Michigan

[Farmerboy16]

Got the results in the mail today.

Icelandic
Positive
Peacock
Positive
Tomaru Longcrower
Positive

​

Hate to hear bad news. Honestly, I can't seem to keep up in here with work, but what were they positive for? If it was Mareks, well, I've been told by a few avian vets, and a prof. at State that if you raise chickens you can be almost certain a large percentage have Mareks. It can be spread thru the air for miles. Most birds develop an immunity and some die around 6 weeks of age. Anyway, that's what I went thru but my BRs that lived are strong producers, and the roos are a general nuisance due to their vigor, lol. The only real change I'm making is keeping any new birds separate for 6-8 weeks. That way my "older" birds, maybe, won't give it to my new birds if my older birds are carriers. That's the way I learned it but I'm sure not done learning. When my dad was a lid he helped a farmer tend hundreds of birds and he recalls a few deathes here and there but never entire flocks being wiped out. Maybe in our good new days things are not as great as some think. I'll go with common sense and mourn my losses but move on and learn. So, good luck and I hope all works out for you! John

They were positive for Mycoplasma G.

 

[1muttsfan]

I still vote for the hens being the culprits.

With regard to how small a whole a rat can fit thru it depends on the size of the rat's head. Most have skulls about the size of a quarter.

I agree that the other hens are the most likely culprits. My eggs are often moved out of the nest boxes and around the inside of the coop, quite a long way often. A hard lesson for sure, the eggs sounded very precious.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Ok, it has been 28 hours since I have been able to get on the check out BYC and you all gave me something like 10 pages and 99 unread posts. I am never going to be able to keep up with this...



Hillbilly Hen - We tried a garden last year too. I think our seeds germinated and then rotted. We just had so much rain last year. Hopefully we will have better luck this year. I think we are going to try some raised beds. Hopefully that will help w/ the drainage issues as well. Where in GA are you from? We moved up here from the Atlanta suburbs a year ago.

I have been hit hard by a nasty cold and come back to almost 200 posts to catch up on. February has been the worst month!!
b737drvr, I was born in Atlanta but grew up in Columbus

My Icelandic babies from Hillbilly Hen


My beautiful Silkie Rooster from RIRJen yesterday. His name is Lancelot, Lance for short.

Sweet!

So each day I have held water for her to drink, food to eat, and watched for some sign of improvement. Finally today she was standing. Still appears wobbly, but she is able to move in her cage. Still uncertain as to what the final outcome with be but she might make it after all.

I hope she makes it Opa.

Got the results in the mail today.

Icelandic
Positive
Peacock
Positive
Tomaru Longcrower
Positive

​

Daron, I am so sorry to hear about that

It has been a very strange night. A fellow I know posted on my Facebook a very strange message.
First I answered the post in my usual snarky fashion.

Then he called me, which I found strange. After a few minutes of talking, it dawned on me that he was suicidal. While we were talking on the cell phone, I was able to use my FAX phone to call 911 for them to check up on him. Local 911 was able to link with out of state 911 and check on the situation.

I was still on the phone with him when the police hit his house and neutralized the situation.
My friend is now in protective custody and under observation. His wife and twin daughters who were born last fall are safe.

I'm shaking like a leaf.

RaZ, good thinking!

I am going to try again, and wait a bit longer this time. But KathyinMo is being very helpful, providing info about Denagard, and how it will make the bird clean of the disease. I am studying about it, and may try it, then have the birds tested again before culling.

Isn't she great?


Mom2, that is scary, I hope things are ok there now

 

[1muttsfan]

I won another egg auction.

I'm so amazed. I have never tried to coordinate eggs before. So tomorrow I have three shipments of eggs being sent out with four different breeds. I think I'm done looking at eggs for a while! Hopefully the weather won't interfere with shipping from 3 different locations.

That is a great idea! The only problem is that that is one more thing to mow around, but I suppose I'll live.
As far as the windows goes, I already have two "openings on the south side" hadn't figured out what I was going to do to seal them for the winter. I have already been contemplating another vent on the west or north side...should I have vents on all sides??? I do plan to have the run covered (at least w/ poultry netting)...was probably going to put a little lean-to of some sort for some shade on the inside. I have also contemplated running electricity to it so we can keep up egg production in the winter....lots of stuff to do yet. Was also thinking it would be cool to have one of those automatic "pop doors"...Will keep you updated as more steps get completed.

I went to Lowes and bought a few plastic roof panels and covered the run just closest to the coop. It shades the area, provides an outdoor area in bad weather, and reduces the mud at the pop door.

Do what works for you. Mine is lifted because it is movable, has wheels. It's higher than I expected but I can't complain I didn't build it my DH did and he's the one the moves it around out back. I also have cross ventilation. My coop stays fairly cool, the hens like to go under it, I haven't had any issues with mice and we are surrounded by farm fields. Now I've jinxed myself!

My coop actually is elevated on cedar posts, from 1 1/2' at one end to 2' at the other - the ground slopes (one reason for raising it), and I have LOTS of cedar posts. I have 2 large windows front and back that are open all summer, and not sealed tightly in the winter, and one small window on the south side that stays open all year round.


Daron, I hope you take the advice above and consider treating your birds. I wonder how many people would find MG in their flocks if they were tested? What if most did? Would they all be culled? And what effect would that have on breeding populations of rare breeds? Just my 2 cents (probably only worth 1)

 

[AngelaB]

Hello everyone! Got my chicks (6 of them) last week. 4 EE's and 2 buff orpingtons. They are 6 days old now.

I have a question. My Brahma is filthy.....she REALLY needs a bath from laying in the mud. Can I give her a bath now, and then let her sit in front of the woodstove for a while until she's dry and then take her back outside?

 

[SillyChicken]

Hello everyone! Got my chicks (6 of them) last week. 4 EE's and 2 buff orpingtons. They are 6 days old now.

I have a question. My Brahma is filthy.....she REALLY needs a bath from laying in the mud. Can I give her a bath now, and then let her sit in front of the woodstove for a while until she's dry and then take her back outside?

Most of my birds get muddy this time of year (spring is worse) but they preen themselves to get rid of the mud etc. If you think it's going to hurt your bird to stay the way they are, yes you can bring them in and clean them up... but I wouldn't go from the wood stove straight back outside, maybe let them chill out in a cooler part of the house before sending them outside. I have used a blow drier on one of mine when she needed cleaned up.

 

[Olive Hill]

Oooo, those cages would make fantastic poult brooders. Dibs! LOL!

Well, the geese have begun making their nests. There is one female in particular who is always first and the others usually follow along within 2 weeks. She was holed up in the dog house out front the other day and the big mutt was highly offended. Never mind that neither he nor any other dog ever uses that house -- unless he's stealing and stashing goslings, but that's another post for another day. He was standing about five feet outside the door of the house barking and barking and barking. And she was in there arranging her straw and ignoring him. I finally had to go out and "check" on her so he'd shut the heck up.

Most of my birds get muddy this time of year (spring is worse) but they preen themselves to get rid of the mud etc. If you think it's going to hurt your bird to stay the way they are, yes you can bring them in and clean them up... but I wouldn't go from the wood stove straight back outside, maybe let them chill out in a cooler part of the house before sending them outside.

I agree. Mud is part of spring. Animals don't mind it near as much as we do.

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Quote: Originally Posted by NovaAman I am almost tempted to salt the path back to the coop,
You need some cleats! (Or make some of those nifty studded boots)

Quote: Originally Posted by Chickmate I have been wanting to ask how the rest of you keep the chickens out of your flowerbeds.
I have the ugly huge fencing (goats too) but the books i read about keeping chickens around plants recommended the regular short poultry netting. If you have it hugging the line and your plantings are decently dense, i don't think they'll bother flying over. But be warned that they can fit their beaks through and reach amazingly far! You don't want the appearance of a landing strip though.

Quote: Originally Posted by b737drvr How do you get the girls back into the run when it is time to go in?
Treats. Or the big scary yellow broom. (Sure glad i can't be seen from the road!) Look like a crazy chicken lady, but after most of a summer they figured out that when i fetch a broom it's time to go.

Quote: Originally Posted by Farmerboy16 I have asked my dad if we can go to the cattle auction on Thursday
Careful! That is where i got my sick chickens from (Saturdays) Don't wear shoes you are gonna wear home..... As far as the Denagard goes, I researched it and that's what they are using in the UK for MG. Studies show it to cure, but only if you catch it quick and give the meds right away! Otherwise they will still be carriers. It is generally only available with a prescription from a vet, but i found it for $50 through qc supply, in with the pig meds. (You can only get the "poultry" version in the UK) Here's what i know so far:
Dose is 1 Tb/ga water, or 10 mg/kg of weight, up to 20mg/kg for maximum effective dose. If you google tiamulin you will find some of the people using this. Using tetracycline wit it is supposed to increase effectiveness; Since reg tetracycline don't touch it, i considered combining it with doxycycline, which is used in human Mycoplasma treatment. Smith poultry sells "bird biotic" which is 100 mg/pill doxycycline.
The only reason it isn't considered a 100% cure is because if the air sacs in the lungs are scarred it won't penetrate that tissue. So if we were able to figure that one out..... I'm not sure if US vets are up to speed with the UK yet, so google will have to be your friend

Quote: Originally Posted by Mom 2em All

I have known my share of these types. I wish your husband hadn't interveened, although i'm sure she was grateful. Your best bet is to make a point of "not looking", There's a saying for sniches....If you call the cops make sure it can't backfire on you; as long as they don't consider you a threat they should leave you alone. Cops are not as smart as they make them look on TV, so don't count on them not letting your name slip. I'm thinking you are dealing with far worse than a few casual potheads. If his wife if smart she'll get out before the stuff hits the fan, Cops will take everything including kids if it is hard drugs, and sounds like her husband is messing with the wrong guy.

Quote: Originally Posted by 1muttsfan I wonder how many people would find MG in their flocks if they were tested? What if most did? Would they all be culled? And what effect would that have on breeding populations of rare breeds?
x 2 You have to realize that the average joe probably can't diagnose birds, and that most people won't spend the bucks on what's consindered a cheap livestock. And even if they do figure it out, most country farmers wouldn't cull their entire flock because one has booger eyes, let alone wait any length of time to get new stock....I think this is something that is common and the only reason we are noticing it is because the "clean" birds get sick; Before there were clean flocks there was little to no outbreaks, because all were carriers and the weak ones died young, the strong ones lived. That's not a knock to the farmers, they probabaly don't know what the fuss is about, since they are not the ones with the "sick" birds because theirs are symptom free (carriers...)

 

[Olive Hill]

Quote: Originally Posted by 1muttsfan I wonder how many people would find MG in their flocks if they were tested? What if most did? Would they all be culled? And what effect would that have on breeding populations of rare breeds?
x 2 You have to realize that the average joe probably can't diagnose birds, and that most people won't spend the bucks on what's consindered a cheap livestock. And even if they do figure it out, most country farmers wouldn't cull their entire flock because one has booger eyes, let alone wait any length of time to get new stock....I think this is something that is common and the only reason we are noticing it is because the "clean" birds get sick; Before there were clean flocks there was little to no outbreaks, because all were carriers and the weak ones died young, the strong ones lived. That's not a knock to the farmers, they probabaly don't know what the fuss is about, since they are not the ones with the "sick" birds because theirs are symptom free (carriers...)

Given their livelihood depends on it, you might be surprised at what those stupid "country farmers" know. In fact, farmers are far more likely to participate in coordinated eradication and prevention programs because their livelihood depends on it. If you take some time to read about Mycoplasma G. specifically you'll find that preventative medication, vaccination and eradication efforts are widespread among "country farmers" operations and originated there. If you really want to get into whom is more likely to contribute to disease outbreaks in livestock it's backyard keepers and small, hobby operations -- because they're more likely to make emotion-driven decisions and less likely to have the resources to comply with cutting edge recommendations.

 

[Olive Hill]

They must have heard me talking about them in here. Went outside to run some leftover fish and celery trimmings through the garbage disposal (chickens!) after I posted and The Schnauzer was running around the yard with a goose egg in her mouth. First one of the season! Yay for Spring!