What did you do with your flock today?

[Shetland lover]

Mine do too. Here is Olive who loves me but is 99 percent done with my BS.

Ooh! Someone's in trouble! I love it when they give you a full-on stink-eye glare...

 

[Shetland lover]

It really is. They definitely felt like tumors but I was soo new to chickens I had no idea. To me they felt like fatty tumors like our dog has…so I wasn’t sure if she just had a super unusual presentation of dry pox, cancer, poison…I was so confused—still am.

I sent off more samples for Nohope. This time I checked all the possible things it might be that they test for—aspergillus, campylobacter, clostridium, IBV and ALV. If it’s none of those I guess we can assume poison if some kind.

At least the battery of tests should rule out a few more things. How long will it take to get the results back?

 

[Shetland lover]

Yeah, I plan to take another sample and send it in and have them test for ALV as well as perhaps some environmental toxicities if they can. I just can't imagine what kind of toxicity it would be--the yard is just a yard, but I am sure the soil could include all number of things I am unaware exist in the soil. I will keep looking...but I feel more certain that the Death Coop is an issue in some way. None of my birds in any other run have had walking issues, there must be something in that coop I just don't see. It's so frustrating!

I hope your paper came together well! My MO is always to wait until the last minute and then cram it all into the last 48 hours before it's due.

Have you got photos of the death coop floor etc?

 

[Shetland lover]

Welllll...not exactly...I hired my husband to do all the power tool work, he was easily convinced so the screamer can get out of the house! He has a habit of doubting my skills and ideas, so I have had to swallow a LOT of annoyance at the "that's never gonna work" face he makes when I ask him to do something. I love him but he was NOT gifted with the ability to visualize ANYTHING. And conversely, I am not gifted with the communication skills needed to aid someone like him in seeing what I want...this has been the source of MANY arguments between us over the past 15 years haha.

Sounds just like my DH and I! And neither of us is blessed in the d.i.y. department

 

[Shetland lover]

That is so awesome! I love the simplicity of it. I think that what you’re doing is amazing and just completely awesome!

X2

 

[Shetland lover]

Today i pulled out literally half of Ferdy's foot feathers on his right foot,
I didn't realise he was so close to my feet so I stood on them! Naturally, he ran off screeching. I went after him and he jumped on my shoulder to snuggle so I knew I was forgiven. Fortunately he seems none the worse for his accidental stomping, no bleeding or even bruising, thank God!
Anyhow, he's been getting extra snuggles and t.v. time tonight. He's also enjoying some chilli cornbread and oatmilk from a syringe. I do love my cut-price parrot

 

[kurby22]

Today i pulled out literally half of Ferdy's foot feathers on his right foot,
I didn't realise he was so close to my feet so I stood on them! Naturally, he ran off screeching. I went after him and he jumped on my shoulder to snuggle so I knew I was forgiven. Fortunately he seems none the worse for his accidental stomping, no bleeding or even bruising, thank God!
Anyhow, he's been getting extra snuggles and t.v. time tonight. He's also enjoying some chilli cornbread and oatmilk from a syringe. I do love my cut-price parrot

Hahaha, a good spoiled one! Nohope perks up as soon as I have food and has been heartily enjoying the additional treat of bites of my food.

 

[kurby22]

Have you got photos of the death coop floor etc?

I don’t have any fully inside cuz it’s really dark, but it’s the same dirt bottom as their run and the bantam run and my show birds. Makes me think it must be something that crops up when the bottom is wet and can’t drain out it must create some kind of bad condition??

 

[kurby22]

At least the battery of tests should rule out a few more things. How long will it take to get the results back?

Monday!

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

It really is. They definitely felt like tumors but I was soo new to chickens I had no idea. To me they felt like fatty tumors like our dog has…so I wasn’t sure if she just had a super unusual presentation of dry pox, cancer, poison…I was so confused—still am.

I sent off more samples for Nohope. This time I checked all the possible things it might be that they test for—aspergillus, campylobacter, clostridium, IBV and ALV. If it’s none of those I guess we can assume poison if some kind.

Outta curiosity for future reference...where are you sending these samples and how expensive is it? Oh...n what do the samples consist of?