NY chicken lover!!!!

Thank you everyone for your thoughts on my hen. To answer Rancher's questions:
1. She is a white crested black polish
2. We got her from Nature Berry Farm near Canandaigua, NY
3. She is 24 weeks old
4. We switched to a layer feed a short while back. Before that, a starter chick feed. They also have oyster shell available now that we have some layers. They get treats once in a while but nothing recently.
5. No traumas that I know of
6. No changes to the coop

She has been inside all day and hasn't improved. Seems to be weaker. Of course since she isn't eating. Now she won't really drink either. I'm not sure she'll make it through the night. It obviously isn't worth a vet visit even if I could find one, but I'm just worried she may have something contagious that the rest of the flock has been exposed to. I'm also dealing with my 6 and 7 year-old who have never experienced a pet dying. And my husband is out of town. So it hasn't been a fun couple days around here!

1. did you buy her as a chick? If not the move may have been traumatic. Chickens do not like change. Even the removal of one bird can throw off the hierarchy and be upsetting. Also a sudden change in feed can be traumatic too. A gradual change from one feed to another is best. I usually mix grower and layer for a while.

2. is she the only one in the flock? single breeds of birds in a flock don't always work out well. Though I do have a couple of birds who "chose" to go in with my Dels. and Orps. They went in on their own so I just left them with the flock of their choosing. I really think they are more affected by color than breed though.

3. I believe Nature Berry is a retail store and doesn't breed their own birds. If they've hatched eggs they purchase there is not telling how healthy the breeder birds are or how closely they are related. Unfortunately the term "breeder" is loosely used. There are many "chicken mills" out there.

4. If you see not discharges from nose, beak or vent then most likely it's an internal problem that you or a vet could not solve. Chickens do develop kidney, heart and other genetic problems. They also can get cancers.

5. I personally did not get Polish because of what I've read. All chickens do not have the same personality disposition. New chicken folks sometimes just pick out breeds that look pretty, not realizing some are hyper, others calm, some are bossy and flighty. I personally like Leghorns but they are easily spooked.

Delaware, Orpington, Wyandottes, Sussex and others are calmer and more people friendly. Leghorns, Dominique and some Barred Rocks are not. There is of course exceptions to every rule.

I wish you well with your girl, but please do not lose heart. Chickens are very therapeutic. Many of us have learned through trial and error.

Rancher

Silkies too are friendly but I didn't mention them as they are not real chickens. (they are aliens from another planet)
 
I sprayed neem oil over everything wood then dusted the girls several times in wood ash over 5 days.. Then ten days later did it again. Mites are gone. I also pulled out all the litter in the coop and threw it away.


Over the summer I didn't epicenter wood ash to dust bathe In. I forgot. But now a litter box full of wood ash and peat moss is available all the time. Once a week or so I refill it with new ash and peat moss. The old stuff I dump in their litter

I agree,  neem oil soaked in on everything--

Autocorrect on my iPad is always changing my words !!!

Epicenter was suppose to read " leave them".
 
Autocorrect on my iPad is always changing my words !!!

Epicenter was suppose to read " leave them".


haha, I was wondering how Epicenter fit into that sentence. That's one of many reasons why I hate my IPad.

I've never used Neem Oil as I could never find it but at least once or twice a week I gather up some of my wood ash that's in the ash bath that is in the coop and rub on all the roosts, I also sprinkle in the bottoms of all my nests each time I change them out. So far so good.
 
Alright, well the silkies spent the night OUT of the coop in the shed and in another "cage" so they'd stay mite-free until I got around to cleaning their coop this morning. Got out early this morning and picked up some Neem Oil. Got home, cleaned their coop the best I could, sprayed the neem all over the inside floor, walls, etc, threw some fresh new pine shavings in there and they're back in there, happy I hope! I also sprayed some of the neem on them. I'm going to spray the big girls next. I don't think they have them but I just want to prevent it the best I can at this point. If this doesn't work I'll be ready to give up at this point!
barnie.gif
 
Thank you everyone for your thoughts on my hen. To answer Rancher's questions:
1. She is a white crested black polish
2. We got her from Nature Berry Farm near Canandaigua, NY
3. She is 24 weeks old
4. We switched to a layer feed a short while back. Before that, a starter chick feed. They also have oyster shell available now that we have some layers. They get treats once in a while but nothing recently.
5. No traumas that I know of
6. No changes to the coop

She has been inside all day and hasn't improved. Seems to be weaker. Of course since she isn't eating. Now she won't really drink either. I'm not sure she'll make it through the night. It obviously isn't worth a vet visit even if I could find one, but I'm just worried she may have something contagious that the rest of the flock has been exposed to. I'm also dealing with my 6 and 7 year-old who have never experienced a pet dying. And my husband is out of town. So it hasn't been a fun couple days around here!

It's very hard to watch any animal deteriorate and I'm sorry for your range of emotions over the sick bird and worry for your flock. I also have kids and understand your concern for their emotions during this sad, but realistic, part of pet ownership. Our dog is dying from lymphoma, so believe me...I get it. You are doing a good job keeping her quiet and comfortable. I would discourage the kids from constantly looking in on her, particularly as it does not seem she will survive. Going about a usual routine, as someone mentioned, is good advice. Hang in there...
hugs.gif


Autocorrect on my iPad is always changing my words !!!

Epicenter was suppose to read " leave them".

This made me laugh! I have had so many "faux pas" with auto-correct, some quite embarrassing!


TOB
 
Lynzi -

Grrrrrrrrrrr to those god forsaken mites. Good luck getting rid of them. Ugh!! You are in quite the war with them...I know you're frustrated!!
he.gif



Stony and Rancher -

Thanks for making me salivate with those food photo's. YUM! I think I will have some lunch right now!


Interesting conversations on the grass-fed cattle, etc. My husband and I have been talking about going in on pasture-raised beef with a neighbor. There is a farm in Marcellus on Rose Hill Road...considering them, if anyone has any thoughts or advice. I have to check on the name of the farm. I do like the idea of going this route for reasons spanning from health to local economy to animal/humane ethics. A timely discussion here....


TOB
 
I forgot to mention, I DID decide to add light to the shed yesterday. Seeing as how ke5hde won the competition of who's lavender hen will lay first and mine still isn't (they're the same age) I decided to try the light factor. So DH picked up an extension cord for me last night so I could run it from my side porch to the shed in order to get a lamp turned on in there. Hopefully with these mites gone (
fl.gif
) and the added light my lavender hen will be up for laying soon.
 
I forgot to mention, I DID decide to add light to the shed yesterday. Seeing as how ke5hde won the competition of who's lavender hen will lay first and mine still isn't (they're the same age) I decided to try the light factor. So DH picked up an extension cord for me last night so I could run it from my side porch to the shed in order to get a lamp turned on in there. Hopefully with these mites gone (
fl.gif
) and the added light my lavender hen will be up for laying soon.

I hope it works. Even if it is silkies.
 
Back to the Neem oil quickly, What section would it be in at Lowes or Home depot? The workers in my store don't seem to know about odd or different items when I go in asking about them.
I just noticed the other night that one of my older girls might have some raised scales on her legs. IDK if I'm just being paranoid but I'd like to nip it in the bud quick, just in case!
 

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