Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[NativeBeauty]

Next up, my question to veteran chicken keepers: My daughter's beloved LF Cochin is droopy, with increased respirations, an infrequent cough and no noted nasal drainage. Would it be appropriate to use Vet Rx with her? Already separated her into a dog crate and looked her over.....nothing seen or felt outta sorts other then she is "blah" and breathing with a slightly open beak. I am SO worried about her.....she is my five y.o. daughter's "best friend".....Thumbalina allows my daughter to push her in a baby stroller and follows my daughter like a puppy

Any suggestions would be so appreciated...I would say her breathing is elevated, not labored. I have already made an appointment with a avian vet for the morning, but wanted to know how best to support her overnight.
Also, do chickens get "colds"?? My daughter thinks so, as she herself has had a cough for over a week now....

 

[gladahmae]

we put that really cheap wildlife netting from menards up around our run too, although ours was to keep the chickens IN. They were getting into the habit of getting out, and then wandering into the backyard where we let the dogs out. Even though they *shouldn't* be able to escape at this point, I still go peek out the window before I let the dogs out 90% of the time.


I'll keep the benadryl in mind in case there's ever a particularly horrible day weather-wise and we have to be somewhere. I'm now debating between getting a metal replacement pan, a whole new crate with a metal pan (costs the same as just getting a new pan), or trying a piece of 3/4in plywood and screwing the kennel to it so he can't get the crate off of it. The plywood is the cheapest option by far.....I can get a 4x4 sheet for under $20, while the pan or the new crate are both in the $60 range. I think I may bring the kennel back in since the baby likes to crawl around the house and chase both of the dogs and they only tolerate it for so long until I put them in my bedroom or outside for a break.

 

[tdhenson86]

we put that really cheap wildlife netting from menards up around our run too, although ours was to keep the chickens IN. They were getting into the habit of getting out, and then wandering into the backyard where we let the dogs out. Even though they *shouldn't* be able to escape at this point, I still go peek out the window before I let the dogs out 90% of the time.


I'll keep the benadryl in mind in case there's ever a particularly horrible day weather-wise and we have to be somewhere. I'm now debating between getting a metal replacement pan, a whole new crate with a metal pan (costs the same as just getting a new pan), or trying a piece of 3/4in plywood and screwing the kennel to it so he can't get the crate off of it. The plywood is the cheapest option by far.....I can get a 4x4 sheet for under $20, while the pan or the new crate are both in the $60 range. I think I may bring the kennel back in since the baby likes to crawl around the house and chase both of the dogs and they only tolerate it for so long until I put them in my bedroom or outside for a break.

The plywood seems like the most practical option. I don't have much experience with metal pans at the bottom of pens. My dog has only chewed the corner of the bottom plastic tray in his bed and that was when he was a puppy. I hope you find something that works!

 

[NativeBeauty]

we put that really cheap wildlife netting from menards up around our run too, although ours was to keep the chickens IN. They were getting into the habit of getting out, and then wandering into the backyard where we let the dogs out. Even though they *shouldn't* be able to escape at this point, I still go peek out the window before I let the dogs out 90% of the time.


I'll keep the benadryl in mind in case there's ever a particularly horrible day weather-wise and we have to be somewhere. I'm now debating between getting a metal replacement pan, a whole new crate with a metal pan (costs the same as just getting a new pan), or trying a piece of 3/4in plywood and screwing the kennel to it so he can't get the crate off of it. The plywood is the cheapest option by far.....I can get a 4x4 sheet for under $20, while the pan or the new crate are both in the $60 range. I think I may bring the kennel back in since the baby likes to crawl around the house and chase both of the dogs and they only tolerate it for so long until I put them in my bedroom or outside for a break.

OR look on amazon....there is a crate that looks like a tiger cage. I have been saving up for one (in case Stack reverts back to destruction again). My friend in dog show world swears by hers as "dog proof" for her most destructive dog....a Labrador Retriever.

 

[chicken grandma]

Native Beauty, I have consulted a vet for my children's precious pet hens and sometimes just the right antibiotic will do the trick if it is in fact a bacterial problem.
The good thing about using an avian veterinarian is that they will weigh your hen and they will also give you the right antibiotic at the right dose.
Hopefully that will do the trick. It is important in a situation like this to get the correct diagnosis and treatment exactly right the first time and so the avian vet is your best bet. Chickens can go 'downhill' quite quickly.
It might be something other than a respiratory problem but the 'cough' you described sounds like an important symptom to tell the vet.

For tonight, I would get her inside the house in a crate and I would also put a warming light of some kind at one end of the crate so she can go under it. Often sick birds will be very chilled and seek a warm light. I also set a watermelon slice near a sick hen and often they will peck at it which hydrates them and puts some
sugar in their blood also. Feeding her is good.

I would not give any medicine before taking her to the vet that might interfere with him/her getting a culture of bacteria from the throat or stool, so for example if you give a
random antibiotic tonight it might mess up the vets opportunity to diagnose the hen properly tomorrow. But as you said, all comfort measures are good!

And there is a product I love called BENEBAC! It is not expensive and lasts a long time so I always have a tube of it on hand. I get it from our vet. It is like a tube of toothpaste and you squeeze a pea size drop out of the container and feed it to your hen at a time of day that is NOT near the antibiotic dosing. The Benebac replaces the good bacteria in a birds gut - which is a vital part of the success of treatment. For example, if our vet prescribed an antibiotic, I would give the antibiotic in the morning and evening (say 12 hours apart for the best results). Then I would give the probiotic Benebac in the middle of the day to keep the gut healthy. Our results were much better when we did both the probiotic and the Benebac but don't give them at the same time!

Please let us know how she does!

 

[mrcush]

Next up, my question to veteran chicken keepers: My daughter's beloved LF Cochin is droopy, with increased respirations, an infrequent cough and no noted nasal drainage. Would it be appropriate to use Vet Rx with her? Already separated her into a dog crate and looked her over.....nothing seen or felt outta sorts other then she is "blah" and breathing with a slightly open beak. I am SO worried about her.....she is my five y.o. daughter's "best friend".....Thumbalina allows my daughter to push her in a baby stroller and follows my daughter like a puppy

Any suggestions would be so appreciated...I would say her breathing is elevated, not labored. I have already made an appointment with a avian vet for the morning, but wanted to know how best to support her overnight.
Also, do chickens get "colds"?? My daughter thinks so, as she herself has had a cough for over a week now....

Native Beauty, I have consulted a vet for my children's precious pet hens and sometime just the right antibiotic will do the trick.
The good thing about using an avian veterinarian is that they will weigh your hen and they will also give you the right antibiotic at the right dose.
That should do the trick. It is important in a situation like this to get it exactly right the first time and so the avian vet is your best bet.

For Tonight, I would get her inside the house in a crate and I would also put a warming light of some kind at one end of the crate so she can go under it. Often sick
birds will be very chilled and seek a light. I also set a watermelon slice near a sick hen and often they will peck at it which hydrates them and puts some
sugar in their blood also.

I would not give any medicine before taking her to the vet that might interfere with him/her getting a culture of bacteria from the throat or stool, so for example if you give a
random antibiotic tonight it might mess up the vets opportunity to diagnose the hen properly tomorrow. But as you said, all comfort measures are good!
Please let us know how she does!

I am a newby and not professional but I had this happen to me a couple months ago. I immediatly removed her from the flock and got antibiotic from the local feed store. Within a day or two she was better but I kept her seperated for two weeks so it wouldn't spread. She is better now!

 

[NovaAman]

I'd keep her warm over nite. Give her a dose of poultry drench... Warming lamp, or even a warmer room if no heat lamp. Hope your vet has an answer. Bring a poop sample from her with you.

When I first saw the pic, my first thought was, oh, pretty lacing! Pretty kid too. Hope your vet can fix her up simple.

 

[doug9694]

Some one said I should post this in the Mich. thread. So here it is.
.
I live in southern Mich. 4 miles from Toledo, Oh. I don't own any birds yet. Considering
mostly for eggs. Maybe some one can suggest best breeds for my area. And how many
for 1 doz. a week usage. I also have pet cats and a couple strays. What are the precautions?

 

[NovaAman]

Hi Doug! Welcome the thread. You'd only need 3 production birds for a dozen a week. I couldn't tell you the best... I am a dual purpose bird owner myself. Personally I like muff faced birds like faverolles and easter eggers. I average 4-5 eggs a week per faverolle hen. I average 4-6 per faverolles crossed birds. I have 2 new Hampshire's, they lay every day. Good sized eggs with those two. It also depends on if they are going to end up as pets... More docile breeds, like brahmas, faverolles, orpington( well they are friendly and lay fairly well) are good hens.Wyandottes are beautiful birds too. More stand-offish, but are quick to learn who has the treats. And do you want to have chicks hatched from your birds? Then you'll need a rooster... Then comes a whole new set a questions, like do you have small kids who will be around the birds.... Some breeds of rooster, well all breeds actually, can give aggressive roosters, and kids can rile a rooster... Roosters can attack small kids... Anyway, look into the breed selection... Enter what traits you are looking for, and it will give you several selections...

 

[ladyrsanti]

Some one said I should post this in the Mich. thread. So here it is.
.
I live in southern Mich. 4 miles from Toledo, Oh. I don't own any birds yet. Considering
mostly for eggs. Maybe some one can suggest best breeds for my area. And how many
for 1 doz. a week usage. I also have pet cats and a couple strays. What are the precautions?

Doug! I grew up in Bedford! Summerfield Rd. to be precise. I have little advice for you but wanted to connect. This is my first year with chickens. I've been happy with the twelve we got, barred rocks, silver laced wyandottes, buff orpingtons and easter eggers. Good layers all of them.

We moved to Grand Rapids area just this year but we still visit all our family down there frequently. Welcome!