NY chicken lover!!!!

[shodack]

Just wanted to stop in and introduce myself. Bought a house in Tully in February, and got my first 6 chicks about a month ago. I'll be re-homing a couple of them (at least that's the plan!) in a few weeks.

 

[demp4]

I had

It is a hard choice to make.  I was hoping this chick would at least grow to be big enough to be put in freezer camp, but I couldn't let him/her go like that.  The other chicks were running over him all of the time.  

I asked hubby to take care of the culling and he just couldn't bring himself to do it, lol.  Thus...the gas chamber.  It seemed the most humane.  

my DH culled them both last night and I buried them. I hate that part.

 

[demp4]

How old is she ? Have you tried giving her baking soda water to counter act the acid ..massaging her crop ?
Is she a older hen ?
My comet hen was 3 and she died ..I think it was her time ..

she's 1yo EE. I gave her ACV in water and yogurt. I tried olive oil. I massaged it for 3 days it's not getting better. I let her back out with the others so I don't have to reintroduce and she was just pacing all day trying to get out.

Can I give them all baking soda in water or should I single her out again?

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

Welcome shock and congrats on your chicks!

Little monsters are still figuring out what to do when it gets dark out. I had to use my shrub rake to scare them out from under their coop last night. After much panicked and loud cheeping, most of them finally went up the ramp and in. I had to grab 4 from under the coop and toss them in. I hope tonight is better. Set 21 silkie eggs last night in the bator. Hopefully this bunch will hatch. I'm trying a dry hatch this time.

Finally caught the egg eaters in the act yesterday. One was going to be culled anyways and the other will be too. Can't afford to lose eggs to them. I did start giving my layers game bird feed to help them refer the after rooster cog burns attentions. We ate him. The Duke is a better roo and easier on the girls. I think heritage breeds need the higher protein anyways and I'm giving it to my silkies as well. Even though everyone is out free ranging some daily, after the long winter I feel they need the boost.

I actually got this whole weekend off so the silkies will be bathed and clipped and pedicured. While there is initial resistance they all settle down and enjoy the pampering. My reds and barred rock would never stand for it!

Have a nice day all!

 

[ann p]

I do know that someone going to the NY Chickenstock this year, @ann p, had a pair of white phoenix she was looking to sell. Not sure if they are already spoken for but you could ask. They are also nine months old so probably laying so maybe you could ask her for eggs or chicks if the pair is already sold.

 

[just-ducky]

I'm in Monroe, Ny (Orange county). Looking for someone who wants some RIR chicks (prob Roos) for free. Got them unexpectedly with my ducks and can't find someone to take them.

 

[Gramma Chick]

Quote: Dont give her ACV that will increase the acid in her crop ..I would take out all water that has it ...she has too much acid already ..
I dont see how it could hurt to give it to all of them -(1tbsp/gallon) of baking soda to the drinking water to combat the acidity ..Keep feeding her the yogurt

As she is young ..she just might have something stuck in it
Is her Crop full ?
Be careful if you decide to try to empty her crop she can die if it goes in her lungs
She may have a fungal infection too ..
there is so many different advices out there ....AAHHH!


Heres some advice this is from a Avian Vet - I cant find the link -I copied for reference
SOUR IMPACTED CROP -
A: Impacted vs Pendulous vs Sour Crops
Although there are several presentations for crop issues in chickens, the root cause, and the actual disease is usually the same. When chickens gorge themselves on long, fibrous foods, their crop (and occasionally gizzard) can become blocked. Sometimes this results in an impacted crop, which is a crop that is full of a tangle of fibre that is firm, dry and relatively hard. Sometimes, the bird will drink a lot to try to help pass the blockage....this will result in sour crop, which is a crop full of watery, half-rotten, acidic soup that actually smells worse than it sounds. Sour crop may also be associated with fungal infection, although there is some question about whether the fungus causes the poor emptying of the crop, or is a result of it. Finally, if the crop (which is basically a sac of smooth muscle) becomes damaged, the muscle will fail, and the crop loses its form and tension. Unfortunately, it also loses much of its function. This is what results in “pendulous crop”....the sac is saggy and enlarged.
The main factor in crop problems is prevention. DON’T give your hens access to long, lush, springy grass, twine or other long, stringy things that they can eat. DO make sure that there is plenty of good, palatable water near where the hens will be foraging. If you yard is large, and you have some “bully” birds, it is a good idea to provide a few “drinking stations” where timid birds can get some water while they are feeding
These problems are more prevalent in the spring, when the grass is lush, and less likely to break when the hens peck at them. This is especially true when the hens are coming into lay, and have large appetites that may cause them to gorge themselves when they get the chance. You should cut your grass fairly short before releasing your hens for the first time in the spring, and if the cuttings are long, rake them up. Naturally, keeping strings and twine away from the hens is a good idea.
Do NOT use cider vinegar to treat this, as it only adds to the acid burden. Treatment with an anti-fungal agent might be of value, but often, once the sour crop is dealt with and the hen is back to eating well, it is unnecessary.
TREATMENT- for crop disorders involves 1) emptying them as appropriate and 2) treating for secondary infections if necessary. Sour crop can be helped by holding the bird face-down, at about a 60 degree angle, and massaging the crop towards the throat....the stinky mess should come out like vomit, and reduce the swelling. Be sure to let the hen breathe between bouts of massaging, and keep her inside for a couple days after, feeding soft foods and adding a little bit (1tbsp/gallon) of baking soda to the drinking water to combat the acidity.
Impacted crop can be treated by flushing the crop with water to help soften up the “ball”. Using a syringe and tube, put water gently into the esophagus, behind the opening at the back of the throat that goes to the lungs. Gently massage the crop several times per day, softening the mass. Adding some vegetable oil may help a little, but you will usually get reasonable results from water alone. I would NOT recommend surgery on your own....if you cannot get the impaction resolved through massage, water and oil, contact a vet to help you out....gastrointestinal surgery has a HUGE potential to go horribly wrong in an amateur’s hands.
If the crop becomes pendulous, there is little you can do to help. Feeding very digestible food will help her health, massaging the food through the crop and allowing it to empty fairly regularly will help as well, but the crop will seldom return to normal. This problem is considered to be fairly heritable, so hens with pendulous crops should likely not be used for breeding.
A link I found
http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/2013/06/natural-treatments-for-sour-crop.html

 

[PhoredaBurds]

We culled a scissor beak at 6 weeks once. She weighed half what her mates did and it was just getting worse, her whole face was uneven. She ran to your feet all the time starving. It was hard but for the best.

That's tough, but sounds like u did the best thing for the bird. I've got one w a bad scissor beak that's 5 weeks old. She seems to be eating fine for now, but her beak is getting worse and I'm sure it's just a matter of time. Not looking forward to cull-day.

 

[Metella]

Pyxis - my truck is fixed - so I can come over with some hay and get my Buckeye chicks whenever they pip !!!!

Hit me up with a status - I know two of us who want to know the final count !

 

[demp4]

Dont give her ACV that will increase the acid in her crop ..I would take out all water that has it ...she has too much acid already ..
I dont see how it could hurt to give it to all of them -(1tbsp/gallon) of baking soda to the drinking water to combat the acidity ..Keep feeding her the yogurt

As she is young ..she just might have something stuck in it
Is her Crop full ?
Be careful if you decide to try to empty her crop she can die if it goes in her lungs
She may have a fungal infection too ..
there is so many different advices out there ....AAHHH!


Heres some advice this is from a Avian Vet - I cant find the link -I copied for reference
SOUR IMPACTED CROP -
A: Impacted vs Pendulous vs Sour Crops
Although there are several presentations for crop issues in chickens, the root cause, and the actual disease is usually the same. When chickens gorge themselves on long, fibrous foods, their crop (and occasionally gizzard) can become blocked. Sometimes this results in an impacted crop, which is a crop that is full of a tangle of fibre that is firm, dry and relatively hard. Sometimes, the bird will drink a lot to try to help pass the blockage....this will result in sour crop, which is a crop full of watery, half-rotten, acidic soup that actually smells worse than it sounds. Sour crop may also be associated with fungal infection, although there is some question about whether the fungus causes the poor emptying of the crop, or is a result of it. Finally, if the crop (which is basically a sac of smooth muscle) becomes damaged, the muscle will fail, and the crop loses its form and tension. Unfortunately, it also loses much of its function. This is what results in “pendulous crop”....the sac is saggy and enlarged.
The main factor in crop problems is prevention. DON’T give your hens access to long, lush, springy grass, twine or other long, stringy things that they can eat. DO make sure that there is plenty of good, palatable water near where the hens will be foraging. If you yard is large, and you have some “bully” birds, it is a good idea to provide a few “drinking stations” where timid birds can get some water while they are feeding
These problems are more prevalent in the spring, when the grass is lush, and less likely to break when the hens peck at them. This is especially true when the hens are coming into lay, and have large appetites that may cause them to gorge themselves when they get the chance. You should cut your grass fairly short before releasing your hens for the first time in the spring, and if the cuttings are long, rake them up. Naturally, keeping strings and twine away from the hens is a good idea.
Do NOT use cider vinegar to treat this, as it only adds to the acid burden. Treatment with an anti-fungal agent might be of value, but often, once the sour crop is dealt with and the hen is back to eating well, it is unnecessary.
TREATMENT- for crop disorders involves 1) emptying them as appropriate and 2) treating for secondary infections if necessary. Sour crop can be helped by holding the bird face-down, at about a 60 degree angle, and massaging the crop towards the throat....the stinky mess should come out like vomit, and reduce the swelling. Be sure to let the hen breathe between bouts of massaging, and keep her inside for a couple days after, feeding soft foods and adding a little bit (1tbsp/gallon) of baking soda to the drinking water to combat the acidity.
Impacted crop can be treated by flushing the crop with water to help soften up the “ball”. Using a syringe and tube, put water gently into the esophagus, behind the opening at the back of the throat that goes to the lungs. Gently massage the crop several times per day, softening the mass. Adding some vegetable oil may help a little, but you will usually get reasonable results from water alone. I would NOT recommend surgery on your own....if you cannot get the impaction resolved through massage, water and oil, contact a vet to help you out....gastrointestinal surgery has a HUGE potential to go horribly wrong in an amateur’s hands.
If the crop becomes pendulous, there is little you can do to help. Feeding very digestible food will help her health, massaging the food through the crop and allowing it to empty fairly regularly will help as well, but the crop will seldom return to normal. This problem is considered to be fairly heritable, so hens with pendulous crops should likely not be used for breeding.
A link I found
http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/2013/06/natural-treatments-for-sour-crop.html

THANKS! I took away the ACV and added baking soda. I will give her more yogurt in the am. Now that the roos are gone they seem calmer.