The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Kassaundra]

this prolapse was more than 2 inches out of the vent and would not go back in for more than a second. With the weather here being winter and snow for the next week, it was the wrong time of the yr to have a needy chicken. We were trying to set up a basement hospital for her but realized it was just going to be too much as she was only getting worse in the few hours we had brought her inside.

Sounds like the right decision for you and the hen.

 

[Pozees]

I have discovered breeding plans need a "B", and "C" plans b/c nature is a @#$%^ sometimes.

And how!!!

 

[Scott H]

 
I couldn't see his mama.. They aren't supposed to leave them until the following spring. I'm wondering if she was shot or hit by a car. 

Is there a way to kind of keep an eye on him or make sure he has food available until you can find out or, if something has happened to her, until he can be on his own.  Or is that really dangerous?

NOOO! Do not feed the moose. They can take care of themselves. ... except for the wolves, of course.

 

[armorfirelady]

 


this prolapse was more than 2 inches out of the vent and would not go back in for more than a second.   With the weather here being winter and snow for the next week, it was the wrong time of the yr to have a needy chicken.  We were trying to set up a basement hospital for her but realized it was just going to be too much as she was only getting worse in the few hours we had brought her inside. 

Sounds like the right decision for you and the hen.

I agree I would of culled as well. My girls was,very small and stayed in if you pushed it back in.,

 

[Scott H]

Sorry about your girl, Sally. :-(

 

[ki4got]

Not to change the subject, but...
My rooster clucks at me or my husband every time we walk by him.
We walk around the years for exercise, and the chickens just keep pecking around ( once they know we don't have treats ) then every circuit, Eddie says, and I quote, " bawk bawk bawk bawk" to us. Not aggressive, not anything in particular, just rather matter-of-fact.
What does it mean? Do your roosters do this?

Edited to correct my phone's auto-correct.

LOL big guy's comment is more 'booga booga booga" always in 3's. I say it back to him most days and he realizes i'm not feeding anyone and goes about his routine. every one of my roos has a similar 'saying' they use in greeting me, but most stay out of my way. big guy and big red are the only 2 who REALLY hang near me and talk to me. then again they're also the 2 I most often have to step over to get in the house. LOL the dog jumps over them and they just duck.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Sorry about your girl, Sally. :-(

Thanks, at least she will be providing us with food after her resting period is over. I decided on a lemon herb roast.

Quote: I agree I would of culled as well. My girls was,very small and stayed in if you pushed it back in.,
I tend to think if mine had been able to keep her prolapse in for even a few minutes, I would have finished setting up the area for her. She was the first hen that DH and I culled within 24 hours of noticing the problem. Even mean roosters get some isolation time in hopes of being re-homed before being made supper. Thankfully I'm out of mean roosters just now.
I hope your hens ups her intake of calcium or vit D to correct the thin shells.

 

[aoxa]

I had a vent prolapse after egg binding. She died after I thought we had kicked it. Her prolapse had recovered, but she had an internal infection. If I ever have egg binding without being able to expel the egg after a soak and doing all I can - I will cull. It is so painful for them. I had her two weeks after the first. I thought I got all of her cleaned up, but I didn't.

Good call on doing the deed Sally... It needed to be done. At least she didn't have time to contract an infection and you can eat her.

 

[delisha]

What prolapsed vent treatments are available?
Is a prolapsed vent something I should cull (not just avoid breeding but make soup cull) for?

I would not treat for prolaps Sally. Ones the uterious is out it has touched the ground and bacteria. it is almost impossible to sanitize the prolaps and push it back in with out secondary issues. Prolaps happen for several reasons and all of them are reasons to cull. Most of them have to do with the actual bird and how she is constructed. Wry tail, pinched tail, over load of hormones, and incorrectly developed ova and oviducts. You did nothing wrong.

.

Quote:
x2

I had a vent prolapse after egg binding. She died after I thought we had kicked it. Her prolapse had recovered, but she had an internal infection. If I ever have egg binding without being able to expel the egg after a soak and doing all I can - I will cull. It is so painful for them. I had her two weeks after the first. I thought I got all of her cleaned up, but I didn't.

Good call on doing the deed Sally... It needed to be done. At least she didn't have time to contract an infection and you can eat her.

x2..

and after infection sets in the bird is no good to eat....

Sally you did the best for the bird..I just read you already culled..thanks for sharing your story and you helped the next person..

 

[aoxa]

-38.2F with windchill this morning. -18.4F without.

In the big barn: can't be any colder than 20F in there. The water was not frozen all the way through.

Hallway pens: very cold. The heated dog dishes froze 1/2 an inch on top. I took that inch off by pressing on one side and it pops up on the other. Nice and unfrozen under that.

We are in for a little cold snap. By Monday we are going up to 43.