Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[yoopergirl1211]

Anyone in northern PA have any adult or near adult female ducks for sale? My girls are out numbered and getting pretty beat up. Preferably Rouen, Campbell, or Mallard but anything would be helpful. Got a good look at my KC tonight and I'll have to separate them somehow. Ugh.

 

[Werforpsu]

Ok, I got her inside and I think it was the right thing to do, but she does look worse now. She's laying with her head resting on the ground and her wings relaxed by her side instead of pulled up tight like they were before--maybe she feels more relaxed in the warmth. She's breathing very slowly and softly now, and I don't think she ever opened her eyes as I brought her in and gave her a more thorough check over. I doubt she will last long, so I just have her snuggled up with some fresh bedding and soft towels, and the lights dimmed.

Sorry she isn't doing well. I hate the idea of an animal suffering, but it sounds like she is very peaceful and doesn't seem distressed (which would make me want to end it quickly for her).

 

[fisherlady]

Ok, I got her inside and I think it was the right thing to do, but she does look worse now. She's laying with her head resting on the ground and her wings relaxed by her side instead of pulled up tight like they were before--maybe she feels more relaxed in the warmth. She's breathing very slowly and softly now, and I don't think she ever opened her eyes as I brought her in and gave her a more thorough check over. I doubt she will last long, so I just have her snuggled up with some fresh bedding and soft towels, and the lights dimmed.

I'm sorry, it does sound like she is failing, and at her age I doubt any interventions would be helpful. Parasites are about the only thing I would treat for at her age...and aiming for comfort is probably the best option at this point.
I have used rolled large towels or blankets to create bolsters to help a bird remain in a more natural position when weak.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

I'm sorry, it does sound like she is failing, and at her age I doubt any interventions would be helpful. Parasites are about the only thing I would treat for at her age...and aiming for comfort is probably the best option at this point.
I have used rolled large towels or blankets to create bolsters to help a bird remain in a more natural position when weak.

X2

Also, since she isn't eating, you can blend up some scrambled eggs with some vitamin water and make it in to a smoothie to see if she'll take a couple drops through an eye dropper. It's worth a try anyway. If she is failing due to age, take comfort in the fact that she's had a long, happy life. Very few chickens get that lucky.

 

[FluffyButt789]

A single turkey will flock with the chickens, and sometimes even become their protectors. If handled a lot (and they are darn hard to resist as babies) they become "puppy dog tame". Even if not handled they are very personable. The first poult I ever hatched is a Midget White tom named Pilgrim (he is my avatar). He roams around the farm greeting people and strutting to show off. I can hug him easily and even pick him up. When I put him down, he doesn't run away like any chicken would, but struts around like he enjoyed it. Once I was talking and ignoring him and he came up and stepped on my foot to let me know he was not going to be ignored. Never had a chicken do that.

Chickens are "gateway poultry", turkeys are the "hard stuff". Once you have had a pet turkey, you will likely never be without one ever again.

Man, turkeys sound adorable. I hope to have a few someday too but worry about letting them free-range because of hunters around here. I think they would be too tempted to try to steal our turkeys? Has anyone had a problem with that?

Chickens are way tougher than you know. I grew up with chickens and my uncle had hundreds and their living conditions were much less accomodating than any of you have, yet he had few problems and won a lot in shows. That's not an excuse to get too slack, just an observation that if the bedding gets a little dirty, or they are without feed for a day, they will not perish.
I also pay my niece and brother-in-law to help out some since I have a full time job and often get only an hour or 2 per day to care for them before dark.

What about predators? The first year we had chickens, nothing knew that they were here, but now we have hawks that regularly visit and one tried to take one of our chickens last fall. Thankfully she got away, but lost a lot of feathers in the process. I feel like having 100 chickens free-roaming would definitely attract something, like foxes or coyotes. I would hate for something to figure out that there's an easy meal every day here. (until we shoot it of course). I'd just hate to lose any.

Ok, I got her inside and I think it was the right thing to do, but she does look worse now. She's laying with her head resting on the ground and her wings relaxed by her side instead of pulled up tight like they were before--maybe she feels more relaxed in the warmth. She's breathing very slowly and softly now, and I don't think she ever opened her eyes as I brought her in and gave her a more thorough check over. I doubt she will last long, so I just have her snuggled up with some fresh bedding and soft towels, and the lights dimmed.

She has had a long life if she is almost 8 years old. Let her rest in peace and she will go. I'm sorry. It's good that you care to make her comfortable.

 

[dheltzel]

Man, turkeys sound adorable. I hope to have a few someday too but worry about letting them free-range because of hunters around here. I think they would be too tempted to try to steal our turkeys? Has anyone had a problem with that?

What about predators? The first year we had chickens, nothing knew that they were here, but now we have hawks that regularly visit and one tried to take one of our chickens last fall. Thankfully she got away, but lost a lot of feathers in the process. I feel like having 100 chickens free-roaming would definitely attract something, like foxes or coyotes. I would hate for something to figure out that there's an easy meal every day here. (until we shoot it of course). I'd just hate to lose any.

The hunters are all over the farm, but our turkey are either very white or very black, hard to mistake for a wild one. Not a lot of turkey hunters anyway. I worry more about them running over the guineas with their vehicles.

All the chickens that I count are in secure pens, never free ranging. You are right about predators being an issue. A couple of coons cleaned out many of the free ranging roosters -- until I set some traps and cleaned them out. Seemed fair to me that they should die for killing my birds.

 

[KenStorm989]

Brief update with pic below. I lifted her wing and parted her feathers, and could not see any signs of lice/mites--although I only looked on the one side because I didn't want to disturb her too much. I didn't see any fresh stools around where she is sitting--but then, she probably hasn't been eating today, either. Throughout all of this she didn't open her eyes once, although her lids did kind of move like she was trying to open them, and she lifted her head higher while I was touching her. Here is a pic of my old girl after I messed with her a bit--I don't think she was quite that fluffed up before I started ruffling through her feathers. You can see the mealworms in front of her that she hasn't touched. She has been taking a winter laying break, so there's no "new" interruption in her laying that would suggest being egg bound. Her breathing doesn't seem to be labored exactly, but slow and quiet. I don't feel optimistic given her age, I just want her to be as comfortable as possible unless there's something obvious I can/should do to help.

I'm Very sorry, you know more than i do im sure...i hope she pulls through!

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

So last night when collecting eggs, I noticed one of the nests had a bunch of black feathers in it. That was what happened before my current broody went broody. I wonder...

Also, my turkey has plopped herself in a corner of the coop. She is definitely trying to hacth eggs. I'll probably try to break her of it soon.

Edited to add. She is sitting in the nest now and screamed and bit me like sister did before. We shall see....

Current broody on the right, possible broody on the left. Confused Silkie in the middle...

 

[hyzenthlay]

I'm sorry, it does sound like she is failing, and at her age I doubt any interventions would be helpful. Parasites are about the only thing I would treat for at her age...and aiming for comfort is probably the best option at this point.
I have used rolled large towels or blankets to create bolsters to help a bird remain in a more natural position when weak.

Thank you, fisherlady and @Auroradream26 . What do you mean, treat for parasites? Corid, or something else? I have a few worming medications in my first aid kit that I've never used, but I could throw one of those at her if it might help. I also have VetRx, but that's mostly just for respiratory issues, right? She doesn't seem to have a runny nose, coughing/sneezing, or anything like that.

She is a tough old bird, and she's lived a good long life. I'd certainly be ok letting her go--that would be easier. I have never euthanized a chicken--I'm not opposed to the concept, but I would have a very hard time doing anything bloody or physical, especially on this little old girl we've had since my daughter was a baby. I wish I had something very peaceful like strong pain meds or sedatives that would knock her out, but I don't even know if that works on chickens. Anyway, since she is hanging on for now I figured I will throw whatever minimally invasive treatments I have at her that might help. If she seems to move from resting to distress, we may have to evaluate other options.

 

[FluffyButt789]

The hunters are all over the farm, but our turkey are either very white or very black, hard to mistake for a wild one. Not a lot of turkey hunters anyway. I worry more about them running over the guineas with their vehicles.

All the chickens that I count are in secure pens, never free ranging. You are right about predators being an issue. A couple of coons cleaned out many of the free ranging roosters -- until I set some traps and cleaned them out. Seemed fair to me that they should die for killing my birds.

Okay hopefully we don't have an issue if we have turkeys here. As long as my birds stay near the house they are safe. And I love letting my birds free-range so I'd be mortified if anything managed to kill one. We chase off hawks all the time since we aren't allowed to shoot them. My husband shot a mangy fox that was way too close to the house for comfort. We have many outside cats here but they are smart enough to stay away. There hasn't been any other critters after our birds yet, so I fear having 100 would attract something else. I hope to plant more trees and bushes near the house to give the chickens some hiding spots. Thanks for your opinion!