Michigan

[Olive Hill]

Quote:
Yes, it can affect chickens. All 5 of the d'Uccle chicks I bought from them last week are gone. The first two exhibited strong symptoms of New Castle's. The next two I wasn't around to see go, but they both died suddenly and one was in a position that suggested it died the same way as the first two (had torticollis). And the final we put down out as we did not expect it to be much longer before it went anyway and did not feel keeping it around any longer given the evidence of SOMETHING being wrong with those chicks was a good idea. It is contagious and fatal but the fatal forms are rare which is why I've been reluctant to say outright that I think the birds had New Castle, but man their symptoms were textbook. I would be really interested to see if anyone else was having trouble with chicks they bought from there last week -- specifically those out of the mixed bantam bin, but others as well as we all know people get their hands in all the bins and could spread it that way. Even if it's not New Castle's there was definitely something wrong with those chicks and I can't see how out of hundreds in there my 5 could have been the only infected with... whatever it was/is.

I've raised a LOT of day old chicks and never had a problem. They were definitely ill. And the description of the duck you gave makes me even MORE suspicious.

 

[ChikeeMomma]

Eek! I did buy two bantams from that bin. One last week and one this week. So far they seem healthy. I haven't had any trouble. Mine have all been healthy. Boy, I hope they don't come down with something!

 

[Olive Hill]

I sure hope yours are okay too. The second two of ours went on Wednesday. The last one was still appearing healthy at that point, but we put him down because all the others had appeared perfectly fine within just hours of when they died so we figured it was just a matter of time. Since I had all one breed it could have been related to that, I suppose, and maybe something they picked up at the hatchery... I just don't know.

They all followed the same pattern, some just died sooner than others. I'm trying to remember now, seems the first one was in the first 24 hours of bringing them home, I believe it was Saturday. The second was on Sunday. The third Wed. morning and the fourth Wed. afternoon. Wednesday night I made the decision to euthanize the last one to limit exposure in case it was something serious even though he appeared healthy at the time because that didn't seem to make a difference in the others. They would be hopping around, cheeping happily, eating, drinking, scratching. All the normal chick stuff and then they would deteriorate fast. Depression, refusal to eat or drink, muscle spasm, partial paralysis, diarrhea and then shortly before succumbing torticollis would set in.

 

[michickenwrangler]

Quote:
I've done the shore to shore 3.5 times. The last time was 2008. I had planned on going up again this year, but $$$ is a little too tight right now. I also rode 110 LD miles with the GLDRA in 2008. I plan on joining again this year, and hope to attend a few rides if we can get our butts in gear.

What other GLDRA rides have you done? In 2008, I did 4, Grand Island, Hopkins Creek, SHore-to-Shore and Brighton Fall. Qualified for year-end awards too, if I may toot my own horn.

Last year, I only did 3, Hopkins Creek, Shore-to-Shore & Brighton Fall.

This year, I hope to do a repeat of 2008. I'll be at Grand Island on Memorial Day weekend.

 

[bantybev]

Quote:
Yes, it can affect chickens. All 5 of the d'Uccle chicks I bought from them last week are gone. The first two exhibited strong symptoms of New Castle's. The next two I wasn't around to see go, but they both died suddenly and one was in a position that suggested it died the same way as the first two (had torticollis). And the final we put down out as we did not expect it to be much longer before it went anyway and did not feel keeping it around any longer given the evidence of SOMETHING being wrong with those chicks was a good idea. It is contagious and fatal but the fatal forms are rare which is why I've been reluctant to say outright that I think the birds had New Castle, but man their symptoms were textbook. I would be really interested to see if anyone else was having trouble with chicks they bought from there last week -- specifically those out of the mixed bantam bin, but others as well as we all know people get their hands in all the bins and could spread it that way. Even if it's not New Castle's there was definitely something wrong with those chicks and I can't see how out of hundreds in there my 5 could have been the only infected with... whatever it was/is.

I've raised a LOT of day old chicks and never had a problem. They were definitely ill. And the description of the duck you gave makes me even MORE suspicious.

I picked up 5 Bantam D'Uccle chicks at the Family Farm and Home in Coldwater 2 weeks ago. Mine are all doing fine so far. I don't know if the store in Coldwater gets their chicks from the same hatchery as yours. One of mine had a strange gasping, sneezing after the first couple of days after I got them, and I was REALLY concerned. It was lethargic and had droopy wings and wasn't eating or drinking well. I thought for sure I would loose him. I gave hime polyvisol infant drops twice a day for 2 days and he made a complete recovery. They are all frisky and healthy now. I am pretty sure our store said they came from "Townline Hatchery"

 

[vicki2x2]

Good morning all! Welcome to our new members!

Our first hatch of the year is under way! So far 2 belgian quail d'anvers and a serama chick, but there are pips on almost everything!! YEAH!!

I also have my first goslings due next week, along with chicks and goslings I ordered!! Yep, spring is here!!

The goslings are for Kathy (Lovemychicklets). I will be putting more in right after this hatch. I can't help it, I love those little guys!!

 

[Olive Hill]

Congrats on the hatch vicki!

Yep, the chicks at Alma Family Farm & Home were from Townline. Hey I could have picked the only unhealthy chicks in the bunch. That does run just about right for the kind of luck I usually have.

Oh well. Life happens. No big deal. We move on. And I'm only a little disgruntled that those little fuzz butts ruined my "never lost a day old" record.

It's nice and sunny out there today. Had a knock on my door about half an hour ago. It was my FIL. They found some suspicious coons outside. They noticed one was dead in their front yard this morning, not a hair out of place just dead. He picked it up and was going to take it out in the woods to get rid of the body and on the way he found a younger coon only 100 feet or so down the road weaving and acting odd. They don't have guns so I went out and shot that one. I will say this, the State of Michigan makes it a pain in the behind to try to report these things.

 

[vicki2x2]

So we worked outside all afternoon, splitting our pastures so the geese now have big pastures instead of small breeding pens and yet are still separated for breeding purposes. This will cut down on the feed bill now that the grass is starting to come in and make for happier geese!

We are up to 7 babies now, more on there way!

 

[vicki2x2]

I promised pictures of my new puppy, so here she is, Kimber!

and here is one of her along side of Remi so you can see the size difference. She is 10 weeks, he is a year old. Technically, he isn't done growing and maturing until is 2! YIKES!

 

[bantybev]

Quote:
WOW!

looks like a momma polar bear and cub in the second pic

Beautiful dogs....