Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[FrenchToast]

Thanks Delisha.

Are LF Cochins a hard breed to raise? I've had nothing but trouble with this batch I bought. Started out with 12, down to 4 atm but looking like I'll end up with 2 if they don't pull around here quick. I've only had bantam cochins and they seem to be pretty hardy.

Delish, what did you deworm with ?

Sclark, so how old are the cochins? So you think they have cocci?

Seems to me that there sure is a connection with bringing new birds home and coming up with new illness. Guess there is something to the "Out with the old, In with the new" the way the old farmers do it.
Guess every flock may have built up it's own resistants and when new chicks or chickens are added to the flock they tend to share with each other with not so good consequences. Best you can do is treat the symptoms and hope for the best I guess.

Yep, I agree. No new older birds here. Ducks, geese, guineas and peafowl may be an exception.

Feeling like crap today. Same old story... One day forward, two backwards.... Things will never get done at this rate.

My sister said the roads were terrible. May have slowed her down that is for sure. When I talked to her she had been on the road for 4 hours and had only made it to Oshkosh..... she stopped at way side for the dog, Dairy Queen, and ended up shopping at the Outlet Mall. Hope she is home by now !! Hmm Dairy Queen sure sounds good right about now.

Well, it's 5.22pm...... Amy are you in position ???? LOL 23 minutes to go !!! LOL

 

[kristip]

A few weeks back you might remember my post about french poulet meat birds. I remember Terri O asked what they looked like as there are not a lot of pictures...I took some when we stopped at the farm this weekend. wanted to post before I forgot! ok you cant exactly tell but these are huge birds...I mean huge 10 lb birds... wow! Just started laying...little pullet eggs in there.

otherwise survived birthday crazys. Family on saturday with a count of about 42 and today had 20 1st graders here. Glad we are done! Now on to school and football and soccer season!

 

[irishrovr]

Well...I'm not a true Cheesehead but I do live here in Wisconsin, about 4 miles east of Crivitz. I moved here from Philly 11 months ago, my wife is from Twin Bridges (her folks used to own the Tall Oaks store). I'm betting a few Up North people know exactly who I'm talking about. So I'm new to the pleasures of managing a flock of chickens. I had no idea how much fun these birds are, not to mention the range of personalities.

I have a problem with a bird in the flock. I have always been one to root for the underdog, in this case the underchicken. She was free, took her with us when we purchased a couple of more young hens as my confidence and skills increased. It's a young Frizzle and it's missing many of it's feathers. There are no pin feathers coming in, as of yet anyway. My first question is....what can cause this, second question is how to solve it. If a solution fails I have to find a way to provide real heat for this poor bird during the winter. Which brings it's own issues. The others will be trying to vie for that warmth but economics doesn't allow for me to heat the entire coop to 60 degrees. I want to provide an area so the bird has heat, but companionship as well. This problem is what caused me to find this site. I went searching and here I am! Of course I'll be looking for my answers for myself but will happily accept information, advice and experience from the members here.

PhillyCheeseHead? Welcome! There are a lot of gurus here who can lend you their expertise - I'm not one of them but have received a lot of gems from them just from being here!

 

[irishrovr]

The sky is falling! ​

Actually birds have been falling from the sky over the past few days. First an adult cedar waxwing was almost motionless on the parking lot - I moved it into the shade, gave it some wild bird seed (which it apparently ate) and a small lid with some water and electrolytes. It moved a bit on the ground - it was about a foot from where I left it - and it was gone the next morning. Either it revived or something else got it during the night.

Next day I see a little finch sitting on the patio and barely breathing with eyes closed. Not too long after that it was dead and I covered it with a flower pot so I could take it somewhere this coming week. Something tipped over the pot and took the bird away in the night.

Today a dead adult bird (not sure what kind) toes up in a flower bed with a small yellow bird sitting nearby and looking like it was in and out of sleep.

None of the live birds seemed to be in distress.

Where do I go with the dead bodies to get them checked out? I wonder if it's West Nile. Anyone got a clue??

 

[kristip]

ok so here are the three guinea we have. Three different colors so that is cool. So far not too noisy. they talk in the early evening to get everyone off to the coop, but not too much otherwise. At 10 weeks, I beleive the first one is my girl and the other two are boys. The middle blurry one is a brown. Think she is pearl pied, but not sure what the other two are. Jim... color ideas? loving these cute little dumplings

 

[Amyable]

Quote:
Sorry Frenchie, no action today! No need for car packing either, we are having a homebirth - midwives come to me.

Actually did something productive and canned about 10qts of tomato sauce today. First day of 1st grade for son #1 tomorrow, gotta get these hooligans to bed. G'night!

 

[momgille]

Just want to say something about the "undersized" chick that was one of the signs I should have seen in the Infectious Bronchitis chick that infected my flock...Hind sight in my case is 20/20 and I am glad that it is behind me. If you have what appears to be a sick chicken rather than dosing for something you are guessing at I really suggest a blood test. It could save you a lot of worry, concern and needless medicating. Antibiotics work on Bacteria, Fungicides on Fungi. But if it is Viral nothing but prayers and preventative vaccination is going to work. That is my Nickel

Frenchie I am thinking about a pool myself the fall prices are tempting. Heck I talked DH into chicken there may be hope for an above ground pool

As for the dead bird hotline: http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/communicable/arboviraldiseases/westnilevirus/index.htm

Been a long weekend... But I have new birds in the chicken TV can't wait to see Maran dark chocolate eggs

 

[Terri O]

Good evening--DD and DS are in their own place...at last! They will be coming here all week though cause their rooms are still not cleaned out...actually it looks as though DD just took her bed out of her room and nothing else! She is coming back for her cats tomorrow...it will be nice to have a little less hair anyway. (and they are very sassy too!) I stayed until 6 and straightened out her kitchen a bit. THen she showed up at home at 6:45 and said she was moving back! Silly girl. I gave her some eggs and produce so at least they had something for breakfast. She said they had granola bars and beer and that was it. Good thing they are still young--

Well...I'm not a true Cheesehead but I do live here in Wisconsin, about 4 miles east of Crivitz. I moved here from Philly 11 months ago, my wife is from Twin Bridges (her folks used to own the Tall Oaks store). I'm betting a few Up North people know exactly who I'm talking about. So I'm new to the pleasures of managing a flock of chickens. I had no idea how much fun these birds are, not to mention the range of personalities.

I have a problem with a bird in the flock. I have always been one to root for the underdog, in this case the underchicken. She was free, took her with us when we purchased a couple of more young hens as my confidence and skills increased. It's a young Frizzle and it's missing many of it's feathers. There are no pin feathers coming in, as of yet anyway. My first question is....what can cause this, second question is how to solve it. If a solution fails I have to find a way to provide real heat for this poor bird during the winter. Which brings it's own issues. The others will be trying to vie for that warmth but economics doesn't allow for me to heat the entire coop to 60 degrees. I want to provide an area so the bird has heat, but companionship as well. This problem is what caused me to find this site. I went searching and here I am! Of course I'll be looking for my answers for myself but will happily accept information, advice and experience from the members here.

If you live here and enjoy chickens you ARE a Cheesehead! Welcome to our group. All birds seem to be missing feathers at this time of year. Probably a molt but could be too much rooster attention depending on where the feathers are missing. They will grow in if it is a molt--if too much attention you could outfit her with a chicken apron, dress or saddle (depending who you talk to) This cushions her back a bit if she is the favorite and you will see pin feathers within the month. Why dont you post a picture of her and then we can tell what kind of feather loss it is. As for heat in the winter...I provide none for my birds. As long as there arent any drafts it is far safer to just let them roost togehter for warmth. If you do feel that you must, you can hang (and tie) a 100W lightbulb in a hood low to the ground as a "spa area" and if you have one or two that need to warm up they can go under. I wouldnt use a heatbulb for fear of a fire. HTH.

The sky is falling! ​

Actually birds have been falling from the sky over the past few days. First an adult cedar waxwing was almost motionless on the parking lot - I moved it into the shade, gave it some wild bird seed (which it apparently ate) and a small lid with some water and electrolytes. It moved a bit on the ground - it was about a foot from where I left it - and it was gone the next morning. Either it revived or something else got it during the night.

Next day I see a little finch sitting on the patio and barely breathing with eyes closed. Not too long after that it was dead and I covered it with a flower pot so I could take it somewhere this coming week. Something tipped over the pot and took the bird away in the night.

Today a dead adult bird (not sure what kind) toes up in a flower bed with a small yellow bird sitting nearby and looking like it was in and out of sleep.

None of the live birds seemed to be in distress.

Where do I go with the dead bodies to get them checked out? I wonder if it's West Nile. Anyone got a clue??

I am glad that the site got put up here--it is what I was going to suggest. ANy time you find a high mumber of dead wild birds it could be an indication of something. I thought they were just saying crows ut that may have changed.

Just want to say something about the "undersized" chick that was one of the signs I should have seen in the Infectious Bronchitis chick that infected my flock...Hind sight in my case is 20/20 and I am glad that it is behind me. If you have what appears to be a sick chicken rather than dosing for something you are guessing at I really suggest a blood test. It could save you a lot of worry, concern and needless medicating. Antibiotics work on Bacteria, Fungicides on Fungi. But if it is Viral nothing but prayers and preventative vaccination is going to work. That is my Nickel

Frenchie I am thinking about a pool myself the fall prices are tempting. Heck I talked DH into chicken there may be hope for an above ground pool

As for the dead bird hotline: http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/communicable/arboviraldiseases/westnilevirus/index.htm

Been a long weekend... But I have new birds in the chicken TV can't wait to see Maran dark chocolate eggs

Thanks for posting that!
Connie be sure to tell Gary thanks again for seeing that chick that was limping! After that minor "surgery" I did after he left today the only way I can tell the bird is by the wrapping I put on it's leg. NO limping and good as new! Chickens are amazing in their ability to recover from stuff! (even owner stupidity in my case!)

So OK--I guess I should make some popcorn cause it feels like a Sunday night...and get myself up to bed...tomorrow is garden and barn cleaning! WHooo-Hoooo...such fun awaits!
Oh yeah...I may have hit the Motherload of hay...My guy Brad is bailing about 300 tomorrow and I went to an egg customer's place tonight...they have about 600 bales of 3+ year old hay (to give me for FREE) I was doubtful at first so I brought a bale home...the horses AND the goats devoured it! The bales are about 80# and look to be totally alfalfa. The man said they were being used to feed dairy cows. Might not be too much nutrition left in them but I think they will work to keep the stomachs full during the winter...what say you other horsie folks?

Nighties! TerriOlookingforwardtopopcornmadewithcoconutoil

 

[delisha]

Quote:

1/4 cc per LF

 

[Sclark73]

Delish, what did you deworm with ?

Sclark, so how old are the cochins? So you think they have cocci?

Seems to me that there sure is a connection with bringing new birds home and coming up with new illness. Guess there is something to the "Out with the old, In with the new" the way the old farmers do it.
Guess every flock may have built up it's own resistants and when new chicks or chickens are added to the flock they tend to share with each other with not so good consequences. Best you can do is treat the symptoms and hope for the best I guess.

Yep, I agree. No new older birds here. Ducks, geese, guineas and peafowl may be an exception.

Feeling like crap today. Same old story... One day forward, two backwards.... Things will never get done at this rate.

My sister said the roads were terrible. May have slowed her down that is for sure. When I talked to her she had been on the road for 4 hours and had only made it to Oshkosh..... she stopped at way side for the dog, Dairy Queen, and ended up shopping at the Outlet Mall. Hope she is home by now !! Hmm Dairy Queen sure sounds good right about now.

Well, it's 5.22pm...... Amy are you in position ???? LOL 23 minutes to go !!! LOL

They were born on or about June 5th. I've been pretty ill the past few days is why I haven't been on besides going thru Morphine withdrawals as noone told me I was suppose to be weaned off the stuff, it hasn't been a pretty couple days around here from the hot cold sweats to the twitching and jerking and being unable to sleep. On top of catching a bug from my immune system being all out of whack the kids had been doing my chores and don't pay as close attention as I do. Daughter said they were fine this am walking around but son did notice one with a poopy butt but didn't know to tell me. I explained to them if this happens again tell me asap as we can hopefully catch it early. Anyhow, 2 of my Cochins have poopy butt and are having a hard time getting around. I'm hoping their still alive by morning but time will only tell. I did empty out their water and give them Corid treatment asap. Theirs no blood so it might be early enough to catch who knows. I know I've about had my fill of sickness with chickens already this year and could just throw in the towel to defeat. I'm not sure I will be able to get over to Barron anytime soon to take in a stool sample, other than daughter has class in Rice Lake on Friday I could see if she could drop it off for me. We lost another duck last night too, so we are down to one hen and she's so upset calling for her mate. Thats 4 now that have been taken by a critter but has left no trace of feathers or remains. I swear if it weren't so cold outside I'd sit out with a light and a shotgun just to take care of this once and for all. We have her locked up for the night in the brooder. Makes no sense to me as theirs 20 plus chicks with 4 broodies loose not 4 feet from where the ducks sleep and no chicks missing at all. And quite frankly I'm sick of being sick already and don't need all this extra crap to be stressing over!! I go in Thursday for my check up from surgery and their going to get a piece of my mind of the lack of care that I have received after surgery and the hell I've been thru.