Tis Time for a March 2020 Hatch-a-long!

[CluckNDoodle]

Not for now I’m obviously, but for general worm knowledge once a year or so there are fairly inexpensive mail in fecal tests. I just found out about them.

I’ve got horses and worming is a hot button issue because the historical pattern is you throw a specific series of rotational dewormers At them regardless of what you k ow they have.

now they want you to do fecals samples before worming. To be REALLY good you should do them almost every month.

I’m realllllllly thinking of getting my own microscopethat connects to computer so you can take photos. That way I could learn and do it on my own. Plus I could monitor my chickens poop....

A microscope sounds right up my alley! My mother "homeschools" my daughter at her house but we look for every opportunity to learn how to do things ourselves...not sure how she would feel about poop exams though.

 

[FortCluck]

Not for now I’m obviously, but for general worm knowledge once a year or so there are fairly inexpensive mail in fecal tests. I just found out about them.

I’ve got horses and worming is a hot button issue because the historical pattern is you throw a specific series of rotational dewormers At them regardless of what you k ow they have.

now they want you to do fecals samples before worming. To be REALLY good you should do them almost every month.

I’m realllllllly thinking of getting my own microscopethat connects to computer so you can take photos. That way I could learn and do it on my own. Plus I could monitor my chickens poop....

I want to do that too some day. I'll have to look at the mail in ones since the vet here is only good for furry animals My lizards aren't even welcome

 

[Trisseh]

Mo

Ours won't. When we first moved here we asked around and no local ones dealt with chicken poop for fecal floats. It's annoying but oh well.

Most small animal vets only have the small portion of larger experience that’s absolutely required for them to take while in classes. Not a lot of info they retain from it either. Haha. Come to think of it, all of the large animal vets I know don’t remember much of their poultry training either, probably because around here we don’t have commercial flocks. Most folks around this area aren’t willing/able to bring their chickens in (with some exceptions like the turkey poult of course!) and I’m not sure for in the rest of the world, but here in Ontario the rules are a little strict on what species are applicable for small animal vs large. Poultry fall into the “production animal” category and most SA vets can’t touch them. Makes it difficult for those who do want to pursue care for their backyard birds. That being said, I’m often told “he/she is like my dog!” But then hear the “but it’s just a chicken” when I tell them the cost for procedures. Can’t win.

 

[FortCluck]

Mo


Most small animal vets only have the small portion of larger experience that’s absolutely required for them to take while in classes. Not a lot of info they retain from it either. Haha. Come to think of it, all of the large animal vets I know don’t remember much of their poultry training either, probably because around here we don’t have commercial flocks. Most folks around this area aren’t willing/able to bring their chickens in (with some exceptions like the turkey poult of course!) and I’m not sure for in the rest of the world, but here in Ontario the rules are a little strict on what species are applicable for small animal vs large. Poultry fall into the “production animal” category and most SA vets can’t touch them. Makes it difficult for those who do want to pursue care for their backyard birds. That being said, I’m often told “he/she is like my dog!” But then hear the “but it’s just a chicken” when I tell them the cost for procedures. Can’t win.

I did an internship for a long time at a vet's office so I'm doing everything possible. I feel like it's more internal than anything. Possibly a fight with the Jersey giant, but I will not blame him at all. It's their nature and poor HeiHei probably overstepped his boundaries he set.

If he continues to live and keep showing me he can fight, I'll continue to do everything in my power to help him. So far he's eating (liquid foods) I gave him some vegan protein broth this morning. I'm about to give him some electrolytes.

 

[Trisseh]

I did an internship for a long time at a vet's office so I'm doing everything possible. I feel like it's more internal than anything. Possibly a fight with the Jersey giant, but I will not blame him at all. It's their nature and poor HeiHei probably overstepped his boundaries he set.

If he continues to live and keep showing me he can fight, I'll continue to do everything in my power to help him. So far he's eating (liquid foods) I gave him some vegan protein broth this morning. I'm about to give him some electrolytes.

I don’t doubt you are! I’m sure he’s actually getting the most appropriate care with you vs what he may at many vet clinics for exactly those reasons I mentioned. And really, for a case like him it’s basically just supportive care anyways, no matter who is doing it. Why stress him out bringing him somewhere to be told what you already know? Lol.
Farming in any capacity and on any scale gives you way more hands on learning than any book learning ever can.

Also a note for those wanting to do fecal floats, either at a clinic or at home: make sure you’re prepared with the appropriate materials to do it! We don’t carry the right flotation solution at my clinic so we send bird fecals out to the lab, usually. we’ve done them with a little saline and a centrifuge but most people don’t have a centrifuge kicking around at home...
If anyone has any other techniques that work that I’m unaware of, cool! I love the diversity on here with everyone from all over.

 

[FortCluck]

I don’t doubt you are! I’m sure he’s actually getting the most appropriate care with you vs what he may at many vet clinics for exactly those reasons I mentioned. And really, for a case like him it’s basically just supportive care anyways, no matter who is doing it. Why stress him out bringing him somewhere to be told what you already know? Lol.
Farming in any capacity and on any scale gives you way more hands on learning than any book learning ever can.

Also a note for those wanting to do fecal floats, either at a clinic or at home: make sure you’re prepared with the appropriate materials to do it! We don’t carry the right flotation solution at my clinic so we send bird fecals out to the lab, usually. we’ve done them with a little saline and a centrifuge but most people don’t have a centrifuge kicking around at home...
If anyone has any other techniques that work that I’m unaware of, cool! I love the diversity on here with everyone from all over.

I need to setup my own testing lab

 

[Mylied]

I don’t doubt you are! I’m sure he’s actually getting the most appropriate care with you vs what he may at many vet clinics for exactly those reasons I mentioned. And really, for a case like him it’s basically just supportive care anyways, no matter who is doing it. Why stress him out bringing him somewhere to be told what you already know? Lol.
Farming in any capacity and on any scale gives you way more hands on learning than any book learning ever can.

Also a note for those wanting to do fecal floats, either at a clinic or at home: make sure you’re prepared with the appropriate materials to do it! We don’t carry the right flotation solution at my clinic so we send bird fecals out to the lab, usually. we’ve done them with a little saline and a centrifuge but most people don’t have a centrifuge kicking around at home...
If anyone has any other techniques that work that I’m unaware of, cool! I love the diversity on here with everyone from all over.

This is what I use. I make my own solution with epsom salt and distilled water. I don't centrifuge and it works. I have a microscope and a portable ultrasound. Maybe a centrifuge is next.

https://fiascofarm.com/goats/fecals.htm

 

[Trisseh]

I need to setup my own testing lab

Haha! Yes! A mail-in lab dedicated to chicken poo. You’d make a killing.

This is what I use. I make my own solution with epsom salt and distilled water. I don't centrifuge and it works. I have a microscope and a portable ultrasound. Maybe a centrifuge is next.

https://fiascofarm.com/goats/fecals.htm

Cool! Hey, if it works, all the more power to you! we’ve had false negatives on in-house tests that come back positive from the lab so we just started sending them off. we also have a lady in the area here that does the McMaster technique on her alpaca herd throughout the year. It’s really neat - she has the most comprehensive fecal sample notes I’ve ever seen. Haha.

Question: what do you primarily use the ultrasound for?

 

[Mylied]

Haha! Yes! A mail-in lab dedicated to chicken poo. You’d make a killing.




Cool! Hey, if it works, all the more power to you! we’ve had false negatives on in-house tests that come back positive from the lab so we just started sending them off. we also have a lady in the area here that does the McMaster technique on her alpaca herd throughout the year. It’s really neat - she has the most comprehensive fecal sample notes I’ve ever seen. Haha.

Question: what do you primarily use the ultrasound for?

Well, I was breeding goats and I liked to see when they were bred. Mine was very cheap for an ultrasound and it was more convenient than getting the vet out. I don't breed goats anymore. Now I just use it if someone thinks their dog or cat is pregnant. I've looked at my own intestines before just for fun. It's not great quality. Really only good for seeing obvious fetuses kicking around.

 

[Trisseh]

Well, I was breeding goats and I liked to see when they were bred. Mine was very cheap for an ultrasound and it was more convenient than getting the vet out. I don't breed goats anymore. Now I just use it if someone thinks their dog or cat is pregnant. I've looked at my own intestines before just for fun. It's not great quality. Really only good for seeing obvious fetuses kicking around.

Nice! Just curious. Lol. I have also played around with the ultrasound here for fun. xD
Wonder if you could use it for crop impactions and such? to get a feel for what’s actually in there. (I keep asking my boss if he would be willing to do all these things with my birds, ultrasound or xray them if they eat something stupid or have a leg issue, etc. He’s been pretty good so far but he drew the line at a vasectomy for my drake. Drat!)