The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[lalaland]

Delisha and Mumsy, sorry you are both having problems with birds. It is no fun not to be able to make them better. In some ways chickens are easy, but at the same time, things happen to make you wonder what the heck is going on.


The trailer coop door frame is all catywhampus. But I think I could build a frame a little larger than the door and attach it to the interior side of the coop, hinge it so I can get in and out. Just need a little time...which seems to be in short supply!

 

[Eggcessive]

Make a wood frame to fit your door, tack the hard wire to the frame. One of the doors to the coop has an aluminum door. I removed the screen and made a screen with hard wire. It does not fit the door, but fits the door frame.It lifts on and off with 4 corner locks. A pain to use the door, but, the birds are safe.
Very cute


Mumsy,

I missed the post with your bird being ill..sorry. I looked and did not find it.
I had a bird I put down today. I usually do not treat birds, however I had birds get ill after taking them to an event. I treated for cocci. I probably should not have. They might have just been stressed and it would have resolved. I think I poisoned them with the treatment. It has taken a long time for them to recover from the treatment. This one simply was not recovering. She was eating and drinking, however the whole flock was beating her up constantly. I could not take it anymore. I know how you feel.

What did you treat them with--Sulmet or Corid? I have heard that Sulmet is very hard on them. Corid is not supposed to be harmful since it blocks the thiamine in the cocci,not in the chicken as people erroneously post all the time. Sorry that you lost the pullet.

 

[Mumsy]

Mumsy,

I missed the post with your bird being ill..sorry. I looked and did not find it.
I had a bird I put down today. I usually do not treat birds, however I had birds get ill after taking them to an event. I treated for cocci. I probably should not have. They might have just been stressed and it would have resolved. I think I poisoned them with the treatment. It has taken a long time for them to recover from the treatment. This one simply was not recovering. She was eating and drinking, however the whole flock was beating her up constantly. I could not take it anymore. I know how you feel.

Thank you del. We all try to do the best we can for our birds. It becomes frustrating some times.


My post about this bird is #18023

I think this pullet is suffering from TD. She has no sickness symptoms but presents with all the symptoms of Tibial Dyschondroplasia. If you have any experience with this disorder I would very much appreciate your knowledge. From all I can find in research, there is no consensus on cause and no cure or treatment. No other bird in the flock is showing the same symptoms. I've never seen this before.
She is living with the Silkie flock for now. They don't roost and they are tolerating her presence. She seems ok for now but can't support her weight on her own feet. It's a day by day. As long as the weather is warm and dry, I think she may get by. If she can't keep clean or fed and watered on her own and starts to lose condition, I will do what needs to be done. She is laying every other day.

 

[Eggcessive]

Mumsy, sorry that you are losing another pullet to a mystery illness. Have you considered mycoplasma synoviae? I remember the little silkie that you thought had lead poisoning. Didn't it have a bright green liver in the necropsy? Or was it the gallbladder? MS can cause a green liver. I will try to find my source for that, but I had just read that last week either in a textbook or on a university poultry website.

 

[Mumsy]

Mumsy, sorry that you are losing another pullet to a mystery illness. Have you considered mycoplasma synoviae? I remember the little silkie that you thought had lead poisoning. Didn't it have a bright green liver in the necropsy? Or was it the gallbladder? MS can cause a green liver. I will try to find my source for that, but I had just read that last week either in a textbook or on a university poultry website.

That is an interesting suggestion. I will look that up. I keep picture folders on all the necropsy I do on the birds. When I need to put this pullet down, she will get the same attention. Thank you. Truly. Sometimes all I am left with are theories or hunches. I sure am getting an extended education this year.

The Silkie pullet that I suspected lead poisoning had many symptoms of illness. She had wasted away to a skeleton in the end and had an insatiable thirst and appetite. She could stand and walk right up until the end.

 

[lalaland]

ack! what is up with these chickens?

Had a chance to watch the chicks this morning since I get to work from home today - the little flighty, always a loner, skittish maran wasn't looking good - kind of the hunched up sleepy posture. Looked like he might be getting harassed by the biggest chick, a roo,...so I was watching him and there was a bloody poop. Not absolutely sure bloody, could have been that intestinal lining thing? I think this poor little fellow is blind in one eye. Just not a thriving bird, also very poorly feathered.

THink on my break I'll see if i can pop him back in the chick brooder, give him a little time to relax and rest. cod liver oil too. he will most likely be a cull anyway.

I'm realizing the chick pen isn't going to be big enough in a week or so. I just can't get used to thinking of 17 chicks instead of 6 or 8, which is my usual batch size.

When I was doing feed and water in the chick pen before they came out this am, I left the gate open and all the hens came in - was shooing them out when two decided to take the chicken wire tunnel ramp - the buff orp lodged herself in it. That was a trick to get her loose and out!

 

[aoxa]

ack! what is up with these chickens?

Had a chance to watch the chicks this morning since I get to work from home today - the little flighty, always a loner, skittish maran wasn't looking good - kind of the hunched up sleepy posture. Looked like he might be getting harassed by the biggest chick, a roo,...so I was watching him and there was a bloody poop. Not absolutely sure bloody, could have been that intestinal lining thing? I think this poor little fellow is blind in one eye. Just not a thriving bird, also very poorly feathered.

THink on my break I'll see if i can pop him back in the chick brooder, give him a little time to relax and rest. cod liver oil too. he will most likely be a cull anyway.

I'm realizing the chick pen isn't going to be big enough in a week or so. I just can't get used to thinking of 17 chicks instead of 6 or 8, which is my usual batch size.

When I was doing feed and water in the chick pen before they came out this am, I left the gate open and all the hens came in - was shooing them out when two decided to take the chicken wire tunnel ramp - the buff orp lodged herself in it. That was a trick to get her loose and out!

Hunched up + bloody poop.. I would definitely think cocci. I'd get meds so you have on hand JUST IN CASE you need them. It moves fast.

But I've had bloody poop mean nothing before.. though those chicks had no other symptoms at all.





This video may be hard to watch for some. It shows dying chicks and dead chicks, but shows the behaviour that cocci exhibits, and the day by day downhill spiral they go through.

 

[lalaland]

justine, that was a good video. I didn't realize that cocci can come from a dirty waterer?

went out to grab the maran chick and he was up and around and acting normal.

it has been very wet and very hot for a few days running, and the chick run is damp to say the least. And starting to look a bit scummy. now I'm wishing I had a tractor set up.

I may pick up the meds when I grab more feed today.
thanks

 

[aoxa]

justine, that was a good video. I didn't realize that cocci can come from a dirty waterer?

went out to grab the maran chick and he was up and around and acting normal.

it has been very wet and very hot for a few days running, and the chick run is damp to say the least. And starting to look a bit scummy. now I'm wishing I had a tractor set up.

I may pick up the meds when I grab more feed today.
thanks

Rain + heat = ideal environment for Coccidia.

Also the heat adds more stress to the birds, making their system more susceptible.

Get some electrolytes if you don't already have them. Use this unless you see the chick worsening - or unless you want to treat just to be sure.

Those birds were very over crowded in the video.

 

[lalaland]

thats a good idea to do the electrolytes. it has cooled down to 70's and is breezy, hopefully stuff will dry up soon.