"Louisiana "La-yers" Peeps"

[Ron Skekel]

I got word back today from LSU......mycoplasma positive =(
Recommendation is depopulate, decontaminate and start over. The state vet is going to give me instructions for Decon and protocol for future prevention. I will let you guys know what the protocol is for informational purposes in case it happens to anyone else. I hope no one else has to deal with this but I guess mother nature has a mind of her own. Although I don't think I helped the situation going to swaps and bringing in adults and what not.....I'll probably cull the rest of the flock this weekend and start the Decontamination process. Wish me luck

I was so hoping I was wrong but when you said bubbling eyes It hit me that I had just talked to the ag vet about it. I'm glad you got the test now you won't contaminate a new flock. I'm happy to donate some hatching eggs or chicks when you have decontaminated your place. It will help with all the cost involved. Pam

 

[Ron Skekel]

Night before last I lost my free range rooster, last night I found out how...
Let the dog out about 1am and she went crazy barking! Walked out to find a fox trotting through the yard back toward the coop. Arggggggg...
Time to go fox hunting!!!!

That sucks that's hard to trap like my coyote. Try to be armed when outside . Hope it wasn't your silverrud blue. Pam

 

[Ron Skekel]

"total dry hatch" So you added no water at any time during incubation?

No water at all at anytime. The silverruds and Neiderrhinders hatched first which brought the humidity up to the 60tys. So I vented a little. The Marens that was first to pip was last to hatch. The Neiderrhinders all hatched. The silverrud blues had one clear the rest hatched. The Marans Had one clear and one quitter. I think I may go this route from now on. One exception would be Honas. Pam

 

[cajun chicken]

I had the one roo that was entirely cage free, 24/7. He slept in the coop on top of a garbage can so the fox had access to him. All others are locked up tight. Looks like fox hunting is in my future.

I gotcha. Dang foxes....if it's not them, it's coyotes or dogs. Good luck getting them

I was so hoping I was wrong but when you said bubbling eyes It hit me that I had just talked to the ag vet about it. I'm glad you got the test now you won't contaminate a new flock. I'm happy to donate some hatching eggs or chicks when you have decontaminated your place. It will help with all the cost involved. Pam

I knew you were right Mrs Pam. The symptoms were classic for MG. Thank you for the offer...I just may take you up on it once the dust settles around here. I'm going to cull the remaining hens this weekend just not sure what to do with all the bodies yet. I don't think they are good to eat so I may just get a good hot fire going and burn them after. I know, kind of graphic but it's the reality of this

 

[lakones]

I gotcha. Dang foxes....if it's not them, it's coyotes or dogs. Good luck getting them
I knew you were right Mrs Pam. The symptoms were classic for MG. Thank you for the offer...I just may take you up on it once the dust settles around here. I'm going to cull the remaining hens this weekend just not sure what to do with all the bodies yet. I don't think they are good to eat so I may just get a good hot fire going and burn them after. I know, kind of graphic but it's the reality of this

After reading up on this last night seems burning is the best option. I read that you need to get rid of every last feather.
I'll do the same as Pam with the hatching eggs or chicks when you are ready. I know it would cost a small fortune to replace a flock!

 

[lakones]

That sucks that's hard to trap like my coyote. Try to be armed when outside . Hope it wasn't your silverrud blue. Pam

No this was a roo from my very first set of chickens. He was kinda "off" and had a bit of a sight problem so I would never breed him, but my little girl didn't want me to get rid of him so he free ranged 24/7 for the last couple years.

 

[lakones]

No water at all at anytime. The silverruds and Neiderrhinders hatched first which brought the humidity up to the 60tys. So I vented a little. The Marens that was first to pip was last to hatch. The Neiderrhinders all hatched. The silverrud blues had one clear the rest hatched. The Marans Had one clear and one quitter. I think I may go this route from now on. One exception would be Honas. Pam

Did you have a hydrometer in there to know where the humidity was? Just curious. I may try that next time. Watching the dang humidity is the worst part.

 

[chicken hawk 33]

I have my first ever baby Muscovy under my broody muscovy duck.

 

[forgetful]

I'm still battling the wyandottes with lack of eggs. They quit laying when the gnats came, started back up for a week, then quit again. No gnats or bugs to be seen around the coop. I'm trying a new nest box for them, other than that I'm out of ideas. I hope its not from the heat, otherwise they are in for a long summer.

 

[Ron Skekel]

Did you have a hydrometer in there to know where the humidity was? Just curious. I may try that next time. Watching the dang humidity is the worst part.

My incubator has one built in humidity at its lowest was 30% it stayed in the 40tys going up and down a few degrees. As soon as the first egg hatched it was toward 50 and up as more hatched. I'll be doing it this way from now on . Except for the honas at lockdown they like more humidity . Pam