What did you do with your flock today?

[kurby22]

I’d like to take a moment to congratulate my Barred Rock on her first egg today. Very oblong but I’ve learned from all the experts here that first eggs can be wonky. Is blood on first eggs common? I’ve noticed it on all my first eggs so far.

Officially 3 layers now! Ready for my Easter egger next. Everyone other than the Rhode Island Red has been dragging their feet on starting. I’ve had them 24 weeks and they were all about 1-2 weeks when I got them.

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Congrats! Yes, their first month or so the eggs can be some funny shapes and often a bit bloody. The vent hasn’t stretched much so it can bleed a bit till they’re fully grown into their bodies. Poor girls!!

 

[kurby22]

Today, my d’Anvers were saved by a couple brave roosters and a hen that took on the Great Straw Spread of 2023. They stuck it out to make sure it was safe for the others!

 

[ChicksnMore]

I just gave my chickens something to keep them occupied for the day. A nice big pile of leaves!

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Lucky birds!

 

[ChicksnMore]

I’d like to take a moment to congratulate my Barred Rock on her first egg today. Very oblong but I’ve learned from all the experts here that first eggs can be wonky. Is blood on first eggs common? I’ve noticed it on all my first eggs so far.

Officially 3 layers now! Ready for my Easter egger next. Everyone other than the Rhode Island Red has been dragging their feet on starting. I’ve had them 24 weeks and they were all about 1-2 weeks when I got them.

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Beautiful, HUGE egg!

 

[fuzzi]

They've been enjoying the leaves. This is after an hour's worth of chicken-scratching.

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Mine love leaves, too. We run the lawn mower over the leaves, then dump them in the run.

 

[PopoMyers]

She's looking good! You did such a great job pulling her through that. Any sign of leg use returning?

Thanks. Those legs are a kicking, wings flapping, tail a wagging, but no balance to stand on her own. She seems to list to the left. It's a hurry up and wait situation.

 

[PopoMyers]

She prolapsed three times.

First time, she got a relatively simple surgery, where the main idea was to put it all back in and keep it there.

Second time, she prolapsed a few minutes after the stitches from the number one surgery were removed. So they put it all back in again and stitched her again.

Third time, she was doing fine without the stitches and she had the terrible idea of laying an egg.

This time, the surgery was more complicated as there was necrotic tissue and a perforation in her oviduct.

I don't think I'll be able to give her clay as hydration is actually one of her problems right now. She is barely drinking water and I'm syringe hydrating her with Gatorade.

She barely eats but I've noticed that I can make her eat more if I hand feed her. Still, she has trouble with her digestion.

During the night, she expelled an orange fluid. The vets told me it would be orange due to the medication she's taking. But it's all liquid, no poop, and just a few urates.

It takes her ages to "poop". I fed her Nestum (with a syringe) at 7 am, but nothing came out of her vent until 11:30 am.

She opens her eyes and walks around a little, but rests and sleeps a lot.

I must take her to one of her vets tomorrow. They've already told me that euthanasia should be considered if she doesn't improve.

But I don't know if I can euthanize a bird who eats from my hand and reacts to my voice and is... You know, not 100% unresponsive.

Still, I don't know how much time she has left if she doesn't start pooping. I mean, it's not even what you'd imagine if I told you she has diarrhea. It's an orange liquid, no little pieces of turd or anything.

That being said, they do not tell us if they are in pain, and hide it very well. The resting and sleeping a lot seem to be signs she is definitely not well, and is conserving energy, trying to heal. Much like us. Not pooping is never good.
You have to ask yourself the question, are you keeping her alive for yourself, or for her well being? Many times, euthanasia is the most loving and kind thing to do for our beloved companions, to end their suffering. My heart goes out to you, as you have hard decisions to make.

 

[PopoMyers]

Mine love leaves, too. We run the lawn mower over the leaves, then dump them in the run.

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Now, if we could just get the flock to rake them up each fall...

 

[Nomadicus]

I saw the pile of eggs the Dark Cornish girl is setting when she got off long enough to get in on some of the scratch her siblings were getting. Then I gave the other Broody Dark Cornish some scrambled eggs while on the nest. Yes 2 Dark Cornish hens now. Got to put in another pair of nest boxes tomorrow. There are 8 pullets actually and I put in 2 nesting places for pullets. They changed my plans when they went broody at 9 months.

 

[Nomadicus]

Forgot on small detail. Expected to get maybe a dozen eggs to hatch from the combined lot of Dark Cornish, White Giant, and American Bresse girls. Looks like at least 25 with most of them from the Dark Cornish pullets. I'm really happy with the boys in their pens and told them so tonight when making rounds.