South Carolina

[gvilledh]

One or two of our Buff Orps have combs that look extremely dry. They other one looks really red and moist. They almost look as if they have a layer of dust on them, which could be since the coop is quite dusty,but really just remind me of dry skin. I am trying to get a picture, but they were too excited on Wednesday to be still. Thought it was fun to peck at the camera instead, which was cracking me up!
What is the best thing to do? Any suggestions for why only a couple of chickens would have such a dry comb? I will try to get pics later today if I can.

 

[emptynester]

Had a long day. A bird of mine last night started swelling up in the face. By this morning she could hardly breathe! I've had so many birds die I wanted to figure out what is going on once and for all.
Took the dying bird and my Cochin to sunset animal clinic. Saw dr. Ogburn and dr. Brown. Very nice doctors btw. The polish died before I got there. She was so swollen her eyes were sunk in and not visible and were draining. She died because of suffocation because of her horrible adema.
The vets were in utter shock. Weirdest thing they've seen in a while they said. They immediately said most likely a virus. (oh great) and they checked out my Cochin. They said he was under weight. Oh and they still have coccidia.
Well I took the dead polish by the Clemson facility for necropsy. I should have some results tomorrow. Hoping it's not viral. And they said if so I have to put down my flock if it's something very serious.
I'm on edge now. I wonder if I will have to put down my flock and if my eggs need to be destroyed too.

it's just been a crazy day.

I am sorry you have to go through such a heartbreak

 

[emptynester]

I have a question. My Cochins started laying this past week which is great as I have had them since they were chicks and now they are growing up- I feel accomplished LOL. However, they are now laying their eggs where they roost and the eggs are getting very dirty. There are nest boxes below the roost but they aren't using them. Any ideas or suggestions on how to get them to use the nest boxes and not where they roost?

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Quote:

There used to be a pond here before we bought the property. I am glad it no longer exists. You can't have breeding ducks and a pond. For ducks to be cooped at night for safety a pond is not an option. And with this many breeding ducks a pond is useless. Even if I had only one breed the pond would have to be stream fed, not spring fed as ducks like flowing water and if a pond is stagnant they will not use it. A filtration system has to be very large if it is spring fed or they will muck it up.
I use to want a pond because I wanted to fish but after getting ducks and researching so much I realized I am much better off unless I just wanted ducks to look at and with this being an actual working farm each animal needs to support itself.

So no, a pond is not on my list of wants anymore. I probably would not have too many ducks left or would have way too many wild ducks come in and breed like a friend of mine does. Her yard is a nasty mess because her pond attracts the wild ducks, they nest and the babies often like to return so they can nest and by the end of the summer she is trying to feed her chickens, turkeys, cows and such while fighting off the Mallards that find the food very appealing.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

I have a question. My Cochins started laying this past week which is great as I have had them since they were chicks and now they are growing up- I feel accomplished LOL. However, they are now laying their eggs where they roost and the eggs are getting very dirty. There are nest boxes below the roost but they aren't using them. Any ideas or suggestions on how to get them to use the nest boxes and not where they roost?

Do they roost on a board and are dropping them down to the floor or do they have a shelf they roost on?
If they are dropping them from a roosting board then I can say they will get the hang of it later as they are now experiencing "Oops, something just happened."
If possible, raise the nesting boxes about 12 inches off the floor or if they are already up off the floor that is fine. Put the eggs they lay in the boxes for a few days. Only one or two in each box or even just one box. They like to lay where they see other eggs. I do not suggest golf balls as they will drop an egg on a golf ball and bust it and then they get excited about cleaning it up. I have sometimes used the white plastic Easter Eggs which won't bust a real egg.
Most of my roosters will show a pullet where to lay. He will get in the box and coo and scratch around which lures her in and he will stand guard outside of the box until she has laid.

 

[emptynester]

Thanks Amy! They have a roost, with a shelf underneath to catch the droppings so it's easy to clean. I"m not sure it they are getting on the shelf and laying or if it is dropping from the roost. One of the eggs I found this morning had been pecked open on the top, but it seems none messed with it after that. I will try raising the nest boxes this weekend and leave a couple eggs inside and see if that works.

 

[RedBugPoultry]

Do they roost on a board and are dropping them down to the floor or do they have a shelf they roost on?
If they are dropping them from a roosting board then I can say they will get the hang of it later as they are now experiencing "Oops, something just happened."
If possible, raise the nesting boxes about 12 inches off the floor or if they are already up off the floor that is fine. Put the eggs they lay in the boxes for a few days. Only one or two in each box or even just one box. They like to lay where they see other eggs. I do not suggest golf balls as they will drop an egg on a golf ball and bust it and then they get excited about cleaning it up. I have sometimes used the white plastic Easter Eggs which won't bust a real egg.
Most of my roosters will show a pullet where to lay. He will get in the box and coo and scratch around which lures her in and he will stand guard outside of the box until she has laid.

An egg left in the nest is what I have been doing with my Marans but we do use golf balls in the nest with pretty good success too.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

I think mine stand up over the golf balls and drop them on those so they can bust them and have a snack.

Or maybe 12x12 nest boxes aren't big enough. I know some folks that have just one big box for egg laying and I did put a wine storage box in one of my coops. The girls love it but it is so big that I have to dig through the shavings in it to find the eggs sometimes.

 

[gvilledh]

Just spent some time putting a small amount of oil on the girls combs and wattles. Some loved it. Some, not so much. The first one we did, Mrs Beasley, seemed to love it. Lou Ann said it almost sounded like she was purring. Next thing we know, she dropped a shell-less egg on the ground.

First time we have had one of those. One thing I read on here said they can suddenly lay an egg that hasn't finished getting it's shell layer if they are stressed. Maybe that is what happened.
The sweetest part was Harriet, our Ameraucana who is such a squawker, or to be nice, such a talker. I picked her up and I swear she was cuddling today and making the sweetest cooing noises. I love that little pullet.

Yes, I have a favorite-even if she IS noisy! I am so glad we made the trip to see Susanne and to get her (and the rooster who Piink Windsong now has).

 

[huckleberryfarm]

Lou Ann and I have a week off in two weeks. She will be in Florida the first part of it. I haven't told her yet, but if the weather will cooperate, my plan is to visit your farm again. If we are lucky, we will get to visit Amy's too. Each time we have tried to go farm-visiting, it is either cold or raining. Maybe we'll be lucky this time. Now, if Lou Ann will get on this forum, she will know my plans...

Don't tell her. Just kidnap her and make sure she has cash.