What did you do with your flock today?

[FBMcrazy8]

Biodome would have saved me from the torture of the past couple days, which I did not get to do anything with the flock. Caught a norovirus, and I wouldn't wish this on anyone..The achiness was the worst I've ever experienced, fever, and now the other symptoms (gastro) have arrived. DH took care of the letting them out and gathering eggs. So sad to hear about all the disease issues that are happening.

I’m so sorry! I hope you start feeling better soon! I’m glad your husband helps you, always a bonus to have extra hands!

 

[FBMcrazy8]

So I couldn’t resist and checked a few eggs. And OMG!! This is absolutely amazing! I can see an eye and movement. There is one that I’m not 100% sure on. It looks like there is movement but I can’t see an eye or very many vines. I will sneak a picture in at some point today or tomorrow to get ya alls opinion. To me, even the ones with movement look like there is the blood ring, so I have no idea what I’m looking for.

 

[Eggcentric NanaJ]

I routinely add hemp seed for all my birds. I've only been adding it for a few months so I can't comment on the long term effects but everyone looks bright and glossy. I only add about a tablespoon to their evening feed but I think to benefit Nohope more quickly, it might be worth adding more. They all seem to enjoy the seeds. A study on supplementing the diet of laying hens with it, found concentrations of between 10 and 20% in the feed improved not only the hens' wellbeing but also increased the nutritional value of the eggs:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...EQFnoECAsQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3eYyM0THZ0r1-YAHCrtVBr

If you're going to use oil, the supplementation is somewhat less, up to 12%.

I'd be comfortable giving Nohope a teaspoon of seeds a day, if he were mine. I'd also lightly crush them to release the oil and make it a little easier for him to absorb the good stuff.

I also came across this article when researching hemp seed which suggests it's use as an alternate protein source in chicken feed:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...EQFnoECAoQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1AQbiBUsiemjIum-f_7Wpv

As far as vit K1 is concerned, it's useful in supporting poisoning cases where blood coagulation is compromised, e.g. rat poison or warfarin. It might also help in other situations where internal bleeding is an issue? The dosage is 0.2-2.2mg/kg given intramuscularly or subcutaneously every 4 to 8 hours until stabilized. Once stabilized, it is administered usually once daily for at least 2 weeks or longer, depending on the severity.
There's good information at: http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/rodenticide-toxicity

Activated charcoal, I don't think there's a limit on how much you can give but for poisoning cases, time is of the essence. I have used it for mild tummy upsets in my cats, chickens and my surrogate dog, alongside good old-fashioned kaolin clay or bentonite clay powder. I mix a teaspoon of each with natural yoghurt and feed it 3-4 times a day. If the upset lasts longer than 2 days, or the animal shows no improvement or deteriorates, I stop treatment and seek expert advice.

Excellent information and links to resources. I will keep these handy for future if I need them.

 

[kurby22]

Do you have any photos of the affected feather follicles? I'm not 100% sure that is fowl pox in the picture, they're usually raised, crusty scabs and that looks quite sunken to me. It's hard to tell from a photo though.
How did the 'pox' develop? Did it start out as pale lumps which went yellowish then scabbed over after 3-4 days?
There is a cutaneous form of Mareks which produces pox-like lesions and infects the feather follicles too.
We're it not for the fact that it spread, I'd have thought some kind of injury too, especially as there looks to be swelling around the affected area.
How long did Ms Pretty survive after the pox marks appeared? )She lived up to her name, btw)
Reticuloendotheliosis is a rare virus but it does sometimes affect domestic flocks.

Yeah I didn’t think it was fowl pox either, because of the way she looked. But shortly after her issues everyone started showing normal dry pox signs and a few with wet pox. Ms. Pretty lived about a month after the first noticeable spot on her face. Once I started looking around her head she had all these tiny lumps under the skin. Super bizarre.

Here was the original spot—I thought it looked like a bite. I researched cutaneous Mareks but didn’t really think they looked similar to the images of its presentation on a chicken. She was my only blue copper Marans and I was sad No one else has had anything that looked remotely similar.

Here are some of the lumps in her feathers…

 

[kurby22]

So I couldn’t resist and checked a few eggs. And OMG!! This is absolutely amazing! I can see an eye and movement. There is one that I’m not 100% sure on. It looks like there is movement but I can’t see an eye or very many vines. I will sneak a picture in at some point today or tomorrow to get ya alls opinion. To me, even the ones with movement look like there is the blood ring, so I have no idea what I’m looking for.

They look good! Isn’t it just so neat to watch their development?

 

[kurby22]

Today is introduction day for the new addition. Started off slow but then dwindled down some. I have them in dog kennels inside the run. Kinda feel bad cause the newbies have to be in a kennel but I’m not trying to have them kill one another either. Only the top pullets have come to the kennels to inspect the new birds. Most of the other ones could care less. Hoping for a good couple days of introduction. Won’t be long before I’m doing this with the new hatches I have and then again in mid June for the ones I ordered. I guess the best time to learn is now.

Intros are always hard! My top take aways from my experience…

1 - look don’t touch should happen for at least a couple days. I bring mine out in the dog kennel and plop them in the run for the day

2 - make sure when you let them free that they have a place to run and hide and do the intros supervised.

3 - there will be pecking and some fighting. They have to establish that the newbies are at the bottom. Sometimes it can get mean and they gang up on one that’s meeker—so that’s when I end the session and try again the next day.

4 - if they can go a whole day with no drama, I help coop them that night. If after a bit I find them all huddled in a corner or their kennel, I bring them inside to sleep. I tried the “coop them at night and in the morning they will all be buddies” and it did not work. The morning when they are all full of saucy energy is not great for newbies.

5 - flock personality matters a lot. My bantam run is really easy to integrate newbies and littles. They accept new ones quite willingly. My big chicken flock takes more effort, they aren’t quite as willing haha.

6 - sometimes your sweetest chickens are the meanest to newbies. They don’t want to stay at the bottom of the pecking order—so they can get a bit relentless to the new ones. So watch for that

Good luck!! I hope they get along great!

 

[ChicksnMore]

I haven’t a clue. There isn’t a smell or anything. His tail is up and he gets around, eats and drinks. He isn’t acting like it bothering him. And unfortunately without a vet who will see chickens for over an hour away, I don’t know that I can get him into one. And honestly the ones an hour away look and sound like (according to websites) they only see big farm animals.

I’m excited about the new additions. I can’t wait for the ones in June either. We are getting some Royal Palm turkeys. We want to add Peafowl too but having a hard time finding any right now.

No clue here either. You're very observant though and thats fantastic. Our main large animal vet will see chickens...I've never asked the other one though.

I've always wanted royal palms! Such beauties...very excited for you! I'll never have turkeys here though because I know hubby would want to eat at least one. We did have one named Gravy for a while long ago. I'm tired of butchering is all. I'll keep going with my ridiculously small little birds

Looking forward to enjoying the royal palms vicariously through you

 

[ChicksnMore]

Lots of yard work today and hung out with the dwarfs for a bit while feeding them treats.

Got a kick out of how the light made his wattle glow in this one.

 

[SouthofFla]

Got fencing installed today to contain the yardbirds.

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

I cleaned bums of new baby chicks! I kept them in a large container for their first two days and 17 had pasty bums.I usually start them at 90 degree but decided to pay attention to rules and do heat degree 95. I think that's what caused the pasty behinds! too much heat. What do you guys think?

Yeah....excessive warmth has done that to mine before.
I typically have an area for warmth and the rest of is just open for them to come and go as they feel comfortable in the brooder.
Less pasty booties then.