Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[NovaAman]

Nova-- not sure if this applies at all -- but lots of ducks having similar symptoms with legs & walking or rather falling. Also a couple botulism cases too

I thought about botulism, but I don't think that's the case. It is a fresh bag of feed, feed doesn't last here long. LOL. Other reading has led me to the possibility of rickets... Which is also weird too, but then again, maybe not if those birds need a better/different feed. Don't think so though. Then there is the dreaded "M". And with that one and its many facets... That one is a scary thought. Won't know unless a bird dies and send it for necropsy, or do one myself looking for tumors/lesions and such. I am going to get them started on a diet for rickets, and see if there isn't some improvement, and keep an eye on the leg directions, eyes for unmatched dialation... The "m" signs... I would separate them out, but I don't see a point since the other birds have been with them this whole time, so what ever it is, they've already exposed the others, and will be at a survival of fittest at this point if they start to get worse, and if a necropsy points to the "M".

 

[NovaAman]

Kimmie, I am happy to read there were no very serious injuries, though a concussion is serious enough in itself. Thanks Be!

 

[ladyrsanti]

Ugh, my chickens are laying terribly. I have thirteen layers and six pullets at the point of lay with a grand total of six eggs a day, max. I'd say it was the heat but there is none. I'd say the food is scarce but I fill two feeders every day. Water? Two sources. Free range, 8 hrs a day. Nesting boxes? 10. Egg eaters? I've had a video camera in the coop for the last three days and nothing. Two hens lay soft-shelled eggs on the roost despite oyster shell offered AND ground egg shell in their feed. One is raising chicks. One is perpetually broody. One I haven't seen an egg from in who knows how long. The hens are only in their second season. They should be laying fine. I just don't get it. When I have an abundance of eggs I can't handle them all and when I need an abundance, I can't get them to lay. There's no reasoning with these ladies.

 

[MsChickenMomma]

Ugh, my chickens are laying terribly.  I have thirteen layers and six pullets at the point of lay with a grand total of six eggs a day, max.  I'd say it was the heat but there is none.  I'd say the food is scarce but I fill two feeders every day.  Water?  Two sources.  Free range, 8 hrs a day.  Nesting boxes?  10.  Egg eaters?  I've had a video camera in the coop for the last three days and nothing.  Two hens lay soft-shelled eggs on the roost despite oyster shell offered AND ground egg shell in their feed.  One is raising chicks.  One is perpetually broody.  One I haven't seen an egg from in who knows how long.  The hens are only in their second season.  They should be laying fine.  I just don't get it.  When I have an abundance of eggs I can't handle them all and when I need an abundance, I can't get them to lay.  There's no reasoning with these ladies.

Welcome to the world of raising chickens! That's Murphy's law. When you need eggs, of course they aren't going to lay them! Im having the same thing with my girls at the moment. We really need eggs and I'm only getting 5-7 a day from my 13 layers.

Good thing my pullets are going to be laying sometime in September. Hopefully that will bump up the amount we get every day.

 

[alex8565]

A very small drop of frontline

 

[snowflake]

Ugh, my chickens are laying terribly. I have thirteen layers and six pullets at the point of lay with a grand total of six eggs a day, max. I'd say it was the heat but there is none. I'd say the food is scarce but I fill two feeders every day. Water? Two sources. Free range, 8 hrs a day. Nesting boxes? 10. Egg eaters? I've had a video camera in the coop for the last three days and nothing. Two hens lay soft-shelled eggs on the roost despite oyster shell offered AND ground egg shell in their feed. One is raising chicks. One is perpetually broody. One I haven't seen an egg from in who knows how long. The hens are only in their second season. They should be laying fine. I just don't get it. When I have an abundance of eggs I can't handle them all and when I need an abundance, I can't get them to lay. There's no reasoning with these ladies.

I am having the same issue, was thinking maybe a good time to worm, not seeing any thing but some times that is a reason for egg drop

Cattle panels would probably work the best (and be the quickest install) but I'd end up spending over $100 in materials by the time I got 3 panels and the lumber to frame it in (and all the hassle of taking the capper off the truck for transport). PVC is not an option for us as we almost routinely get 30-40mph winds when the lake-effect snow blows in. I'm wondering about maybe just shoving one of the meat tractors up to the pop door and calling it good. I'd have to put in a little bit of cross-bracing for snow-load, but it would work. I just want something bigger than 8x8. I want a lot of things though.

can you make an A frame out of 2x4's and tarp that? even a strong rope with a tarp secured like an A frame? some people run plastic along the sides of the run, that helps block the wind and blowing snow

 

[snowflake]

Sorry everyone the Grandkids only got bumps, bruises, and a concussion boy it was a close call

So glad to hear the kids are OK, who was driving? keeping kids still with a concussion can be hard also,, that was an awful wreck, so glad it wasn't worse

I thought about botulism, but I don't think that's the case. It is a fresh bag of feed, feed doesn't last here long. LOL. Other reading has led me to the possibility of rickets... Which is also weird too, but then again, maybe not if those birds need a better/different feed. Don't think so though. Then there is the dreaded "M". And with that one and its many facets... That one is a scary thought. Won't know unless a bird dies and send it for necropsy, or do one myself looking for tumors/lesions and such. I am going to get them started on a diet for rickets, and see if there isn't some improvement, and keep an eye on the leg directions, eyes for unmatched dialation... The "m" signs... I would separate them out, but I don't see a point since the other birds have been with them this whole time, so what ever it is, they've already exposed the others, and will be at a survival of fittest at this point if they start to get worse, and if a necropsy points to the "M".

vet sent tissue to the lab to confirm the Mareks, he said the tissue will look hard and white, Lab was necessary to confirm. most of my birds had no "classic signs" wasting ,puffy,eventually stopped eating and wouldn't or couldn't move, It effected my youngest birds the most, bwetween 3,to 9 mo.

He said it stays in the dust and is harder to get out of wood of course because of the porseness, I vaccumed every thing down good and sprayed with bleach, don't know if that just made me feel better or if it helped
Good luck, could be almost anything If theese birds die and you have more sick in a month or two, I would worry

 

[ladyrsanti]

I am having the same issue, was thinking maybe a good time to worm, not seeing any thing but some times that is a reason for egg drop

I wouldn't be surprised with this wet summer we've had.

 

[Lisa and girls]

Ugh, my chickens are laying terribly.  I have thirteen layers and six pullets at the point of lay with a grand total of six eggs a day, max.  I'd say it was the heat but there is none.  I'd say the food is scarce but I fill two feeders every day.  Water?  Two sources.  Free range, 8 hrs a day.  Nesting boxes?  10.  Egg eaters?  I've had a video camera in the coop for the last three days and nothing.  Two hens lay soft-shelled eggs on the roost despite oyster shell offered AND ground egg shell in their feed.  One is raising chicks.  One is perpetually broody.  One I haven't seen an egg from in who knows how long.  The hens are only in their second season.  They should be laying fine.  I just don't get it.  When I have an abundance of eggs I can't handle them all and when I need an abundance, I can't get them to lay.  There's no reasoning with these ladies.

Mine are busily finding new places to lay. Outside, behind a nest box, in their roost...never a dull moment, huh?

 

[NovaAman]

We've got so many wild turkeys through all the time... That I do think it has helped to NOT have any problems... Letting the girls hatch the chicks here has helped to. I never have chick problems until now. This last group I incubated...