What did you do with your flock today?

[kurby22]

What size needles do you guys use for your Marek’s vaccine. I have made the decision to go ahead and vaccinate these guys and then just order another bottle for the ones that are coming. I’m thinking I will go with a 22G but should I do a 1/2 inch or 3/8 inch? I can only find needles in the 22G in 3/4 inch. There is a 20G in a 3/8 inch. I just don’t want the needle too big for these little guys.

I would use the 3/8th length 22 gauge needle. My vet said the longer needles run the risk of hitting important organs if you are novice at shots. Mareks is a subcutaneous shot, correct? So it wouldn't need to be very long at all, but the 22 gauge will ensure you can inject it quickly. I bought the 22 gauge for my Mycoplasma because the smaller one was too small for the vaccine's viscosity. Works great now.

 

[kurby22]

My friend I was talking to about the Marek’s vaccine said that she suspected she lost some of her birds to Marek’s. But they didn’t all get sick, but the ones that did had the signs of it being Marek’s. None of her chickens up to this point has the vaccine. I would say that it is still possible that maybe only a select few could get Marek’s. Granted I’m new to all of this and I never seen her birds.

Yeah, I know it's possible...it's just so weird that the silkies haven't gotten it...and so weird that only chickens in one coop would be getting it too. Just so weird and frustrating!

 

[Shetland lover]

Thanks. I'll check her when we get up. What can cause prolapses? Could a too large egg?

It certainly can be. Also, if the pullet lays too early, I.e. the bird has started laying before she's fully grown, if she's been constipated, obese or been injured then the prolapse pecked at. Hens which lay double yolks regularly are also prone to prolapse.
Just make sure the tissue is undamaged and thoroughly cleaned of any debris and poop before gently pushing it back in and applying the hemorrhoid cream. A bit of antibiotic cream is useful too as hens with prolapses are prone to secondary bacterial infection. Hope she heals quickly

 

[Shetland lover]

This morning she laid an egg, and this is the current pic. Bleeding, and it pops out more like a balloon when she seems to be straining. Could she be constipated? Urates are leaking. Only a small poop, probably after the soak. Not sure how, if needed, to stitch? Will do an Epsom salt soak, and essential oil for hemorrhoids. She drank water. Setting up larger cage this morning. Any more advice welcome, please.View attachment 3412760View attachment 3412762

If it keeps happening, she'll need a vet to stitch it. You could try limiting the daylight she gets to try to reduce her egg laying. If you can stop her laying, it gives her time to heal. The only other way I know to stop a hen laying is a hormone implant.

Make sure it's scrupulously clean and pop it back for now, if you can. I don't know if you can get Preparation H but it's the bismuth in it which shrinks the tissue.

 

[FBMcrazy8]

Yeah, I know it's possible...it's just so weird that the silkies haven't gotten it...and so weird that only chickens in one coop would be getting it too. Just so weird and frustrating!

I have to agree! Her flock is pretty much all together in one coop and free range. She never had hers tested but I wish she did. Who knows, it may have helped you.

 

[FBMcrazy8]

I would use the 3/8th length 22 gauge needle. My vet said the longer needles run the risk of hitting important organs if you are novice at shots. Mareks is a subcutaneous shot, correct? So it wouldn't need to be very long at all, but the 22 gauge will ensure you can inject it quickly. I bought the 22 gauge for my Mycoplasma because the smaller one was too small for the vaccine's viscosity. Works great now.

I am trying to find 3/8ths…it’s not easy. And I don’t want to hit anything important by any means.

 

[ChicksnMore]

Hence I am beyond tempted to hatch these few eggs I got from mine and see what I get so as to have a better understanding!
I learn from seeing...i just gotta see what hatches out right yall!?!

The world needs more happy chickens

does Kirby have a rooster...

I think it is how they treat their mothers too..

Absolutely

1 Cochin and 4 Cemani’s are officially on lockdown. Hopefully they hatch. My husband swore he heard chirping last night but there is no way. None of them have broke through the air cell. But all seem to be alive. Of course 2 of the Cemani eggs that made it this far have thicker/darker shells then the other 2, so it’s hard to see anyway.

But I checked all the Call eggs and for the most part I can see a lot of development in my friends. Some of them were ALMOST 10 days old. But those that were close have some really great development. I put a few of mine in as well and they are doing fantastic so far.

They can be heard chirping as they near hatch

Well they said they "assumed" Mareks based on the presentation of the nodules and such but they did not confirm Mareks. "Most likely Mareks" was the phrase. So while it is probably likely, it surprises me how few birds I have lost to it--namely the silkies!

I'm leaning heavily towards something about the coop itself as well. I do have hardware cloth buried down a ways...could saturated soils cause zinc leakage from the underground hardware cloth? I do think it's possible it has something to do with the drainage in the soils...I just don't know how! The paint used on the coop may also have lead in it--I'm certain it was made in China.

So that is why for now, my solution will be to remove the coop so that area can more easily drain and building a better aboveground coop and exposing that soil to the sun and removing the hardware cloth. I am not sure I know where to go to have the blood tested for heavy metals--the RAL lab doesn't test for that and soil tests are really expensive. Blah! Thanks for all your thoughts, it's very helpful!

I like your solution

What size needles do you guys use for your Marek’s vaccine. I have made the decision to go ahead and vaccinate these guys and then just order another bottle for the ones that are coming. I’m thinking I will go with a 22G but should I do a 1/2 inch or 3/8 inch? I can only find needles in the 22G in 3/4 inch. There is a 20G in a 3/8 inch. I just don’t want the needle too big for these little guys.

Go with the smallest you can. You can order from Amazon as well and buy the insulin needles. 31g. Needles get smaller as the number gets bigger. 22g is smaller then 20.

 

[PopoMyers]

I have read that it will help. I hope it does for her. Poor thing!!!

She had her bath, under protest. Found some hard poo in the water, but she is still straining, which makes the prolapse balloon out. I've read to keep her from laying, which seems to have caused the bleeding, and feed mixed corn, not crumbles or pellets. Keeping her in a darkened room as well.

 

[ChicksnMore]

Poor poor baby. I'd defnrub some antibiotic ointment there too.

 

[ChicksnMore]

Well, not sure I'm really liking these but have lots of cans cut up to try more.

And more sunflowers just cause I like them

Made a huge mess on the floor so now I have housework to do...lol.