Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[1muttsfan]

Unfortunately with birds they often don't show any symptoms of being ill until they are very seriously ill. It probably would be difficult to say what causes your hen to die without an autopsy, and even that might not give you an answer.

Birds that seem weak or lethargic are usually best separated, and placed some place where it is warmer and they don't have to search for food or water. For most of us, good nursing is about all we can offer in the way of treating are birds. Sometimes it works, but if something is seriously wrong you will probably lose them anyway.

 

[robyn8]

I guess I should have realized she was sick last night but it was later than usual when I locked them up and sometimes they do sleep in the shavings so I just thought she was really ready for bed. She had laid an egg earlier that day and was out with everyone in the morning so I didn't even think about sickness. I'll be more observant next time someone is sleeping oddly I guess. This is my first flock so I'm still learning.

 

[Our Roost]

Have been raising chickens for 6 years now and have experienced quite a few deaths for known and unknown reasons. I try to spend time with flock while I am cleaning and feeding them, or just enjoying them. Unhealthy chickens seem to give us signs that something is wrong, but not always. Unfortunately I have had more die than recover. My feelings as to the causes are mixed. I feel like its my fault of neglect for not addressing the bacterial issues inside and outside the coop. Some chickens are blessed or have good auto immune systems and some do not adapt as well. They can all share the same filthy habitat but yet some die. Not saying my coops are filthy but they do require a lot of maintenance. Even a perfectionist is subject to fecal waste and dander dust along with feather molt, possible mites and lice. Not to mention critters, birds, mice, chipmunks and other carriers of maladies that could infect our birds. Its almost impossible to protect against everything and we have to accept an occasional death wondering why? Chickens do go thru stress with the onset of changing seasons. Winter in my mind is the worst. Almost like us humans fighting a common cold or catching the flu, chickens fight maladies as well. I do the best I can to keep them healthy thru every season and I wish someone could expound on if there is something we are failing to do that might be related to the cause of these issues.

 

[iamfivewire]

Very nice summary about Chicken illnesses @Our Roost

we've had a few that we tried "nursing back to health" - sometimes they come out of it , but many just linger til the inevitable.
It's the ones that go so sudden & unexpectedly that seem to be more of a "shock", as they act symptomless
. . . . tho of all of the potential diseases or illnesses that could possibly affect poultry, our biggest losses have occurred from stray/loose dogs running thru of yard & pillaging our birds that happen to be free-rangeing at the time

 

[Peep-Chicken]

I have never had a bird be eaten by a predator in all the years I've had them.
The other week, I've seen a possum at the coop several times, a coon down the road and a skunk at the neighbors.
Any suggests on deterring them?

 

[dyorto]

I love my new egg holder. Makes me appreciate the variety of egg color!

 

[Our Roost]

Well, I have experienced meetings with all of those except the skunk fortunately. Opossums are natures way of consuming and cleaning up remains. They are not a predator but yet will invade an take up residence to gorge on any food source such as eggs and feed. Raccoons are somewhat different as they will kill and fight over food but not consume and leave the remains. They are definitely more destructive. As far as deterring them, even fort Knox would be hard to keep them out. They dig, chew, and any means necessary to gain access. A .22 caliber works best or a live animal trap and relocate them.

 

[aart]

Well, I have experienced meetings with all of those except the skunk fortunately. Opossums are natures way of consuming and cleaning up remains. They are not a predator but yet will invade an take up residence to gorge on any food source such as eggs and feed. Raccoons are somewhat different as they will kill and fight over food but not consume and leave the remains. They are definitely more destructive. As far as deterring them, even fort Knox would be hard to keep them out. They dig, chew, and any means necessary to gain access. A .22 caliber works best or a live animal trap and relocate them.

Please don't relocate live trapped animals ...use the .22 on them too.

 

[1muttsfan]

Any coop can be made predator proof with the proper materials and a little forethought. It just takes work. The only predator that has every breached security here got in through an open door. And we are surrounded by predators of every kind, land and air.

 

[Our Roost]

So I understand your input better, how many doors and how often are they open and closed? I tend to get a lot of breaches from open chutes and doors.