Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[birdman55]

You do not need a very powerful microscope for fecals - the vast majority of parasites, and all the ones of interest in chickens, can be seen with a 40x (40 times magnification) lens. The feces has to be processed in a zinc or sugar solution first, then examined.

You can use these instead of a centrifuge, although if you have access to a centrifuge that will improve your results
http://www.revivalanimal.com/Fecal-Flotation-System.html
If you can get just one of the units, they can be cleaned and reused.

And then you need a flotation solution, such as Fecasol

http://www.pet-informed-veterinary-advice-online.com/fecal-flotation.html

1 gram of feces (about the amount of one section of a Tootsie Roll) is mashed together with the flotation solution. A filter is then pushed down into the container, it is filled to the top with solution, a slide cover slip set on top, then it is left for 10 minutes. The cover slip is then carefully and gently lifted off by the edges, and placed on a slide for viewing under the microscope.

on amazon...they have these...it zooms 800x and you can view it thru your computer...plug into your computer and view..that simple 33 bucks
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005GJBDRO...UTF8&colid=TM055W53ANIV&coliid=I1Q1NHZCB3DKMD
the one I have you can actually take pictures with it...its really cool

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Yes you can take temps, a vet will but have not seen it done- rectal is probably it. Under the wing can be an indication sometimes. good thinking!

The wellie could have broken hers

 

[JackieandChicks]

Yes you can take temps, a vet will but have not seen it done- rectal is probably it. Under the wing can be an indication sometimes. good thinking!

The wellie could have broken hers

I think it was broken, too. Didn't present the same as two "mystery" illnesses I had over the summer that started with not being able to use the entire leg/side. Poor thing. I hate being helpless when they get sick.

 

[taprock]

Pk - How long has she been like this, I can't remember. You know your birds best so it comes down to what you think is best. I'll tell you how I have decided, When I have an injury or unknown I take my best guess how long it would take to recover reasonably. Then as long as they aren't in pain that's how long I give them and then reevaluate. I tend to give them more time if I actually see some progress. At this point I think it's about 50/50 on success. Usually nature takes it's course rather quickly if they really aren't going to make it.

Bird man - Love the birds! I incubated pheasants in 2013 and it was a disaster. I was in no way prepared for how aggressive and flighty they were. They are so beautiful to look at though. I had golden, red golden, Melanastic Mutant (I think they were called), and one rotten ring neck boy that was an accident.

The white stuff is back, but I really don't mind. There isn't too much and it brighten it up nicely. I think tomorrow I have to coop clean after all the rain we just had it is very damp. Hopefully it will not freeze too much between now and then.

 

[1muttsfan]

18 here this morning Tap - scraped around the round bale feeder last night before it froze back up. Just enough snow to look pretty and ride the snowmobile a little.

 

[preciouskitty]

@taprock
It's been close to 5 days now that she can't stand at all. If anything it's gotten a bit worse as now she kind of lays on her side with both feet sticking out.
She certainly does not seem to be in any pain..& eats as long as there's some banana mixed in her feed!
Our "date for improvement" is tomorrow....I think

 

[SillyChicken]

birdman... thanks for the tip .. can you see eggs in a fecal with that? I could see a ton of uses for that scope! Thanks for the info.
Lots of holiday parties at work this week. One yesterday, two today and another tomorrow... phew!

Pretty much done! we have a minor repair on the cream spout on top. It was patched before, but we don't know what was used. So we're going to cover it over with some food grade epoxy (per the De Laval company suggestion). DH wants to change out the bolts on the base with SS and we need to seal the handle. We also need get new rubber spacers and felt pads for the feet, and it's ready to roll! But first, she's going into the kitchen for Decoration!

 

[1muttsfan]

Silly, when you do get it working I would love to see a little video of you using it

 

[misfitmorgan]

birdman... thanks for the tip .. can you see eggs in a fecal with that? I could see a ton of uses for that scope! Thanks for the info.
Lots of holiday parties at work this week. One yesterday, two today and another tomorrow... phew!

Pretty much done! we have a minor repair on the cream spout on top. It was patched before, but we don't know what was used. So we're going to cover it over with some food grade epoxy (per the De Laval company suggestion). DH wants to change out the bolts on the base with SS and we need to seal the handle. We also need get new rubber spacers and felt pads for the feet, and it's ready to roll! But first, she's going into the kitchen for Decoration!

It came out very nice Silly!!

Happy holidays everyone, been busy at work here too and with animals.

 

[SillyChicken]

Silly, when you do get it working I would love to see a little video of you using it

yeah sure, I can do that!