Michigan

[chicken grandma]

Quote: Originally Posted by chicken grandma Fuzzy - please come to M.S.U. with us next Tuesday!
I will think about it, but i am unsure whether it would change my approach... Seems to me that this is something that is pretty common, and MG is a problem that isn't going away anytime soon so i am working to finding some kind of research at all to try. The meds come sooo close to being 100% effective, if we could only figure out how to get them into the inflamed parts of the lungs, or get the inflammation down so it can get in.

Fuzzy - I'll pick you up and drive and Olive should come down also. I want to find answers for our flocks. I don't want to change anyones mind I just want to find answers. I raised chickens in Hawaii for 8 years and never had one infectious disease and don't know anyone who did. That is what being on an island will do for you - isolate you from disease. They have no rabies there either. The agricultural department is very strict about animals/chicks coming in. It is wonderful. I am not used to all this disease and it make me sad. I am looking for solutions if there are any to be had. Thanks for all the research you have done - it helps all of us!

 

[Olive Hill]

Been here over 4 yrs, Olive, and you passed me up!

(had to see how we did that, lol)

I think Nova's going to leave us both in the dust. LOL!

 

[RaZ]

RaZ - Did they send you an extra duckling? Because if you ordered 14 ducks and then nine ducks died you should have four alive, but I see five alive in the photos!

Your memory is good. I had ordered 13 and they sent 14.

Between being so aggravated today and checking on the ducks every 3 minutes, I am not getting any homework or housework done. I think I'll have some lunch and take a nap. Maybe I'll wake up with a "go-get-em" attitude.

 

[chicken grandma]

Should have not went to TSC yesterday. I found what i thought was a dead chick, and picked it out of the tank for the guys. When i went to hand it to the guy, it tried to pick up it's head.... they were going to throw him in the trash, so i brought him home so i could love on him and at least let him die with dignity. He got much stronger, and i thought i had saved him, but he died early this morning. So sick over it. I really thought he was gonna make it.

While i was nursing him, i noticed that he was rattling in his chest, and he was only able to scoot backwards on his hocks. I would've thought it was spraddle leg, but i remember (Jen?) saying that in muskegon there were chicks dropping like flies? I will go back today and see if other chicks are now doing it. Apparently in 2009 one of the big hatcheries had a problem with AE and shipped banty chicks all over with it... Could be nothing but please be careful buying this year.

AWESOME! Hey those of us who know something about chickens can intervene here for the benefit of the State of Michigan and all Backyard Chicken farmers. If the chicks look sick, find out what hatchery they are coming out of and give the hatchery a call. Townline is super nice. I have driven down there and met them in the office. They don't want to spread disease. Let them know so they can go pick up the chicks and do some testing.

Fuzzy - that chick knows what love is - you did a good thing.

 

[chicken grandma]

Will wood pellets be ok for chicks bedding?

Kimmie

Kimmie, the corn cob pellets are smaller but it is hard for chicks to walk on. I start with paper towels under then and then use pine shavings but not cedar (toxic oil in cedar).

 

[swampducks]

Quote:
Originally Posted by chicken grandma



RaZ - Did they send you an extra duckling? Because if you ordered 14 ducks and then nine ducks died you should have four alive, but I see five alive in the photos!

Actually, I'm pretty sure that 14-9 IS 5.

Last time I checked anyway....

Your memory is good. I had ordered 13 and they sent 14.

Between being so aggravated today and checking on the ducks every 3 minutes, I am not getting any homework or housework done. I think I'll have some lunch and take a nap. Maybe I'll wake up with a "go-get-em" attitude.

 

[kimmie6067]

Chick Grandma, somewhere they said that pine shavings is bad? I am confused.


Kimmie

 

[RaZ]

Quote:
Originally Posted by chicken grandma



RaZ - Did they send you an extra duckling? Because if you ordered 14 ducks and then nine ducks died you should have four alive, but I see five alive in the photos!

Actually, I'm pretty sure that 14-9 IS 5.

Last time I checked anyway....

I'm not entirely sure. Using my fingers, I can only count to 12.

 

[NovaAman]

RaZ, what a total crap shoot. I am so sorry you got shafted with the USPS. Horror stories abound, but you always hope you will not be one of them... Hope the other 5 continue to thrive. Are you going to be getting some replacements? And if so, is their anyway you can get them safer this time?


I have a small problem... Small cuz its one of the hatchlings. It got in the back yard.. My dogs got it. I see no punctures, no bleeding... Its frightened and shaken up, but I am not sure if it can walk. It does move its legs, but its not standing. I thought it was dead, but when I picked her up, she let out a loud distress call. Poor Skeeter is in the coop freaking out cuz she can not find her baby. Well, anyway, I will cull her if I need too, but how long should I give it before I do? I don't want to cull her unnecessarily if she's just stunned, but I do not want her to suffer over long if she's not. I have her in a fish tank, sans water of course, with a dish of sugar water, wrapped in a towel to help her keep her heat and near the heat vent to help keep her warmer. This only happened about 30 miinutes ago, so... Anyway. I hate to kill the little thing if I don't have to...

 

[Farmerboy16]

Quote: I guess it was good that I cooled off a bit. Even though the phone calls did not come through (and I fault Verizon), here is then rest of the story:

The rest of the story is this: I went to the post office last week and told them I was expecting live animals and asked to be notified immediately upon arrival. I was assured that would be the case.

According to the tracking label, the ducklings arrived in Detroit at 14:37 (2:34 PM) on Feb. 28th. My local Post Office did not call me until 6:30 AM today, March 1. Where were the ducks for nearly 2 days? I called the PO twice on Tuesday and 3 times on Wednesday and was told that they had not arrived. Apparently they were here somewhere but I guess "Priority Mail" and "Phone Upon Arrival" have different definitions.

Poor ducks died cruelly and needlessly due to the negligence of the USPS.

Metzer Farms has been professional, sympathetic and supportive. The surviving ducklings are doing very well now that they have had some food and water.

So sorry about that, RaZ. I agree with you about Metzer Farms being professional, sympathetic and supportive. I have met the owner personalty last fall at Crossroad. Very nice guy and took the time to listen to me chatting away. That is why I had ordered geese from that farm.

Quote: Fuzzy - I'll pick you up and drive and Olive should come down also. I want to find answers for our flocks. I don't want to change anyones mind I just want to find answers. I raised chickens in Hawaii for 8 years and never had one infectious disease and don't know anyone who did. That is what being on an island will do for you - isolate you from disease. They have no rabies there either. The agricultural department is very strict about animals/chicks coming in. It is wonderful. I am not used to all this disease and it make me sad. I am looking for solutions if there are any to be had. Thanks for all the research you have done - it helps all of us!

Great job Fuzzy for doing more researching. Together we might just get that disease beat! I plan to go to the workshop, unless I have to work. I would like to carpool with someone who is going to both workshops. It will be great to meet some of ya there.