***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[ashtree]

Thank you for this advise.  One bird was definitely sick and seemed like it only took one day to make another one sick.  The sick bird was laying on the ground looking like it was dying or something.  Called up the man I bought them from and had him take them back.  He offered to exchange birds for me but I didn't want any more birds from him.  Ended up going to Guthrie and getting some 4 week old chicks from Willoby's Feed & Outfitters.  They all look so cute and healthy.  Have them in the garage right now in this giant tub that we had our first set of birds in when we got them.  This time we got all different ones so can easily tell them apart and it will be enjoyable to see them color out differently.  Put electrolytes in their water and got them crumbles.  Won't be able to put them with the old flock as soon because of the age difference, but at least they all seem healthy.  

Now I am wondering what I should use to clean the cage/coop I had the sick birds in ... would Dawn dishwashing detergent work?

Our feather picking bird, Mattie, was re-homed on Memorial Day, went to friend of husband who has many birds and said she didn't think her birds would allow her to pick their feathers.  So glad because she was a healthy hen and didn't know what to do with her, just had a bad habit we couldn't break no matter what advise we tried.

Also want to thank everyone for gardening advise ... looks like everything is growing great and we might have a lot of tomatoes this year.

I think you did the right thing! Im so glad you kept them in quarantine first.

You should probably bleach the cage/everything the birds came in contact with. Im not sure, but that seems like the safest most effective option.

 

[limited25]

Thanks, will do that today. Have been searching online and found a product called Oxine Animal Health that I just ordered, but it won't be delivered until between June 14th-June 17th. Guess I will clean with that also when I get it.

Since the chickens were on the ground too, should I be worried about that? They were in one of my prime shade locations

Found a website that said to spread lime on the soil and use rototiller to work into soil ... should I also do that, or is that overkill? The sick hen was here 3 days (the 3rd day he took her back). By the 2nd day, two were sick, and the 1st one that got sick looked really bad.

 

[Kassaundra]

Thank you for this advise. One bird was definitely sick and seemed like it only took one day to make another one sick. The sick bird was laying on the ground looking like it was dying or something. Called up the man I bought them from and had him take them back. He offered to exchange birds for me but I didn't want any more birds from him. Ended up going to Guthrie and getting some 4 week old chicks from Willoby's Feed & Outfitters. They all look so cute and healthy. Have them in the garage right now in this giant tub that we had our first set of birds in when we got them. This time we got all different ones so can easily tell them apart and it will be enjoyable to see them color out differently. Put electrolytes in their water and got them crumbles. Won't be able to put them with the old flock as soon because of the age difference, but at least they all seem healthy.

Now I am wondering what I should use to clean the cage/coop I had the sick birds in ... would Dawn dishwashing detergent work?

Our feather picking bird, Mattie, was re-homed on Memorial Day, went to friend of husband who has many birds and said she didn't think her birds would allow her to pick their feathers. So glad because she was a healthy hen and didn't know what to do with her, just had a bad habit we couldn't break no matter what advise we tried.

Also want to thank everyone for gardening advise ... looks like everything is growing great and we might have a lot of tomatoes this year.

Yes you should clean where the birds were. I would use a 10% bleach (10 parts bleach to 1 part water) solution and let it stand in direct sunlight for a few hours if it were me. But if you use the dawn still let it stand in direct sunlight.

Glad you got to the bottom of the sickness, and have cute healthy ones now. Just keep in mind he (the person you bought from) may very well have not even known his birds carried something, they could have been symptom free until the stress of moving.

 

[Kassaundra]

Thanks, will do that today. Have been searching online and found a product called Oxine Animal Health that I just ordered, but it won't be delivered until between June 14th-June 17th. Guess I will clean with that also when I get it.

Since the chickens were on the ground too, should I be worried about that? They were in one of my prime shade locations

Found a website that said to spread lime on the soil and use rototiller to work into soil ... should I also do that, or is that overkill? The sick hen was here 3 days (the 3rd day he took her back). By the 2nd day, two were sick, and the 1st one that got sick looked really bad.

Do you have the new chicks in the same location now?

 

[limited25]

Do you have the new chicks in the same location now?

No, the new 4 wk old chicks are in a huge tub in the garage; they haven't been outside yet. I will dilute the bleach and use it .... what about the ground/ grass area they were on? Do what to it?

I didn't argue with the man ... he kept the money I paid him and took his hens back. He wanted to give me other birds, but I just couldn't help but be wary at that point. I was polite to him but wanted them gone because I am not literate in chicken illnesses.

 

[Kassaundra]

No, the new 4 wk old chicks are in a huge tub in the garage; they haven't been outside yet. I will dilute the bleach and use it .... what about the ground/ grass area they were on? Do what to it?

I didn't argue with the man ... he kept the money I paid him and took his hens back. He wanted to give me other birds, but I just couldn't help but be wary at that point. I was polite to him but wanted them gone because I am not literate in chicken illnesses.

I wouldn't take any others from him either, but am surprised he didn't give your money back after getting sick so soon, it's not like you had them for a few weeks. I personally wouldn't bleach the ground, bleach kills good and bad microbes, I would rely more on the good microbes taking care of it and wait maybe a week or more before putting them in that location.

 

[Kassaundra]

Looky, what's finally blooming in my yard today!!!!!

 

[limited25]

I wouldn't take any others from him either, but am surprised he didn't give your money back after getting sick so soon, it's not like you had them for a few weeks. I personally wouldn't bleach the ground, bleach kills good and bad microbes, I would rely more on the good microbes taking care of it and wait maybe a week or more before putting them in that location.

Guess I wasn't sure how to react, just wanted him to take the chickens away before one died in my yard. Also, its hard trying not to sound like a newbie and then pronouncing a breed name incorrectly when asking for what you want (and not even knowing it). Still learning.

The other day I was holding my little bare butt hen, Hilde, petting her and talking to her. It was the first time I ever heard a chicken purr .... it was so cute.

Your flowers are beautiful! What is that?

 

[Kassaundra]

Guess I wasn't sure how to react, just wanted him to take the chickens away before one died in my yard. Also, its hard trying not to sound like a newbie and then pronouncing a breed name incorrectly when asking for what you want (and not even knowing it). Still learning.

The other day I was holding my little bare butt hen, Hilde, petting her and talking to her. It was the first time I ever heard a chicken purr .... it was so cute.

Your flowers are beautiful! What is that?

It is a native passion flower called Maypop, it is in the passiflora family though. All parts are edible, but it makes a pretty nice fruit (leaves are used for tea)

 

[Okla-doodle-doo]

I have some of the wild passion fruit in my flower garden To Kass! The blooms are so intricate. I love the smell of the dried fruits! I used to put them in my un der garment drawers in the fall. Nice woodsy smell. I would love to try some of the tame varietys.
My chicks I bought have been the fastest easiest ones I have ever raised. They are already the size of bantams and roosting in the rafters of the pigeon loft.