Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[jlynnet]

Stacey so sad about your goats. Does anyone bear you need a surrogate?

My birds are loving the sunshine! Me too!

 

[PaisyQ]

Please, I'm hoping someone here can advise me. I just had a hen die. I noticed she appeared to be having difficulty with her breathing over the weekend, I've been trying to treat her, but she died very suddenly in my arms just now. I haven't really researched this aspect of chicken keeping; I need to know what to do with her, to be safe. I tried the extension office, they aren't answering the phone right now. I'm also worried about her flockmates, though none of them are showing any symptoms right now.

 

[aart]

Please, I'm hoping someone here can advise me. I just had a hen die. I noticed she appeared to be having difficulty with her breathing over the weekend, I've been trying to treat her, but she died very suddenly in my arms just now. I haven't really researched this aspect of chicken keeping; I need to know what to do with her, to be safe. I tried the extension office, they aren't answering the phone right now. I'm also worried about her flockmates, though none of them are showing any symptoms right now.

Not quite sure what you're asking, sorry for your loss, but if you plan on having a necropsy done, refrigerate her body.

 

[PaisyQ]

Not quite sure what you're asking, sorry for your loss, but if you plan on having a necropsy done, refrigerate her body.

I don't know what I am planning. I don't know how to get a necropsy done; I have no refrigerator to hold her now anyway. But disposal; the only animals I've had die have done so at the vet's office. They always take care of things. I don't know what to do with the remains.

 

[chickflick]

Dig a hole. Say a prayer and bury her. Sometimes chickens just die. Part of chicken keeping.. So sorry

 

[PaisyQ]

Thanks. That is what I have done. Just very sudden, and shocking. I knew something was wrong, but her behavior has been normal. I did not realize we were on death's door.

Another question. I was going to start introducing her flock to a younger group of birds I have this week. I want them all one flock, not two. I'm thinking of holding off on those plans while I monitor both groups of birds for a little while. But how long? A week or two to see if illness strikes anyone else?

 

[gladahmae]

I have such a nice dh! He stopped at tractor supply after work today and came home with these!

He did call to get instructions on how to hopefully pick pullets from the welsummer bin. No ideas on the amber links. I thought those were sex links but maybe you can feather sex them? They were st run also.



OOOOH! AND, I stopped at the Habitat for Humanity Re-Store and found vented soffit for $0.05/ft!! Had DH go grab it since it was NOT going to fit in the car. Woo hoo! Might get the coop finished up this year!

 

[RaZ]

In this time of spring that we usually associate with growth and rebirth and new birth, we sometimes see the reality of nature.
Sorry to hear about the kids Stacykins and the sudden loss of your hen PaisyQ.

I think that most of us here have a deep, abiding respect for our critters and care for them quite a bit. It doesn't matter if that critter is a pet or a potential source of food. That we care for them is the common bond that we share.

 

[Emilieb]

What kind of fruit trees did you plant? We did 3 apples, 3 pears and a peach last year Though it has been a constant battle with the deer to keep them form being stripped. 

He is 10 weeks. We were up throughout the night with him for one reason or another but it already looks better (to my untrained eye) today! Hopefully he'll have a speedy recovery. 

I'm actually in Rockford so that'd be great! I was gonna go order from the Sparta Elevator this weekend, but if you wanted to do a group order that'd be even better so we could pick the date they arrive. Do you have any date in mind? I'd like to do late spring/early summer since I have a batch in the brooder now and dont have the space to do a second brooder. Once they go into the coop then I'm ready for the next. What birds are you looking for? 

We planted a cherry and a plum.

 

[Stacykins]

Thank you all for the kind words. I know I am incredibly sad, but am trying my best to nurture Yoko through the ordeal. I don't like it when my animals are hurting, and she is.

I am sorry you lost your hen, PaisyQ. I don't have any advise as to what could have caused her death, but I hope it isn't something contagious. A very unfortunate thing with sick animals is they often hide their symptoms until they are too ill to be able to act healthy. By the time that happens it can be too late.