MJ's little flock

[MaryJanet]

All six in the back porch.

 

[BY Bob]

All six in the back porch.

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Wonderful.

 

[LozzyR]

I talked it over with Mark and he thinks there's an endemic bacterial problem now. He agrees that I should refrain from introducing new stock, then when the chickens have all died, grow a crop in the run (maybe sunflowers, which use up a lot of bacteria) before starting again with an incubator hatch.

I can introduce sunflower crops sooner than that, by rotating the crop through different patches of the run. So that's on the cards for spring.

I pulled out an old prefab today, as well as the outdoor nesting box and brush fencing from inside the run. There is shade cloth that runs around the bottom of the wire to prevent dirt from being kicked out and into the bottom of the fence. About half of this has a green growth over it, so I've sprayed it with vinegar, as well as the structure supports and wherever else I saw green.

 

[MaryJanet]

I pulled out an old prefab today, as well as the outdoor nesting box and brush fencing from inside the run. There is shade cloth that runs around the bottom of the wire to prevent dirt from being kicked out and into the bottom of the fence. About half of this has a green growth over it, so I've sprayed it with vinegar, as well as the structure supports and wherever else I saw green.

Hopefully the thorough clean up will help your hens stay healthy.

 

[ManueB]

I talked it over with Mark and he thinks there's an endemic bacterial problem now. He agrees that I should refrain from introducing new stock, then when the chickens have all died, grow a crop in the run (maybe sunflowers, which use up a lot of bacteria) before starting again with an incubator hatch.

I can introduce sunflower crops sooner than that, by rotating the crop through different patches of the run. So that's on the cards for spring.

I never heard about their effect against bacteria but I like growing sunflowers for the chickens. I dry the heads and give them whole to peck. It takes them a bit of time to get the drift of it and even when they do, it's a slow work, so they don't eat too much at once. I think the flowers are rather pretty too. The only negative points is that they need a lot of water and the stems are too big and thick to compost properly.

I know you don't have a rooster, but if you did, I wonder about hatching from older hens that have resisted the bacteria. Is that kind of resistance transmitted genetically?

 

[MaryJanet]

I never heard about their effect against bacteria but I like growing sunflowers for the chickens. I dry the heads and give them whole to peck. It takes them a bit of time to get the drift of it and even when they do, it's a slow work, so they don't eat too much at once. I think the flowers are rather pretty too. The only negative points is that they need a lot of water and the stems are too big and thick to compost properly.

I know you don't have a rooster, but if you did, I wonder about hatching from older hens that have resisted the bacteria. Is that kind of resistance transmitted genetically?

That's a very interesting question. I don't know whether resistance is genetic or acquired. I would have thought acquired, but I really don't know. In any case, I'm not in a good place for roosters. He would have to wear one of those no crow collars and that doesn't seem fair to me. Also, my next door neighbours work shifts so, even crowing muted by a no crow collar might be too much for them. Certainly one of the resistant hens (Mary maybe) could go and visit a rooster, but she would become very stressed from leaving her home and from meeting a rooster.

I also don't really understand what Mark was saying about growing a crop to reduce the bacteria in the run. But it makes sense that turning the top layer deep under and bringing fresh soil up would be healthier for new hens.

One thing Mark said that might be interesting is that we could test for exactly which bacteria, but in any case, it was going to be one of the big three E Coli, Salmonella, or one other that I don't recall with confidence, maybe he said Staphylococcus. And the antibiotics we've been using are the right ones for those three, although creepingly ineffective. I've been given a large amount of powdered clavulox with instructions for mixing and dosing for Janet, with no conversation about it. I think that's a silent hint for me to try a big dose on Janet. I'm mulling that over.

I genuinely do think waiting for this flock to gradually die out, then correcting the environment the best I can, then hatching fresh chicks who won't carry harmful bacteria might be the best path for a reset. It'll still take years and years for my hen friends to die out (I hope).

In time those fresh chicks will be hens who can hatch out other eggs.

And I told Mark I would support the current hens the best I could, and that includes proper treatments when they get sick or injured, and continuing the special diet for those with dodgy livers.

But once they're gone, it'll be time to rejuvenate the environment the best I can and start with healthy chicks. Then hope for the best.

Sorry for writing so much about it and being inattentive to other people's problems. This bacterial problem is taking up my chicken thoughts.

@BY Bob I think I've worked out how to flush bleach through the misting system, but I may just take it down and throw it out.

 

[MaryJanet]

Well, @RoyalChick I can definitely say Janet is getting plenty of kefir in her (and on her)

 

[MaryJanet]

Lorna spent the day in the yard with her friends, instead of alone in the pullet room.

I think it's done her a lot of good.

 

[LozzyR]

Thou shalt not pass!

 

[RoyalChick]

Well, @RoyalChick I can definitely say Janet is getting plenty of kefir in her (and on her)

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Maggie used to come and wipe herself clean on my boots!