Silkie thread!

[Fancychooklady]

thanks, that is what i have been basically doing. it has been a week. i leave them in their cage and try not to touch anything and wash my hands and the feeders after.  isnt there a culture or something they can do?     

There is a vaccine for infectious coryza but it's not cost effective for small holders and only lessens the impact. The main problem with upper respiratory disease apart from the illness itself , is that it can have an enormous impact on your egg production. Antibiotics are the only effective treatment and as I said before the birds can become symptomatic when placed in any stressful situation. The problem with returning the birds is that she will probably sell them on again or cull them.

 

[Fancychooklady]

I have heard chicken owners don't visit other chicken owner/ go in their chicken yard.   I've seen signs  "stay out if you have chickens too" ....  smart   

If you sell chickens bio security is essential . Mycoplasma (MG) is also carried through the egg.

 

[LittleRedCoop53]

Quote: Yes.... made me start thinking on that level...putting up a sign might not be such a bad idea ~

 

[Sylvester017]

I haven't gotten ill yet but I have started being more dillegent about hand washing after touching them. The smell they leave on my hands makes me sick (although I get naseau really easy so what doesn't!).

It amazes me how little I know the more I research. Hygiene around birds was something we learned decades ago because of having caged pet birds from budgerigars to parrots. However, I am constantly learning something new about chickens. After a while some health practices around our chickens become routine but there is so much more to learn beyond every one new thing we discover. I don't assume that because we've always done something one way that it is the only way and am willing to change my practices when something safer, easier, or better comes up.

Because of odorous litter boxes and using its paws to dig around in the litter our indoor cat became an outdoor cat after 6 months - holding or petting a kitty that just used a litter box didn't sit well with me. My Mom was a stickler about not having dogs/cats indoors and after having an indoor cat for half a year we found the feline did quite well outdoors and lived to 17-1/2 years! Same with our dogs - for one they were large breeds and did better outdoors - battling fleas was just no fun for me either and the expense of vet bills, shots, licenses, medications, shelter, toys, accessories, etc just did a number on our budget. And after all the time, training, and money invested in large breed dogs it was difficult to get one to live much past age 10-12. It was fun having these pets throughout the years but eventually decided they were more expensive and less hygienic than we cared to add to our current cottage.

Chickens require just as much of our care and attention as any pet but it's a different kind of experience. They prefer, they thrive, they learn to be very predator-savvy and alert outdoors. We have a separate indoor kennel for an injured or ailing sequestored bird but outside of a health issue the girls stay outside. New birds are quarantined in the kennel for 30 or more days until ready for the outdoor flock and then slowly introduced through a rabbit fence barrier for a couple weeks before total integration. Quarantine was something we always did with indoor pet birds but never in a million years thought about it with chickens so it's a good thing I researched chicken care for 6 months before we set up our flock - and still I'm learning more 4 years later!

Not every one way works for every chicken owner but certain practices are a must - like hygiene care for one - IMO.

 

[Sylvester017]

I feel like I have a revolving broody door in my house.

Here we go again.

My two Silkies have been going back and forth taking turns laying eggs for a couple weeks then going broody. Now both of my girls are bitc#y and hormonal at the SAME time! It's such a chore making sure they get time out from the nestboxes. The Partridge Silkie takes up to 6 months to resume egg laying! I LOVE my girls but I think these will be our last Silkies! And to think these little gals can live up to 10 years or more! I should've kept the boy and rehomed the GIRLS instead - ha! All bantam breeds seem to be broody breeds but I wasn't aware HOW broody until we got our two girls! Here's hoping we keep our sanity with our broodies!

 

[kabhyper1]

My two Silkies have been going back and forth taking turns laying eggs for a couple weeks then going broody. Now both of my girls are bitc#y and hormonal at the SAME time! It's such a chore making sure they get time out from the nestboxes. The Partridge Silkie takes up to 6 months to resume egg laying! I LOVE my girls but I think these will be our last Silkies! And to think these little gals can live up to 10 years or more! I should've kept the boy and rehomed the GIRLS instead - ha! All bantam breeds seem to be broody breeds but I wasn't aware HOW broody until we got our two girls! Here's hoping we keep our sanity with our broodies!

Usually if I separate them when one goes broody, by doing that I can prevent the others from doing it too. It has worked so far. Henley, the partridge, went in the spring and now again this fall. fairly typical for her. The other girls out in the coop break pretty easily.... except for Snow, the white hen in the pic. She is broody about 3 times a year and is a little monster to break, impossible. So I let her hatch. I have an incubator, but I have never used it for my chicks. I just keep it for emergencies. I love my silkies, and plan on breeding more of course, but the morning off the nest potty trips and making sure they eat and drink enough is very tiring.

 

[Suzierd]

I have heard chicken owners don't visit other chicken owner/ go in their chicken yard.   I've seen signs  "stay out if you have chickens too" ....  smart   

When I sell a chicken they are not allowed to come to my house I meet them in town and once the chicken is gone I dont take it back. Safer that way.

 

[Iluvmysilkies]

When I sell a chicken they are not allowed to come to my house I meet them in town and once the chicken is gone I dont take it back. Safer that way.

Wow really? Is it really that dangerous? Have you guys experienced your chickens catching stuff from other chickens quite easily?

 

[Fancychooklady]

Wow really? Is it really that dangerous? Have you guys experienced your chickens catching stuff from other chickens quite easily?

It's that easy, if your neighbours birds have upper respiratory disease chances are yours will get it. Mites that come in on sparrows and rodents can also carry mycoplasma , then there is infectious laryngitis , fowl pox.......".. The list goes on. That is why show birds should never be reintroduced to the flock once they have been off the property. When you see vets entering poultry farms with hazchem suits on it's to protect the birds from outside elements too.

 

[nayeli]

It's that easy, if your neighbours birds have upper respiratory disease chances are yours will get it. Mites that come in on sparrows and rodents can also carry mycoplasma , then there is infectious laryngitis , fowl pox.......".. The list goes on. That is why show birds should never be reintroduced to the flock once they have been off the property. When you see vets entering poultry farms with hazchem suits on it's to protect the birds from outside elements too.

Doesn't that make show birds kind of useless?