Michigan

[1muttsfan]

Add me to the groper list

Fife,i think it is very wise for you to test, it will be a huge load of your mind and heart if (fingers crossed) tests come back negative.

I see the thread is back to its normal 5 page a day pace! If we do a photo contest for favorite chicken there are going to be a lot of winners

 

[NovaAman]

Quote:
No kidding... Well then I guess they are Miss Legs and Buffys. Today I got an egg that was for sure from Buffy, and It is a bit darker than Miss Legs, but the same size, Medium, but she's only 6 months too.

 

[Farmerboy16]

fife- I am sorry that you had to go through that. I did the same thing you did, and the result was culling my entire farm of poultry. You can see the link in my signature for more details. I had the vet come to take some blood sample, and a goose's test came back positive for MG. You can sell the chickens as meat birds, so it will not be a total loss, and you will prevent the spread of the disease that way. Hopefully next year will be good year for you.

 

[yorkchick]

Quote:
My original chickens included 2 EE's. When they got their adult feathering, they both had beautiful full beards and muffs. Then eventually they had bare chins and cheeks, but weren't missing any other feathers. Looked exactly as if they'd shaved their beards and sideburns off to bare skin. I kept checking them for mites, nothing. Eventually I noticed the same thing on one other hen, a NHR, also only in the just-under-the-chin area. My hens in general are very peaceable to each other (at least while I'm watching!)--the most I ever see is a single peck from a higher-ranked to a lower ranked hen, and the lower hen backs off. (To the extent that even with only six adult hens currently, I would not feel confident in listing each one by peck order--because there just is not enough pecking going on! I have some idea but not on the complete order...) (Well, I have seen multiple pecks in one case--after lights out given to Edna, the Silver Sebright, because she insists on pushing herself under another hen on the roost to keep warm and some of them don't tolerate it. They will peck her and she will insistently keep burrowing. She has not figured out: Betty will let her, Maude might, but Henrietta, Elnora, and Bonita WILL NOT. LOL!)

Anyway, finally one sunny day I see Bonita the EE standing very close to Maude the BSL. Maude is quite slowly and apparently gently pulling out Bonita's (regrowing) beard feathers. Bonita is standing there almost as if in a trance. Seems like it must have hurt to have those feathers pulled but no squawks or protests or attempts to move away, Bonita just let her keep plucking. Was Bonita just being submissive? Does Maude think the beard feathers are "weird" and should come off? That doesn't explain Betty the NHR's smooth chin, though, since with her full feathering there was no evidence of a beard.

Anyway, Chickmate, is the feather loss on yours that high up on the neck? Maybe they, like mine, enjoy Make-Believe Barbershop. Everyone needs a hobby!

 

[Opa]

As I sit here with my coffee and listen to the silence, I can't help but compare how different it seems than last night. The wind certainly howled last night and I listened to the house and everything else creak and groan in protest to the onslaught. I wonder how much wind damage we will face when the sun finally rises.

 

[KrisRose]

Wind here too. I was worried about my traps since I havent got one side done yet. But it looks like they held on just fine.
Off to work! PAYDAY

!!!

 

[Opa]

Pay Day. Such a great day and I sure wish that I had more than just one per month. What I can't understand is why it seems that each year there are more days between them than there once was.

 

[snowflake]

Good morning!

looks like a great day, Days off are a rush, to many things to do and not enough time. Opa, 1 more yr (and 5 mo.) and I can join you. Looking forward to in!!!! Going to put ply wood under the roof tarp in the run today, try to keep the sag away after it rains. Heading up to Ionia early see if TSC there has meds I need for my chicks. May call Farm and Home to.

 

[M.sue]

Good Morning Everyone......Got one child up, fed & off to school, more waffles in the iron & another one to get up, fed & to school. I hope the rain is finished , I want to get out side for a bit. We have the run covered for winter but need to add a couple more reinforcement boards......it did well in the wind yesterday and the girls like it.

Snowflake....I agree with your thoughts about having the day off....Always things to do & not enough time!

I was making out my grocery list out this morning and I can't believe what I wrote down.....EGGS! Now why would I do that? My thoughts must of been jumbled at 5am!! I'm dreading going shopping....it's stock up time! Checked the pantry, cupboards & freezer! Hopefully the manufacturers coupons I have and the store discount coupon ( 20%) combined will save me a bundle for I have a whole lot of shopping to do.

Have a great day everyone!

 

[fifelakelooper]

Quote:
Thank you Farmerboy. I actually did read your posting when I first started doing research on symptoms. I will call the vet in T.C. but will probably do a throat swab instead of blood test. The MSU doc said it would be easier than drawing blood from a vein under the wing if I was doing it myself. My flock is MUCH smaller than yours was...I only have 11. If positive..DH will cull the birds and they will go into our own freezer. I was raised on a dairy farm and have had to eat my former pets before. I know some people are horrified by that (my adult daughter who is a vegetarian and animal rights supporter) . I printed up the lab form from online but I have a few more questions on the whole process so I emailed them last night but if they haven't answered this morning I will call them back tonight prior to 5:30pm. I would like to get it going. I know you have got your flock going again and as chicken lovers....we will continue on.

Best of luck to you too Darron.