I won a Canon Power Shot camera about 5 year ago now at a continuing ed convention in KC. Was as surprised as all get out. But it is a great little camera and user friendly also.
Went out to feed the chickens and let them out. It was raining and thundering. Surprise! They weren't calling for any rain last night but here it is. So I'm working inside today.
Decided it was time to run corid thought the flock. Some of the Welsummers and one Buff O has watery stools. Whether or not it is from coccidia or Marek's who knows. One has Ocular Mareks and the other is a little on the thin side. So at least I feel as though I am doing something for them. Time will tell. I figure if two have runny bowels, others do also, I'm not seeing all that many solid looking dropping in that group.
Logically I know I should probably just cull all the birds with symptoms and bury them good and deep but the heart just can't give my brain the OK. They aren't laying all that well. Many are over 3 years old now so no big surprise but one day I get a dozen eggs from that group of hens and the last two days I got 4 or 5. I don't know which ones have secondary fungal infections from Marek's so I cannot butcher them even for the dogs to consume. It really depresses me. I really would like to down size the roosters and butcher the extra boys I have BUT once again, thanks to Marek's I can't send them to a processer around here who butchers and I can't even safely have somebody to come here to do the job. I really have no desire to butcher them myself. I can put them down if they are sick or suffering but when that job is done, it's done. You don't have to scald pluck gut repeat.
I was outside yesterday afternoon putting up a new shade tarp for them and had a chance to watch them for awhile. I told my husband I was so disappointed in the Large fowl flock. I had 18 birds in the beginning and dreams of a happy healthy flock and that dream was shattered by Marek's. My bantam and bantam crosses are all doing well, happy plump little birds that are deluging me with eggs at the moment.
Sorry for the rant.Like I said, sometimes I really get the 'blues' about the whole situation.
DD, grandkids and the whole family are happy he returned safely.
