INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Hey guys, can we use our salamander heater in our barn with the chickens in there? We used it last year for the alpacas and they were fine. We crack the big garage door for ventilation. We only run it for a half hour at a time. It doesn't put off fumes that we can smell, but I wasn't sure about the chickens. It plugs into the wall and runs on kerosene k-1.

I had one over in the shop when I was building a brooder with chickens in quarientine. I could faintly smell something. But it didn't bother them at all. I also had the garage door cracked open while i was working. I think they will be okay. I just don't think you shouls put it right by them

I've never heard of a Salamander Heater, but if there's any sort of smell or fumes from them, my gut would be no. Birds are very sensitive to fumes. At the very least, make sure there's LOTS of ventilation. Are you sure your alpacas will need the extra heat?

[COLOR=8B4513]I think Pipd posted some frostbite tips, but I couldn't find them![/COLOR]

If I posted anything, it was that you should make sure to have plenty of ventilation in your coop to avoid frostbite. Most cases of frostbite are caused by excess humidity freezing on their combs. Ventilation should be above the birds, of course, and definitely not blowing against them in these conditions.

[COLOR=A52A2A]Pipd[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]~ Yes, I think you're correct. I just read about it in my health book. I'm pretty sure I can get her to the vet tomorrow since it hardly snowed, unless the ice and bitter cold is a problem.[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]She is waddling, and has a wider stance.[/COLOR]

The problem is that when they get peritonitis it is an infection that is incredibly painful and they usually don't recover from it though they can live in pain for quite a long time unless culled. [quote url=""] Egg peritonitis is characterized by fibrin or albumen-like material with a cooked appearance among the abdominal viscera. It is a common cause of sporadic death in layers or breeder hens, but in some flocks may become the major cause of death before or after reaching peak production and give the appearance of a contagious disease. It is diagnosed at necropsy. Peritonitis follows reverse movement of albumen and Escherichia coli bacteria from the oviduct into the abdomen. If the incidence is high, culture should be done to differentiate between Pasteurella (fowl cholera) or Salmonella infection. Antibiotic treatment of peritonitis caused by E coli infections is usually ineffective. Management of body weight and uniformity, reproductive development (ovary follicle growth and maturation), and drinking water sanitation are the best preventive strategies. http:// When hens have too many large ovarian follicles, a problem described as erratic oviposition and defective egg syndrome (EODES) is seen in broiler breeders. This condition is accompanied by a high incidence of double-yolked eggs, prolapses of the oviduct, internal ovulation, and/or internal laying that often results in egg peritonitis and mortality. EODES is prevented by avoiding light stimulation of underweight pullets too early and by following guidelines for body weight and uniformity, and lighting recommendations for each breeder strain. Overweight hens may also have a higher incidence of erratic ovulations and mortality associated with egg peritonitis.

A fully formed egg may lodge in the shell gland or vagina because the egg is too big (eg, double-yolked) or because of hypocalcemia, calcium tetany, or previous trauma (usually pecking) to the vent and/or vagina that obstructs oviposition. This condition may be more prevalent in young hens that are brought into production before body development is adequate or in hens that are overweight or obese. It occurs more often during spring and summer months because of overstimulation of birds by increasing light intensity and day length, which can be compounded by rapid increases in the amount of feed and/or excessive protein (lysine). This is a medical emergency in pet birds but is usually recognized only during necropsy in commercial poultry. [COLOR=FF0000]When impaction occurs, eggs that continue to form create layers of albumen and yolk material, and the oviduct becomes very large. Some eggs are refluxed to the abdominal cavity (abdominal laying), and affected hens assume a penguin-like posture.[/COLOR]

[/quote] Just as an additional note to this, internal laying is not the same as egg binding! I see that mistake made frequently. Egg binding is when a fully-formed egg gets stuck somewhere along the oviduct and blocks the hen up. This can sometimes be helped along with a warm bath to relax the muscles. This is usually caused by an overly large egg. If the hen passes the egg, she can go on to lay normally as long as she doesn't have any more big eggs. Internal laying is when eggs do not form fully and instead either drop into the abdomen or sit in the oviduct, as described above. This usually cannot be helped and leads to peritonitis and a lot of discomfort. I have had four or five hens--one production Rhodie and several red sexlinks--come down with this. It's unfortunately very common in production breeds from hatcheries, specifically the ones that lay huge numbers of eggs in their lifetimes like sexlinks, white Leghorns, production reds, etc. The best you can do is try to make them comfortable. I have heard of people emptying the abdomen and treating with antibiotics, but I personally feel this just prolongs their suffering. By the time my birds reached the 'penguin-walk' phase of internal laying, I have put them out of their misery. That's my personal feeling on the condition, though.

 

[kabhyper1]

It is 16 degrees in our barn. Doesn't sound that warm until you realize its 32 degrees warmer than the -16 outside. The alpacas are munching away on hay snuggled down into their straw. The chickens are hanging out with them eating scratch. I made the chickens a mixed veggie and oatmeal mash warmed up. I turned the heat lamp on while I was out there for about 20 minutes. Unplugged when I left. Too iffy with all the hay in there to leave it on.

I can say that Lily has an alibi and was here all week and is not the monster at minmins. I can't say the same for the yeti.

 

[racinchickins]

Hi All,

Stuck at the house today. Took a bunch of pictures yesterday, so I thought I'd post a few. I'll start with the new pens and runs.




These are the runs that I just finished attached to the barn.



There are 4 separate runs at the moment. I want to build a 5th double size run on the end for turkeys next year.

Here are the turkeys in their current run now. Last night was the first night they actually slept inside.

There is a tom and two hen Royal Palms, and two mixed variety hens.

The snow looks so pretty on the wires.

Here are some of the inside pens. Turkeys on the right, American Bresse on the left.

The laying flock pen

This pen has leg bars, dark cornish and a polish hen.

I'm sooooo glad these are finished. Weeks of work! But now everyone is cozy inside. It was -11 outside and 0 inside the barn this morning.

another view, with the nest boxes.

Glad I've got everyone out of that!

This is neat. The snow packed in on the wire top of the runs and formed a solid roof.



Another view of the new roof!

 

[racinchickins]

Now for chicken pictures! Here are some of my American Bresse. They are a French Breed famed for its meat. They are white, lay brown eggs, and have blue legs. With the red comb and wattles, that makes them Red, White, and Blue Chickens! I"ve been pretty happy with them. They are bigger at 20 weeks than any other breed I've had.



Dust bathing. It is amazing that after rolling in the dirt, they end up looking so perfectly white.

I love the big combs and wattles. But not sure how'll they will do in the extreme cold today.......

This is Charlie. He is a Cream Crested Legbar Roo. Unfortunately, he didn't inherit any Cream. I think he's gorgeous, but he isn't the right color for breeding to the standard. He does have a crest, and the genes for blue eggs, so I'm keeping him around. He got banished from the laying flock by the other roos, and I couldn't put him in with the leg bars, so he's in with the ABs for now.

One of the American Bresse pullets. One started laying at 19 weeks, several others look like they should start soon.

Some of the boys. Going to thin the flock soon. Going from 10 roos to 2. Gotta pick out the best.





Curious......What is that in your hand?

 

[racinchickins]

Next pen is my laying flock. They are out on pasture all spring and summer, but in the barn for the winter.



This is Osiris, my lead Roo. He is an Egyptian Fayoumi. He does a great job.

Silver Laced Wyandotte, my most reliable winter layer.

Silver phoenix hen, getting ready to lay.

Gold laced polish pullet

My buff laced polish roo, Penelope.

The white Cockerel is about 15 weeks. You can see his parents. Mom is the dark brahma, and dad is the polish, Penelope.

Egyptian Fayoumi hen in front, Fayoumi/Welsummer mix in back. Dark brahma hen looking on.

Golden pencilled hamburg. She has apparently decided some molting is in order. Just in time for -11 temps.

This one is a mystery. She came with my leg bar pullets. She's got coloring like a brown leghorn, a big floppy comb, and green legs. And she lays blue/green eggs..

My Welsummer hen that just started laying again after a molt. That's a silver phoenix hen just in front of her.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Just as an additional note to this, internal laying is not the same as egg binding! I see that mistake made frequently.

Egg binding is when a fully-formed egg gets stuck somewhere along the oviduct and blocks the hen up. This can sometimes be helped along with a warm bath to relax the muscles. This is usually caused by an overly large egg. If the hen passes the egg, she can go on to lay normally as long as she doesn't have any more big eggs.

Internal laying is when eggs do not form fully and instead either drop into the abdomen or sit in the oviduct, as described above. This usually cannot be helped and leads to peritonitis and a lot of discomfort.

I have had four or five hens--one production Rhodie and several red sexlinks--come down with this. It's unfortunately very common in production breeds from hatcheries, specifically the ones that lay huge numbers of eggs in their lifetimes like sexlinks, white Leghorns, production reds, etc. The best you can do is try to make them comfortable. I have heard of people emptying the abdomen and treating with antibiotics, but I personally feel this just prolongs their suffering. By the time my birds reached the 'penguin-walk' phase of internal laying, I have put them out of their misery. That's my personal feeling on the condition, though.

Agreed - and glad you pointed that out.

I've been told that they feel pretty different when you feel the abdomen so the description given of the "water balloon" in the abdominal area makes me "think" that it's not egg-bound...sounds more like the other issue.

I hope I'm wrong.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@racinchickins

What kind of wire did you use on the top of your outdoor runs? Looks great!

 

[racinchickins]

Last pen. Set up for my Cream Crested Legbars (and a few other stragglers)

This is Merlin. He's got the proper Cream Legbar coloring. His tail is a bit of a mess, because he didn't fare too well with the other roos in the laying flock. He's also the first chick I ever hatched.

Thought I'd put another photo of Charlie in to contrast what a Legbar too looks like if they don't inherit cream.

This is Guenivere. Second chick I hatched out. She has a bit too much gold to be a perfect breeder, and she has a major limp from a leg injury. It's bad enough she may never lay, but she has nothing to worry about though. She and Merlin hav a golden ticket to live their life out on the farm, since they are my first two hatchlings.

These are 4 Dark Cornish pullets from Lil Americauna Mom. I call them the grumble sisters. They are always muttering to each other, no matter where they are. Even in the dark on the roost. Not laying yet, but they are my partners favorites.

This is my Legbar pullet that just started laying. I think she has lots of potential. Good coloring, nice crest, nice yellow legs.

This is my second leg bar pullet. Not laying yet, but good potential.

Another shot of Merlin. He's had a rough life, sole hatchling of 7 eggs. Survived an attack by my turkeys that I luckily saw and broke up. Then a couple months at the bottom of the too totem pole with the laying flock. He's all full of himself now that he's the only Roo in his pen.

I love the crests on the CCL hens!

This is my buff laced polish girl. I put her in here so I will know when she starts laying. She is the only white egg layer in the pen. The CCLs lay blue, and the cornish will be brown.

 

[racinchickins]

@racinchickins

What kind of wire did you use on the top of your outdoor runs? Looks great!

It's 2x4 welded wire. It's the same stuff as the sides. As soon as the cold breaks, I will be putting hardware cloth around all the bottom sections. and over the sections of the tops that are attached to the barn walls.

 

[Kiniska]

Brought the barn cats in the house. They are very content.

Keep warm guys.