Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[snowflake]

Greenmimama,,, please have them vaccinated ,,,,,(just trying to catch up) we had chickens for 3yrs before ever having sick chicks,,,,,,,, the first 2 batches of chickens were hatchery chickens I got cocci and meriks .....last year I got chicks from a breeder, lost 4 or 6, this yr I bought chicks at CS..... I have one in sick bay right now, thought she had a broken leg.... started reading up on meriks..... this AM I went down to check her and she has 1leg out front 1 out back and can hardly move,,,,, I am as sure as I can be that it is meriks.... with out spending $80 or more on a necropsy, So we are on lock down. no birds in and no birds out. I am in the process of getting vaccine. it is best given to day old chicks but there is success with giving it to older birds. I have found a homeopathic recipe that is supposed to work, thanks to someone on the emergency thread. don't know if it will help but I hope so.

 

[ladyrsanti]

Sounds like she had a heart attack... There was nothing else, just those first symptoms?

No it was rather sudden, lethargic one day, gone the next. I suppose it's possible. She was probably 30+ weeks old, easter-egger, laying for a month+.

 

[NovaAman]

Odd... If she were old... But she was young. I wonder if there was an egg stuck, causing a rupture...

 

[ladyrsanti]

That's what my sister was thinking when she tried to treat her. I hope that's the case, rather than a contagion.

 

[snowflake]

Sorry didn't mean to leave the subject like that, I have a little roo that thinks it is fun to roost in the tree. so I had to run out and catch him before an owl or coon did..... So any how I am not blaming any one for giving me sick birds. not the case...Meriks can float in the air from another farm. and there are several within a short distance...... just saying that if I had bought vaccinated birds. I wouldn't be in this position. looking at the bright side. I get to keep the guinea. any one know if keets can get meriks? Think I will look it up right now

 

[chicken grandma]

Snowflake,

I am really sorry about the Maraks.

So the first 3 years you had chickens from a hatchery they were o.k.?

 

[greenmimama]

Hi Green. You know what... I think you'll be just fine. You really will not have to worry to much on heat in the winter. Also, you could buy the highest protien rich feed they have available, then half cut it with cracked corn, OR 2 bags feed to one bag cracked corn. This will save you 10 bucks 100# in the end, but it will keep the protien high enough to meet the protien needs of the growing chicks. All my birds right now are free range but feed flock raiser. The flock raiser is only 16%_18% crude protien. I figure during the winter, If I get the 24% feed, cut it with the cracked corn, which I think is near half that amount in protien at 8%, mix the two together for half cut for over the winter, I'll be able to stretch my feed bill. The 24% feed is only 2 dollars more, and the cracked corn is 10 dollars less... SO.. 100# of feed for 28 dollars versus the 36.

Thanks, I might just do that, should I check out a feed store, or do TSC prices compare about the same? Also at what age can I start giving them our fruit and veggie scraps? My laying hens just devour watermelon and tomatoes!

Greenmimama,,, please have them vaccinated ,,,,,(just trying to catch up) we had chickens for 3yrs before ever having sick chicks,,,,,,,, the first 2 batches of chickens were hatchery chickens I got cocci and meriks .....last year I got chicks from a breeder, lost 4 or 6, this yr I bought chicks at CS..... I have one in sick bay right now, thought she had a broken leg.... started reading up on meriks..... this AM I went down to check her and she has 1leg out front 1 out back and can hardly move,,,,, I am as sure as I can be that it is meriks.... with out spending $80 or more on a necropsy, So we are on lock down. no birds in and no birds out. I am in the process of getting vaccine. it is best given to day old chicks but there is success with giving it to older birds. I have found a homeopathic recipe that is supposed to work, thanks to someone on the emergency thread. don't know if it will help but I hope so.

Sorry didn't mean to leave the subject like that, I have a little roo that thinks it is fun to roost in the tree. so I had to run out and catch him before an owl or coon did..... So any how I am not blaming any one for giving me sick birds. not the case...Meriks can float in the air from another farm. and there are several within a short distance...... just saying that if I had bought vaccinated birds. I wouldn't be in this position. looking at the bright side. I get to keep the guinea. any one know if keets can get meriks? Think I will look it up right now

Thanks for your story, I need to hear all sides!

 

[chicken grandma]

Well I think my blue orpington has a broken leg, she holds it out to the side or has it under her. Its swellen at the knee or whatever it is and warm, what can I do for her?

Kimmie

Greenmimama,,, please have them vaccinated ,,,,,(just trying to catch up) we had chickens for 3yrs before ever having sick chicks,,,,,,,, the first 2 batches of chickens were hatchery chickens I got cocci and meriks .....last year I got chicks from a breeder, lost 4 or 6, this yr I bought chicks at CS..... I have one in sick bay right now, thought she had a broken leg.... started reading up on meriks..... this AM I went down to check her and she has 1leg out front 1 out back and can hardly move,,,,, I am as sure as I can be that it is meriks....

Kimmie - is there any chance that your chicken also has Maraks disease?

 

[Amy PT]

We're back from a week of romping in the National Forests in Kentucky. What a great vacation! Relaxing, simple, amazing scenery and adventures...

We were able to relax, knowing that Hazel and Alice were in the very kind and capable hands of Chicken Grandma. Thank you a zillion times, CG!

Fuzzy, I'm sorry about your chicken loss.
HH, I'm sorry your health is forcing you to make changes.

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Well I think my blue orpington has a broken leg, she holds it out to the side or has it under her. Its swellen at the knee or whatever it is and warm, what can I do for her?

Kimmie

You ought to splint it then, do the aspirin to ease the swelling and the heat, keep her confined so she don't jump on it. Might be wonky from here on though. Are your birds roosts really high? A heavy breed needs lower roosts.

Greenmimama,,, please have them vaccinated ,,,,,(just trying to catch up) we had chickens for 3yrs before ever having sick chicks,,,,,,,, the first 2 batches of chickens were hatchery chickens I got cocci and meriks .....last year I got chicks from a breeder, lost 4 or 6, this yr I bought chicks at CS..... I have one in sick bay right now, thought she had a broken leg.... started reading up on meriks..... this AM I went down to check her and she has 1leg out front 1 out back and can hardly move,,,,, I am as sure as I can be that it is meriks.... with out spending $80 or more on a necropsy, So we are on lock down. no birds in and no birds out. I am in the process of getting vaccine. it is best given to day old chicks but there is success with giving it to older birds. I have found a homeopathic recipe that is supposed to work, thanks to someone on the emergency thread. don't know if it will help but I hope so.

Find out what exact vaccination the hatchery used, it is my understanding that meriks vaccinations are made from a milder strain that the turkeys carry naturally, it is not intended to stop them from getting it, but to give them a chance to get used to it, then if they are exposed to the more harmful chicken strain, their bodies cope and you don't have as many losses. So they can still get the chicken kind too, so it don't stop them from being potential carriers. Depending on whether it was a live or dead vaccine, and whether it "took" with the chicks, they can still be contageous to the unvaccinated ones. I had thought that if the newbies got it it would be the milder strain though............but Could be why you've had such trouble with it. ( I did a lot of research on vaccines when i was trying to find meds to help with MG)