OHio ~ Come on Buckeyes, let me know your out there!

[ShayBaby]

Oh! That's handy, Brian! They're so difficult to sex young. I'm trying to sex two silkies I THINK are roos, but I didn't think to check for those feathers.

 

[OHfarmerswife]

I cant say if I'm right or wrong on the cocci thing. I'm just going by the general knowledge of the illness. cocci normally wont affect a chicken over 8 weeks of age, and typically doesn't just affect one bird in the flock.  I think this problem is more toward a bacterial problem. we talked on the phone for a little while, I think we ruled out egg binding; but I'm not sure if she checked. you can tell if a chicken is holding an egg by feeling between her legs to the area under the vent. if they have an egg you can feel it pretty plain. never squeeze to hard when doing this as there could be in infection that you can shoot up into their system - and cause toxic shock syndrome.

if ohfarmerswife had the same issue, I think the corid worked for another reason. it is an antibiotic, I'm not sure of what all it will kill, but it may have killed whatever it was if it was bacterial. it also has something in it to aid b vitamins- b vitamins make all animals hungry, getting it to eat is a huge step to getting it back on its feet.

I don't know how corid affects e vitamins, but this time of year a lot of flocks suffer from e deficiency. the symptoms will be stroke like, or possibly wry neck. the reason they suffer from it - most chickens get their e vitamins from grain, when its hot they wont eat the whole grains as often. broccoli, whole wheat, and BOSS helps with this.

another thing not to overlook in this case: black chickens, and 100 degree temperatures don't mix well. for anyone who isn't doing it, I recommend putting some vitamins and electrolytes in their water. Gatorade and pedialyte work well too.

when I have this issue with my own flock, I typically give tylan for 3 days, along with b and e vitamins. I'm not sure what part of the treatment works, but it works 9 out of 10 times. if the chicken gets so bad as the neck turns (wry neck) I use injectable vitamins.

after any of these treatments, if the weight is low I typically worm with a small amount of tobacco. if your not worried about being organic you can also use ivomec pour on for cattle, it works well for lice, mites and worms. - it may temporally affect fertility.  ive looked at 7 flocks this past week, 6 had mite problems. mites typically wont kill a bird, but will cause anemia; and cause problems that typically wont hurt your chickens to manifest in the worst ways.

I'm not putting this here as an argument, so please don't take it that way.  I still have a lot to learn, but I have also been though a lot.  keep in mind using the wrong antibiotic or to much antibiotics may cause resistance when you need them.

thanks for the info......I am a new chicken keeper! No experience, and no mentors. I don't like to give meds, first time I ever have, & only the one day.

Have no idea what she had, just glad she is better.
When the weather gets hot I always add electrolytes & vitamins.
thanks again

 

[loveourbirds]

i just got a message from a member asking about a chicken that cant keep its balance. these problems can be hard to diagnose as there are several things that can cause it. (i never put a name unless the other person asks in public, or i ok it first.)

you may find these links useful, if and when the time comes:
http://www.nda.agric.za/docs/nervous/
http://forum.backyardpoultry.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=8009600
http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/pou...rview_of_botulism_in_poultry.html?qt=&sc=&alt=

Newcastle disease is mentioned in these links. its not very common, but its the first place people look.

another common cause that i don't think is mentioned is heat stroke. i had a black cochin rooster i just culled because of heat stroke, but its the reason i done this research.

 

[mlaff]

we also talked about how to sex silkies. if you look at the head in this picture, there are streamer feathers. they are typically wider than normal silkie feathers, in this case they are the darker feathers on top of the head. if they show up, and are very visible; its a male. females can have very small ones. this is a rooster. a silkie rooster normally stands very upright and hens more horizontal. you can tell this way at younger ages.

Beautiful

 

[mlaff]

Omg, NO! I know who you think I am and NO! Definitely not them. I raise minis like this and only have 7.

It was great meeting with you today. Lol sorry about making it short, I had to see what the township was planning for my house. Enjoy the chocolate orps. And thanks for the advice on the chirping. Ill have to start trying it to see if it works.

 

[minihorse927]

You tease LOL. Even more on my wish list! That's an awesome flock you've got.

and now I have 2 chocolate orp chicks! I'm done, I promise...

 

[minihorse927]

It was great meeting with you today. Lol sorry about making it short, I had to see what the township was planning for my house. Enjoy the chocolate orps. And thanks for the advice on the chirping. Ill have to start trying it to see if it works.

. No problems, I understand. I am just sooooooo thrilled I could find chocolate orps close to me! Thanks so much! They are happily running around with my porcelain d'uccle babies right now. They are about the same size so i figured they would enjoy the friends. It was nice meeting you too. If you have any questions about anything you can give me a call too.

 

[mlaff]

. No problems, I understand. I am just sooooooo thrilled I could find chocolate orps close to me! Thanks so much! They are happily running around with my porcelain d'uccle babies right now. They are about the same size so i figured they would enjoy the friends. It was nice meeting you too. If you have any questions about anything you can give me a call too.

Thanks. I may hold you up to the phone call. So far the ccl are hatching fine. Thank god. One boy and one girl so far. Lol my husband was excited that I sold them so quick. Think I will capitalize and bring up the subject of new eggs to put in there. Lol

 

[minihorse927]

Thanks. I may hold you up to the phone call. So far the ccl are hatching fine. Thank god. One boy and one girl so far. Lol my husband was excited that I sold them so quick. Think I will capitalize and bring up the subject of new eggs to put in there. Lol

Lol, your gonna need more than 5 acres at the rate your going!

 

[deerchooper]

well its time to show off our chicks

l to r
Cajun garlic and bbq
I thought the kids would get a laugh out of the names, I had to explain lol.



then we got 5 more from the same place

white one is blue cheese, little black one is penguin. we loose tract of the other ones lol.



some random ones, bbq the large black one has some nice brown coming threw but I feel they will all look pretty once grown.