Michigan

[Olive Hill]

Quote:

We have had them just over 2 weeks. The first chicks eye started to look not so great 4 days ago or so. I posted pictures of it here if you want to look. 2 days ago she started to have some clear, spittle like bubbles to the front of her eye. It looked better the next day, but tonight, it was all bubbly again. Tonight was also the first time I heard her sneeze, and observed the clear nasal discharge in the two other chicks, one of which is has an eye that is starting to look off. So it would seem to be spreading. I know they didn't have any discharge before, I check them all over every day.

They are in a tractor within a quarantine fence, it has big ventilation holes covered with hardware cloth on two opposite sides and sand in the coop. I move it around the quarantine area, which is predominately sand and dune grass, and some dirt.

They seem to be eating and drinking the same as they have been, there are 6 chicks in total and I have mason jar feeder and waterers. I have to fill them up every day, and more often a second time at bed time too.

I'm not sure about growth rate, we've only had them about 2 weeks, but... they're bigger than they were? They have been losing some feathers, especially under their wings and some around their faces, also some on their backs where you have to lift other feathers to see. I have checked often for lice and mites, but after looking up a bunch of pages, I put it down to molting. I did take some pictures, though, so I will include some here.

​

I think we will be giving him a call, I know my husband has a special fondness for him for saving his dog, who was shot while out on a hike with him and his brother when they were kids.

Are you actually finding a lot of feathers like they're losing them, or they just have bare spots? Molting is not normal at this stage, but spotty feathering is.

Darn it! Unfortunately, nothing in your situation really points to anything definitive. The problem with that, besides just plain being frustrating to not know what's going on, is that their symptoms could indicate disease that's not just infectious but chronic. Infectious Sinusitis/MG is the most common -- and as Farmerboy can tell you, a big pain in the rear -- less probable is the possibility of either Coryza or Infectious Bronchitis. The first two result in chronic carrier status in the bird -- though some research says you may be able to cure MG, it can be expensive and time consuming to do so -- the last is least probable, imo, but the bird is only temporarily a carrier, so there's that. Unfortunately, with just the signs and symptoms you're dealing with there's no way to know without testing. You could do your own swabs and send them to MSU for testing, I'm not sure how much cheaper, if at all, it would be though. Daron may be able to give you details on that.

Because of the length of time you've had them and the time frame in which their symptoms appeared it's unlikely they brought it with them. (Though them having it since hatching and this being a recurrence due to stress is possible.) As much as I hate to say it, the time frame actually kind of suggests that MG could be a good possibility. The incubation is 6-10 days, which seems to coincide with their move to your location.

Which is not a reflection on you at all. The wild birds can bring it in, your older chickens may be carriers without you even knowing it... all kinds of possibilities.

If it is MG it doesn't survive long without the bird as a carrier, but can be carried back and forth on hair, clothes, boots, etc. so your older flock is at risk, especially if they're free ranging and able to get close to the tractor the younger birds are in.

Basically, it's likely to pass even without treatment with few losses, but you are risking chronic carrier status in your flock and continued spreading if it is an infectious disease and you don't test and treat or cull. All this said, depending on what comes back in a test you may have to cull anyway and the course you choose is absolutely a personal one. You should not at all feel bad or lesser if you should decide to just cull. $100+ is a lot for any family and you have to put your family first. As cold as it sounds to say, when it comes to a $3 chick vs a $100+ vet bill that may result in culling anyway, sometimes the choice ends up being to save the money and just cull the bird and there's nothing wrong with that. If you do decide to cull you should keep your older birds off the ground your young chicks have been on for a couple of weeks, disinfect your boots, wash and dry your chores clothes on high heat and then you can try again. At that point you would want to watch closely for symptoms again which would be likely to tell you if the disease is either coming from your older flock or it's going to be endemic to your location and is something you need to consider a prevention program for. HTH!

 

[Olive Hill]

Olive, if I decide to let her sit, should I put a base of dirt under the straw in the Goode Chalet? Currently it is straw over vinyl flooring, but I think I read that a dirt floor is good to retain some moisture for the eggs? Or, if I decide not to let her hatch any this year, do you think she might start laying again (If she's stopped) if I take the wooden eggs away?

A layer of dirt can't hurt. She's unlikely to start laying again if she's stopped. If she's committed to sitting you'll know, they do. not. move. but once a day and then only briefly.

 

[Ferrret]

Juise, i have been wanting to ask you about the cold pressed coffee thing..... could i put coffee in a mason jar, fill it with water, then strain it with a cloth??? I have never had that kind of coffee, and i am intrigued.....also, being able to just heat up premade coffee in the morning would be priceless.

I looked up cold brewing coffee after Juise mentioned it and found a few instructional pages that all have varied methods.
What I found worked for me is using a 4:1 ratio of water to coffee. So 1/4 cup coffee grounds would have 1 cup of water added to it. I've seen people suggest using a 5:1 ratio as well, so it depends on how strong you like it I guess.
After letting the grounds soak for 12-24 hours, just strain them through some cheese cloth or a regular coffee filter, then when you want a cup mix it 1:1 with water. So, for an 8 oz glass of coffee you'd mix 4 oz. of your cold brewed stuff with 4 oz. of water, hot or cold.
I tested the method in a mason jar first, but any container with a lid should work. I wouldn't recommend using flavored coffee for this method as it can taste pretty foul, since most of what you get is the added flavoring.

I hope this helps anyone who was curious about cold brewing. If I got anything wrong or left anything out, feel free to correct the info.

 

[Mom 2em All]

So cute! And if she'd really sit on just maybe 2 eggs--that wouldn't be overdoing it... right?
Oh, look who I'm asking! As if any of you will say, "oh, no, yorkchick, you don't need any more birds!"
Here's the funny thing. When I came in, I told the DH how much Libbly wants to hatch her eggs. The Voice Of Reason, the man who will not let me have guinea pigs because "they're rats," the man who was horrified three years ago that I had ordered chickens "because I could get laid off at any minute," the man who now is laid off, said, "If you really want to let her hatch a few, then do it. If we have to move them we will. We have some time to figure it out."

He also said, "It would make The Moms happy." The Moms? Oh, yeah, Mom2 em All!

So not sure if I will be able to make this decision yet. And I'm not sure Libbly is 100% sitting yet. At least as of today, one of the goosers is still laying, though it might well be Penelope. Olive, if I decide to let her sit, should I put a base of dirt under the straw in the Goode Chalet? Currently it is straw over vinyl flooring, but I think I read that a dirt floor is good to retain some moisture for the eggs? Or, if I decide not to let her hatch any this year, do you think she might start laying again (If she's stopped) if I take the wooden eggs away?
And anyone have any nice blue or green hatching eggs (standard, not bantam) for little Edna???
Oh, I am such a sap.

awwwwwwwwww

I love your husband.

Libby..awwwww... she has come so far from being that almost -dead gooser abandoned at the park and too scared to go in the water..

Awwww, she wants to be a MAMA...which would make Henry a proud Papa...and did I mention how cute goslings are? Do I need to show you baby henry again to remind you?

yes, yes, let her hatch a couple babies...awwwwww...\


And I hope you get some eggies for Edna, too..

 

[Mom 2em All]

Ferret,

Post pictures! Even if it is creeepy stuff. We will all appreciate your talent!


Good Morning everyone!

Yesterday, first day back to work lasted almost eleven hours. i was so tired when I got home, I was just a lump. Couldnt even finish watching House last night because I couldnt stay awake any longer.

Was very funny- I opened my coop at dusk to do a headcount...and as soon as the banties saw me, they all came pouring out the pophole..."Moms home, party time.."

I found one little lost chick sitting inside the rabbit hutch. Scared in a corner. Thats one of Mama Hens. She had her brood under the hutch. Soon as me, The PREDATOR, grabbed the chick, it started screaming its head off and she was under the hutch sending me death threats. I put the chick on the ground and it ran right under to where Mama was.

My silkie is still sitting on eggs. I cant remember how many days now. I guess I will let her set just so we can see if they were still laying fertile eggs from the Uggos.
I was going to get her some quail eggs or Seramas...but I am feeling chicked out. The ones in the house are two and a half weeks old? Same with Mama Hens.Maybe coming up on 3 weeks, the eggs in the incubator are due to hatch this weekend and next. Banties in the coop are a month old.
I think THIS Mom needs a break.

I work all week. Think they are trying to kill me already. I had a three hour meeting yesterday though, so i only ran around for 7 and a half hours.

Tried to put honey on my biscuit last night. Another container with a lid full of ants. Threw it out. Going to have to keep it in the refrigerator.
I think I will make up a borax and honey concoction for the little buggers.

HAVE a wonderful day, everyone!

 

[Opa]

I've poured us each a cup so why don't you sit a spell and tell me what you've planned for the day.

As soon as I have a cup or two I've got to go take a bird of the roost and box it up to send to a friend in Oklahoma. I had to get a post office approved box to ship it in. I ordered the box from a company in Missouri and it was shipped broken down flat. On the sides of the box it reads "Live Birds." When the post lady delivered it she remarked to Hope "that must be a really thin bird."

This morning I will take Granny for her semi-annual checkup with the doctor. She has been quite fortunate with how her health as improved since moving here. She once told me that she wanted to live till at least 103 and given her current state of health I wouldn't be surprised if she does.

 

[Mom 2em All]

.. and it was shipped broken down flat. On the sides of the box it reads "Live Birds." When the post lady delivered it she remarked to Hope "that must be a really thin bird."

hahahaha!!


Sam, I hope Granny lives to be 103 as well.

 

[Brethren49619]

Hi all. Recently signed up, though been on the site researching so many things for a few months now. We moved back to Michigan last fall after my husband completed 23 years in service. At our last stop, we started our farm family with some horses. Our farrier quickly became a good friend and showed me 'everything' I needed to know to start my own flock with her 80 or so birds. Now that we are back in Michigan on our own 20 acres, I can't wait to have my own birds. I built my own incubator. Had her send me some eggs thru the mail, but they didn't seem to develop any further than two days, and since I didn't candle when I received, don't know if that is how far they were when I received them. Making changes and getting a second fan and 3 aquarium thermometers when we head into town. Also, we moved an old 13 x 14 sauna that was on the property and I am converting it into my coop. Lots of work, and a big learning curve to overcome. But, it is all fun. Located in NW Michigan, about an hour south of Traverse. Anyone near me?

 

[Opa]

I'm glad that you've found the best thread on BYC and I'm sure you enjoy being here. There are several folks livig in northern Michigan but my CRS is preventing me from telling you who they are.

Be sure to click on the link in my signature line for information about our upcoming Chickenstock. We love to see you there.

 

[babigyrl22]

Brethren49619 - I'm not near you but welcome. there is alot of good people on this thread. Warning....we are chatty (but seriously entertaining!).

So my lone silkie decided, in her sisters absence, to brood again. My frizzle has taken up her sister's role and instead of cuddling in the corner of the coop, stuffed herself in the nest box with her to sleep. I stole her eggs but I was wondering if I should just let her brood and give her these chicks when they hatch this weekend. Only thing is there is 19 of them that will possibly hatch. If they all hatch will that be too much for her or will she be overjoyed at the opportunity to mother so many? I would, of course, put a light in the brooding area....just curious though.

Any thoughts on using the silkiebrooder?