Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Shadrach]

For one of my roosters, Théo, it also depends on which hen is calling.
I'm not sure if it's about personal preference or feeling that some hens need him more, but from what I've seen it's preference.
The other rooster runs everytime a hen calls. He's younger .

Theo probably has his favourites and that is normal. It will be those he gets off his arse to collect. Younger roosters/cockerels will try and respond to any hen, except perhaps the senior roosters favourites because if he gets caught trying to mate with them he's likely to have to run or fight. Many senior hens wont entertain a junior rooster anyway.

 

[Shadrach]

I believe the pickaxe thing is called a mattock.

It was a mini pickaxe head when I bought it. I cut the point off ( reduced the chance of embedding the point in my head when carrying out close work ) and fitted a more comforatble handle. I made two but left the other in Spain.
However, mattock is the right word for a single bladed digging tool although the hean is usually a bit broader.

Yup, I can do both those excersises but prefer the spinal roll given I can lift my legs far enough for my feet to touch the ground next to my head.

 

[Shadrach]

I imagine they are rather like popcorn for the chickens. A nice crunchy snack. Mine go bonkers for them!

It took a bit of time for the Ex Battery hens to accept they were edible. Fret was straight on them.

 

[Shadrach]

I looked it up too!

Sorry. I should have written wood louse but I'm used to calling them slaters.

 

[Shadrach]

Hi folks,

I'm looking for some practical advice for my new pullet Rusty -- especially from anyone whose dealt with dry coughing or rescues from a dust-infested run.

Rusty's been living on my farm for one week. She's eight months old. I adopted her from a neighbor in the village a few km away whom I generally trust to have healthy chickens (she's only sold me healthy pullets so far).View attachment 3483982
^Rusty

I'm aware of the risks of not keeping a closed flock, but I really needed some good company for my handsome cockerel Lucio (5 months). Lucio was brutally bullied by the hen who hatched him when her mothering instinct stopped. My two younger hens are both brooding, and poor Lucio only had my 2 older hens to hang out with. The senior ladies kindly tolerated him but had zero interest in letting an awkward juvenile mate with them. He was timid, not crowing, and cowed, but I sensed in him the makings of a sensible and gallant rooster if he were given a little space and his own girls. So I brought in Rusty and Dusty to keep him company.

As soon as Lucio saw Rusty, they bonded. They are now inseparable. He prepares the dust bath for her, brings her treats constantly, and anxiously awaits just outside the nesting area an unobtrusive short distance away for her to lay her egg each day. He is now happy, protective, and has a gentlemanly bearing for one so young.

So it's very important to me, for Lucio's sake as well, to keep Rusty healthy.

View attachment 3483984
^Lucio and Rusty. Los inseperables.

Rusty has what I would describe as a tickle in her throat and a light, intermittent cough. I've seen more serious respiratory infections -- the original group of chickens I bought 4 years ago from a different (not trustworthy) neighbor were inadvertent rescues... 3 out of the 5 had a bad respiratory infection, 2 of them turned blue and died within 10 days of arrival. I managed to help the others survive with supportive care. So I've seen and heard those symptoms (the bubbly, gurgly, rasping breathing, the fluid leaking from the eyes, the loud squeaking sneezing) and Rusty is not anywhere near that point.

The neighbor who sold her to me swears none of her flock is sick. And the other pullet who came with Rusty, is fine.

Rusty's eggs are perfect. Hard shell, perfect shape, orange yolk, thick albumen. Her poop is normal. So I can reasonably rule out Infectious Bronchitis. Her crop feels and works fine as well.

But her voice has a hoarse sound (think Bettie Davis) and she coughs with a light, dry sound several times throughout the day.

I have reason to suspect she has some dust in her airways. The picture below shows where Rusty was kept before she came to my farm.

View attachment 3484005
As you can see, the wood and bamboo in this pen is covered with green stuff. This is basically some dusty mossy growth that sticks to and grows on any untreated wood surface in a rainforest. It's the first step of decomposition. It's also shit for your respiratory system to breathe it. It will definitely give you a dry cough and a tickly throat if it's in the air in a confined space. It's why I don't use wood or wood shavings in my coop or chicken areas.

My neighbor told me she only keeps the layers in this pen. Dusty isn't laying yet, so she wasn't in here, and Rusty was only kept in this pen for about a month as she recently came into lay.

So, if Rusty was breathing air with this "green dust" in it, it wasn't for long.

(Please, if you are someone lucky enough to have access to a vet who treats chickens, please don't roll your eyes at my amateur diagnoses... If I gave a vet a chicken, he'd think I was trying to pay for him to fix my cow. Chickens are not considered valuable enough animals to warrant medical care here).

Anyway, I'll cut the storytelling and get to the point. Does anyone have experience with chickens who have Rusty's mild but concerning symptoms? Is there any supportive care I can offer to soothe her throat? (I'm not above antibiotics or antifungals when absolutely necessary, but my instinct is they are not needed here).

I've been wetting the feed with a "tea" made with ginger, turmeric, and mint we have here on the farm for the past two days. I've also been giving her a bit of sweet potato soaked in olive oil the past two days (that seems to be helping a bit). Am I fretting too much? Will good fresh air all day and a dust free/mold free coop sort this out?

View attachment 3484040
^Rusty and Lucio in paradise.

Btw, for anyone in a tropical climate or damp place where molds and mildews flourish on wood surfaces, you might be interested in my coop. I built it from "earth bags" -- 25 lb grain sacks stuffed with clay soil and tamped into "bricks." The outside is covered in natural clay and lime plaster and the inside I cover in wipe-able shade cloth. It ends up looking like a "cob house" except it's much faster to build. And you don't need any carpentry skill! The only wood is the roosts which I wipe with linseed oil often. The floor is a doubled heavy tarp covered with a thick layer of sand mixed well with lime and dried rice hulls. Every day, I skim the poop off the surface of the floor mixture, put it in the compost, and give the floor a stir. Every ten days or so, I add some fresh sand, lime, and rice hulls. It also really helps keep the mites and sticktight fleas away. (These pics were taken before the final roof went on)

View attachment 3484041

View attachment 3484055

View attachment 3484056

Love the coop build. It looks a bit like the coops I've seen in Morocco. They were made from straw and clay though with a domed roof.

I think worst case is:
https://www.freedomrangerhatchery.c...illosis-plus-how-to-prevent-it-in-your-flock/

But it could just be a lung irritated by dust.
The commercial concerns use Oxine to combat respiratory problems. Might be worth a try.
https://shagbarkbantams.com/the-many-uses-of-oxine-ah-animal-health/

 

[TropicalChickies]

Love the coop build. It looks a bit like the coops I've seen in Morocco. They were made from straw and clay though with a domed roof.

I think worst case is:
https://www.freedomrangerhatchery.c...illosis-plus-how-to-prevent-it-in-your-flock/

But it could just be a lung irritated by dust.
The commercial concerns use Oxine to combat respiratory problems. Might be worth a try.
https://shagbarkbantams.com/the-many-uses-of-oxine-ah-animal-health/

Thanks, I'll check out these links.

 

[TropicalChickies]

Ok, oxine is sodium chlorite. Sounds promising and like a good thing to have on hand. I can probably get that at the same chemical store I was able to find acidified copper sulfate (which is the only thing that saved my hen Butchie from a systemic yeast infection). Problem is, it's a three hour trip from the farm to Quito (the capital). But I have to go there soon for some other things anyway, so I'll make it a point to get some.

 

[Shadrach]

10C. Rain on and off all day.
We still got out although it was rather damp. A couple of hours today. Not much point in getting there early if it's pissing down with rain.

All the gooseberry bushes I moved look like they are going to make it now.I can't see me getting much fruit off them. The chickens are already eating the tiny buds.

I've got the first section ready to plant in now. I hope to get something in the ground over the weekend.

Fret is waiting to make a dive for a non existant gap again.

 

[TropicalChickies]

10C. Rain on and off all day.
We still got out although it was rather damp. A couple of hours today. Not much point in getting there early if it's pissing down with rain.
View attachment 3484320

All the gooseberry bushes I moved look like they are going to make it now.I can't see me getting much fruit off them. The chickens are already eating the tiny buds.View attachment 3484321

I've got the first section ready to plant in now. I hope to get something in the ground over the weekend.
View attachment 3484318

Fret is waiting to make a dive for a non existant gap again.
View attachment 3484317

I like Fret. Hope springs eternal

 

[TropicalChickies]

It was a mini pickaxe head when I bought it. I cut the point off ( reduced the chance of embedding the point in my head when carrying out close work ) and fitted a more comforatble handle. I made two but left the other in Spain.
However, mattock is the right word for a single bladed digging tool although the hean is usually a bit broader.

Yup, I can do both those excersises but prefer the spinal roll given I can lift my legs far enough for my feet to touch the ground next to my head.

Ahh now! You're an acrobat!

Embedding oneself in the head is never a good time.