MJ's little flock

[MaryJanet]

What time is Christa’s appointment? I hope Dr Mark can fix her.

Thank you Loz.

It was an hour ago. Lorna tagged along for her injection. Her confidence in the car is growing.

Mark examined Christa and said there was a big egg in her. He looked at the photos of the gut she expelled yesterday (about 6.5cm came out of her). Then he decided on images before going further. So she has been admitted and they'll call me later with an update. I said I'd be ok with a hysterectomy.

In case anyone wants to see the yukky photo of the gut she expelled, here it is.

Spoiler: Think twice before looking

Don't forget to add on the little piece to the right.

 

[MaryJanet]

If you have crushed eggshells / oyster shells make sure she has an easy access to it.
Four of my ex-batts have been eggbound regularly or every now and then, and only two binged on eggshells when it happened. I never could find any pills or tabs of human calcium citrate such as advised on BYC, I have a liquid supplement which I put in the whole flock's water when one is eggbound. Not the best, but I tell myself too much calcium one day won't kill them.
As long as she can poop, she can probably wait another day.

Edit : sorry, I replied without reading what followed! SHRA!

Thank you for the info! I'm very grateful.

 

[MaryJanet]

There was no egg in her after all! But she does have EYP so now she's on a week of injections too.

 

[ManueB]

There was no egg in her after all! But she does have EYP so now she's on a week of injections too.

Still pondering on the breeding for laying thing. Keeping chickens as pets is I think a relatively new thing or if not new, it has only recently become more common. I think most pet keepers who took in ex-batts or got high production breeds as their first chickens, will likely think twice about it for their second generation of pet chickens. ( I certainly did, and hatched farm cross breeds raised by a broody for the next step, as a result of constantly worrying for my ex-batt's laying).
I wonder what will happen then with that trend of getting rescued chickens, and with those hybrids. Or maybe veterinary care for pet poultry will develop, and more chicken keepers will have a Mark near them ?

In the EU they are discussing complete banning of antibiotics use for veterinary (use is already banned for structured that produce meat and eggs). While I understand and agree with the public health underlying reason, I don't think it will be then possible at all to try to treat the reproductive diseases that are inherent to those laying breeds.

All that to say I can relate to how angry and sad you must be feeling. Christa is very lucky to have turned up at your place .

 

[ManueB]

On the other hand, Lorna is brighter this morning. I'm not imagining it. She's chatting again, and was first one down off the roost.

So happy to hear this ! I hope she stays better!

 

[RoyalChick]

Still pondering on the breeding for laying thing. Keeping chickens as pets is I think a relatively new thing or if not new, it has only recently become more common. I think most pet keepers who took in ex-batts or got high production breeds as their first chickens, will likely think twice about it for their second generation of pet chickens. ( I certainly did, and hatched farm cross breeds raised by a broody for the next step, as a result of constantly worrying for my ex-batt's laying).
I wonder what will happen then with that trend of getting rescued chickens, and with those hybrids. Or maybe veterinary care for pet poultry will develop, and more chicken keepers will have a Mark near them ?

In the EU they are discussing complete banning of antibiotics use for veterinary (use is already banned for structured that produce meat and eggs). While I understand and agree with the public health underlying reason, I don't think it will be then possible at all to try to treat the reproductive diseases that are inherent to those laying breeds.

All that to say I can relate to how angry and sad you must be feeling. Christa is very lucky to have turned up at your place .

The whole product breeds thing is disgusting and gets me all riled up every time I think about it.
I have very mixed emotions about whether rescue is a good thing or simply papers over a horrific situation.
Somehow the fact that these breeds tend to also be charming little souls who befriend thei people makes it all the worse.

 

[MaryJanet]

I have very mixed emotions about whether rescue is a good thing or simply papers over a horrific situation.

As you know, I only took the river chickens because they're refugees from the flood. After Sandy, I promised myself no more hens with egg production genetics. I try to stay out of that whole scene and stick to heritage bitsas or heritage breeds. I think it helps when people say how pretty the hens are I get a chance to talk them up while talking down the selectively bred, patent protected hens of the egg production industry. I've almost convinced two households that they need their own flocks.

Somehow the fact that these breeds tend to also be charming little souls who befriend thei people makes it all the worse.

I try not to think about that (but I agree it's a pain point). Instead, once a hen of any personality is in my care, she gets the best care I can give. And I try to keep 'the best care I can give' on a growth path.

Not that I'm ungrateful for any cuddles that might happen to come my way!

 

[MaryJanet]

So happy to hear this ! I hope she stays better!

She was so endearing in the car today! Every now and then her little face would pop up and look around, then go back down again for another snooze.

 

[RoyalChick]

As you know, I only took the river chickens because they're refugees from the flood. After Sandy, I promised myself no more hens with egg production genetics. I try to stay out of that whole scene and stick to heritage bitsas or heritage breeds. I think it helps when people say how pretty the hens are I get a chance to talk them up while talking down the selectively bred, patent protected hens of the egg production industry. I've almost convinced two households that they need their own flocks.



I try not to think about that (but I agree it's a pain point). Instead, once a hen of any personality is in my care, she gets the best care I can give. And I try to keep 'the best care I can give' on a growth path.

Not that I'm ungrateful for any cuddles that might happen to come my way!

You know I wasn’t criticizing you for anything.
It is just the whole system that I hate.

 

[MaryJanet]

Still pondering on the breeding for laying thing. Keeping chickens as pets is I think a relatively new thing or if not new, it has only recently become more common. I think most pet keepers who took in ex-batts or got high production breeds as their first chickens, will likely think twice about it for their second generation of pet chickens. ( I certainly did, and hatched farm cross breeds raised by a broody for the next step, as a result of constantly worrying for my ex-batt's laying).
I wonder what will happen then with that trend of getting rescued chickens, and with those hybrids. Or maybe veterinary care for pet poultry will develop, and more chicken keepers will have a Mark near them ?

In the EU they are discussing complete banning of antibiotics use for veterinary (use is already banned for structured that produce meat and eggs). While I understand and agree with the public health underlying reason, I don't think it will be then possible at all to try to treat the reproductive diseases that are inherent to those laying breeds.

All that to say I can relate to how angry and sad you must be feeling. Christa is very lucky to have turned up at your place .

How would that work when people's pet dogs and cats need surgery? No antibiotics? There'll be a lot of gangrenous pets around.