Official Squatch Watchers

[21hens-incharge]

Ugh, grocery day again after I lock everybody up.

Could you grab some milk for me while you're there?

 

[CapricornFarm]

Just a few hours. I had to pack her up and drive her to a friends.

With her actions before death we are thinking poisoning of some sort. All the birds were acting normal running around the day before. Roosting and being chickens at bed check. NOTHING that made me think I would be losing any.
3 different ages but close in age.
3 different breeds.
3 different sources.

Could it be E.coli ?

 

[CapricornFarm]

First was the deathlayer. 9-6 death hatch approx 6-24
Then was the barnevelder 9-8 death hatch approx 5-8/5-12
Last was Spitzhauben 9-12 death hatch was for spring chicks at the stores. I got then when chick days was almost done so mid/late April hatch.

That is miserable! I just lost a second chick out of the 12 I bought at TSC that are supposed to be pullets. I started them yesterday on Corid. They are about 3 weeks old I would guess.

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

Could it be E.coli ?

From what read in the Merck manual it doesn’t look like it.

We were actually thinking calcium poisoning. I had switched their food when I was trying to go between chick feed and feather fixer. I normally feed Nutrena and it has “active cultures” the food I switched to didn’t. So I’m wondering if it was a perfect storm so to speak.

They were lacking the active cultures they were used to and the teenagers were eating the oyster shell I put out. I saw a turquoise poop in the run but just the one. I’ve been giving them a light dose of Epsom salt water going with the calcium theory. Magnesium binds to calcium so I’m hoping to pull it out of their systems. It makes the poo too so that could also help clean them out. I didn’t give them flush dosage but I’ve got to try something.

 

[21hens-incharge]

From what read in the Merck manual it doesn’t look like it.

We were actually thinking calcium poisoning. I had switched their food when I was trying to go between chick feed and feather fixer. I normally feed Nutrena and it has “active cultures” the food I switched to didn’t. So I’m wondering if it was a perfect storm so to speak.

They were lacking the active cultures they were used to and the teenagers were eating the oyster shell I put out. I saw a turquoise poop in the run but just the one. I’ve been giving them a light dose of Epsom salt water going with the calcium theory. Magnesium binds to calcium so I’m hoping to pull it out of their systems. It makes the poo too so that could also help clean them out. I didn’t give them flush dosage but I’ve got to try something.

Nunny,
As sad and horrible as the losses are I am grateful to you for sharing the findings and symptoms.
I have learned a lot from you. Thank you.

 

[Chickassan]

Goat or cow?
I gotta get both anyway.

Could you grab some milk for me while you're there?

 

[Chickassan]

Good morning! It is a little chilly out there, the kids seem to love it though.
Grocery shopping was crappy, only got four little bags and it was 94 dollars!
We don't eat super fancy here either.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Goat or cow?
I gotta get both anyway.

Cow. It's ok if you didn't. I have to get meds refilled so will have time to kill at the store.

I think I will call in the refills so maybe it won't be such a long wait.
The automated system takes forever to get through especially with multiple scripts.

Lots of laundry and housework to do today.

 

[apryl29]

You're welcome, im good at rigging stuff to make it easier you can imagine why lol.
I have to share this, it just struck me as hilarious.
This is four days of eggs.
View attachment 1906943

Wow that's a super little egg.

So more bad news from me. I lost another. That's 4 birds in 6 days. Three teenage ones and Frannie. This last one was also necropsied. I'll put some pictures and if you want to look please do. I was with this one when she went. I'm thinking it's what happened to other 2 before Frannie. Once people look at the pictures and give opinions (if you would) I'll say what we came up with. It feels like throwing darts.

Spoiler: Necropsy

She was basically seizing when she died. She would stiffen with her legs out behind her and neck pulled back. When she relaxed her head would twitch. She did that a few times and died.
Some pictures have a foggy spot, my phone was is a plastic bag. So she was on the thinner side. Her crop was empty but she died in the morning so that was normal. Had not started laying eggs. Didn't look close to starting.
View attachment 1906969
Really turquoise colored poop.
View attachment 1906972
First hint of problem.
View attachment 1906971
Extreamly green gallbladder. The spots on the intestines are from where they were touching the gallbaldder.
View attachment 1906970
Not the best picture but I was helping, videoing, and trying to get stills.
The intestines were opened where they were stained and it was only on the outside.
View attachment 1906967
Gizzard was normal and had lots of grit in.
View attachment 1906968
More turquoise poop and her liver was also stained green.
View attachment 1906975
Lots of green fluid from her gallbaldder! Really green!
View attachment 1906974

All other organs looked fine. Heart was good and the kidneys were right size and color. Lungs were clear.
So turquoise poop and super green gallbladder. Thoughts anyone?

So sorry for your loss. I've got no opinion on anything. Did you make a post about it? Maybe someone w/ more experience can offer a suggestion.

I looked at the photos. May I barf now?

Thank you for confirming I did the right thing by not looking.

No losses since Thursday.
I spent yesterday chickening ALL day! I'm certainly feeling it but I got so much done. And actually got to enjoy hanging out with my birds.
View attachment 1908466
Second grass filled, big filled play area.
View attachment 1908464
They are clearly enjoying it.
View attachment 1908462
There are 5 birds in this picture. I can't even spot them all but I know they are there. I took the picture!
View attachment 1908465
Looking for tasty morsels.
View attachment 1908463
The real work... second window and a solar powered fan! (I need a sawzall of my own)

great job! LMK how the solar fan works out. I put a box fan in the door that blows in to give them some air flow, but I've been thinking I need a smaller fans on the side of the top to pull out the hot air.

Good morning! It is a little chilly out there, the kids seem to love it though.
Grocery shopping was crappy, only got four little bags and it was 94 dollars!
We don't eat super fancy here either.

Shopping is the worst. Everything is soooo expensive, even when you go to the cheap stores. I went to walmart & didn't get anything extravagant & spent about $200 on food and my friend was in shock. She normally buys for 1 & only grabs a few items at a time. That lasted about a week, & I had to get meat and perishables the following week.

 

[Chickassan]

Rene is still crazy, worse than ever really lol.
Her feathers are coming back in and she's irate 90% of the day.
Poor little tumbleweed.