Well, I have only had one sick chicken. A yellow fluid was draining from her mouth, and I pulled her immediately and culled her.
I have never had egg binding. I wonder if it is because I have a large 600 sq foot run, and a lot of clutter so my birds jump up on things, down, over and under - they get more exercise? Or is it I don't recognize it, but I have never seen the penguin stance that people post on here.
We live in pure sand - my birds create their own sand baths - the spot moves around the coop. But I have never had lice or mites (whispering here).
I have had sudden death syndrome, where one day the bird is fine, and the next day dead. But one does not treat that.
My biggest problem is predators, and I love to let them out to free range. I now have a current run that is chain link, and if I keep them confined, I don't loose them.
I don't have real long lived birds - in my flock a 4-5 year old bird is an old bird. I have only had two get to that age. And I lost them both to a predator when they died.
I would however, not treat a prolapse or impacted crop, I would cull those birds. I would treat lice or mites. To be honest, I seldom handle my birds, as in a lot of them have never been touched. I just watch them. I tend to have a rag bag crossbred group. I have gotten pure bred chickens, but find I really like a mixed flock better.
I am rather casual about their diet, they get all the table scraps, and scratch. Along with chicken feed. I tend to feed chick starter to everyone when I have chicks, as I can get it easier than all flock. I do hatch at least once a year, or buy chicks.
I hope like crazy I have not jinxed myself.
Mrs K
I have never had egg binding. I wonder if it is because I have a large 600 sq foot run, and a lot of clutter so my birds jump up on things, down, over and under - they get more exercise? Or is it I don't recognize it, but I have never seen the penguin stance that people post on here.
We live in pure sand - my birds create their own sand baths - the spot moves around the coop. But I have never had lice or mites (whispering here).
I have had sudden death syndrome, where one day the bird is fine, and the next day dead. But one does not treat that.
My biggest problem is predators, and I love to let them out to free range. I now have a current run that is chain link, and if I keep them confined, I don't loose them.
I don't have real long lived birds - in my flock a 4-5 year old bird is an old bird. I have only had two get to that age. And I lost them both to a predator when they died.
I would however, not treat a prolapse or impacted crop, I would cull those birds. I would treat lice or mites. To be honest, I seldom handle my birds, as in a lot of them have never been touched. I just watch them. I tend to have a rag bag crossbred group. I have gotten pure bred chickens, but find I really like a mixed flock better.
I am rather casual about their diet, they get all the table scraps, and scratch. Along with chicken feed. I tend to feed chick starter to everyone when I have chicks, as I can get it easier than all flock. I do hatch at least once a year, or buy chicks.
I hope like crazy I have not jinxed myself.
Mrs K
