What did you do with your flock today?

[ChicksnMore]

It was a neighbor full day today so it was a little hard getting my own plans for the day done. Normally I love it when neighbors drop by, but today was multiple visits from three different neighbors when I didn't feel I had the time. But it all worked out and they certainly brightened my day.

The whole flock got moved out to the oldest coop and fresh treatments. I didn't bother cleaning the new coop they were in. Afraid that might just spread bad stuff around. So I'll let it sit a month, clean it, and then decide who gets to use it. No sign of sickness in any of my other birds still.

Up late waiting for the washing machine to finish it's self clean cycle so I can open the door. Sometimes my front loader makes me grumpy...lol.

 

[Shetland lover]

Well, we had an overnight guest last night. While I was preparing potato salad for dinner, Ferdy did his 'super chicken' act and started shouting dementedly then running in and out of the kitchen. I have learned that this means something is wrong so I followed him. On my dining room windowsill was slumped the smallest adult pigeon I've ever seen. It could barely lift it's head and didn't put up any sort of struggle when I brought it in. It had a leg ring and looked well, just exhausted. Anyway, I put it in a dog crate with water, electrolytes and vits then gave it some warm mash to eat. It had perked up considerably after a couple of hours. This morning, it's still in the crate, enjoying breakfast and cooing quite contentedly. I could just let it be on it's way but I'm going to contact the Royal Pigeon Racing Association, see if I can trace it's owner.

I really hope it's not Mycoplasma, ChicksnMore

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

@ChicksnMore atleast you know she's getting some meds in now through the baby feed. Surely it's not Mycoplasma and so glad no others are showing illness!
Neighbors!!! They can be nice to have. I got a chatty one that pops over fairly often to see the chickens and just talks n talks n talks lol.

@Shetland lover a pigeon...awe! Glad you saved it and hopefully you can locate the owners! Ferdy is good!

Guy picks up old coop this morning and masisve roll of chicken wire that I found completely useless that came free with my original run. So will be nice to have less "junk" as my DH calls it.
I did a little research as God popped an idea into my head late last night.

A lean to​

So I looked up a few ideas of building a lean to cause that is all I really need as the breeding coop. I really think I can manage this without screwing it up! My track record with stuff is seldom great...but it's not like I'm building a house. I'm just adding small addition "lean to" on the side of existing coop.
What yall think? I have 2 panels of 4x8' Siding I can use and then scrap 4x4s I'm gonna get from deck when they tear it down that are still good enough for this.
The first pic white area is where I'll put the lean to and tuck roofing (which is only thing I don't have) underneath the roofing of existing coop which should prevent water. So mine would actually tuck tight underneath whereas 2nd pic has gap.

 

[TropicalBabies]

@ChicksnMore atleast you know she's getting some meds in now through the baby feed. Surely it's not Mycoplasma and so glad no others are showing illness!
Neighbors!!! They can be nice to have. I got a chatty one that pops over fairly often to see the chickens and just talks n talks n talks lol.

@Shetland lover a pigeon...awe! Glad you saved it and hopefully you can locate the owners! Ferdy is good!

Guy picks up old coop this morning and masisve roll of chicken wire that I found completely useless that came free with my original run. So will be nice to have less "junk" as my DH calls it.
I did a little research as God popped an idea into my head late last night.

A lean to​

So I looked up a few ideas of building a lean to cause that is all I really need as the breeding coop. I really think I can manage this without screwing it up! My track record with stuff is seldom great...but it's not like I'm building a house. I'm just adding small addition "lean to" on the side of existing coop.
What yall think? I have 2 panels of 4x8' Siding I can use and then scrap 4x4s I'm gonna get from deck when they tear it down that are still good enough for this.
The first pic white area is where I'll put the lean to and tuck roofing (which is only thing I don't have) underneath the roofing of existing coop which should prevent water. So mine would actually tuck tight underneath whereas 2nd pic has gap.

That would be getting the most out of your materials . I like it! Be easy to protect from weather when need also
The pinterest addition has access into the main coop, will you be doing that? And the switched pitch on the roof What is the height that you can get? Will it be ok for cleaning, collecting eggs and grabbing a chicken with out you getting stuck ? If so, it totally works lol. yippee! Coop builds!

 

[TropicalBabies]

Good morning people!
I have to go to Lihue town and do the bag thing. I was hoping to ride Boo as that was part of the big plan but we have inclement weather and AJ has a shopping list. So Fred it is.
I will try to be quick about it as I don't have a day to lose to being in town.

@Shetland lover what a terrific find and what a way to find your new pal. Love the rooster alert ♡ and totally understand lol. Your new pal had great luck to have flown on the right windowsill. It's future is looking bright.

 

[ChicksnMore]

@ChicksnMore atleast you know she's getting some meds in now through the baby feed. Surely it's not Mycoplasma and so glad no others are showing illness!
Neighbors!!! They can be nice to have. I got a chatty one that pops over fairly often to see the chickens and just talks n talks n talks lol.

@Shetland lover a pigeon...awe! Glad you saved it and hopefully you can locate the owners! Ferdy is good!

Guy picks up old coop this morning and masisve roll of chicken wire that I found completely useless that came free with my original run. So will be nice to have less "junk" as my DH calls it.
I did a little research as God popped an idea into my head late last night.

A lean to​

So I looked up a few ideas of building a lean to cause that is all I really need as the breeding coop. I really think I can manage this without screwing it up! My track record with stuff is seldom great...but it's not like I'm building a house. I'm just adding small addition "lean to" on the side of existing coop.
What yall think? I have 2 panels of 4x8' Siding I can use and then scrap 4x4s I'm gonna get from deck when they tear it down that are still good enough for this.
The first pic white area is where I'll put the lean to and tuck roofing (which is only thing I don't have) underneath the roofing of existing coop which should prevent water. So mine would actually tuck tight underneath whereas 2nd pic has gap.

I think that looks great . @TropicalBabies already asked all the questions I can think of . I think it'd be wonderful to have a connecting door on the shared wall. Gives more options for how to use the space. Excited for you and looking forward to see your work!

 

[kurby22]

She's improving fast. Her cracked eyes almost full open now and her cheesy eye is semi open. That cheesy eye looks awful inside though ands seeping. Looks a bit like raw hamburger inside. She still isn't touching her normal feed or even water, but she slurps up the baby food/medicine mix well. Crop still feels empty but she's acting a lot more lively so think the baby mix is going to get her through til she's willing to eat...it's high calorie/nutrition in a drinkable form and I hold it right in front of her every little bit.

The improvement in the others is fantastic. Wonder if I missed treating her yesterday. Since she went off her feed/water she might not have gotten any medicine until this morning.

You said you went through mycoplasma before? Did you cull or keep the birds? I have so many questions I'd love to pepper you with if you've experienced it.

Im so glad to hear NoHopes hanging in there Sounds like you all had a lovely day!

Ah...but all that beautiful lushness feeds the soul doesn't it? Even just seeing pictures of it makes me feel refreshed...and never itchy

Oh I'm so glad! Poor girl! The way they get infections is so painful looking. I'm glad she is at least eating the baby food! Sounds like it's going to give her some great energy that is much needed.

Yes, my main large fowl flock carries MG (they were officially tested), but I have managed to keep my show birds clear of it. As long as we are super careful handling the show birds and they are vaxxed for it, I have gone over a year without any illness in their flock. All other new birds are vaccinated for it as well. It is a crappy virus that requires a lot of care and medication that I am still learning to deal with. That is why it always seems like I have sick birds...they get flare ups whenever they are stressed--like major weather storms or stretches of miserable heat! I just could not go through and cull them all. Typhoid Mary as I loving called her, brought it to my flock in 2021 and I had 20 birds by then. I couldn't stomach the thought and did a lot of research and felt I would rather try to make it work. Many of my birds are completely immune to it and I find it's primarily birds that are from local breeders. The ones that have struggled despite vaccination are hatchery birds and lavender birds. Even the eggs I hatch from other breeders in different parts of the country manage well when vaccinated. My guess is the line breeding of lavenders (anyone can make lavenders without understanding the impacts of continual inline breeding without new blood) and the quantity over quality nature of hatchery stock makes them more susceptible. Just my musings over the impacts with my birds. I call my birds from one of the local breeders my bullet proof birds. They don't get fowl pox, they don't have any signs of illness, they go through molts, heat, cold, and muddy conditions without any signs of stress. It's fascinating to me. I visited this breeders property and she culls hard for health and sturdiness and hatches a lot of birds the right way--and her birds show the proof in my opinion! I suspect that my death coop birds that can't walk are suffering from the most severe case of MG and that is why I haven't until now sent in a chicken for a necropsy. But since so many have presented with the same symptoms I decided I should find out if there are secondary things going on as well. I am definitely no longer going to bring in lavender birds unless they come from super strong breeding stock and probably no more Polish from outside. Spider seems to have taken well to the vaccine. I have read that one should assume that about 80% of all backyard flocks carry MG, so my feeling is as long as I am acting responsible and spending the crap ton on the vaccination there is no point in culling...unless I never want another bird that didn't come from an egg in a verified non-MG flock. There are even a couple of hatcheries that have started offering the vaccine as well as the Marek's vaccine. The MG vax is much more effective however, than the Marek's vaccine. Denagard is the medication that is used for MG flocks, as it is one effective med that the birds don't build an immunity to, unlike meds like Tylan or Baytril. *posted before I was done* I hope that you don't have this to deal with, but if you do, I'm more than happy to answer any of your questions!

 

[kurby22]

Well, we had an overnight guest last night. While I was preparing potato salad for dinner, Ferdy did his 'super chicken' act and started shouting dementedly then running in and out of the kitchen. I have learned that this means something is wrong so I followed him. On my dining room windowsill was slumped the smallest adult pigeon I've ever seen. It could barely lift it's head and didn't put up any sort of struggle when I brought it in. It had a leg ring and looked well, just exhausted. Anyway, I put it in a dog crate with water, electrolytes and vits then gave it some warm mash to eat. It had perked up considerably after a couple of hours. This morning, it's still in the crate, enjoying breakfast and cooing quite contentedly. I could just let it be on it's way but I'm going to contact the Royal Pigeon Racing Association, see if I can trace it's owner.

I really hope it's not Mycoplasma, ChicksnMore

What a smart and lucky pigeon finding you! It seems that birds in need just find you! Perhaps you have a sign only they can see that says "stop here if you are a bird in need!". I believe my Mom's house and our family have one of those signs for cats! We have taken in so many cats that need homes over the years and they all seem to just find us! My sister was on a trail ride through the desert one day when we were in high school and found abandoned kittens, more than one injured or sick kitten has found our yard, and one of our favorite boys was covered in oil hiding under a car next to ours in a grocery store in the snow when he was a kitten. It feels good helping these creatures in need and doing what is best for them. Chickens are so smart! He should get some extra treats for helping out!

 

[kurby22]

@ChicksnMore atleast you know she's getting some meds in now through the baby feed. Surely it's not Mycoplasma and so glad no others are showing illness!
Neighbors!!! They can be nice to have. I got a chatty one that pops over fairly often to see the chickens and just talks n talks n talks lol.

@Shetland lover a pigeon...awe! Glad you saved it and hopefully you can locate the owners! Ferdy is good!

Guy picks up old coop this morning and masisve roll of chicken wire that I found completely useless that came free with my original run. So will be nice to have less "junk" as my DH calls it.
I did a little research as God popped an idea into my head late last night.

A lean to​

So I looked up a few ideas of building a lean to cause that is all I really need as the breeding coop. I really think I can manage this without screwing it up! My track record with stuff is seldom great...but it's not like I'm building a house. I'm just adding small addition "lean to" on the side of existing coop.
What yall think? I have 2 panels of 4x8' Siding I can use and then scrap 4x4s I'm gonna get from deck when they tear it down that are still good enough for this.
The first pic white area is where I'll put the lean to and tuck roofing (which is only thing I don't have) underneath the roofing of existing coop which should prevent water. So mine would actually tuck tight underneath whereas 2nd pic has gap.

I think this is a fantastic idea!! I love it! You want it mainly as a brooder, right? So it doesn't really need nest boxes and such? I'd say a couple access points would be good so you don't have to crawl around much when cleaning or trying to access the chickies, I know my back wouldn't like that much! I'm a huge proponent of lean to roofing, since the roof is the toughest part to build and secure! I can't wait to see it!

 

[ChicksnMore]

Babies looking much better this morning. The cheesy eyes going to take a while but her energies up enough to jump onto the roosting bar and her other eye looks normal now. I gave her a heat lamp placed high so that it only increased the ground temp about 10°...she's well enough that she decided to jump up to get directly under the lamp...lol. Crop still feels pretty empty, but she's drinking water again.
Whatever this turns out to be, at least it heals fast with meds.