INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Leahs Mom]

From the Merk Veterinary Manual (@good2016 )


"Star-gazing" is the "wry neck"

Quote:

Polyneuritis may be seen in mature birds ~3 wk after they are fed a thiamine-deficient diet. As the deficiency progresses, birds may sit on flexed legs and draw back their heads in a star-gazing position. Retraction of the head is due to paralysis of the anterior neck muscles. Soon after this stage, chickens lose the ability to stand or sit upright and topple to the floor, where they may lie with heads still retracted. Thiamine deficiency may also lead to a decrease in body temperature and respiratory rate. Testicular degeneration may be noted, and the heart may show slight atrophy. Birds consuming a thiamine-deficient diet soon show severe anorexia. They lose all interest in feed and will not resume eating unless given thiamine. If a severe deficiency has developed, thiamine must be force-fed or injected to induce the chickens to resume eating.

Thiamine deficiency is most common when poorly processed fish meals are used, because they contain thiaminase enzyme. In such situations, adding extra thiamine may be ineffective. There is no good evidence suggesting that, unlike in some mammalian species, certain Fusarium mycotoxins can increase the need for supplemental thiamine. In otherwise adequate diets, deficiency is prevented by supplements of thiamine up to 4 mg/kg.

 

[Indyshent]

There's no such thing as a "White Shoulder".

Perhaps they meant Black Shoulder. ??

Look at them; you're the resident peafowl expert. They seem to have white patches in the same areas (chest mostly) so I figured they were pied. Maybe the seller had been sold the parent under an odd name or was just trying to be more specific about the markings. Lots of people have either lost pea hens in this last year or just wanted to add more I this last year, so at that price and they're visibly apparent health, I figured it was too good a deal not to mention.

 

[ellymayRans]

Look at them; you're the resident peafowl expert. They seem to have white patches in the same areas (chest mostly) so I figured they were pied. Maybe the seller had been sold the parent under an odd name or was just trying to be more specific about the markings. Lots of people have either lost pea hens in this last year or just wanted to add more I this last year, so at that price and they're visibly apparent health, I figured it was too good a deal not to mention.

No fault of yours.

The white on them is in the right place (actually a cream) for the India Blue. Pied would have white patches on the back and wings or even all over.

 

[Indyshent]

No fault of yours.

The white on them is in the right place (actually a cream) for the India Blue. Pied would have white patches on the back and wings or even all over.

I'm never going to own those birds, Mandy. I live in downtown Indy. I want one; don't get me wrong, but they're just so noisy that they'll have to wait til I'm in the middle of nowhere. I've heard that they're all the magic of turkeys, but smaller, prettier, longer-lived, less tasty and far more expensive in general. Veterinarily speaking, they're turkeys, which means I'm practicing peafowl medicine on my turkeys

So, basically what you're saying, is that these are India Blue peafowl for $30/ea, which is still super cheap.

 

[Indyshent]

Other craigslist finds for today.

There are two RIR/NHR cross roosters available! Possibly the seller has some full NHR on site!? Both old enough to "get the job done," and they were hatched late last summer. $10/ea.


Free mini-pig.
Coop and chickens $75 7 hens, one rooster (looks production red)

OLDER POST 2 young Aseel/Asil roosters. Pretty boys, and I'm hoping the seller either has them or they went to good homes. I've had the privilege of meeting a representative Asil before, and they're wonderful flock guardians with a lot of really good rooster traits. Breed isn't for egg-laying, but they're the kings of free-ranging roosters.

Ringnecks (normal and melanistic) and Royal Palms

Swinho, Alaskan snow, and Peach & Yellow Golden Pheasants. Seller also has IB peafowl (+white, which is mentioned in a different post)

1-yr-old BO and 2-yr-old GLW (straight comb) never-broody hens

Bantam Campine hens

Call drakes

Limited time offer. Muscovies, both genders and mature $5/ea. All appear to be black pied from picture. Seller will start processing after 1/28

 

[Andrew10]

Other craigslist finds for today. 

There are two RIR/NHR cross roosters available! Possibly the seller has some full NHR on site!? Both old enough to "get the job done," and they were hatched late last summer. $10/ea.


Free mini-pig. 
Coop and chickens $75 7 hens, one rooster (looks production red)

OLDER POST 2 young Aseel/Asil roosters. Pretty boys, and I'm hoping the seller either has them or they went to good homes. I've had the privilege of meeting a representative Asil before, and they're wonderful flock guardians with a lot of really good rooster traits. Breed isn't for egg-laying, but they're the kings of free-ranging roosters.  

Ringnecks (normal and melanistic) and Royal Palms

Swinho, Alaskan snow, and Peach & Yellow Golden Pheasants. Seller also has IB peafowl (+white, which is mentioned in a different post)

1-yr-old BO and 2-yr-old GLW (straight comb) never-broody hens

Bantam Campine hens

Call drakes

Limited time offer. Muscovies, both genders and mature $5/ea. All appear to be black pied from picture. Seller will start processing after 1/28

Hey Indyshet thanks so much for Craigslist finds

still looking for rooster, though if necessary I would get it as a chick

 

[good2016]

@leahsmom thank you for the great info. I thought feeding very little "treats" and mostly chicken feed that it would meet my chickens dietary needs. I'm frequently amazed at how much there is to learn about chickens!

 

[cookbookguru]

Hi, I'm new to the site as well as to raising chickens. We have a flock of 17. I look forward to learning more about chickens from this site! We live just outside Evansville.

 

[Mommahiggy]

So sorry to hear about your Frieda, Mother2Hens.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@leahsmom thank you for the great info. I thought feeding very little "treats" and mostly chicken feed that it would meet my chickens dietary needs. I'm frequently amazed at how much there is to learn about chickens!

Sometimes it is just a particular bird that has a need. Other times there will be an issue with a particular batch of chicks like J. Salatin experienced which could be an issue of deficiency in the parents that makes it harder for the chicks to thrive.

I think that most of the time your basic feed that you buy will be just fine and you shouldn't need to worry too much in general. But it is good to know what might be going on if an issue arises rather than having to fear diseases, etc.

One thing I would add to basic feeds is an "animal-based" protein as often as possible as chickens are not vegetarian and are not designed to thrive on a vegetarian diet. I'm including insects in the animal category. Insects, snakes, mice, etc. have always been part of a healthy diet for chickens. When they can range outdoors they find quite a bit of that on their own. But in the winter and when they are confined I try to add some "animal based protiens" as often as possible. I sometimes even give a bit of high quality ground beef raw in tiny pieces, but mealworms, raw eggs (only from your own flock), cultured dairy products (like yogurt or kefir) are all very helpful. Insects are great because they eat the whole body and there are a great deal of nutrients in them including calcium and other minerals since they eat the "bones" and internals with the meat.


I'm one that takes more of a "natural approach" so I don't purchase off-the-shelf feeds. But there are plenty of people that do feed them with little or no problems, being sure to give some "animal based" protein in addition as often as possible.