The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Bulldogma]

Gunner's last egg has an external pip!!!

 

[mlowen]

Gunner's last egg has an external pip!!!

OMG that is so exciting!! Keeping fingers crossed, prayers prayed and positive vibes sent out.

 

[jlynnet]

Gunner's last egg has an external pip!!!

That is so exciting!!!!

 

[lungewhipqueen]

Anyone have a natural approach to curing a respiratory infection? I stupidly purchased a six week old Salmon Faverolles cockerel and pullet from a breeder. I didn't look at them close enough before I brought them home... I was too excited about getting a breed I've wanted to try for years. Once home, I realized they have a respiratory infection. The cockerel has swelling and bubbles in one eye and the pullet has the faintest little sneeze. Grrrr. I've had chickens forever but I have never had a sick chicken! When I met the breeder to pick up the birds, he offered me three more one week old chicks. He let me have them for half the price he was asking because I simply didn't have the cash with me. The one week olds appear to be perfectly healthy and happy. They were boxed seperately from the older birds... so I'm hoping they haven't been exposed. I'm wondering now... did he offer them out of guilt for duping me on the sick ones? Are they exposed and just not showing symptoms yet? Or did this guy really not know they were sick? I tend to think he knew because according to his website, they normally only sell hatching eggs.

If anyone has advice on a natural remedy, I'd prefer to go that route... but I will resort to antibiotics if it's necessary. I will call the breeder today to make sure he's aware that his flock is infected... but I'm keeping the birds I think.

Also... this breeder is NPIP certified so I don't think it MG.

 

[aoxa]

Gunner's last egg has an external pip!!!

Anyone have a natural approach to curing a respiratory infection? I stupidly purchased a six week old Salmon Faverolles cockerel and pullet from a breeder. I didn't look at them close enough before I brought them home... I was too excited about getting a breed I've wanted to try for years. Once home, I realized they have a respiratory infection. The cockerel has swelling and bubbles in one eye and the pullet has the faintest little sneeze. Grrrr. I've had chickens forever but I have never had a sick chicken! When I met the breeder to pick up the birds, he offered me three more one week old chicks. He let me have them for half the price he was asking because I simply didn't have the cash with me. The one week olds appear to be perfectly healthy and happy. They were boxed seperately from the older birds... so I'm hoping they haven't been exposed. I'm wondering now... did he offer them out of guilt for duping me on the sick ones? Are they exposed and just not showing symptoms yet? Or did this guy really not know they were sick? I tend to think he knew because according to his website, they normally only sell hatching eggs.

If anyone has advice on a natural remedy, I'd prefer to go that route... but I will resort to antibiotics if it's necessary. I will call the breeder today to make sure he's aware that his flock is infected... but I'm keeping the birds I think.

Do you have them in isolation?

It may NOT be a respiratory infection, and could be caused from stress. Make sure they are far away from your current flock and either return them, or see if they get any better or worse on their own.

Chickens sneeze. Especially with new bedding they aren't used to. Fine shavings + stress can attribute to these seemingly respiratory issues. If you were to hear a rattle in their chest, I would call that a whole other story (definite issue). But if it is just bubbles and some faint sneezing? You may want to wait it out a few days before returning. If they are still like that after they've settled in a bit, return. Bleach where they were, and call it a day. Or you can cull them. But I would want my money back personally.

After 30 days, add one of your flock members in there. If they get those symptoms, it was a respiratory infection.

 

[lungewhipqueen]

I REALLY hope it's just stress. I don't plan to return them... I'll spend in gas what I'd get refunded.

They came to me in an open topped box with very clean pine shavings. I've had shavings for my horses and these shavings were nothing like that. The chips are fairly large and no dust is evident. The younger chicks were in a smaller box with the top closed. It was over 90 degrees yesterday and the breeder transported them in the front seat of his truck but his windows were down. Maybe wind contributed?

Once home, I put them all in bunny cages with hay for bedding... keeping older and younger birds separate. They all slept for quite some time before becoming active. When they woke up is ehen I noticed the swelling in one corner of the cockerel's eye and after a little while I realized the pullet had some sort of moisture issue. It's just the tiniest, faintest little sneeze. No mucous or moisture is visible though. When I came out this morning the cockerel had the bubbles in his eye.... though I don't see the bubbles now. Still red and swollen though.

They're in a rabbit cage in a shed currently. How far do they need to be from my other birds to be considered in quarantine?

 

[Bulldogma]

Anyone have a natural approach to curing a respiratory infection?

Check out this thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/729825/all-natural-herbal-remedies-and-recipes-for-chickens There are some good ideas in there for respiratory issues - even if it is stress related, some of these recipes might work to soothe your new birds. Good luck with them!

 

[elmtree]

I have a chicken with a swollen ear. I posted this in the injury and emergency forum but have but received any suggestions. Can someone here help since u would rather treat her naturally anyways. I have a 18.5 week old BA pullet with a swollen ear. I just put a poultice of garlic clove, raw organic honey, and oil of oregano on/slightly in her ear. It does seem to bother get a bit. It's not easy to clean it. What else should I do? My DH suggested the vet tomorrow. It's been there since Friday at least but it wasn't as swollen Friday as it is now. Today is the first day I'm doing the poultice. I did bacitracin the two previous days.

the yellow stuff is the poultice not pus.

 

[elmtree]

Ugh, sorry about the auto correct.

 

[aoxa]

I REALLY hope it's just stress. I don't plan to return them... I'll spend in gas what I'd get refunded.

They came to me in an open topped box with very clean pine shavings. I've had shavings for my horses and these shavings were nothing like that. The chips are fairly large and no dust is evident. The younger chicks were in a smaller box with the top closed. It was over 90 degrees yesterday and the breeder transported them in the front seat of his truck but his windows were down. Maybe wind contributed?

Once home, I put them all in bunny cages with hay for bedding... keeping older and younger birds separate. They all slept for quite some time before becoming active. When they woke up is ehen I noticed the swelling in one corner of the cockerel's eye and after a little while I realized the pullet had some sort of moisture issue. It's just the tiniest, faintest little sneeze. No mucous or moisture is visible though. When I came out this morning the cockerel had the bubbles in his eye.... though I don't see the bubbles now. Still red and swollen though.

They're in a rabbit cage in a shed currently. How far do they need to be from my other birds to be considered in quarantine?

Take them off of the hay. Hay has to be the dustiest bedding I have ever used.

Far away so that there is no airborne contact between the birds. I use my garage which is 200 feet from the barn.

Did they have any symptoms before you put them on the hay?