The Evolution of Atlas: A Breeding (and Chat) Thread

[speckledhen]

For several days, we've been dealing with a sluggish, semi-impacted crop on one of my blue partridge hens, Betsy. She is growing in feathers like crazy so her lethargy at first seemed like she just didn't feel well, like her sister, Bonnie. Bonnie is just not eating much, her crop almost empty all the time, so she is fine. I don't know if Betsy got hold of something somewhere that started this and the molt made it worse as it tends to do, but I absolutely cannot lose Betsy. We've done vigorous massage several times each day, used Dulcolax to get it to dissolve, had her on liquid diet (mashed up egg yolk or soupy yogurt with vitamins, a tablespoon of chick starter made soupy with water), and this a.m., I saw some less liquid poop, just a little more solid than it has been, but here we go again. She should not be having this problem. Even my old hens don't have that happen during their molt, normally.

Betsy was out on range several days with her group, but there is not much left that's green out there, just some clover and a little spinach in a garden planting bed. Maybe she got really stupid and ate something dumb like a piece of twine or a string from an old shredded tarp on the ground, who knows? We grab all that when we see it, of course, and try not to let any of it get on the ground in the first place. Now, the stuff has been in the crop so long, it's beginning to sour a little so I gave her a couple of pinches of baking soda in her water. Sigh. Will keep working on it.

 

[1muttsfan]

 

[speckledhen]

you said it.

 

[speckledhen]

I cannot wait until the Brahmas are over their first molt. They are so not happy about it! Betsy is still fighting her sluggish crop. Bailey was all hunched up, looking miserable so I checked hers. She's okay in that dept but full of new quills.
I am making a new video that will garner some nasty comments, one about the worst predator, IMO, roaming domestic dogs. It's worse because they are not killing for food but for sport and it could all be prevented if folks would be responsible and keep them contained. I remember when we were raising AKC Dobermans as a child. You know how great they are at jumping, so agile. My dad had the normal chainlink fence, but had a top extension that slanted inward so they could not jump. They were handily contained. Add a dig barrier for those type dogs who love to dig out and viola! Contained dogs 101. I've had threats after I posted a game camera video with two nuisance dogs, asking for the owner so ID them and keep them at home, that if I shot a dog. Two ladies double-teamed me and one lady said she hoped the owner would find out and "take care of business", meaning come assault me. Now, what twisted mind does it take to think it's bad for me to protect my valuable poultry but okay to encourage violence against other human beings? Geez.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I love dogs. They should not be allowed to roam the neighborhood, for their own safety and to not annoy people. Unfortunately those that allow it tend not to really care about the dog. There can be an occasional accident, and if it does happen the owner needs to own up to it and take responsibility for their dogs actions.

I look forward to your video.

I still have lots of miserable molting chickens. Last night fell into the single digits. The second of my trio of breeder RIR died today. One left. Hopefully yours improves, I knew mine would not.

 

[speckledhen]

I love dogs. They should not be allowed to roam the neighborhood, for their own safety and to not annoy people. Unfortunately those that allow it tend not to really care about the dog. There can be an occasional accident, and if it does happen the owner needs to own up to it and take responsibility for their dogs actions.

I look forward to your video.

I still have lots of miserable molting chickens. Last night fell into the single digits. The second of my trio of breeder RIR died today. One left. Hopefully yours improves, I knew mine would not.

I'm so sorry about your RIR! Was it the cold? I saw your forecast-I put it in my Kindle app so I check it when I check mine and Dublin, Ireland where my younger son is now.

I adore dogs. You saw mine. I am a good dog owner, too. Escapees are probably really the exception to the rule, especially in the country. Most are out because they are allowed out to roam. Ladyhawk's neighbor, whose three Rotties they were forced to kill, one by one (stupid neighbor never learns) lets his beagles out every night to bay and run still.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

My RIR has been on the decline for about 2 weeks. We were going to cull her this weekend, I was just waiting for her to get bad enough but she beat me to it.

I have yet to see the cold kill a bird, but occasionally drops in temperatures can stress them and bring out illnesses they are harboring.

The RIR are almost 8, so not extremely old but old enough. The guy I got her from breeds birds for 4H kids, and I think a lot of his birds end up inbred. Most I have gotten from him haven't lived past 6. My bantam frizzled Cochin hens are still hanging in there, as well as a could of smooth feathered bantam cochins. His birds are gorgeous and well mannered otherwise.

 

[speckledhen]

My RIR has been on the decline for about 2 weeks. We were going to cull her this weekend, I was just waiting for her to get bad enough but she beat me to it.

I have yet to see the cold kill a bird, but occasionally drops in temperatures can stress them and bring out illnesses they are harboring.

The RIR are almost 8, so not extremely old but old enough. The guy I got her from breeds birds for 4H kids, and I think a lot of his birds end up inbred. Most I have gotten from him haven't lived past 6. My bantam frizzled Cochin hens are still hanging in there, as well as a could of smooth feathered bantam cochins. His birds are gorgeous and well mannered otherwise.

That's what I meant, did the bad cold spell kill her because of whatever was already going on. Cold by itself rarely kills a bird, unless you are like Ladyhawk's disgusting neighbor and leaves them out in a dog kennel with zero shelter and they freeze on the roost stick. Geez.

 

[1muttsfan]

8 degrees here this morning. Three and a half weeks ago it was almost 80. That's the kind of switching around that's really hard on birds.

 

[speckledhen]

8 degrees here this morning. Three and a half weeks ago it was almost 80. That's the kind of switching around that's really hard on birds.

Hard on us, too. And if the birds have no feathers, it can be bad for them, certainly. Most external conditions are survivable if they are fully feathered and in good health to begin with. It's the undiagnosed issues we don't see that can get them in times of stress, like wild temperature swings, I think.