International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[wrathsfarm]

ear infection? check his ears with a q tip. neurological issue has nothing to do with crowing. also check for lice and mites. do you have any antibiotics? vitamins can help with infection too.

I will check for this when wife gets back so I can hold him. And as far as the crowing, that's why I said it concerns me... I fear it's a sign of pain. His left ankle look swollen to me this morning.
I'll get pics and take a video of him, it may help see something I'm not seeing. Thank you

 

[Auntiejessi3]

The funny thing is that a lot of Marans breeders end up with Legbars. I have never entirely figured out why.

Sexlinked OE's

 

[wrathsfarm]

Neurological symptoms can come from various issues and cause odd problems. Mobility problems, dizzyness and wry neck are possible.
Vitamin diffencies can be a cause but there are others too. Some times a bird needs more of something than other birds. I've found this true especially as they age. Old age in poultry is rarely studied.

Probably best not to breed a bird with issues but I have many pets too. I do not breed every animal I own.

This girl was a pet so i wanted to do all I could.. Same as I would do for a dog or cat, etc.

She was a small CLB so <5 lbs. I had liquid B Complex. I gave 1ml per day. If I had tablets I would have given her 1/2 tab per day. I was told and also read that B vitamins are very difficult to over do because the are water solvable. The body will expel what it does not need.

I could only get tablets for the vitamin E so I gave her 1/2 per day.

She also got regular chicken vitamins/electr mix in her water for a while.

The first week or so she got a scrambled egg each day. Also all the feed she wanted.

The laying down to pick up up bits and odd crow *could* come from feeling tired or sore. If he is using more effort to move around he could feel tired so not put as much gusto in his crow.


@chickengr makes a good point.
An ear infection/fluid can cause similar odd symptoms as well.

Check his ears. Look for drainage. Careful use of a q-tip to see if they are gunky. Check his nostrils for drainage. If you can look inside his mouth. Make sure his throat looks clear with no yellow patches or irritation.

Look for mites especially around the butt feathers and under the wings and leg scales.

Do you worm your birds? Parasites cause crazy problems too.

These are the things I do when looking over any bird that is acting off. My vet retired. He didn't see poultry but would advise me on some things. Now I am on my own.

Thank you for this. Very helpful.
No I haven't wormed them, haven't seen any signs. I'll grab some today, any recommendations? I think we do have antibiotics I'll have to ask.
I haven't seen any lice/mites sign since losing Morty last summer to fly strike. But I'll double check that also.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

I definitely don't know enough about genetics. But curious what the chicks would look like. Will black be dominant? With mixes I know it's a grab bag of colors but she's very pretty.

Black is dominant unless the hen carries dominant white

 

[NanaK]

For pain I have used 1/2 of an 81 MG asprin or 1/2 baby asprin for 3-4 days. It is a blood thinner also so I would not give it for a long time.

I have seen some reputable source here use Tylenol sometimes but I have not used it before and do not know the dosage.

Definitely look his feet and legs over for anything odd.

For worms I generally use Safeguard paste for goats. The liquid form does not mix well with water and will settle out. I have seen reference on this site of mixing it in a wet mash but this makes it harder to dose. I'll have to check the dose on either form. Let me know if you need it.
The paste, I put on small pieces of bread and give 1 to each bird.
I've been thinking about ordering Valbezine when my Safeguard is gone and using both in rotation. Worms can get resistant.

Hope you and King have a good day. Will look for the video later.

 

[Tstraub]

I can confirm that Betty is laying and she put it right in the nesting box.

 

[wrathsfarm]

I can confirm that Betty is laying and she put it right in the nesting box.
View attachment 3744129

That's a beauty couple first eggs.
Congrats buddy.

 

[Punkybrewster]

For pain I have used 1/2 of an 81 MG asprin or 1/2 baby asprin for 3-4 days. It is a blood thinner also so I would not give it for a long time.

I have seen some reputable source here use Tylenol sometimes but I have not used it before and do not know the dosage.

Definitely look his feet and legs over for anything odd.

For worms I generally use Safeguard paste for goats. The liquid form does not mix well with water and will settle out. I have seen reference on this site of mixing it in a wet mash but this makes it harder to dose. I'll have to check the dose on either form. Let me know if you need it.
The paste, I put on small pieces of bread and give 1 to each bird.
I've been thinking about ordering Valbezine when my Safeguard is gone and using both in rotation. Worms can get resistant.

Hope you and King have a good day. Will look for the video later.

I have a routine of worming/mite prevention, dosing every spring and every fall.

You will always find folks who agree or strongly disagree with preventive measures.

I have waited for symptoms as some would suggest and when I had an infestation of mites in a pen and the work it took to get rid of them,
Never again.
I will dose 2x a year to prevent that cluster....

Ivermectin and Safeguard, not at the same time.

 

[Punkybrewster]

I can confirm that Betty is laying and she put it right in the nesting box.
View attachment 3744129

Beauty!

 

[Auntiejessi3]

We could do with some closer pictures of the white dot/bullseye (I can’t remember what it’s called. Then we can tell if they are fertilised.

Blastoderm