North Carolina

[dutchbunny83]

Good morning everyone, happy Saturday!
Looks like it's going to stay cool enough that I can get things done in the yard without sweating my butt off!

Question on my run-- can I rotatill it into a garden? (I always scooped the poop out of it into the compost). And there's no grass because my chickens ate and scratched it all. Didn't know if since some where sick it would be an issue for disease getting into plants and then into our vegetables? Don't even know if that's possible, but thought I would ask. I know the manure needs to compost because of the nitrogen content killing roots, but I was pretty vigilant about scooping it all out.

Second-- the eggs I hatched last week. They hatched after my flock was already sick so I was super careful about any cross-contamination. Any time I went into their brooder room (set up a room just for the chicks), I took a shower and changed my clothes each time before entering and my kids were never allowed in. I know a couple people recommended a few months before letting there be new chicks, but obviously if I keep these they can't stay inside much more than another 6 weeks. I was going to build a completely new coop and pen because I can't even look at the one that's out there right now it makes me too sad. I was also going to move it to another part of the yard since they spot they have now is where all my sun is. With all new set up, is a month enough time to let them out there?

Still haven't made up my mind completely on what to do. Still have a few hens left that never got sick, and a friend wanting to take my chicks since they were never exposed. Guess I have to decide which I want more...

 

[greenchickenman]

So today was pretty much the worst day ever.
I wasn't planning on getting back on here, but my husband is gone for a month with no contact and I realized no one else in my life cares about chickens, so here I am.
Up until today I had never even killed a spider.  This was totally gory as I had no killing cone or second pair of hands, so I had to gently rock them in my arms and slit their throat.  I hadn't expected blood to spew like it did.  I read that this was the more humane way, I couldn't bring myself to wring their necks.  I sang to them and rocked them while I did it, I hope that helped them.  What a horrible waste of life!
There are 3 that never got sick.  While they are still carriers, I can't bring myself to kill 3 perfectly healthy chickens that are laying everyday and pets.  So I think for now I will keep them.  In a few years when they stop laying I will start all over and only buy day old chicks.
My barred rocks are my kids' chickens so I left them for last, and when the time came I just couldn't kill another.
I'm going to throw up a hail mary in the morning and give them a double dose of the injectable antibiotics.  I figure the worse it can do is kill them, which I'd have to anyway.  Praying for a miracle.  My baby rooster was the last one, and after him I just sat there sobbing so hard I couldn't bring myself to do another.

I'm feeling so angry.  Angry at myself for getting adult birds and allowing them to infect my entire flock.  Even angrier at the person who sold them at this auction for a quick buck because I truly believe he didn't care what happened to whoever got them.  The people I met at WCA were really nice, but I believe some (definitely not all!) of the sellers can be pretty shady, so I won't ever be attending another chicken auction or flock swap.  I'm sure there are more quality sellers that care about their birds than the ones that don't, but one bad experience and I just can't risk ever going through this again, even with a proper quarantine.

Anyway,  I guess I'm not leaving for good.  Just lost my motivation for all things chickens lately.  Thank you all for all the help and knowledge you've helped me gather along the way.  Hardest lesson I think I have ever learned.  My chickens weren't for profit, they were my pets

Wow...this is a really sad post. I'm sorry dutchbunny, I really felt your pain. I hope you hung in there with the ones who were not that sick. Now that they look better you could put them on the water soluable antibiotics instead of immediate injections, but don't kill em all. Its good training to try to get them back to health. I had a very similar situation and everybody told me about the carrier thing but its like hollowoak said I believe, there are a lot of chicken diseases with the same symtoms. My chikens are fine now and were sick like yours and had one die. I have other birds I have raised from babies in with them and they are fine too. So its not always what we think it is. Hang in their kiddo, don't give up yet.

 

[greenchickenman]

Good morning everyone, happy Saturday!
Looks like it's going to stay cool enough that I can get things done in the yard without sweating my butt off!

Question on my run-- can I rotatill it into a garden?  (I always scooped the poop out of it into the compost).  And there's no grass because my chickens ate and scratched it all.  Didn't know if since some where sick it would be an issue for disease getting into plants and then into our vegetables?  Don't even know if that's possible, but thought I would ask.  I know the manure needs to compost because of the nitrogen content killing roots, but I was pretty vigilant about scooping it all out.

Second-- the eggs I hatched last week.  They hatched after my flock was already sick so I was super careful about any cross-contamination.  Any time I went into their brooder room (set up a room just for the chicks), I took a shower and changed my clothes each time before entering and my kids were never allowed in.  I know a couple people recommended a few months before letting there be new chicks, but obviously if I keep these they can't stay inside much more than another 6 weeks.  I was going to build a completely new coop and pen because I can't even look at the one that's out there right now it makes me too sad.  I was also going to move it to another part of the yard since they spot they have now is where all my sun is.  With all new set up, is a month enough time to let them out there?

Still haven't made up my mind completely on what to do.  Still have a few hens left that never got sick, and a friend wanting to take my chicks since they were never exposed.  Guess I have to decide which I want more...

I would make a smaller make shift coop or use a corner of the shed for a while on the other side of the yard and keep them both. Finish the treatment of medicine with your hens. Sanitize the heck out of that coop once they are finished. I mean clean everything, even stuff you don't normally think of like ledges, inside hen boxes, wipe any walls down, just everything. And then let them go for a bit and see if their symptome come back. In the mean time the chicks are elsewhere just chillin. Then go from there.

 

[NewHomesteader2010]

NH, you Know it's too early for watermelon! All that's out there are imported ones grown with who-knows-what kinds of chemicals! You've got another month or more before you can get local watermelon!

That would explain why I couldn't find any organic watermelon and the nasty commercial ones were EXPENSIVE....a whopping $8 for a tiny maybe 3 lb watermelon. DH was going to buy one because I have been craving it so badly, but I said I'd rather wait than eat a bunch of water laden toxic chemicals. LOL (sorry, I am a huge proponent of organic gardening and won't touch commercially raised fruits/veggies/meats). Still...by the time watermelon comes into season...I'll have HAD the baby and won't be craving it anymore. LOL Good practice on self denial I guess, right?!? LOL

Words cannot describe just how CUTE this photo is!! There is nothing sweeter than seeing a daddy loving on his child!! Congratulations Luke - your world now has changed in unimaginable ways and I swear your heart will have tripled in size without you being able to figure out how or when! Glad to hear mama is doing well and that all went well for her!!

Good morning everyone, happy Saturday!
Looks like it's going to stay cool enough that I can get things done in the yard without sweating my butt off!

I do hope it stays cooler...I have a TON of stuff to get done outside and all this hot, humid (or RAIN) weather has kept us indoors and away from the needed chores. ARG!! I do want to say Dutch, I have not been where you are, but do know that we are ALL here for you!!

I am so sorry you have had to go through this because of a few inconsiderate individuals.


HAPPY SATURDAY people!! Please remember to honor our soldiers (past, present and future) and their families this weekend!! It is because of their amazing sacrifices that we have the freedoms we have. To any BYC'er on here that has/is/will be serving, I say THANK YOU! I also give a special shout out to my daddy and brother who both served in our military (hehe...that makes me a military brat) and to my mother who spent years raising us "alone" while daddy was stationed here or there (all classified mind you). It takes a special person to be the spouse of a solider...I for one know I could NOT do it. Thank you all and God Bless!!
I am in a baking mood (perhaps because I would always make my daddy cookies for Memorial Day & Veterans Day) and found a recipe for super healthy, nutrient dense lactation cookies (haha...the chef actually called them "boobie cookies" HAHA)...I might whip up a batch today and free them (after taste testing to ENSURE they are good) for the not so distant future (

). I also promised the Hubs that I would make a batch of cookies for him and the guys at work, so I'm VERY happy to see that it isn't suppose to be too HOT today - it's nice to know that I won't die while baking...LOL.

QUESTION: Does anyone know where I can buy some organic tomato and pepper plants in the Raleigh area? It seems I have a knack for being able to grow them from seedlings indoors but somehow when I transplant them...they fail to thrive...(read: I KILL THEM with my BLACK THUMB) I literally killed 36 tomato plants this year...broke my heart. NO BLT's for me...unless I can get a few more plants...and peppers...well, this girl cannot have ENOUGH pepper plants!!

 

[BHep]

Congrats on the addition to the family!

So sorry you had to lose the flock.

Anybody in the Hope Mills/ Grays Creek/ East Fayetteville area have any fertile eggs? Our two Muscovies decided go go broody together. So I want to get about 6 eggs to put under them. I figure since it is their first time if any actually hatch we will be doing good. They are dedicated sitters though so it is worth a try.

I am in Faison...But I do have fertile Muscovy eggs. I have 7 Lavender and 2 black . All babies have been lavender so far.

 

[Hollowoakfarm]

Congrats on the addition to the family!


So sorry you had to lose the flock. 

Anybody in the Hope Mills/ Grays Creek/ East Fayetteville area have any fertile eggs? Our two Muscovies decided go go broody together. So I want to get about 6 eggs to put under them. I figure since it is their first time if any actually hatch we will be doing good. They are dedicated sitters though so it is worth a try. 

I am in Faison...But I do have fertile Muscovy eggs. I have 7 Lavender and 2 black .  All babies have been lavender so far.

I will be seeing Beth tomorrow, so could bring eggs home for you to pick up tomorrow evening. I'm leaving town early Monday and will be gone all day, so they would need to be picked up Sunday evening.

 

[BHep]

I will be seeing Beth tomorrow, so could bring eggs home for you to pick up tomorrow evening. I'm leaving town early Monday and will be gone all day, so they would need to be picked up Sunday evening.

 

[dutchbunny83]

I would make a smaller make shift coop or use a corner of the shed for a while on the other side of the yard and keep them both. Finish the treatment of medicine with your hens. Sanitize the heck out of that coop once they are finished. I mean clean everything, even stuff you don't normally think of like ledges, inside hen boxes, wipe any walls down, just everything. And then let them go for a bit and see if their symptome come back. In the mean time the chicks are elsewhere just chillin. Then go from there.

Wow...this is a really sad post. I'm sorry dutchbunny, I really felt your pain. I hope you hung in there with the ones who were not that sick. Now that they look better you could put them on the water soluable antibiotics instead of immediate injections, but don't kill em all. Its good training to try to get them back to health. I had a very similar situation and everybody told me about the carrier thing but its like hollowoak said I believe, there are a lot of chicken diseases with the same symtoms. My chikens are fine now and were sick like yours and had one die. I have other birds I have raised from babies in with them and they are fine too. So its not always what we think it is. Hang in their kiddo, don't give up yet.

Okay thank you guys. That makes me happier that I don't have to choose between the 2. That would get me a decent size backyard flock even if I keep it closed. If I am adding the chicks from inside after the others are healthy, can I add 2 barred rock chicks (newly hatched not adults)? My kids are devastated over losing their barred rocks, and just want 2 more to raise instead but I know closed flock means you can't add anything. As long as they had their rocks, I wouldn't have to add or get rid of any for the duration of the flock then start from scratch in 5-10 years or so when they are all gone.

What should I use to clean, bleach?
I am thinking about just getting rid of the coop that's in there since the chickens don't seem to like it and building a larger one I can walk into.
I will add the duramycin 10 to the waterers for my few hens I still have.
What about the chicks I've kept totally quarantined in their brooder room, should I add antibiotics to their water?
Is there a chance they will get sick from the adult hens who never got sick or showed symptoms but could be carriers?

I've never lived in a rural area or even been on a farm until recently. Like 8 months ago I randomly decided I wanted a chicken (how hard could it be i thought) so I ordered a coop and ordered some day old chicks and went from there. Definitely a lot more difficult than I imagined, so grateful for this site it is an awesome resource. I feel like I have learned so much, so thank you to everyone for putting up with my endless questions and helping me learn how to care for chickens!

 

[Coop Scoop Boogie]

Quote:

Okay thank you guys. That makes me happier that I don't have to choose between the 2. That would get me a decent size backyard flock even if I keep it closed. If I am adding the chicks from inside after the others are healthy, can I add 2 barred rock chicks (newly hatched not adults)? My kids are devastated over losing their barred rocks, and just want 2 more to raise instead but I know closed flock means you can't add anything. As long as they had their rocks, I wouldn't have to add or get rid of any for the duration of the flock then start from scratch in 5-10 years or so when they are all gone.

What should I use to clean, bleach?
I am thinking about just getting rid of the coop that's in there since the chickens don't seem to like it and building a larger one I can walk into.
I will add the duramycin 10 to the waterers for my few hens I still have.
What about the chicks I've kept totally quarantined in their brooder room, should I add antibiotics to their water?
Is there a chance they will get sick from the adult hens who never got sick or showed symptoms but could be carriers?

I've never lived in a rural area or even been on a farm until recently. Like 8 months ago I randomly decided I wanted a chicken (how hard could it be i thought) so I ordered a coop and ordered some day old chicks and went from there. Definitely a lot more difficult than I imagined, so grateful for this site it is an awesome resource. I feel like I have learned so much, so thank you to everyone for putting up with my endless questions and helping me learn how to care for chickens!

You can add to a closed flock........you do NOT sell or give away any birds
when keeping a closed flock. If you did not practice bio-security before entering
your brooder area then most likely the chicks have been exposed to some
extent. Bio-security means you change clothes and shoes and thoroughly
scrub all exposed skin with antibacterial soap, you sanitize all footwear and
make sure your hair is free of any bird dander or feathers. Carriers can be silent
carriers. They may never show signs or they may only show signs when they get
stressed. You could have had a carrier in your original flock and not known it
until they was stressed with the addition of new birds or changes in their housing
area. Many diseases can be given to your birds through contact with wildlife or
from wildlife simply flying or passing through. The best thing we can do to protect
our flocks is to be careful when adding new birds and use quarantines. Keep a
healthy flock with regular worming and good food. You can get new birds from
many sources to include flock swaps and auctions just make sure to thoroughly
check over the new birds before buying and then quarantine for 30 days minimum
well away from your coop areas. Good luck and keep trying.

 

[williab]

Awwww, there is nothing sweeter than newborn pictures! Six weeks ago we were blessed with our second grandson, Sawyer, enjoy this time! before you know it they will be headed off to college