The IMPORTED ENGLISH Orpington Thread

[ColtHandorf]

The videos are fairly accurate examples of the little one. I apologize for shooting them through two fences but the babies don’t act very natural and Golly enjoys photo bombing all attempts to photograph anything that isn’t him. Lol

Also do we think pullet or cockerel? I’m leaning towards pullet despite the massive legs and feet.

 

[ColtHandorf]

Meant to include Golly getting in the way. He’s such a ham.

 

[homeschoolin momma]

I havent had an issue quite like that. Ive got a runty lav that has gotten worse and just now is having trouble walking. I thought she was going to be dead by this morning, but she hopped out and is just standing there like a zombie. I just to go ahead and put her down.

I think your troubles one is a cockerel. Those are some pretty big wattles for that age and a fairly decent comb. And of course theres the feet. If he doesnt snap out of it soon, id go ahead and let him go. Whatever is wrong, you don't want it passed down.

 

[ColtHandorf]

That bird was probably two weeks old when I got it May 31st. So it’s about three months?

I hate having to actually cull one. Like I’m not sure I can do it. I suck at doing that. :/ Maybe I’ll just fatten it up more and let someone have it to eat it?

I mostly just feel sorry for it. It’s really warm so it’s hot and unsure of itself so it just lays there looking pathetic while the Lavenders stomp all over it.

 

[ColtHandorf]

Oi. Of course people in the “emergency” health forum think it could be Marek’s. That’s...disturbing. I’d certainly think it isn’t considering none of the other birds are presenting. :/

 

[Faraday40]

Alright @Faraday40, @PlainOrpingtons2018, and @homeschoolin momma take a look at these three videos. When the babies were up on wire I never really noticed the single Silver-laced having issues. In fact, I don’t think it did when it was smaller. But as it’s gotten larger it has progressively gotten more uncoordinated. It’s very unsure on its feet (which are massive). Literally all it does is eat, lie down, and wobble around when it does walk. Have any of you ever seen this before? Is it going to grow out of it or is it just going to get worse? This is the single chick that came with the four breeders I got from Diana. The one that earlier in the thread showed the gold patterned down that has feathered in Silver. Honestly the bird reminds me of a Cornish x. It’s very strange.

Poor fellow! I've never seen a bird with those symptoms. He looks so unstable and is using his wings for balance.

My 1st thought was early Marek's but that often causes one leg forward & one back - like the bird does the splits. It can cause paralysis &/or respiratory issues. I think it can get bad very quickly. Some but not all the symptoms fit. I also wondered about a birth defect because of the way he moves those tree trunk-like legs..... but that would probably have been seen all along.

I wish I could help more. I recommend separating him. Many things can be contagious & if the worst happens, you want to prevent spread. Something's definitely wrong. Separating him will also help you observe his condition more easily.

 

[Faraday40]

@ColtHandorf
I had a thought...


Someone shared this info with me a couple years ago and I forgot about it until now. I think it better explains the symptoms you're seeing. The great news is that it's something to try.

Here is the chapter.... see what you think.

 

[ColtHandorf]

@Faraday40 the four images are showing up broken? So I can't see anything.

In other news Sterling seems to be almost completely better but he needs to put some weight back on. The pullet looks like she was never sick.

I've been spraying the dirt down in their pens with temperatures over 100 degrees. It seems to be helping them out. There were several days that that all looked like they were ready to keel over.

And I'm pretty sure my recent hatch is ruined. I was out of the house Saturday when the eggs started hatching and the humidity must have jumped way, way up. I've got two live chicks, one chick that pipped and drowned, and six eggs that aren't doing a thing despite having chicks in them. I'm going to let them go another day or two and then I'll open them up. I suspect that they drowned after internally pipping.

Have I mentioned how much I hate incubating? lol

I also killed a snake over the weekend, first one in weeks and thankfully much smaller and less aggressive than its larger brethren.

I'll attempt to get some photos taken of the chicks for everyone's viewing pleasure. Hopefully we can start identifying what colors they are on the wonky ones.

 

[Faraday40]

@Faraday40 the four images are showing up broken? So I can't see anything.

Sorry you couldn't read it. If you try clicking n the image it may enlarge the photo for you. interesting story.

Cliff notes: Your issue could be riboflavin / B12 deficiency. Feeding some beef liver (or other food rich in vit B12) could really perk them up. It certainly won't hurt.

Symptoms were young birds walking on their hocks & unsteady.... eventual death. Sounded very similar to what your video showed.


Glad yours are showing marked improvement.

 

[ColtHandorf]

Hmmm...It just gives me an error if a right click and try to open it in a new tab. But I just got some poultry vitamins. I'll look at the B12 content for them. Providing additional B12 shouldn't be too much trouble and it would be interesting to see if the little fart improves. It doesn't seem to have gotten any worse, but I wonder if because they are larger birds, perhaps the English Orpingtons need a feed that is better suited for their dietary/developmental needs.

I've been considering mixing Gamebird feed into my layer feed to up the protein, but only if I can find it in a pelleted form. I'm not sure if the local feed store carries it in anything but crumble. And I hate crumble. The All-flock is only two percent higher protein so not worth getting it and having to offer calcium separately.