Marans Thread for Posting Pics of Your Eggs, Chicks and Chickens

[tfpets]

No. Laying a light or white, or just wrong colored egg for a dark egg layer is an indication of some other issue -
I just had the same problem myself today, an almost chalky light egg in my Marans pen, with dark scratches on it...so I have to refer to my own research on the matter and here it is:
All I could find specific to egg color changing that dramatically is Nicarbazin fed to brown-egg layers turns their eggshells white within 48 hours, although this is completely reversible when the product is withdrawnfrom the feed. Even low levels of nicarbazin can cause some loss in shell color, mottling of egg yolks and a decline in hatchability.
I just added goat feed to my pet yard, the only difference in the yard, so I'll see if it has that, otherwise, my girl has just run out of paint for now - they are moulting after all!
I hope you find an answer!
Tina

 

[onthespot]

I have one that did/does that. Just started laying and was laying a decent but not outstanding brown egg with dark speckles, nice luster, and then these death warmed over looking blah eggs. Then she got fowl pox. Not sure if there's a connection. I quarantined two hens but then read it is carried by mosquitos and you just ride it out, like kids with chicken pox.
Here's what it looks like.

 

[Birch Run Farm]

Fowl Pox? That sounds bad!

 

[onthespot]

That is not my hen that is laying the dark brown eggs. She is ten miles from here in a chain link run. These are from the sam lot of eggs though. I started quarantining her two weeks ago because she got loose stool and looked sorta bedraggled. I had her on baytril for a week and she started eating great the next day, took a few more days for her poop to firm back up. After she had already been good several days from that is when this started. Her comb turned really sickly and floppy and pale at the base, then pink then faded to purple at the ends. I took a pic of that too, let me see if I can find it. The pox broke out two days after this pic.

 

[onthespot]

Sorry all for the gross pics. This thread is for sharing pix, doesn't specify only the pretty pix. I just hope that posting these will help people learn something, including me. Hopefylly someone who knows more than I do will chime in here.

 

[karanleaf]

Oh my Gosh onthespot I am so sorry you and you poor chickens are dealing with this I have never seen this before. But I only got chickens this year so, I'm still learning. I hope this is treatable. Will it leave scars on the chickens combs? I hope it clears up soon.

Karan

 

[tfpets]

I have heard of fowl pox, and havent seen anything like that in my yard, but I'll read up on it...I'll see if theres a vaccine for it? I wonder if it's getting more aggressive here right now? I appreciate the pics, even the gross ones! Its about the eggs, chicks and chickens...my camera is goofed up right now or I'd show the weird colored one...I sure will be keeping an eye on them for any spots!!!
Is that really how it started? How awful! How are the rest of your birds? I hope you are doing okay...Let us know, keep us posted, and hang in there!
Tina

 

[tfpets]

Since fowl pox usually spreads slowly, a flock may be affected for several months. The course of the disease in the individual bird takes three to five weeks. Affected young birds are retarded in growth. Laying birds experience a drop in egg production. Birds of all ages that have oral or respiratory system involvement have difficulty eating and breathing. The disease manifests itself in one or two ways, cutaneous pox (dry form) or diphtheritic pox (wet form).

Dry pox starts as small whitish foci that develop into wart-like nodules. The nodules eventually are sloughed and scab formation precedes final healing. Lesions are most commonly seen on the featherless parts of the body (comb, wattles, ear lobes, eyes, and sometimes the feet).

Wet pox is associated with the oral cavity and the upper respiratory tract, particularly the larynx and trachea. The lesions are diphtheritic in character and involve the mucous membranes to such a degree that when removed, an ulcerated or eroded area is left.

Fowl pox is readily diagnosed on the basis of flock history and presence of typical lesions. In some cases, laboratory diagnosis by tissue or transmission studies is necessary.

There is no treatment for fowl pox. Disease control is accomplished best by preventative vaccination since ordinary management and sanitation practices will not prevent it. Several kinds of vaccines are available and are effective if used properly.

 

[onthespot]

Thanks for that great info! I can say that for now, I guess I am officially screwed then. Lucky thing I got those free pullets a couple months before they are ready to lay, maybe they can all get it and get over it before egg time. Or not. Whatever happens, happens at this point. I guess I am now officially selecting for good immune system, ready or not! Ignorance is DEFINITELY NOT bliss where chickens are concerned, huh?

 

[Solsken Farm]

Oh my gosh. I am so sorry for your poor chickies. Fowl pox sounds awful.

I wish you the best of luck.

I have Marans too, and I read this thread, but never post. I guess that makes me a lurker. Ew. Sorry.

Anyway, I hope they mend soon and don't have the wet type. not that the dry type is any better.