Thinking to myself, if he's sick or something I need to get him away from the rest and try and nurse him back to health. I collected good and water and put Rx from tractor supply in the water. When I went to get the water I sat him on my sons swing set and then I noticed his feet again!! Does anyone know what this is or seen it before or give me any advice!!!! He's so gorgeous that I don't want nothing to happen to him!!! It's his left foot but right foot in the picture! The right foot/normal foot. the left foot/ swollen looking foot. My handsome rooster! When his feathers are laying nicely on his chest it looks like spots!!

Looks like he may have had frostbite on the toes.

Also looks like possible scaley leg mite.

Wun Wun, the giant Dark Brahma roo here, has the same or a similar issue. I hadn't noticed it when he was younger, but he's missing the ends of some toes. Some of his kids have the same issue. I've never noticed any frostbite symptoms on any of them--just missing toenails.

Just in case, put Vaseline all over their feet to kill off scaly leg mites (which are too small to see) and check him for bumblefoot because it looks like he has some swelling.

No, they're not going to die from external parasites (like lice and leg mites). HOWEVER external parasites and other diseases tend to happen in groups because each is a sign of a depleted immune system. Roosters also suffer decreased fertility and sex drive when they have mites and are feeling terrible. Parasites can weaken the immune system enough that diseases take hold, and vice versa.

Other than fatigue, what symptoms does he have? Try some pick-me-up electrolytes and probiotics in the water and/or switch to fermented feed. Sounds like he needs a boost.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Parasites can weaken the immune system enough that diseases take hold, and vice versa.

Other than fatigue, what symptoms does he have? Try some pick-me-up electrolytes and probiotics in the water and/or switch to fermented feed. Sounds like he needs a boost.

Yes - what are the symptoms? Fatigue wouldn't normally be a symptom of parasites unless they are EXTREME.

Definitely quarantine him away from your other birds to observe for awhile.

 

[Mishlerfarm24]

Yes - what are the symptoms?  Fatigue wouldn't normally be a symptom of parasites unless they are EXTREME. 

He is definitely fatigued!!! I have seen him standing by the food most of the day on Saturday and he fell asleep there. He falls asleep when I hold him. I checked on him this morning and he didn't move much from where I placed him last night. He was hobbling badly and I mean badly yesterday when I went looking for him. But he's breathing fine, eating and drinking ehhh. I'm literally scared to go home from class to find him dead! I put the Rx that I bought at tractor supply made for chickens in his water.

Definitely quarantine him away from your other birds to observe for awhile. 

 

[ellymayRans]

[COLOR=8B4513]Hi everyone—I've missed you guys![/COLOR]

[COLOR=8B4513]My three remaining chickens and I are doing well, but one reason I've been away from the thread is because of family illnesses. The worst is most recent. My oldest sister who lives in Louisville (she had successful cancer surgery a year ago) is in Intensive Care with a blockage to her left carotid artery that affects blood flow to the left side of her brain. She had gone to a hair appointment and started talking and made no sense. The conscientious hair stylist drove her to the ER. So far, (it's been a few days) she is improving from meds she receives to break up the blockage. I am just mentioning this because it's one warning sign of a stroke, and it's the only sign she's had. Just fyi, in case you ever need to know, here are other symptoms: [/COLOR]www.mayoclinic.org//stroke/symptoms

[COLOR=8B4513]Besides family illnesses and my usual work, I've been overexerting myself doing outdoor projects—with my chickens' help, of course. Before my sister's hospitalization, I had been working on my plans for new chickens in July. I will report about that soon—too tired now. I just wanted to check in, and I hope to get back to normal soon![/COLOR]

I'm really sorry to hear that about your sister. I really hope they are able to help her.
Take care of yourself. I'll be thinking of you and your family.

 

[pginsber]

We have two hens, each with chicks, in puppy cages in the garage. Hen 1 has one chick and hen 2 and two chicks. These hens and chicks are in puppy playpens that are right next to each other. They all see each other, smell each other and hear each other all day and all night.

This weekend, we took both moms and all 3 babies into the main coop yard for some outdoor time. We have a large puppy playpen that's hard-sided and about 12' in diameter circle. I expected to have a little trouble at first when we started the playtime. Initially, I had apprehension about chick & mama playtime in the main coop yard is the chicks squeezing through the cracks and the big hens pecking at them. I was prepared that there would be a little pecking at first.

That turned out to be a very bad idea.

The moms each got big-hair feathers and stood on their tiptoes and started trying to rip each other's combs off. Feather's were flying, combs and wattles were bleeding, the chicks were cheeping and running around the perimeter.

It didn't seem to matter that all day long, for the past five weeks, these two hens have had only a piece of screen separating them. It was like they had seen each other for the first time--and didn't like it.

Anyway, I separated the hens with chicks, and all hens and chicks had a nice afternoon. Hen 1 and her one chick stayed inside the circle, hen 2 and her two chicks stayed outside the circle. I sat in a lawn chair in the coop yard, keeping the peace. I've had several learn-the-hard-way experiences with chickens and this was one of them.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to have a breeding pair of Araucanas to sell. They're only 3 weeks old, but one has substantial legs and another has substantial comb buds and one has neither of those. Surely, out of those, there will be a male and a female. If you're interested in a breeding pair of Aracaunas, be thinking about these little guys.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

We have two hens, each with chicks, in puppy cages in the garage. Hen 1 has one chick and hen 2 and two chicks. These hens and chicks are in puppy playpens that are right next to each other. They all see each other, smell each other and hear each other all day and all night.

This weekend, we took both moms and all 3 babies into the main coop yard for some outdoor time. We have a large puppy playpen that's hard-sided and about 12' in diameter circle. I expected to have a little trouble at first when we started the playtime. Initially, I had apprehension about chick & mama playtime in the main coop yard is the chicks squeezing through the cracks and the big hens pecking at them. I was prepared that there would be a little pecking at first.

That turned out to be a very bad idea.

The moms each got big-hair feathers and stood on their tiptoes and started trying to rip each other's combs off. Feather's were flying, combs and wattles were bleeding, the chicks were cheeping and running around the perimeter.

It didn't seem to matter that all day long, for the past five weeks, these two hens have had only a piece of screen separating them. It was like they had seen each other for the first time--and didn't like it.

Anyway, I separated the hens with chicks, and all hens and chicks had a nice afternoon. Hen 1 and her one chick stayed inside the circle, hen 2 and her two chicks stayed outside the circle. I sat in a lawn chair in the coop yard, keeping the peace. I've had several learn-the-hard-way experiences with chickens and this was one of them.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to have a breeding pair of Araucanas to sell. They're only 3 weeks old, but one has substantial legs and another has substantial comb buds and one has neither of those. Surely, out of those, there will be a male and a female. If you're interested in a breeding pair of Aracaunas, be thinking about these little guys.

I can believe it. My only true broody hatch was Bunny, the EE who actually stole the chicks from an Australorp. She was so fierce protecting those chicks, she even backed geese down. Its amazing what we learn, some things not so fun.