Overall flock is not "well"... Changes need to be made, advice please

[TSA]

I have to check with the person who gave him to me. I don't imagine he wants a rooster, but I feel like I should give him first choice. I will get back to you about it

Ok.

 

[chkva]

Have you tried calling a game warden to remove the fox from your property?

I think that they may be losing weight because they have less area to eat from. You were free ranging before and they were getting a plethora of bugs and greens, but now they are confined to a run. The stress overall of being free range and then being stuck in a contained area is going to affect your flock. I would try adding some things to entertain them on a daily basis like hanging up cabbage, putting up branches so they can roost on them, pile of leaves, pile of straw... There's a lot you can do to stop them from being bored.

The roosters over mating can be another cause of stress for them and now they are contained into a run where they can't really get away from them. I would honestly separate the roosters into their own run and allow them to go see the girls for a period of time, but not all day long. You can them a bachelor coop and run so they can have their own space.

It's been extremely hot out for a lot of states and the heat can cause a lot of stress. Make sure they have shade and a lot of water. I've been giving mine refrigerated watermelon chunks and it really cools them down plus hydrates them.

 

[Kris5902]

I have been rehabilitating some previously underfed girls that came through molts looking awful. I am mixing my Layer (17%) 50/50 with meat bird (19% with higher fat as well) and offering oyster shell on the side. It helps but I plan on keeping them on it... many of the hens were only 2.5-3lbs for production layers, after a month they are all steadily gaining and starting to recover. The owner cuts the layer 50/50 with whole wheat (no good reason has been given) which really reduces their protein. Try to make any feed changes gradual. I started with 50% layer, 25% wheat, 25% meat bird and gradually adjusted from there.

 

[LulaBell]

I have been rehabilitating some previously underfed girls that came through molts looking awful. I am mixing my Layer (17%) 50/50 with meat bird (19% with higher fat as well) and offering oyster shell on the side. It helps but I plan on keeping them on it... many of the hens were only 2.5-3lbs for production layers, after a month they are all steadily gaining and starting to recover. The owner cuts the layer 50/50 with whole wheat (no good reason has been given) which really reduces their protein. Try to make any feed changes gradual. I started with 50% layer, 25% wheat, 25% meat bird and gradually adjusted from there.

I thought about just keeping them on the meatbird feed all year but was afraid it would be too much for them in the summer months. Would it be ok to keep them on it year round or would it be considered unhealthy? Is there a downside to it?

 

[LulaBell]

Have you tried calling a game warden to remove the fox from your property?

I think that they may be losing weight because they have less area to eat from. You were free ranging before and they were getting a plethora of bugs and greens, but now they are confined to a run. The stress overall of being free range and then being stuck in a contained area is going to affect your flock. I would try adding some things to entertain them on a daily basis like hanging up cabbage, putting up branches so they can roost on them, pile of leaves, pile of straw... There's a lot you can do to stop them from being bored.

The roosters over mating can be another cause of stress for them and now they are contained into a run where they can't really get away from them. I would honestly separate the roosters into their own run and allow them to go see the girls for a period of time, but not all day long. You can them a bachelor coop and run so they can have their own space.

It's been extremely hot out for a lot of states and the heat can cause a lot of stress. Make sure they have shade and a lot of water. I've been giving mine refrigerated watermelon chunks and it really cools them down plus hydrates them.

Very good ideas, I will grab some cabbage on my way home. I have also heard of freezing canned corn in icecube trays with water and breaking them out and giving as a treat to cool them off in the summer. I guess I didn't think it was hot enough or necessary to do that yet

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

I thought about just keeping them on the meatbird feed all year but was afraid it would be too much for them in the summer months. Would it be ok to keep them on it year round or would it be considered unhealthy? Is there a downside to it?

The downside would be weight gain. If they get too fat they wont lay.

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

Very good ideas, I will grab some cabbage on my way home. I have also heard of freezing canned corn in icecube trays with water and breaking them out and giving as a treat to cool them off in the summer. I guess I didn't think it was hot enough or necessary to do that yet

Id stay away from corn. Its very fattening and would increase their body heat to digest so its really countering itself. I just put ice in the water. You could use a mister as well. Realistically you're in ohio...I wouldnt worry about it except on exceptionally hot days. Keep in mind people keep chickens in arizona

 

[Eggcessive]

Did the necropsy have any listing of what bacteria caused the sepsis? I would try feeding flock raiser 20 % which may be more appealing to them, and not too fattening. I have used the flock raiser in the past when I had chicks on the ground combined with adult hens and roosters. When the pullets started laying I would switch back to layer. Now, I have older hens, and 3/4 are no longer laying. So I switched them all to flock raiser again last fall, and they ate it well. Recently in spring when 5-6 started laying again, I bought some layer pellets which they have always eaten, but they won’t eat it. Soon as the flock raiser was back out, they ate it well.

Most feeds nowadays have probiotics, but if yours doesn’t, try giving them some 2 days a week. Buttermilk or a decent brand of plain greek yogurt in small amounts can provide some. I would only use the Tylan on sick birds with respiratory symptoms of MG, such as gasping, wheezing, facial swelling, eye bubbles, or coughing. Respiratory viruses, such as infectious bronchitis, will not respond, and those will have milder and fewer symptoms.

 

[LulaBell]

Did the necropsy have any listing of what bacteria caused the sepsis? I would try feeding flock raiser 20 % which may be more appealing to them, and not too fattening. I have used the flock raiser in the past when I had chicks on the ground combined with adult hens and roosters. When the pullets started laying I would switch back to layer. Now, I have older hens, and 3/4 are no longer laying. So I switched them all to flock raiser again last fall, and they ate it well. Recently in spring when 5-6 started laying again, I bought some layer pellets which they have always eaten, but they won’t eat it. Soon as the flock raiser was back out, they ate it well.

Most feeds nowadays have probiotics, but if yours doesn’t, try giving them some 2 days a week. Buttermilk or a decent brand of plain greek yogurt in small amounts can provide some. I would only use the Tylan on sick birds with respiratory symptoms of MG, such as gasping, wheezing, facial swelling, eye bubbles, or coughing. Respiratory viruses, such as infectious bronchitis, will not respond, and those will have milder and fewer symptoms.

I don't really want to give the Tylan, but if it is necessary I will. The two girls I am treating now sound rattly in their chest

 

[LulaBell]

If you can't trap the fox than maybe you should shoot it. You could try a bb gun or a paint ball gun first. If the fox doesn't give up than you'll just have to shoot it altogether.

however ,make sure that's legal in your area.

It's very uncommon to get foxes here, but we do get raccoons occasionally. Normally we trap them in a live trap and then relocate to a different place.

For a long time we were unsure what the predator was. We began keeping the girls in as well as alternating what time of day we would let them out. Finally she got desperate, (I figure she has pups somewhere) and started attacking while we were out in the yard. That's when we knew for sure it was a fox. But we rarely see her, and when we do it is not long enough to get a shot. She is quick and sneaky, too smart for a box trap. We keep trying but it's not working.