What did you do with your flock today?

[Shetland lover]

Yawning, shaking her head, itching at her face, and yesterday there was visible (yellow) pus in one ear. She hasn’t been doing it suuuper frequently, but it has definitely been frequent enough to notice.
*Edit: also smell. A really bad smell, I’m not sure how to describe it.

Do you think the infection could be contagious? It’s supposed to be raining all day today so I don’t think I can thoroughly check everyone out, but I will as soon as the rain clears up a bit. No one else has been showing symptoms, but it probably won’t hurt to check.

Ear infections in chickens aren't usually contagious as far as I'm aware but it's wise to check the rest of the flock just in case.

Sound like it's a middle or outer ear infection if there's visible pus and given her symptoms so it should respond well to antibiotics. The only problem is which to use. If you have baytril on hand you could start her on that and see if it helps any? It is a very potent, very broad spectrum antibiotic. If not, see if your vet will sensitivity test some pus/discharge.

if you can stomach watching a vet remove pus and irrigate a chicken ear, give this a watch:

It's pretty graphic if you're at all of a sensitive disposition. Don't say I didn't warn anyone!

 

[Shetland lover]

It is so difficult to treat em! Much less figure out what they really need!
I noticed quite a few more sneezes at bedtime...really praying they aren't getting sick!
I've been putting Oregano and thyme in their mash as well as poultry cell and they are all eating and drinking well and acting normal.
Things are definitely changing with the pecking order since rehoming Coco and China. My d'uccles have gone crazy, bloody and taking over the roost bars!
Idk what else to try for em regarding the sneezing.
My nose was running so not sure if I clear dripped on my hand or one of them had clear drip from nose or eyes...very difficult to tell with silkies and all that hair!

Mine sneeze several times a day. If there's no sign of illness, no nasal or eye discharge and everyone is eating and drinking well, I tend not to worry overly about it.

 

[Shetland lover]

Fly trap saga. Store bought traps are still grabbing the masses. View attachment 3372320Home made jobbers... catching some flies still and also attracting freeloadersView attachment 3372321View attachment 3372318
This little cutie was there all day long scaring the flies away

He's only trying to help! And grab a free meal in the process... clever little lizard!

 

[TropicalBabies]

Ear infections in chickens aren't usually contagious as far as I'm aware but it's wise to check the rest of the flock just in case.

Sound like it's a middle or outer ear infection if there's visible pus and given her symptoms so it should respond well to antibiotics. The only problem is which to use. If you have baytril on hand you could start her on that and see if it helps any? It is a very potent, very broad spectrum antibiotic. If not, see if your vet will sensitivity test some pus/discharge.

if you can stomach watching a vet remove pus and irrigate a chicken ear, give this a watch:

It's pretty graphic if you're at all of a sensitive disposition. Don't say I didn't warn anyone!

Good good video. Thanks for that share.
When Hope had the eye infection I had to do that a few times once she started to develop puss. No picnic. Very hard solo obviously as I was not able to get out all at one time. I basically had to chip away at it several times, dh helping once, it was so big and deep. Unbelievable but all better now, cept she lost sight in that eye... would hate to have to brave an ear. Best of luck @FrankieDoodle

 

[TropicalBabies]

He's only trying to help! And grab a free meal in the process... clever little lizard!

You see that fat little belly lol. Good thing the chickens did not see him gulp!

 

[FrankieDoodle]

Ear infections in chickens aren't usually contagious as far as I'm aware but it's wise to check the rest of the flock just in case.

Sound like it's a middle or outer ear infection if there's visible pus and given her symptoms so it should respond well to antibiotics. The only problem is which to use. If you have baytril on hand you could start her on that and see if it helps any? It is a very potent, very broad spectrum antibiotic. If not, see if your vet will sensitivity test some pus/discharge.

if you can stomach watching a vet remove pus and irrigate a chicken ear, give this a watch:

It's pretty graphic if you're at all of a sensitive disposition. Don't say I didn't warn anyone!

Thanks for all your help! I’ll get her started on Baytril as soon as I let her out tomorrow.

That’s a really great video! I admire how fast and efficient he is at removing it. Hopefully one day I can reach that level, lol.

Hers doesn’t seem to be as bad as that, so that makes me feel a little better. So far I’ve gotten both ears mostly cleaned out. If all goes well I’ll get the rest of it tomorrow sometime after her meds.

Good good video. Thanks for that share.
When Hope had the eye infection I had to do that a few times once she started to develop puss. No picnic. Very hard solo obviously as I was not able to get out all at one time. I basically had to chip away at it several times, dh helping once, it was so big and deep. Unbelievable but all better now, cept she lost sight in that eye...

I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one, I’ve always had to work in hour-long increments in the past.
I’m glad she’s better now!

 

[FBMcrazy8]

I’m going to try really hard to catch up with everyone at some point. Things have been crazy busy. I haven’t been able to do any household chores yesterday. If it isn’t one thing it’s another.

So first thing yesterday morning we noticed the hen Call duck had laid her first egg this! So that is exciting. The hen outside hasn’t yet laid an egg yet…or at least I can’t find it…

Then I take my rooster outside for some sunshine. He is a happy camper so I left out there for while. Of course checked on him. When I went to try to bring him in, I noticed one of the girls being a little funny on the backside. So I pick her up and ran, literally ran back into the house. I was preparing for flystrike. Stuck her booty in water and let it set there. I took her out after I little to just see what was going on. I noticed her feathers were out of her lower chest. It looked like it was intentional and this is the same chicken that gets crazy on me when I try to check the nest boxes. I look at her vent area and after some of the poop came off I could see it wasn’t flystrike. Thank goodness . But after another soak in water to get rid of more of the poop I noticed that she is missing feathers back there as well. Only one feather came off while in the tub. So I don’t know…her butt looked full when I put her in there…so I don’t even know… oh AND to add to it all…she has 2 toes with frostbite on them. I just wanna cry. Luckily though she is the only one with a butt like that.

 

[FBMcrazy8]

It is so difficult to treat em! Much less figure out what they really need!
I noticed quite a few more sneezes at bedtime...really praying they aren't getting sick!
I've been putting Oregano and thyme in their mash as well as poultry cell and they are all eating and drinking well and acting normal.
Things are definitely changing with the pecking order since rehoming Coco and China. My d'uccles have gone crazy, bloody and taking over the roost bars!
Idk what else to try for em regarding the sneezing.
My nose was running so not sure if I clear dripped on my hand or one of them had clear drip from nose or eyes...very difficult to tell with silkies and all that hair!

Maybe it isn’t anything to worry about. I haven’t noticed anymore sneezing in my group but I could be missing it too. I too have been using herbs to just help them out. They weather changing so much is bound to get them sick. 30 degree or lower nights and highs in the 50s/60s. It’s just crazy weather!

I hope they figure out the pecking order soon! The girls didn’t have a problem with the pecking order…it was a problem though when I brought my guy back out for the first time. That was interesting but luckily it didn’t last long.

 

[FBMcrazy8]

I totally get that, FBMcrazy8. I felt the same when we found out Maud had terminal reproductive cancer. She got what she wanted, when she wanted it. It may have ultimately shortened her life but she was content, spoilt rotten and as far as we could tell, happy.

The hard, black, necrotising tissue that forms after frostbite  IS a type of gangrene called 'dry gangrene'. It doesn't smell bad and as far as gangrenes go, is the relatively benign type. It actually protects the healthy tissue underneath and should never be picked off, just allowed to fall off naturally.

Ok, I just considered that THE frostbite. And no, I know not to pick that off. I’m hoping that there isn’t much that falls off. But we will see. The swelling is down, in fact my husband said the other leg was bigger but I’m sure that is mostly because he uses that one to stand on all the time. I guess I just wait and see what happens. But he isn’t afraid to mate with the girls.

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

Ok, I just considered that THE frostbite. And no, I know not to pick that off. I’m hoping that there isn’t much that falls off. But we will see. The swelling is down, in fact my husband said the other leg was bigger but I’m sure that is mostly because he uses that one to stand on all the time. I guess I just wait and see what happens. But he isn’t afraid to mate with the girls.

That's a really good sign isn't it that he's trying to mate again!?
I can't believe you got another with frostbite on their feet!
I never could really tell anything for certain on mines feet...I pray they are good...they act well.
Curious as to the width of your roost bars.
Mine are a little narrow but it was a special piece I wanted to incorporate into the coop.
Silly I know...but our home church was built in the 1800s...I went there as a little girl and they didn't build a new church til 1987.
We used that old church building for many years to come until it was just too much upkeep and in such bad repair that they tore it down.
When they tore it down they allowed anyone that was interested to take pieces from the old building.
I got several window panes, nice pieces of wood and still to this day could KICK myself for not getting the old Sunday school wooden mail sorter that was 4' tall by 5' wide!!!
Anyways I digress lol since I'm not able to physically quilt anymore I took the quilt frame an older friend made me from pieces from the old building and made them into the roost bars! They are about 2½"x2½". Then the nicest piece of wood my DH made into a gorgeous shelf is what they use as their front porch!
Ok back to why I told ya all that ... I noticed the d'uccles roosting last night and they had settled down with their feet covered by their bodies but there was an inch gap or so in between their legs ...I'm guessing cuz it may be little too narrow a roost bar?
Wasn't sure if you had narrow bars or not since a couple have had frostbite on their toes.
Sorry this was so long!
I sure hope your little girlee is doing better today!

@kurby22 how are you fairing over there with all the massive flooding now. Is it still hitting you where you are at?

This weather is just insane...really makes me miss "normal" days!