Texas

[jajeanpierre]

I need some advice. I have a 5.5 month old cockerel I was planning to keep as the "spare" rooster to protect the few free ranging pullets I have.

About 10 days ago, his crop didn't empty overnight. I penned him and pulled food for 24 hours and massaged his crop. The next morning, the crop was empty, so I gave him a scrambled egg divided into two feedings. Again, he emptied his crop. On the third day I introduced pelleted food to him. He emptied his crop and after a day on pelleted food, I let him out with his friends.

A few days later, again, the crop was full in the morning. (I don't leave them food or water at night.) Same treatment program.

On Wednesday, again the crop was full in the morning. Everything was going okay until this morning when I felt his crop and it wasn't completely empty. He was fed soaked pellets yesterday.

The breeder who gave me advice on how to treat him recommended I cull him, sooner than later. Needless to say, he's lost weight. She said as a last resort, I could give some over-the counter fungal meds orally.

Thoughts please. I culled three Silkie cockerels last weekend and I am a bit overwhelmed by the thought of killing more chickens, especially one that I intended to keep. I'm a real weeny about killing anything as you must all know by now.

 

[RachaelS]

I need some advice. I have a 5.5 month old cockerel I was planning to keep as the "spare" rooster to protect the few free ranging pullets I have.


Thoughts please. I culled three Silkie cockerels last weekend and I am a bit overwhelmed by the thought of killing more chickens, especially one that I intended to keep. I'm a real weeny about killing anything as you must all know by now.

Sorry, I can't help you, but I hope you are able to figure it out

 

[jajeanpierre]

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On Wednesday, again the crop was full in the morning. Everything was going okay until this morning when I felt his crop and it wasn't completely empty. He was fed soaked pellets yesterday.

Big "duh" moment--I hadn't pulled water last night. It might be water in his crop from drinking this morning. I'll feed him soaked pellets this morning and pull food and water when he is finished and monitor. He lives another day.

 

[TammyTX]

jajeanpierre - I have occasionally felt my birds crops, but I don't check them normally. Was it his weight loss that prompted you to check?

Mandy - How are babies??

mylittlechicken - we received just under 1.5 inches of rain here off of 969, how much did you get?

TxLisa - WOO-HOO FALLLLLLLL! It's about 72 here this morning and it feels w.o.n.d.e.r.f.u.l. !!!

 

[mylittlechicken]

Oh it was raining yesterday ALL DAY, so a lot.I don`t know how much inches it was. We are off of 95.

 

[jajeanpierre]

jajeanpierre - I have occasionally felt my birds crops, but I don't check them normally. Was it his weight loss that prompted you to check?

My coop wasn't finished until a week ago, so I was picking up the birds and putting them in and out of a pen in my garage every morning and night. Once he had the one incident, I checked every morning. I think his weight loss is because since September 9, he has had three days fasting and three days of one scrambled egg a day. I attribute the weight loss to three separate treatments.

 

[TammyTX]

Oh it was raining yesterday ALL DAY, so a lot.I don`t know how much inches it was. We are off of 95.

...are you all hearing something that sounds like thunder this morning??? We keep hearing it over here.

 

[Jungleexplorer]

Big "duh" moment--I hadn't pulled water last night.  It might be water in his crop from drinking this morning.  I'll feed him soaked pellets this morning and pull food and water when he is finished and monitor.  He lives another day.

The best policy is to let nature take it's course. If a bird cannot survive on it's own, then you don't want it passing on it's genes anyway. If you manage to keep a weak bird alive, you assure yourself more weak birds in the future. So helping too much can be harmful.

 

[mylittlechicken]

Is that maybe from Camp Swift? They do often trainings on the weekends.

 

[TammyTX]

Jungleexplorer - I have a camera question. Last Christmas my husband bought me a Sony 5n camera. I've only used it a couple of times and I don't know very much about camera technicals. I have two lenses, one 3.5-5.6/18-55, the other 2.8/16. Which would be the best lens for taking medium range photos of the chickens?