The New Flock 2021: Back to Basics

[oldhenlikesdogs]

So very strange for a sick chicken to keep going. Do you think it's an illness or an injury?

I'm going to have so many broody hens this year, and don't plan to let anyone set.

 

[speckledhen]

So very strange for a sick chicken to keep going. Do you think it's an illness or an injury?

Honestly, I'm not sure. One leg is weaker than the other and from experience, I know a bad leg injury can go on a very long time. I don't see any symptoms other than his comb flopping over and weakness, plus his intense objection to being handled now. Zane's comb also flopped before gave him strong antibiotics on the advice of Dr. Peter Brown, who used to help a lot of folks here. He said a soft tissue injury can develop infection and it was swollen and full of fluid, that joint. It's harder to see on Bodie, being feather legged and because he does not want to be picked up and flails like a crazy boy when you try. If he does recover, I'm fine with giving him a pen of his own, but I haven't had the energy to really deal with him more than the very basic supportive care.

 

[1muttsfan]

Could be that, or even bad arthritis. Deflated/discolored comb always makes me think of heart issues.

Happy new year!

 

[speckledhen]

Could be that, or even bad arthritis. Deflated/discolored comb always makes me think of heart issues.

Happy new year!

Surely could be a heart issue. When I first noticed something was off, it was back in October. He'd not come in with the flock from free ranging, which was odd being the head rooster. And he sat down a lot as well, away from the flock in the pen. When I would try to pick him up because he was literally dragging his feet walking back the slight incline toward the barn, he'd freak out in protest. Anyway, we'll just play it by ear and see how it goes. He seems to have no desire to go back with the flock at the moment. And he has only crowed that one good day he had, not since. I can't tell you how much I hate mysteries!
I wish you a fabulous 2025, Mary! Happy to see you back here again, always.

 

[speckledhen]

Seems Juliette may have a problem. She's the EE who is mostly white, but with a wheaten coloration is paler than Ripley's was. She has not been eating the last two days. When everyone dives on the 14 grain mix I feed in the morning, she hangs back. I can't tell that she's bloated, just of good weight, but will keep an eye on it. I've already lost Ripley and Scarlett to egg issues so would not be a huge shock. Maybe by the end of February, I'll be in the middle of a new hatch of Barred Rocks and on my way to a new batch of layers by the summer.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

So sorry yet again Cynthia. It is a hard time of year for poultry. Hopefully the new birds will change your streak of bad luck.

 

[speckledhen]

So sorry yet again Cynthia. It is a hard time of year for poultry. Hopefully the new birds will change your streak of bad luck.

Thanks, Lisa. I think that non-hatchery birds will change that. They've always served me well in the past. Atlas lived to 9 years old, the oldest ever (so far) large fowl rooster I've ever had. That little goofball Porcelain Belgian D'Anver, Aubrey, made it to 11, but it's like a chihuahua vs a Great Dane's lifespan. Of course, Atlas's daughters out of Stukel stock (he's 3/4 Stukel line) are 9 years old, never had any laying issues or crop issues in their lives. Bash is challenging Atlas by being not far from 9 years old himself at this point. There is a definite distinction, at least in all the ones I've raised over 20 + years, between hatchery and good breeder stock in longevity as well as overall health. There was a great difference in these hatchery EEs vs my breeder-produced June. Her breeder was trying to create a new Ameraucana color so she was good stock, lived to well over 14 years old and produced eggs until she was about 12, not too shabby.

Don't get me wrong, I'm fond of them all (well, maybe not Shelby, what a nut, LOL), but I'd rather not have them start croaking at 2 years old anymore. It's not always great having hens that are no longer laying for the last five years of their lives, but I'd rather that than these sudden downturns and reproductive issues at a relatively young age. Pick your poison, I guess, eh?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Seems hatcheries aren't concerned about breeding for longevity. Get more business if they don't live long. My oldest lived birds were some americauna from a private show breeder. They made it to 9.

 

[speckledhen]

Seems hatcheries aren't concerned about breeding for longevity. Get more business if they don't live long. My oldest lived birds were some americauna from a private show breeder. They made it to 9

Yes, my experience as well. My black Ameraucana, Gypsy, lived to be 10 years old and the splash Ameraucanca lived to be 14 years old. Both were from show stock out of Washington State. I don't think the one who bred mine is doing it anymore, though. They went to breeding dogs, cannot remember the breed or even the breeder now after all these years. Might if I heard the name.

 

[speckledhen]

Snapped a pic of Bodie in the hospital cage. You can see his comb laying flat on his head. His head tilts to the left all the time and he freaks out if you try to move his position in the cage, literally flopping all over. I have no idea what actually happened, but he likes to worm his way to the front to watch his peeps down below going in and out of the barn, which he's doing in the picture. When I hold up a hen to his cage, he doesn't talk to her anymore like he used to do. He can't keep going long. My husband won't put him down until he's nearly unresponsive. At least he's warm and I make sure he has water and food, though he refuses it often.

More pics from that group. Cricket and Dove are still broody. Wren gave up, thankfully.