NY chicken lover!!!!

[Nambroth]

Well - I get old bread, crackers and other just expired human food ... sure, it is not really organic ... but it is better quality than slop ha ha ha


Most outlet stores have cheap grain/bread things .... and I let them pack on the pounds. Same philosophy as with grass fed beef - they are often "finished off" two months before butchering with grains and such - to add some fat and take away some of the gamey flavor ... but from reading here ... they shouldn't have a gamey flavor if processed at once ?

I am sure more organic methods are healthier, my method I feel, is sort of in between buying chicken/gross/surprise at the grocery story and paying as much as my mortgage for organic meat at the co-op store on top of a membership fee. I wish the fees were smaller and the prices better & I would join, but our local reg grocery store has most of the stuff (minus veggies and meat) at a much cheaper price.

I just bought 1/4 of a cow that had nothing but pasture his whole life, and it's the best tasting beef I've ever had. I'm delighted because I know even the fat on this meat is healthy (fat is where critters store toxins and other badness). There are a lot of variables that factor into taste, when we look at things other than the animal's diet. Breed, age, stress of the animal, butchering method, aging times (if any), and more all play a part. I am not saying "finishing" is bad, but it is not necessarily what makes the meat taste good or bad.

The prices we pay from honest local farmers for stuff is the 'true' cost of food. Our grocery store prices are not necessarily representative of what it costs to make any given food item-- pricing structures for national groceries are crazy complicated and has a lot more to do with corporate and political red tape than it does with what it actually costs to grow or make a food item.
I know that makes it no easier to afford the higher prices! I truly do understand. I come from a very low income household. I try to buy direct from farmers when I can, as you mentioned, co-ops are wonderful but for those on an extreme budget, it's hard!! Do the best you can. That's all anyone can do.

 

[stonykill]

Most outlet stores have cheap grain/bread things .... and I let them pack on the pounds. Same philosophy as with grass fed beef - they are often "finished off" two months before butchering with grains and such - to add some fat and take away some of the gamey flavor ... but from reading here ... they shouldn't have a gamey flavor if processed at once ?

grass fed beef will only have a gamey taste if not butchered properly. The REAL reason they are "finished off" with grains is to add weight, a lot of it so they can get more money for the cow. However no one will ever admit that it is all about the almighty dollar, so the lies continue about gamey taste as 95% of the general public does not know the truth. Or even care to know it

 

[stonykill]

I just bought 1/4 of a cow that had nothing but pasture his whole life, and it's the best tasting beef I've ever had. I'm delighted because I know even the fat on this meat is healthy (fat is where critters store toxins and other badness). There are a lot of variables that factor into taste, when we look at things other than the animal's diet. Breed, age, stress of the animal, butchering method, aging times (if any), and more all play a part. I am not saying "finishing" is bad, but it is not necessarily what makes the meat taste good or bad.

of course unless a lab tests the grass from the field the cow was eating in you have no idea if there are toxins in the grass the cow ate. So the fat may or may not be "safe to eat".

I'm a big picture guy. You have to look at the entire picture, not just a tiny segment of it. As the field the cow ate out of could have buried PCB's in it. Could have other chemical waste spilled or buried in it years and years ago. The ground could be filled with lead based paint.

Not saying I don't like your idea to eat safer, simply saying you honestly can not know you are eating safer. Big picture

 

[Glasshen]

Hainesta, sorry your hen is sick. I have read that by the time they are acting like that they are extremely ill.

But, if you want to take the vet route, the Village Vet in Canastota has an avian vet on staff. I have spent way too much time at that practice with my Newfie who has had surgery in both knees...it is an awesome place. Pt and laser treatment for dogs. Underwater treadmill...the works. Bring your credit card.

Which brings one to that cost vs gain factor for a short lived pet.

Only you can decide.

 

[miquwid]

Hi guys...I'm looking for a little help. We have been chicken owners for about 6 months now and I have my first sick hen. I'm trying to decide what to do with her. Does anyone in the Syracuse/Lafayette area know of a vet that specializes in chickens? When I went up to open the coop yesterday, she didn't come out with everyone else. I went in to check on her and she was just kind of standing on the floor. She let me pick her up, which she never does! I put her in a nesting box because we are to the point where we are starting to get some eggs. She stayed so I thought maybe that was the deal but in the back of my head, I just didn't think so. She wasn't acting the way our others have right before laying their first eggs. We checked on her throughout the day and she never laid an egg and she just seemed lethargic. When I closed them in last night, she was just sitting by herself on one of the lowest roosts that nobody uses. I but her in the nesting box again just to keep her comfortable for the night. This morning I brought her into the house. She can't seem to keep her head up. She tries to lift it, but it slowly droops back down like she's too weak to old it up. She wont stand for long either, is just laying down on some towels in front of our fireplace. I've searched the internet and I'm just not sure if it's Mareks or maybe egg bound? I gave her a warm bath and massaged like they said to do for egg bound hens but I don't feel anything. Her cloaca looks clear, I cant feel if her crop is full. She will drink if I dip her beak in water but she won't eat. Just not sure what to do at this point. We do not have a vet and I'm not sure what local vet would even know much about chickens!

Well unfortunately it doesn't sound good. Um I usually remove them quickly from the group with any signs of illness and start them on vitamins and oregano oil and tuna, and extra ACV in the water. Now at this point if you think it's Mareks that is something you would have to think about testing for. I'm guessing these are young pullets then? Even if you don't take her to the vet for treatment, a necrospy might be a wise decision on the basis that you know there isn't a disease spreading through your flock.

I'm so sorry for your sick chicken and wish you all the best. I only know One vet in Victor NY Storybrook otherwise I believe Cornell. Also Cobbleskill College works with chickens not sure if they have a vet on staff. But Yea Pyxis may know someone. Honestly if your really determined to get to the vet start calling around.

Thank you all for your kind words on my little frizzle, Glinda. Just feel bad for my black frizzle now because she's all alone out there with the big girls. Her and Glinda stuck together out there since they were the smallest. She still has the Blue Orp out there with her but that thing is such a spazz. She runs away from everyone and everything and ventures off on her own. She's so fast, I should call her Road Runner. Once I find homes for my splash cockerel and dark blue pullet silkie I'll place Evanora back with the silkies.


I forgot to move my bag of feed back into the bench we have on our porch yesterday and some little critter got into last night. A mouse or chipmunk I imagine. These guys have a mess to clean up this morning...

Awww so cute they are like jackpot!

 

[Lynzi777]

Hi guys...I'm looking for a little help. We have been chicken owners for about 6 months now and I have my first sick hen. I'm trying to decide what to do with her. Does anyone in the Syracuse/Lafayette area know of a vet that specializes in chickens? When I went up to open the coop yesterday, she didn't come out with everyone else. I went in to check on her and she was just kind of standing on the floor. She let me pick her up, which she never does! I put her in a nesting box because we are to the point where we are starting to get some eggs. She stayed so I thought maybe that was the deal but in the back of my head, I just didn't think so. She wasn't acting the way our others have right before laying their first eggs. We checked on her throughout the day and she never laid an egg and she just seemed lethargic. When I closed them in last night, she was just sitting by herself on one of the lowest roosts that nobody uses. I but her in the nesting box again just to keep her comfortable for the night. This morning I brought her into the house. She can't seem to keep her head up. She tries to lift it, but it slowly droops back down like she's too weak to old it up. She wont stand for long either, is just laying down on some towels in front of our fireplace. I've searched the internet and I'm just not sure if it's Mareks or maybe egg bound? I gave her a warm bath and massaged like they said to do for egg bound hens but I don't feel anything. Her cloaca looks clear, I cant feel if her crop is full. She will drink if I dip her beak in water but she won't eat. Just not sure what to do at this point. We do not have a vet and I'm not sure what local vet would even know much about chickens!

I have yet to experience anything like this but I'm going to say it sounds like it's too late. You could go the vet route but that could end up costing you more than you want to pay, especially on a chicken. Guess you have to weigh your options. Unfortunately these things happen from time to time. If it were me I would just make her comfortable and place her in a quiet area.

 

[Lynzi777]

Lynzi - That is so sad about losing Glinda. I'm really sorry. Here you were worried about the bunny and when you lifted the cage, there was your bird. I hope your son wasn't too upset.

Thanks TOB...My son wasn't upset, his reaction was "Sorry about your frizzle, Mom." and he walked inside. I was kind of taken back by it because of course now I'm thinking Great, am I doing something to turn my kids into heartless people with no compassion?? LOL But I think they are learning that even though they may consider them as "pets", they're still livestock, animals that live outdoors and only outdoors. I encourage both my kids to NOT handle the chickens, and to just let them be. (Especially after the last few times of me finding mites on the silkies) No worries about stressful chickens, no worries about anything getting passed from chicken to child.

My daughter isn't quite the animal lover my son and I are. But I think he's starting to get that these things just happen sometimes and there isn't anything you can do about it. It's just a part of life.

 

[Nambroth]

of course unless a lab tests the grass from the field the cow was eating in you have no idea if there are toxins in the grass the cow ate. So the fat may or may not be "safe to eat".

I'm a big picture guy. You have to look at the entire picture, not just a tiny segment of it. As the field the cow ate out of could have buried PCB's in it. Could have other chemical waste spilled or buried in it years and years ago. The ground could be filled with lead based paint.

Not saying I don't like your idea to eat safer, simply saying you honestly can not know you are eating safer. Big picture

True. But I suspect that even then the grasses and so forth that the cow is eating, and is biologically able to process better than grains (and some of the other sad stuff commercial beef are fed), are overall going to make a healthier end product than a feedlot cow-- I where I hardly know what it's had to eat. Zero control vs. some control, and seeing the animals in question, is what I choose to do. I will take the possible risk of environmental toxins vs. the complete unknown any day.

 

[stonykill]

True. But I suspect that even then the grasses and so forth that the cow is eating, and is biologically able to process better than grains (and some of the other sad stuff commercial beef are fed), are overall going to make a healthier end product than a feedlot cow-- I where I hardly know what it's had to eat. Zero control vs. some control, and seeing the animals in question, is what I choose to do. I will take the possible risk of environmental toxins vs. the complete unknown any day.

very true. Still you know me, brutally honest and always look at the big picture. And I didn't even mention the water quality in question

 

[Pyxis]

Hi guys...I'm looking for a little help. We have been chicken owners for about 6 months now and I have my first sick hen. I'm trying to decide what to do with her. Does anyone in the Syracuse/Lafayette area know of a vet that specializes in chickens? When I went up to open the coop yesterday, she didn't come out with everyone else. I went in to check on her and she was just kind of standing on the floor. She let me pick her up, which she never does! I put her in a nesting box because we are to the point where we are starting to get some eggs. She stayed so I thought maybe that was the deal but in the back of my head, I just didn't think so. She wasn't acting the way our others have right before laying their first eggs. We checked on her throughout the day and she never laid an egg and she just seemed lethargic. When I closed them in last night, she was just sitting by herself on one of the lowest roosts that nobody uses. I but her in the nesting box again just to keep her comfortable for the night. This morning I brought her into the house. She can't seem to keep her head up. She tries to lift it, but it slowly droops back down like she's too weak to old it up. She wont stand for long either, is just laying down on some towels in front of our fireplace. I've searched the internet and I'm just not sure if it's Mareks or maybe egg bound? I gave her a warm bath and massaged like they said to do for egg bound hens but I don't feel anything. Her cloaca looks clear, I cant feel if her crop is full. She will drink if I dip her beak in water but she won't eat. Just not sure what to do at this point. We do not have a vet and I'm not sure what local vet would even know much about chickens!

As Metella said, I've brought chickens to the vet before, and I use Poultney Vet Service in Vermont - they are highly recommended and have experience with birds other than parrots - they regularly see chickens and ducks and other birds and even used to be the veterinarians for a local zoo before the zoo closed. Any vet in my area, both in NY and VT recommends people there for any exotic, so if you really want to give her a chance and you don't mind making quite a drive there's always that option.

That said, it doesn't sound so good for her. At this point it may be too late. I'd say put her in a warm, quiet area, maybe with a heat lamp that she can use if she gets too cold. You could put some vitamins in her water. Still, don't give up - I pulled a silkie back from the brink of death last week, and I mean that when I say it. She was already in death convulsions with her head thrown back over her back. She had lice, which you might want to check your girl for. She could also have mites, and if the parasite load is really high, the birds will actually die of blood loss from having so many little creatures drinking their blood.