Need advice please! New to raising chickens... Sick chicks!

[jwyles]

Just thought I'd let everyone know that all of my girls are still with me today. No one seems worse and as a matter of fact in the time I spent with them I didn't even see any gaping from my EE, Winnie. I did see her laying in a corner alone which I don't like but that was after she helped her flock sisters devour some figs I picked for them off my tree. I saw a recipe for a probio mash I'm going to add to their diet as well, but thanks to you guys and their good spirits this morning I'm feeling very hopeful. Oh and I did find info on oxine here on BYC and I think I'm going to order some and try it as well. It sounds like something I really want to add to my maintenance routine anyway. Thanks again y'all! Fingers crossed!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Glad to hear they are still going. Thanks for the update

 

[jwyles]

Hi all! Doing quick update and need advice. All of my girls are with me and seem to be recovering nicely. The only concern I really have right now is my FBCM who was the first to show symptoms is carrying her tail really low. She's acting normally, eating drinking etc... she does go into the coop to rest more than the others but I thought that she may be getting hotter bc she is black and she's larger being slightly older than my other chicks.

Anyway here's a pic. Please take a look and let me know what you think.

 

[jwyles]

Hey y'all. I don't know if anyone is still watching this thread but I wanted to update everyone. I still have ALL my babies! No losses and no more symptoms!!! YAY!! Feeling very very accomplished; however, my FBCM pullet (again the first to show symptoms) is still carrying her tail way way low. I mean not just low but tucked. (See pick in previous post.) No I haven't taken them to the vet or had the test done (I plan to but the urgency has gone since everyone seems to be doing ok). Anyway my question is do some chickens (chicks-she's about 11-13 weeks) just carry their tails this way? I know it can mean low pecking order but she is the oldest & largest bird I've got. I seriously cannot decide if I need to be worried about her or not. She does forage, eat and drink just fine but she also takes more breaks by far than anyone else. Y'all remember I'm a novice here so I really want input and advice! Thank you!!!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm so glad they are all doing well!

Your FBCM does look like she holds her tail a bit low, but I did some googling and looking here on BYC. The tail doesn't look that much off compared to some photos I looked at.

I'm not a breed expert, but was thinking that Marans had an extremely upright tail position, but I'm not seeing that in my searches (so...I'm wrong). They do carry it up, but looking at some pullet photos, they are carrying them down somewhat like your girl.

A lot depends on genetics as well, I'm not a genetic expert either, but from a few tidbits I have gathered here and there, Marans are known for egg color - there has been a great demand for interesting eggs (blue, green, dark chocolate, etc.) so breeders focus on egg color and sometimes other traits can be overlooked - carriage of the body, combs, etc. (make sense?)

Anyway, she's adorable. I think if she is eating, drinking, foraging and not lazing about she should be fine. I do feel that darker birds get hotter too - my dark birds pant and seem much more hot than my light (buff and white) girls. Just keep an eye on her, see that she is drinking well in the summer heat and has some shade to get into.

Thanks for the update!

Here's the Marans page on feathersite - go on down the page and you will see some that hold their tails fairly low
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGK/Marans/BRKMarans.html

 

[jwyles]

I'm so glad they are all doing well!

Your FBCM does look like she holds her tail a bit low, but I did some googling and looking here on BYC. The tail doesn't look that much off compared to some photos I looked at.

I'm not a breed expert, but was thinking that Marans had an extremely upright tail position, but I'm not seeing that in my searches (so...I'm wrong). They do carry it up, but looking at some pullet photos, they are carrying them down somewhat like your girl.

A lot depends on genetics as well, I'm not a genetic expert either, but from a few tidbits I have gathered here and there, Marans are known for egg color - there has been a great demand for interesting eggs (blue, green, dark chocolate, etc.) so breeders focus on egg color and sometimes other traits can be overlooked - carriage of the body, combs, etc. (make sense?)

Anyway, she's adorable. I think if she is eating, drinking, foraging and not lazing about she should be fine. I do feel that darker birds get hotter too - my dark birds pant and seem much more hot than my light (buff and white) girls. Just keep an eye on her, see that she is drinking well in the summer heat and has some shade to get into.

Thanks for the update!

Here's the Marans page on feathersite - go on down the page and you will see some that hold their tails fairly low
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGK/Marans/BRKMarans.html

Thank you so much. This gives me peace of mind. I haven't checked out the link yet but I'm about to. She was bred for confirmation bc she came from a breeder's wife's show stock- however- I don't think they would've been selling her if she were quality. I wish I'd have noticed if she'd been this way when I bought her but didn't recognize it as a possible bad sign until I noticed she was having respiratory issues and began googling illnesses and symptoms. I'm going to keep a close eye out. She has a completely shaded run and I put ice in her water daily. Thank you again and I will continue to update.

 

[jwyles]

I'm so glad they are all doing well!

Your FBCM does look like she holds her tail a bit low, but I did some googling and looking here on BYC. The tail doesn't look that much off compared to some photos I looked at.

I'm not a breed expert, but was thinking that Marans had an extremely upright tail position, but I'm not seeing that in my searches (so...I'm wrong). They do carry it up, but looking at some pullet photos, they are carrying them down somewhat like your girl.

A lot depends on genetics as well, I'm not a genetic expert either, but from a few tidbits I have gathered here and there, Marans are known for egg color - there has been a great demand for interesting eggs (blue, green, dark chocolate, etc.) so breeders focus on egg color and sometimes other traits can be overlooked - carriage of the body, combs, etc. (make sense?)

Anyway, she's adorable. I think if she is eating, drinking, foraging and not lazing about she should be fine. I do feel that darker birds get hotter too - my dark birds pant and seem much more hot than my light (buff and white) girls. Just keep an eye on her, see that she is drinking well in the summer heat and has some shade to get into.

Thanks for the update!

Here's the Marans page on feathersite - go on down the page and you will see some that hold their tails fairly low
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGK/Marans/BRKMarans.html

I just checked out this link and most of the pullets (not hens) really did hold their tails low! I'm going to stay alert but I just breathed a sigh of relief! Maybe that pretty tail will perk up with a little age. Maybe she's just an insecure pre teen lol!!

 

[jwyles]

@Mother hen 119 i hope something in here helps!