The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[delisha]

I personally would cull the chick. However I understand why you would not. If I try to save chicks I fill the crop. You need to get a catheter into the crop and actually feel it in there before adding food. They aspirate into the lungs too easy if you do not. It sounds like you might have waited to long. It might be beyond learning to eat on its own and you will have to feed it for days before it will. If you have a syringe you can inject saline under the skin to give fluids. In the back by the neck is the best place. Some chicks have a fail to thrive proponent. You might get this chick threw days and days and it will still expire. Saving a chick is sometimes not worth all the health issues you deal with later in its life if it does make it too. It is a hard decision. I am sorry you are going threw this.

Thanks Delisha...

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I did go ahead and feed it some of the Kaytee Exact handfeeding formula with an eyedropper and it seems to have perked up a bit. It WAS eating with the other chick before I noticed it not thriving this morning. I had seen it eat the chick feed. I did not use any tubing/catheter but I can certainly try to find something around here to use or run to the drugstore for some.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]If it is getting the fluid from the hand feeding formula, should I still inject the lactated ringers under the skin? If so, how much? I have no problem doing it as I've done it with my dogs/cats before. I'm assuming it is the same method???[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Thank you so much. I understand what you are saying about the prognosis. I certainly don't intend to breed this bird, just wanted to have one for a pet to enjoy looking at. Kind of like my 3 silkies pullets They are just so enjoyable to watch and interact with.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Angela[/FONT]

Quote: I do on here..it is easier to communicate using the same language

Quote: They are lovely mumsy..I am looking forward o more pictures

 

[delisha]

Great egggtopsy photos..and a good learning tool..I wish more did them...
check your humidity and check your turner.







I had to show my new BLRW..

 

[Bulldogma]

Delisha and Mumsy - what wonderful chick pictures... so much nicer than the ones I posted today - LOL!

LOVE this shot, Mumsy!! (Even if the muff and beard are missing.)

Can I jump in? I'm new-ish around here. I live in Alaska and am planning on raising my little brood of chickies as natural as I can

Welcome! Jump right in and ask any questions you might have!!!

 

[flagirl]

I have a question: I have a cukoo marans that has prolapse vent. I soaked her last week in epson salt bath and got it back in. she laid an egg a few days later and no problem. today I noticed her on nest again and nothing laid, and when I checked her it was prolapsed again. I tried soaking her again, but could not get it to stay inside. SO, I have only had hens for 1 1/2 yr and have not had to process a hen yet. Can she be processed for food, or is it better to just put her out of her misery?

Still would like to know if OK to eat one that has this, but I just went out to put them to bed and she was apparently cannibalizing herself. her beak was all bloody, so I assumed she was pecking at herself and put her down so the others would not help her.
Now I need to find someone to show me how to do the processing so I will be ready for any other problem that will surely come my way. I also have a 4 yr old BR that is not doing well, probably should have done her also, but my husband is more squimish than me and needs more heads up for this type of thing. It is so much easier with 2 people than 1 when yielding an axe.

 

[delisha]

I have a question: I have a cukoo marans that has prolapse vent. I soaked her last week in epson salt bath and got it back in. she laid an egg a few days later and no problem. today I noticed her on nest again and nothing laid, and when I checked her it was prolapsed again. I tried soaking her again, but could not get it to stay inside. SO, I have only had hens for 1 1/2 yr and have not had to process a hen yet. Can she be processed for food, or is it better to just put her out of her misery?

I would process her for food asap. Like tomorrow at the latest.

 

[aoxa]

I would process her for food asap. Like tomorrow at the latest.

I agree with Delisha. Do it tonight if you can find the time, or tomorrow morning.

 

[armorfirelady]

Delisha loving the pics of ur new chicks. Mumsy your silkies are beautiful !! I am starting to see my beets,kale, and a few other veggies peak thru in the garden. Even the sunflowers, which I knew I planted early are sprouting . Still to early for me to plant any other veggies but if the weather starts staying nice and the night temps raise I should be able to in a couple weeks, I am most excited about the potatoes and galic I planted. I've had poor luck with potatoes in the past and this is my first time with garlic. But I have been successful in getting the flower beds cleaned out and started mulching them
Put out my new waterer I got off Craig's list in the hens roaming area today. My mom & I leave Saturday for NYC/LI for 4 days and my son is in charge of all the critters. He will be working both his jobs so I am kind of anxious. Especially for the hens who he has never cared for before. I'm really glad I got the netting electrified. More so since the dogs didn't zap themselves on it today......tho Lily has to be coaxed off the deck since she thinks everything will zap her now :-/ My best friend will stop in the morning to feed the hens and gather eggs & make sure all is well with them. They are used to visitors during the day(me or my mom). He might even bring them some kitchen scraps lol.

I need a long weekend away but always feel guilty cuz my critters are used to their Momma or Nana taking care of them. They are not spoiled or anything

 

[flagirl]

thank you delisha and aoxa for your response. i edited my msg probably while you were giving yours. I had to put her down right after I sent it in because when I went out to put them in for the nite, she was bloody on her beak and was apparently cannabilizing herself. I took care of her before the others noticed the blood and helped her. Now I know what to do immediately in the future.

 

[delisha]

Delisha loving the pics of ur new chicks. Mumsy your silkies are beautiful !! I am starting to see my beets,kale, and a few other veggies peak thru in the garden. Even the sunflowers, which I knew I planted early are sprouting

. Still to early for me to plant any other veggies but if the weather starts staying nice and the night temps raise I should be able to in a couple weeks, I am most excited about the potatoes and galic I planted. I've had poor luck with potatoes in the past and this is my first time with garlic. But I have been successful in getting the flower beds cleaned out and started mulching them

Put out my new waterer I got off Craig's list in the hens roaming area today. My mom & I leave Saturday for NYC/LI for 4 days and my son is in charge of all the critters. He will be working both his jobs so I am kind of anxious. Especially for the hens who he has never cared for before. I'm really glad I got the netting electrified. More so since the dogs didn't zap themselves on it today......tho Lily has to be coaxed off the deck since she thinks everything will zap her now :-/ My best friend will stop in the morning to feed the hens and gather eggs & make sure all is well with them. They are used to visitors during the day(me or my mom). He might even bring them some kitchen scraps lol.

I need a long weekend away but always feel guilty cuz my critters are used to their Momma or Nana taking care of them. They are not spoiled or anything

Thank you,
Have a great weekend..do not worry..they will be fine.

thank you delisha and aoxa for your response. i edited my msg probably while you were giving yours. I had to put her down right after I sent it in because when I went out to put them in for the nite, she was bloody on her beak and was apparently cannabilizing herself. I took care of her before the others noticed the blood and helped her. Now I know what to do immediately in the future.

I hope you never have to go threw this again...but, it you ever have a hen that prolapse..clean her up with Epsom salt bath, use hemorrhoid cream in her vent and slide the prolapse back in. If it ever happens again, after you have treated once for prolapse, cull right away. you can process the hen and not loose the gift of her life. You will be honoring her by giving your family her nutrition.

 

[delisha]

I do not use an ax. I am not coordinated
I have a tree with a rope tied to a limb. It has a slip knot on the end of it. I take the birds feet and slip them into the slip knot. The bird relaxes, I use a very sharp knife and slit the jugular vein right below the ear and leave after I see the blood it is running well.

I boil a large pot of water and dump it in a 5 gallon bucket. I add a candy thermometer and add water till it reads 180. I go get the bird. I hold the bird by the feet and dip the bird all the way up to my fingers and swish, and pull all the way out. I wipe my hand down the body and see if feathers come off. I repeat untill the feathers simply wipe off. It takes about 5 dunks average. I do not pull feathers..I wipe them. The only feathers I have to pull are the ones on the end of the wing.

This is the best out there and close to how i do it.