Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[MaryJanet]

It does feel kind of fatty.

I hope it all turns out well for you and Skeksis.

 

[Marie2020]

I'm not sure how much of the rather tedious drama I should write about. Apparently when I left the Whatsapp group C threw a major hissy fit. A couple of people have shown me on their phones.

It's been suggested that I start another whatsapp group minus C because there are a few who would like to be clear about what the issues are so they can assess what they can do to help. While encouraging in some respects it is likely to be one of those grenades I mentioned earlier.

I have been told a lot of stuff by other members who have spoken to me without any evidence to back it up so the chance for everyone to hear all people have to say in one place where they are not intimidated, or shouted down by C might be a good thing.

I'm begining to feel like the cowboy in those films that rides into some no name town and tries to teach the smallholders how to fight the bully rancher. I'm going to have to watch a few more of these films to assess the chances of survival before I take the job on.

Getting that tune in my head...

 

[Marie2020]

Sorry I have not followed closely. Where is the lump? I did have a chicken who had a mass that the avian vet could feel. We put her on hormones to make her stop laying, because it seemed like the laying was going to kill her. I am absolutely, 100% certain that the hormone implants extended her life. She definitely seemed to be feeling better on the hormones and occasional anti-inflammatories and antibiotics. However, ultimately she had advanced ovarian cancer that had spread to multiple organs, including thickening her abdominal wall. She definitely seemed to have some good life in there, but I think it took it too far and extended her life too long. Hard leason learned at the expense of a beloved feathered friend.

I still seek Avian veterinary care when I think it is needed, but when the prognosis is looking like they are likely to continue suffering and worsening, I am more likely to opt for euthanasia now. Having said that, I recently had a 5 1/2 year old hen with a very swollen abdomen and slow crop, who I thought was likely dying. Instead of having her euthanized, I drained her coelom myself and helped her with her crop for a couple weeks. As of today, het behavior is almost completely back to normal. Point being, I do not opt for euthanasia unless I feel pretty certain the bird will continue declining and suffer, even with intervention,

Unfortunately, outside of molt and older birds in winter, almost any hen in my care who stopped laying on her own ended up having a serious condition (cancer, egg yolk peritonitis, orfatty liver). Please do note the exception of the alpha hen, Bridge. She will be seven at the end of February. She stopped laying a few years back, and still seems like the one of the most robust, healthy birds. The only time she has ever, ever looked like she wasn’t feeling well was when she had a molt coming on, or she was in molt. In her case, I consider the stop in production a blessing.

Sorry about rambling on and not actually offering much advice nor wisdom. I can really only share my experience and perspective, and I’ve only been at it almost 7 years.

Since I haven’t posted photos in a while, here are some of the birds mentioned in this post:

Bridge, the current alpha and only survivor of the original four
View attachment 3349265

Lucky, who recently responded to being drained and having her crop worked
View attachment 3349315


Margo, the alpha before Bridge, who I euthanized myself when she was unresponsive, but was dying of egg yolk peritonitis gone septic per necropsy at UC Davis
View attachment 3349263

Ruby, whose life I prolong too long and died of cancer per necropsy at UC Davis
View attachment 3349239

Rusty, who died of egg yolk peritonitis at the tender age of 18 months - diagnosed by avian vet
View attachment 3349242

Bagheera, who died of fatty liver per necropsy at UC Davis
View attachment 3349277

Dorothy, who suspectedly died (young) of egg yolk peritonitis gone septic after a year of soft egg shells
View attachment 3349268

Ester, who I had euthanized and was dying (young) of cancer per necropsy at UC Davis
View attachment 3349270

Sunshine, who died (young) of fatty liver per necropsy at UC Davis
View attachment 3349276

Cashew, who I recently had euthanized at about 5 1/2, because the avian vet, who thought cancer was likely, was unable to help her and she was declining
View attachment 3349283

 

[Marie2020]

It's mighty cold around here

 

[lightm]

Sorry I have not followed closely. Where is the lump? I did have a chicken who had a mass that the avian vet could feel. We put her on hormones to make her stop laying, because it seemed like the laying was going to kill her. I am absolutely, 100% certain that the hormone implants extended her life. She definitely seemed to be feeling better on the hormones and occasional anti-inflammatories and antibiotics. However, ultimately she had advanced ovarian cancer that had spread to multiple organs, including thickening her abdominal wall. She definitely seemed to have some good life in there, but I think it took it too far and extended her life too long. Hard leason learned at the expense of a beloved feathered friend.

I still seek Avian veterinary care when I think it is needed, but when the prognosis is looking like they are likely to continue suffering and worsening, I am more likely to opt for euthanasia now. Having said that, I recently had a 5 1/2 year old hen with a very swollen abdomen and slow crop, who I thought was likely dying. Instead of having her euthanized, I drained her coelom myself and helped her with her crop for a couple weeks. As of today, het behavior is almost completely back to normal. Point being, I do not opt for euthanasia unless I feel pretty certain the bird will continue declining and suffer, even with intervention,

Unfortunately, outside of molt and older birds in winter, almost any hen in my care who stopped laying on her own ended up having a serious condition (cancer, egg yolk peritonitis, orfatty liver). Please do note the exception of the alpha hen, Bridge. She will be seven at the end of February. She stopped laying a few years back, and still seems like the one of the most robust, healthy birds. The only time she has ever, ever looked like she wasn’t feeling well was when she had a molt coming on, or she was in molt. In her case, I consider the stop in production a blessing.

Sorry about rambling on and not actually offering much advice nor wisdom. I can really only share my experience and perspective, and I’ve only been at it almost 7 years.

Since I haven’t posted photos in a while, here are some of the birds mentioned in this post:

Bridge, the current alpha and only survivor of the original four
View attachment 3349265

Lucky, who recently responded to being drained and having her crop worked
View attachment 3349315


Margo, the alpha before Bridge, who I euthanized myself when she was unresponsive, but was dying of egg yolk peritonitis gone septic per necropsy at UC Davis
View attachment 3349263

Ruby, whose life I prolong too long and died of cancer per necropsy at UC Davis
View attachment 3349239

Rusty, who died of egg yolk peritonitis at the tender age of 18 months - diagnosed by avian vet
View attachment 3349242

Bagheera, who died of fatty liver per necropsy at UC Davis
View attachment 3349277

Dorothy, who suspectedly died (young) of egg yolk peritonitis gone septic after a year of soft egg shells
View attachment 3349268

Ester, who I had euthanized and was dying (young) of cancer per necropsy at UC Davis
View attachment 3349270

Sunshine, who died (young) of fatty liver per necropsy at UC Davis
View attachment 3349276

Cashew, who I recently had euthanized at about 5 1/2, because the avian vet, who thought cancer was likely, was unable to help her and she was declining
View attachment 3349283

Yay for Lucky!!! I am so happy to learn about her much improved health.

Go Bridge!

Lovely photos Michelle.

 

[micstrachan]

Sorry for all these losses at such a young age over the years.

I wonder why you had so many chickens with internal health problems. Could it be the genes. Overbreeding? Getting chicks from hatcheries?

I have not much experience with chickens , but been reading a lot . First on a Dutch chicken forum, and nowadays mostly here.
In the Netherlands we have these problems mainly with commercial laying hybrids. The heritage breeds with larger gene pools don’t seem to have this problem. My Dutch never had internal problems. I had 6: 1 sold, 2 killed by a predator, and 3 who are 7 and 8 years old.
On the other hand I had 2 Tournaisis that both died young (3-4 years old). One clearly with an internal problem, started with soft shell eggs. The other died overnight withouth any signs of being sick. The eggs hatched from chickens /a person who was participating in in a breeding program to revive this chicken breed who was almost extinct. Lesson learned. For me such a choice will be a no go in the future. I rather buy eggs from a person that has a more common heritage breed. btw: We don’t have large hatcheries here that send chicks by mail.

Yes, I think it’s mostly because of getting chicks at hatcheries. The fatty livers may be my fault, since they only free range when supervised, which doesn’t happen during the work week in winter (it is dark when I get home and even sometimes when I leave in the morning.) At least two and likely three having cancer makes me wonder if there us something in the environment, but I have ready many times over that there is high incidence of cancer in high production birds and I think hatcheries breed them to be just that.

I would like to continue caring for chickens throughout my lifetime, nut would prefer to stop supporti g the hatchety industry. I’m only on 2/3 of an acre, so not set up for multiple roosters (so not set up for them to hatch their own, either). Someday I might rescue, as well. I just don’t know. I’d like a few chicks next year, but would need to research breeders who provide good conditions and I don’t think there is much of that in California.

 

[Perris]

Another of this year's pullets has started laying; a wee 43g, but perfectly formed and shelled, so no complaints here. I suspect it's Ystrad; she's been squatting for all the boys for weeks Now I just need to persuade her not to follow Polka's example (as she did) and lay in the front border , but Paprika's or Dyffryn's, and lay in a nest box

 

[no fly zone]

And of course the bird vet is running late. Been waiting 45 min.

 

[Solanacae]

Another of this year's pullets has started laying; a wee 43g, but perfectly formed and shelled, so no complaints here. I suspect it's Ystrad; she's been squatting for all the boys for weeks Now I just need to persuade her not to follow Polka's example (as she did) and lay in the front border , but Paprika's or Dyffryn's, and lay in a nest box

Hooray for eggs! When we first moved, the girls stopped laying (as expected) while they adjusted. I kept them restricted for a while so they would get used to where ‘home’ was, and they started laying again. I fenced off a large part of my yard for them and they happily went about getting acquainted with their new space. Then I started seeing fewer and fewer eggs in the nesting boxes. Turns out they’d found a much more preferable spot! They haven’t laid there since, but it’s still a favorite hiding spot.

 

[Solanacae]

And of course the bird vet is running late. Been waiting 45 min.

View attachment 3349612

Maybe do some light reading on allotment law in the UK . . . I hear it’s an excellent way to pass the time waiting to be seen.