Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[LittleMissPurdy]

Need more pullets?! I can help you there! I won't even warn you that they will go broody!

I know you like to be surprised!

ooooo, surprises

.....

trip to williamsport. went well today, the traffic wasn't as bad as thought. We got to see the blimp flying around.
Was really cool seeing the kids from other countries at the mall..they all looked like they were having a great time, taking a break from the heat.

Hope everyone had a wonderful also!

We go every year just to walk around but I don't know who is singing tonight you would have to check there Facebook page or I think they have a website. But ya it's fun going they we watch the tractor pulls, the horse show, we like to look at the campers, and look at the animals, and even just to see what all anyone brings over to sell and things businesses bring I like going but it doesn't mean everyone is going to like it but we had fun.

..we enjoy the sport shows & farm shows..this sounds like a nice day out anyway.

 

[stake]

No indoor doves! Though they may choose inside the coop.

for many years I've had doves hanging around all summer ,,,,this year none,,,>>>>g.....o figure...

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

It's so silly but I relay miss having my chickens in my backyard! I know they dug up all my mulch and out holes in the yard, but it seems so empty out there now. In a few weeks I will have them back...

We went. Had not planned on it but was fun. I like looking at the animals. It was a lot bigger than I expected.

Just wanted to recommend a movie to you all. Temple Grandin. It is about an autistic woman (now professor in Colorado) who worked to make the meat industry more humane and profitable at the same time. She has a remarkable story and really an amazing perspective. She also has some videos on YouTube that show her going through the each step at meat plants, and how well they are regulated and humane.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1278469/?ref_=nv_sr_1

I saw this awhile ago..we made the girls watch it too...they really liked it, they were teens at the time.
Very amazing woman, her mother did everything to help her , to learn about autism. Temple gives..or at least at one point, gave lectures about autism from her advantage point.
She has done so much for the industry!! Just amazing...yes, people should watch this..it does have some pretty funny moments too.

**desperate, cross posted in emergencies forum**

Help!! I am traveling out of the country for 2 weeks and got the following news from my pet sitter. The day before yesterday, they went to the coop in the morning and found my otherwise healthy one year old buff Orpington hen dead in the coop, no apparent injuries.

This morning they noticed my 8 week old lavender Orpington pullet "sitting in the coop hardly moving. [They] put food right in front of it and it didn't eat. [They] just checked on it now. She's still alive, but not moving."

This is all I know. It also sounds like they aren't too hot, they have free access to food, water, and grit. The hens and pullets are separated from each other in the coop, so they are not sharing food and water, but you have to walk through the hen section to get to the pullet section. I fear there may be an illness in the coop. Any suggestions?

I won't be back home for a week, so I'm trying to figure out what to tell them....

ETA, I have Corid, Duramycin, and electrolytes there that I just ordered to have on hand. Would any of those help? Can I ask them to give them all of those things at the same time in case any of them help?

Thanks, Anne and MotorcycleChick.

I just got an email saying that the sad chick is now a dead chick.

I asked them to put Corid in all the water for the whole flock (2 tsp of the 9.6% liquid solution per gallon). I also asked them to put the chick in a plastic bag in the freezer so I can send her for necropsy when I get back next week.

I also asked them to lay off all treats except a little cracked corn for now. I had given a variety of treats (cracked corn, BOSS, dry mealworms, lettuce, dates, yogurt, garden weeds like grass, dandelion, bindweed) and asked them to give a bit to the birds twice a day since they are used to free ranging during the day but they are mostly cooped up for the 2 weeks I'm gone and I didn't want them to get too bored and start picking on each other. I usually give them some treats each day even though they do free range, just because they run up and beg when they see me coming, so the treats themselves aren't new (except the dates--I only gave out a couple of those before I left, and some of the hens seem to like them). But maybe they were too enthusiastic with the treats and the chickens could be getting sour crop? I did ask them to give plenty of grit each day, though, since the hens weren't free ranging.

I just don't know. I feel so awful, and worried about the others, and I wish I were there to manage it.

So sorry ...could anything have been tracked into the coops? from a shoe/boot?

Great work on having your pullet saved for inspection!! If this an 'illness' they WILL find it.

Maybe quarantine the young pullet until your return, if your caregivers an access the necessary items...

Good idea on the lessening treats, general food and water are just fine for 2 weeks...they will manage until your return.

Giving 'weeds' to your birds by caring people that may not realize/know what they should & should not have could also be a point.

Not trying to upset, just throwing ideas out.

Electrolytes are a good idea like MC stated. They won't interfere with anything.
Not knowing all the particulars, i can not suggest any type of medication,
I wouldn't want to do more harm than good. I would leave that to maybe someone who would know more than myself.

There are most likely Poultry Techs. in your area that would be more than happy to assist you in your endeavor to help find answers for your flock.

Hope you can in some fashion enjoy the rest of your trip, I do however realize that for the majority of us, these animals are not just "birds or chickens", they are our pets, friends, babies. We care for them in every way possible. It is very clear you care for yours deeply. I truly hope the remainder of your flock is doing well and happily awaiting your return.
Positive thought are with you, wishing for the best outcome.
So Sorry again - Danielle

 

[stake]

Thanks, Anne and MotorcycleChick.

I just got an email saying that the sad chick is now a dead chick.

I asked them to put Corid in all the water for the whole flock (2 tsp of the 9.6% liquid solution per gallon). I also asked them to put the chick in a plastic bag in the freezer so I can send her for necropsy when I get back next week.

I also asked them to lay off all treats except a little cracked corn for now. I had given a variety of treats (cracked corn, BOSS, dry mealworms, lettuce, dates, yogurt, garden weeds like grass, dandelion, bindweed) and asked them to give a bit to the birds twice a day since they are used to free ranging during the day but they are mostly cooped up for the 2 weeks I'm gone and I didn't want them to get too bored and start picking on each other. I usually give them some treats each day even though they do free range, just because they run up and beg when they see me coming, so the treats themselves aren't new (except the dates--I only gave out a couple of those before I left, and some of the hens seem to like them). But maybe they were too enthusiastic with the treats and the chickens could be getting sour crop? I did ask them to give plenty of grit each day, though, since the hens weren't free ranging.

I just don't know. I feel so awful, and worried about the others, and I wish I were there to manage it.

sad to say we all have had to tackle these problems,,,,a bit tougher that you are not there...hope things work out...

 

[gonehencrazy]

Our chicken "pasture" is a large area that was severely over grown and was basically the previous owners dumping ground for everything. It also happens to be where the water runs off from the wooded "mountain-side". Slowly we have been cleaning up the area. The chickens have killed most of the vegetation. We had a huge pile of sticks/brush that my dad decide to burn today.

Herein lies the problem. He burned my chickens favorite daytime roost

. I don't know why he decided that needed burned! They are always hanging out there!

I've seen the chicken gym/ladder ideas but they had more cover then those offer. I'm wracking my brain for ideas to recreate their dead bush roost.

Any ideas?!

 

[BullChick]

for many years I've had doves hanging around all summer ,,,,this year none,,,>>>>g.....o figure...

Interesting.
Since tearing down the wire (no, the new wire isn't up yet) I have only seen two of the doves. However, I have seen one fly out of the coop a few times. For all I know, the other two are roosting inside.
While wild birds are not typically welcome, my flock free ranges, so they come in contact with the wild birds anyway. The doves have been hanging around for so long, I no longer really see them as wild. Especially since they seem to be reliant on my food and water supply.

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

It's so silly but I relay miss having my chickens in my backyard! I know they dug up all my mulch and out holes in the yard, but it seems so empty out there now. In a few weeks I will have them back...

sorry, also wanted to say..glad you had a good time at the fair.
Does this fair change venues every year?...there seems to be a 'grange fair' indifferent places ...

..or has my meds. kicked in?...again

 

[stake]

Our chicken "pasture" is a large area that was severely over grown and was basically the previous owners dumping ground for everything. It also happens to be where the water runs off from the wooded "mountain-side". Slowly we have been cleaning up the area. The chickens have killed most of the vegetation. We had a huge pile of sticks/brush that my dad decide to burn today.

Herein lies the problem. He burned my chickens favorite daytime roost

. I don't know why he decided that needed burned! They are always hanging out there!

I've seen the chicken gym/ladder ideas but they had more cover then those offer. I'm wracking my brain for ideas to recreate their dead bush roost.

Any ideas?!

A: ask your father why....
B: your chooks will want cover from hawks....its needed...
C:if your birds are left uncovered...build this...one 2x4x8 cut into 2' legs...attached to a 4x8 piece of plywood...good cover from hawks....my two cents.....

 

[TillyPeeps]

My girls' egg colors are not quite right. I find that Ruff-Ruff the Rhodebar and Bear the Rhodefelder both laid dark brown eggs in last week and the 3 light brown eggs must from my Welbar Penny. Penny's comb doubled size in last week, and these light brown eggs are very tiny comparing to the dark brown ones. There were 7 dark brown eggs in 5 days, so I know they are from Ruff-Ruff and Bear. But Ruff-Ruff who lays the darkest eggs supposes to lay light color eggs, and Welbar should lay very dark eggs.

Another problem is because hubby didn't let them free range too much, Ruff-Ruff has become severely bully. She pecked Dolly to make her comb turn black with tips missing and also leave black scares on Bear and Penny's combs. Dolly and Penny are the lowest two in the pecking order and Bear is the one trying to protect weaker girls. Is there anything I can stop Ruff-Ruff ? They're go to hubby's cousin next weekend and I worry about they would not do anything before things become worse.

 

[gonehencrazy]

A: ask your father why....
B: your chooks will want cover from hawks....its needed...
C:if your birds are left uncovered...build this...one 2x4x8 cut into 2' legs...attached to a 4x8 piece of plywood...good cover from hawks....my two cents.....

Oh I definitely grilled him!!!

Maybe I'll make on of those ladders with a plywood roof. This was their daytime hang out! The would either be on the branch or burrowed under the branches, sleeping in the dirt.

I am not a happy camper!