***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[muesky]

chick crumbies - medicated (for cocci - I believe), and the bedding is a towel over shredded paper fiber (hamster type stuff sold at petco). I haven't changed the towel as they have only recently really started eating...so I guess it isn't very clean by now

I would change out everything, bleach and clean the container they are in.. Also if you want to save money on bedding, use shredded paper. I get tons of shredded paper at work and I use it in my brooders, coop and nesting boxes then compost it afterwards.

I have had muscovy ducks for about a year now and my hens have hatched out over 100 eggs. All have been healthy. I joined NPIP last May and had by brood stock inspected. Everything has been going fine. I've sold or butchered most of the young. I have about twenty 3 month olds, which I'm trying to sell and butcher some.
Anyway I haven't changed anything and the day after Thanksgiving I found my breeding drake dead. He seemed fine the day before. Healthy appetite and all. There wasn't a mark on him and hubby thought he had a heart attack. We checked all the other ducks, geese and chickens and they all seemed fine. Nothing acting funny or sick. Yesterday(Sunday) when I went out to do morning chores I found one of the young 3 month old drakes dead, the same no marks. Then as I was changing the water in one of the kiddie pools, another young drake went into a spasm and died right in front of me. I called the poultry inspector to come pick them up to be tested, he said he couldn't because everyone was out until Monday because of the holiday. Hubby bagged the one up for the inspector to pick up today. This morning another young drake was dead. They are eating, playing in the kiddie pools and running around. I followed a few of them around to see if they were breathing funny, but didn't hear anything. I only have three breeding hens and they seem fine too. I do have some young 3 month hens but none of them have died. Help I don't know when I'll get the results back on the one the inspector picked up today. He said he had to take it to Little Rock and from there it is expressed to Texas A and M. I thought maybe botulism, but they are all walking fine. I cleaned everything today, but am scared to death, it might be something my geese could get. They are my pets. I do have a muddy spot they all noodle around. It's been there for a year where I dump the big kiddie pool. I was going to try to dry it up but someone told me that the ducks and geese love to noodle around in those kind of spots so I've kept it there, and they seem to love it, but maybe there is something in it that is poisoning them. Although the geese noodle around there too and sometimes the chickens will drink from it, even though they have clean water twice a day. I was hoping I could have some suggestions before the results come back on the one. I'm dreading morning chores.Since 3 out of 4 days I've had dead ducks. There is not an avian vet any where around here, so taking blood and getting a quick look isn't an option. Since I'm so new at this, does anyone have any suggestions while I'm waiting who know how long for the results. Hopefully they will be pretty fast.

I looked it up and could not find anything like you described. It is weird that just the drakes are dying... That leads me to believe it could be genetic. Then again are you adding additional calcium to the feed. I have read several places where it can damage a male birds kidneys if they get too much... Also do any of them have access to medicated chick starter or antibiotics in the water? Ducks can not really process most antibiotic given to chickens.

You might want to do a little research on feeding your chicks that high protein content. I've read somewhere, or maybe several places, that protein that high can damage, I think, the kidneys. It would probably take awhile for anything to show up.

I agree with Betsy, but it also depends on the breed of chicken. The LF cochins,Jersey Giants and some of your larger birds need a higher level of protein then smaller breeds. Also geese, turkeys and peafowl need a higher level, as well..

 

[Kassaundra]

A few pics from today




Things 1 and 2



Main man or Cool J (after his dad Jaxom) trying to make up my mind





Jackie O


Audra



Here you go Ksane the twins, I usually don't get both in the same shot


Little Girl








Some action shots

 

[muesky]

Speaking of protein!!! I had the lady I buy feed to find out how much soy meal is running last week. She is able to get it for 16.75 per 50lbs bag, which is a third of what it was 6 months ago.

The protein level is 47% which is higher then I thought it was. So I use a mix of game cock ration, because it has whole grains in it as well as a feeder pellet ( it is 19-20%), added to that a 18% layer crumble or layer pellet (my birds are not allowed to be picky) and my goal is to get the protein level up to 25%. The gamebird grower is 28% but is almost $18 a bag, which is a bit expensive. I figured that if I add roughly 10lbs to every 50lbs to get the 25%.
So here is a way to boost your protein level without using animal protein.

 

[bardies]

Cool shots!

Found the first of two embryo heifers that should be dropping any second now! ... I just love the blue eyes!

 

[hotcurltr]

My ducks do have access to the chicken feed and I do my own mixture which I do add extra calcium. The ducks also have their own feed but I do catch them eating chicken feed. All of the others I raised were raised on layer crumbles and corn and did fine. No they don't have access to medicated feed. I have a special pen for mama's and babies, until the chicks are old enough to come off the starter feed. I have added wheat to the duck and geese feed since most of the green grass is gone. I know feeding wheat in the winter is recommended for geese, I don't know about the ducks. I also read last night, that wetting alfalfa cubes in the winter is good for the ducks so I was planning on starting them on that as soon as I find out what is going on. Geese generally don't like alfalfa, but I'll offer it to them anyway. They are all eating prairie hay and bermuda hay free choice, but again all my others had the same last winter. It feels like a nightmare. I burned all their bedding from their pens instead of putting it in the compost pile. I

don't know what to do or change at this time. I'll probably call the Ag dept tomorrow and ask more questions. They are probably already getting tired of me. But hey, that's what they're there for. Hopefully I'll know something tomorrow. If the drake was expressed yesterday, maybe they'll get to him right away. Thank you for the info about the calcium, it feels better to know others are out there for support.

 

[artsyrobin]

Cool shots!

Found the first of two embryo heifers that should be dropping any second now! ... I just love the blue eyes!

i love these photos! do you have other pictures i could use for art references, calves are so sweet!

on the ducks, is it possible they have gotten into contamination of some sort?


still trying to work out transport for o'brian(MJ's cochin) to muskogee or maybe coweta? or henryetta??

 

[Kyzmette]

Well, I got excited because buff girl finally drank on her own tonight! Then she promptly seized and vomited it right back up. Poor baby girl.

Good news is that I'm pretty sure there's movement in at least three eggs! Lockdown tonight! Cross fingers!

I got home from work and got the coop covered and shielded, cleaned holding pens, transferred some chickens around, and got some general work done while the weather was nice... all in the dark. The sky was crystal clear and the milky way a bright white splatter. In spite of the heartache that goes with the losses, I wouldn't trade this life for any other.

 

[mjgigax]

Well, I got excited because buff girl finally drank on her own tonight! Then she promptly seized and vomited it right back up. Poor baby girl.

Good news is that I'm pretty sure there's movement in at least three eggs! Lockdown tonight! Cross fingers!

I got home from work and got the coop covered and shielded, cleaned holding pens, transferred some chickens around, and got some general work done while the weather was nice... all in the dark. The sky was crystal clear and the milky way a bright white splatter. In spite of the heartache that goes with the losses, I wouldn't trade this life for any other.

Yup,

 

[bardies]

Well, I got excited because buff girl finally drank on her own tonight! Then she promptly seized and vomited it right back up. Poor baby girl.

Good news is that I'm pretty sure there's movement in at least three eggs! Lockdown tonight! Cross fingers!

I got home from work and got the coop covered and shielded, cleaned holding pens, transferred some chickens around, and got some general work done while the weather was nice... all in the dark. The sky was crystal clear and the milky way a bright white splatter. In spite of the heartache that goes with the losses, I wouldn't trade this life for any other.

"Wouldn't trade it" You said it girl!

on the eggs!

 

[NanaKat]

Nope won't trade this lifestyle for any other either. Love being in the country.

Looks like the weather pattern is changing somewhat and Southeastern OKIES will get most of the ice. Hope you are all safe and have water drawn up and extra batteries if you are on well service. We have the Bantams to move this afternoon. Everything else is ready.

Roger's SIL is having surgery this morning for blockages in her leg and a stint on a vein out of her stomach...serious stuff. She has several stints in her heart and they are being cautious. Please keep Joan in your prayers today. We are heading to the heart hospital soon to be with the family.
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