INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Leahs Mom]

I prefer to remember her this way.

So sad she's gone.

 

[pattyhen]

Here is a picture of my hens helping my husband remove a tree stump. They worked for several hours and they finally removed the stump. If anyone needs weeds, grass, flowers, or tree stumps removed call me I'll send my girls right over.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

M2H So sorry about your hen. I would think she must have gotten into some kind of poison maybe it was a plant if not put out by your neighbors. Another thought is maybe she found a poisoned mouse.

 

[Hholly]

Oh, @mother2hens so sorry you lost Lacey. :-(

 

[Indyshent]

It's been an unexpected beautiful day — Sunny and 70 degrees. In the early afternoon, I took Lacy across the street to take her broody break. She acted normal and enjoyed free ranging. Then I took my five hens out the back for an excursion. After about three hours, I decided to check on Lacy to see if maybe she'd want to go out again since it's still sunny. I found her dead. She was in this strange position just outside the kennel where she's been camping out broody (she's had the run of the bed room). Her eyes are closed and her head erect, feet outward. Maybe @kittydoc will know if that means anything.

Last week, Lacy suddenly had respiratory issues. I took her to the the vet on Thursday; she was diagnosed with MG/CRD and was prescribed Tylan Soluble. (my other hens have it in their only water, but they have been suspicious and will find the tiniest puddle for a drink).

Ugh, I just feel queasy and sad. She was so sweet and fun.

I am so sorry, @Mother2Hens ! If there is anything I can do to help, let me know.

 

[kittydoc]

@Mother2Hens I am so sorry. If you refrigerated her body, either drive it to Purdue or ask your vet to submit tracheal swabs and then submit the trachea in formalin. You really need to know the organisms involved so you can end all this death. I feel terrible for you. Once it is safe to repopulate, I would be happy to give you some chicks or pullets. You were my first friend here and I won't forget it.

 

[ellymayRans]

A little over an hour ago my peas made a commotion honking and carrying on. I went out and found my white male like this! I can only assume an owl as a ground predator couldn't reach him.
The bleeding has stopped but he has puncture wounds on his neck, a patch gone on his head and nose bleeding.
I'm surprised it hit so early and with us right here with living room lights and such. He seems like he is going to be ok but a large area of his neck is raw.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Haven't had much computer time lately. Been a busy week with a sick hubby, kids' school projects, a house guest from FL, teaching several classes, and building a brooder & EcoGlow-like heater... in my spare time. (I'll post pics when it's fully completed.) Anyway, my test hatch eggs are in lock down & I hope to see chicks on Tues.

Cuddles Update: She's back up in the pecking order & enjoying life in her flock. She still has a very firm abdomen & feels bony. She's at least eating & drinking.

I am so glad for cuddles. My oldest Lavender hen is looking more pale than normal, so she is getting chopped raw beef liver as a treat.

Also:
Over the past week, I've been seeing some hawks circle way up high. A few times, one has been low enough for me to see its red-tail. My awesome roos make the warning & the hens take immediate shelter. So far, they have not swooped low across the yard. Just wondering if these are scouting visits. The hawk (or sometimes 2) seem to be circling in a pattern that slowly moves across the sky. Is this just how they work or have my chickens peaked their interest, so they'll keep coming back? The Coopers hawk was worse. That bird just camped out in our backyard for a month. People & noise did not scare it.

If I'm outside when a hawk is spotted, I make sure to get the dogs & kids to run around & make noise.

I do the same, and will put blanks in the shotgun too. I saw 2 very large dark colored hawks circling today. At first I thought it may have been bald eagle but not quite as big.

 

[kittydoc]

@ellymayrans Once you stop the bleeding and clean up the wound with a disinfectant, if a lot of neck skin is missing, make what's called a wet - to-day bandage. Basically this is several layers of gauze over an antibiotic ointment (Neosporin, for example), of for the naturopaths, a thick layer of natural honey. Honey has great properties and I've used it in practice. First layer of gauze should be damp but not dripping with sterile saline. Ask your pharmacist, but you can possibly use a saline eye wash or nose moisten in product. 2nd layer of gauze is less wet, 3rd is dry. Wrap with some Cling wrap and tape, or Elastic on horse wrap and tape. Change daily to no more than 48 hours. You will see pink granulation coming within days. Once the gap is totally granulated, skin will start to regrow. At that point, you can just use ointment/honey and a dry wrap every 1-2 days until the skin is all back. Hope this helps!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Update: The small farm animal swap in Bedford is set for April 23rd from 8am to 1pm at Tractor Supply. If anyone needs directions let me know

Thanks for the update!

I have a question for the goat people here??? At the new place in the woods that I'm going to let my goats roam around in there is quite a bit of Ginseng, is it ok for them to eat that? and what about mushrooms?

http://www.goatworld.com/health/plants/
Hope this helps. Also just google it, is mushroom safe for goats.

Posting again in case anyone is interested in deterring hawks:

The DNR recommends using "Bird Bangers". They are a pyrotechnic that you shoot from a special "hand-gun-launcher". It is like shooting up a firecracker or a "whistler" - depending on which kind you are shooting. The idea is to scare the hawks away from an area.

I purchased some last year and have enjoyed using them (guess I'm like a little kid with firecrackers

) I try to be in a area where hawks can't see me when I fire them. My idea is to make them afraid of the "area" rather than me, the person. Of course, when you're in a hurry and hawks are circling they definitely see me.

I have really like them. It definitely makes me feel like a "predator" to the hawks (we, of course, being their natural predator but we can't legally predate anymore).

Before I got them, hawks were bold and would just sit and look at me from wherever they were staging - even if I gave them a tongue lashing. They're not afraid of people anymore because we're no longer a threat. But they get the idea quickly when I have a "scare tactic" I can use that is frightful.

Got mine at Reed Joseph. https://reedjoseph.com/products/pyrotechnics/scare-away-pyrotechnics/bird-banger-100-round-box/

You have to fill out a "Wildlife Control Statement" to purchase.



I got some screamers and some bangers so I have both around.
https://reedjoseph.com/products/pyrotechnics/scare-away-pyrotechnics/bird-banger-100-round-box/
https://reedjoseph.com/products/pyrotechnics/scare-away-pyrotechnics/screamer-siren-100-round-box/


And a double-shot launcher:
https://reedjoseph.com/products/pyrotechnics/double-shot-launcher/

They have shells that also fit 12 gauge shotgun but you DO have to have a permit to purchase those.

Great post!

I'm still getting a few calls from buyers looking to get pullets ready for the great outdoors and layers. If anyone would like to be put on my list of people to call, please let me know. Or if anyone is interested in getting into the business of raising up pullets to sell, let me know. I'm sure I could help get you started.

I am still considering this too. I will need to get more grow outs built for sure!

It's been an unexpected beautiful day — Sunny and 70 degrees. In the early afternoon, I took Lacy across the street to take her broody break. She acted normal and enjoyed free ranging. Then I took my five hens out the back for an excursion. After about three hours, I decided to check on Lacy to see if maybe she'd want to go out again since it's still sunny. I found her dead. She was in this strange position just outside the kennel where she's been camping out broody (she's had the run of the bed room). Her eyes are closed and her head erect, feet outward. Maybe @kittydoc will know if that means anything.

Last week, Lacy suddenly had respiratory issues. I took her to the the vet on Thursday; she was diagnosed with MG/CRD and was prescribed Tylan Soluble. (my other hens have it in their only water, but they have been suspicious and will find the tiniest puddle for a drink).

Ugh, I just feel queasy and sad. She was so sweet and fun.

Oh no.

Almost sounds like flip. I am so terribly sorry.