Washingtonians

[Sudsy Chick]

Well hell. I just lost Twila, one of my Salmon Faverolles girls. I went out to the run to give the girls their treats because I always try to get out and say goodnight to them and I noticed Twila wasn't running for the BOSS like everyone else was. She stood vacantly with her mouth open and just as I got to her she sat down. I picked her up and brought her into the house to try and get her to drink some water with vitamins but she wasn't responding. Just laying in my arms breathing... Within a few minutes she shuddered and stopped breathing. I feel terrible. I loved that girl.

I looked her over and didn't see any mites or bugs on her but her crop was empty, so I don't know how long she hadn't been eating. I'd been gone all weekend and now I'm feeling awful that I didn't notice earlier she wasn't feeling well. I don't know what was wrong with her. I'm going to have DH bury her in the corner of the yard, but before we bury her is there anything I should look for so maybe I can figure out what happened? It seemed to happen so fast.
Darn it anyway. I am going to miss her.

Oh my, I'm so sorry =( I don't know of anything to look for and hope someone else does!

 

[Chicken Rustler]

OK so I am like just a few posts behind. If I have missed anything important somebody please PM or text me.
We had a pretty good final time at Stevenson. Thank you to all who stopped by to say HI. It was nice to meet several new peeps and see several that we already knew.
Also thanks to those who found something that they really felt was worthy of taking home.

 

[LittleSticks]

Chickielady,

We have periodic incursions of moles and successfully drive them off by shoveling dog poop into each hole and scraping the excavated dirt back over it. Step on the dirt to pack it down and we don't see the buggers again for many months. My neighbor says he tried this and it didn't work for him. His shotgun doesn't seem to be working either but it keeps us all on our toes!

 

[mikeyb]

Well its time to upgrade the brooder for these chicks. They are 3 and 2 weeks old. The 3 week olds are getting a bit cramped in their current living conditions.

I want to put in some roosts for them. What is a good size for their age? Or do I jump right into a size that will work for when they are adults?

THANKS

I would keep them lower then for adult birds. I have a perch/roost in the girls brooder, I put it in last week, they were 7 weeks and only 1 could make it up (about 20") the first week and yesterday there were 2 that could make it up on the perch. (this is a flat perch) The others just couldn't seem to get high enough to get up on it.

 

[drumstick diva]

Little Sticks maybe your dog has more potent poo - sounds like an Alpo dog, our Brucie could empty a room in seconds. Actually way back then he used to eat the dime a can Strongheart brand.
I don't know if it strengthed his heart any but, his "vapors" were mighty toxic.

PS your avatar is adorable, surely he can't be the one with the mole repellent boo boo.

 

[Greg Richardson]

Quote: That's fine. When I see people with a situation I can help with I post.
After that the choice is theirs what they do with the info.
If those holes are going to continue to be a saftey issue it be wise to find the time.
I know money is tight for most and your time short, but you might try calling the local high school and ask the counselor there if they know any kids who might be right for an after school job to handle this for you.

 

[StarryEyzz]

I would keep them lower then for adult birds. I have a perch/roost in the girls brooder, I put it in last week, they were 7 weeks and only 1 could make it up (about 20") the first week and yesterday there were 2 that could make it up on the perch. (this is a flat perch) The others just couldn't seem to get high enough to get up on it.

THANK YOU!!
How wide is a good perch for them? (currently 3 weeks old)

 

[mikeyb]

THANK YOU!!
How wide is a good perch for them? (currently 3 weeks old)

I'm currently using a piece of scrap 2x4 laid flat. 3 1/2 " wide. They can walk it, turn on it and seem to like it that way. Maybe others have had success with different setups?

 

[4cats3kids1hubby2many]

Quote:
I use a 2 x 4. If you lay the 2 x 4 so that the larger (4) side is up then the birds lie and cover their feet more - which is good in the winter during the cold. But most of mine are smaller end up (2). This works well for my seramas (small) also.

 

[KMHunter]

Well hell. I just lost Twila, one of my Salmon Faverolles girls. I went out to the run to give the girls their treats because I always try to get out and say goodnight to them and I noticed Twila wasn't running for the BOSS like everyone else was. She stood vacantly with her mouth open and just as I got to her she sat down. I picked her up and brought her into the house to try and get her to drink some water with vitamins but she wasn't responding. Just laying in my arms breathing... Within a few minutes she shuddered and stopped breathing. I feel terrible. I loved that girl.

I looked her over and didn't see any mites or bugs on her but her crop was empty, so I don't know how long she hadn't been eating. I'd been gone all weekend and now I'm feeling awful that I didn't notice earlier she wasn't feeling well. I don't know what was wrong with her. I'm going to have DH bury her in the corner of the yard, but before we bury her is there anything I should look for so maybe I can figure out what happened? It seemed to happen so fast.
Darn it anyway. I am going to miss her.

I am so sorry!

They really do hide sickness well until they are really bad. My BR just died a couple of weeks ago. I didn't notice anythign wrong until she was getting bumped around by the younger girls. I picked her up and she weighed next to nothing! It went downhill from there really fast. I don't think there is anything on the outside you could find. A necropsy is probably the only thing you could have done.