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
