Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Trefoil]

Going back to the ACV... I add it to feed daily, water too as needed. It's good for *YOU* as well its all about alkalinity vs. acidity in bodies. I think it is the higher the alkalinity, higher the inflammation factor, which in turn leads to negative metabolic processes. Just be sure you get Bragg's brand, with the mother. If you are at all interested, check into Paleo diet, I know that I read a very interesting article (with research cited) discussing the alkalinty/acidity issue on one of those Paleo sites. Sorry I don't have a link.

The brand is irrelevant, just make sure it has the mother ( unfiltered and unpasturized). If you do a search you can find out how to make your own even.

Has anyone ever dealt with an impacted crop before? I've thought my one adult serama hen has looked funny for a while so I looked her over more closely and did some research and found out she has an impacted crop. I had been under the impression that she just had a tumor of some sort, since I knew the lump (now tennis ball sized) was bigger than a normal crop. She has been this way, if not this huge, for probably a few months. The other day I saw her eating a HUGE (in comparison to her) cochin wing feather so I caught her and pulled it out of her mouth before she could finish it. That kind of made me put things together in my mind, and realize it wasn't just a growth/tumor. Any advice on how to clear her huge crop out, and if I can do that, how to get her to stop eating more feathers which I imagine is what caused the blockage? I feed them 17% layer feed, either Blue Seal or soon Purina Layena + Omega. She is a sweet gal, but I can't afford a $300+ vet visit. I am about to swear off Seramas, I am having such horrible luck with them.

I put my finger on the other front size of her chest, so you can see how much she is sticking out from the lump.

I can' help with the impacted crop,but if she's eating feathers it may mean she needs more protein

 

[Scifisarah]

I can' help with the impacted crop,but if she's eating feathers it may mean she needs more protein

I am also having trouble with the hens pecking feathers off our rooster's head and face while he sits there patiently and lets them. I bought some black oil sunflower seeds today and also some Manna Pro Poultry Conditioner supplement with 22% protein, so hopefully that will help things before poor Orion is completely bald. Seems like the layer food would be enough, but apparently not!

 

[NovaAman]

There was a thread on here a while ago, and it was about crops that were like that. They'd empty out, but the birds gorged all the time that the crop always was HUGE.

About the protien though... Add some taste of the wild cat food. it runs about 36% protien. If it's too big for the serema to eat, if you have a bean grinder, it'll break it down enough. I use the TOTW in the hot days of summer so the birds get enough protien when they really don't want to eat...

 

[Opa]

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Some mornings are a little tougher than others to get started. Old men find it necessary to get up during the night so that often makes it more difficult to wake up feeling refreshed and ready for the day to begin. I have to ease into it gradually. Drink several cups of coffee, work two or three crossword puzzles, read any news articles that pique my interest, then finally I'm ready to face what ever task I've assigned myself for the day.

With the drop in humidity and temperature I think today should be a good day to clean out the coops. Not an enjoyable task but one that must be done.

 

[gladahmae]

Alright. I need some advice about my layers. Most of them are around 1 year old. A few are around a year and a half. I have 14 hens, and 2 are broody right now.

Yesterday I got 2 eggs. 2!!!!!! The day before that, I got 3, and the day before that I got 3. Production has gone steadily downhill since June, when I was getting 11 eggs a day. I see no signs of molting. There is a shady spot in the run all day, and they always have water. I just. don't. get it.

Is it just the heat? Are they possibly getting ready to molt? (they haven't molted in the time I've had them....and that's been since some were chicks and others around 15 weeks) Do I need to do a thorough bug inspection?

 

[Opa]

It is not uncommon for egg production to decrease in July and August. You should see an increase come fall

 

[gladahmae]

It is not uncommon for egg production to decrease in July and August. You should see an increase come fall

OK. My girls weren't old enough to lay until September last year, so I was getting concerned.

 

[SillyChicken]

 

[SillyChicken]

Has anyone ever dealt with an impacted crop before? I've thought my one adult serama hen has looked funny for a while so I looked her over more closely and did some research and found out she has an impacted crop. I had been under the impression that she just had a tumor of some sort, since I knew the lump (now tennis ball sized) was bigger than a normal crop. She has been this way, if not this huge, for probably a few months. The other day I saw her eating a HUGE (in comparison to her) cochin wing feather so I caught her and pulled it out of her mouth before she could finish it. That kind of made me put things together in my mind, and realize it wasn't just a growth/tumor. Any advice on how to clear her huge crop out, and if I can do that, how to get her to stop eating more feathers which I imagine is what caused the blockage? I feed them 17% layer feed, either Blue Seal or soon Purina Layena + Omega. She is a sweet gal, but I can't afford a $300+ vet visit. I am about to swear off Seramas, I am having such horrible luck with them.

I put my finger on the other front size of her chest, so you can see how much she is sticking out from the lump.

What Sam said..... and you could also try massaging the crop to move things around. Do your birds have access to gravel?

 

[snowflake]

1muttsfan, Thank you for the addvice on the electric, the problem was we were getting bad advice from the wrong person at TSC, told us it had to run a full circle and DH knows enough about electricety to know that would cause a problem,
finaly found soe one that had installed and got things right,
we put in 3 ground pols, the wire does run over the run door and into the coop, if that is a problem we will get a gate keeper, Kind of was hoping to not do that so I don't have to worry about grand kids (or absent minded old people) triping over a hot wire.

The goat soap is beautiful, when what I have runs out I may like to buy some from you if you are selling, It is all I use on my face., ducks are sweet too!