World Egg Day Hatchalong!(October 12, 2012 is World Egg Day!)

[Chucklecluck]

Wow hate it when people play shady games

 

[cindersga]

I think it's those shoe laces, they're irresistible!

Mine are only a couple / 3 weeks old so... LOL

HAHAHA NO ~ I don't wear shoes that are laced I am a sandal type of gal. It must be my pretty toes....he must have a fetish for them,

https://www.backyardchickens.com/g/a/6238031/avatars/
My chick that hatched the wrong way, well I had to help hatch after two days of just it's beak out. Poor thing was drying out it scared me to open it and seeing all that red but there was no actual bleeding thank goodness

So glad you were able to help your chick make it into this world.

I sold all my chicks a few days ago. It was my plan to sell them from the start, but it was a little sad to see them all go. The people that bought them did get me a bit mad.

At first they emailed me and said they wanted them. I emailed them back and asked if they were sure because I had someone what wanted 5 of them but they said they would take them all and where 110% sure they wanted them. Then on Sunday (when they were supposed to come and get them) they said they had spent all their money visiting his mom in the hospital. I was pretty mad that he said he would buy them and then spent all his money, when I had someone that was going to buy some. So he offers me a Walmart store card that he said had $18.58. I told him ok since I figured I shop there sometimes anywhase that I could use it, but that he had to give me another $1.50. So on Wedneday he finally comes to get them (if he didn't come that day I was going to raise the price because they where getting older and I still had the same price as when they hatched). So he tells me I can check the card balance but I figured he wasn't lying about it so I didn't. Later that night I did check and there was only $14.37. So I got stiffed about $4. Oh well. Lesson learned. At least the eggs I got the chicks from where free.

How horrible people are! That's sad and terrible at the same time. As you sow, so shall you reap! I'm sorry for that happening to you and for missing your little ones.

 

[cindersga]

Hi all, With all the diseases & illnesses that are floating about these days in poultry, we see time and time again people asking whats wrong with my hen or duck etc and advising of the symptoms. Well here you can now look for the symptoms for your poultry and check what disease or illness to associated with it. We hope this file helps you!

Symptom Checker .............


Bald Patches: Feather Pecking, Moulting, Lice

Blood in droppings: Coccidiosis, Worms

Chicks:Blood in Stools - Coccidiosis

Lame - Splayed leg or injury

Noisy - hungry/thirsty (have feed/water available at all times) or cold/hot
(huddled together = cold, spaced out at edges of brooder = hot)

Comb:
Small - normal for young pullet and some types of hen
Pink - normal for young pullet, Anaemia
Pale - sign of illness, look for other symptoms like Anaemia
Black - normal skin colour for some breeds or Frostbite
Scabby - Bullying, Northern Mite
Coughing: Respiratory Problems

Crop:
Crop feels like water balloon - Sour Crop
Hard lump in crop - Impacted Crop

Diarrhoea - Diet, Worms, Coccidiosis

Droppings - There are a huge range of chicken droppings to view (please see our other files)

Eggs:
Drop in production - Diet, Worms, Fleas, Red Mite, Egg Peritonitis, common in older hens
Stopped laying - Diet, Moulting, Egg Bound, Worms, Egg Peritonitis, common in older hens
Thin shells - Diet, Egg Peritonitis, also give Mixed Grit, add Apple Cider Vinegar or Tonic to water, common in older hens
Powdery shells - Extra calcium on shell, can be caused by stress
Blood spots - Less common in free-range hens and those on grass, eggs OK to eat
Watery eggs - Common in older hens

Eyes:
Swollen - Injured Eye, Sinus Infection
Closed most of the time - this is general sign of illness so look for other symptoms, they also do this when it's windy and they nap during the day
Bleeding - Injury, Bullying
Face & Eye Swollen - Sinus Infection

Feathers:
Fluffed up - general sign of illness if hen is hunched up, if reluctant to leave nest box see Broody
Loosing Feathers - Feather Pecking, Moulting, Lice

Gasping for air - Respiratory Diseases, Gapeworm

Head shaking - Sinus Infection, Respiratory Disease, Fleas

Legs:
Lame - Injury, Mareks Disease
Scaly - Scaly Leg Mite, can be a sign old age

Scratching - Fleas, Lice, Red Mites

Sneezing - Sinus Infection, Respiratory Diseases

Staying out at night - Red Mites

Straining - Egg Bound, Egg Peritonitis

Sudden Death - Heart Attack

Wheezy Chest - Respiratory Diseases

Wing Hanging Down - Injury, Mareks disease


Chicken Problems, The symptoms and Treatments


Anaemia
Symptoms: Pale comb and wattles, often caused by parasites
Treatment: Tonic in water, apply Diatom powder to the hen, clean the coop with Poultry Shield.

Broody
Symptoms: Hen sat on nest box, feather fluffed out, aggressive behaviour
Treatment: All hens can go broody although some breeds are more likely to. If you want her to produce chicks, let her sit on fertilised eggs. If you don't, remove her from the nest as often as possible until she gives up. It may be advisable to wear gloves!

Bullying
Symptoms: Feathers missing, wounds, weight loss, reluctance to leave coop, usually soon after getting hens home or adding new hens to a flock
Treatment: Anti-bacterial wound powder for wounds, anti-pecking spray, ensure they get food -some bullied hens will give up trying to eat and simply waste away!

Coccidiosis
Symptoms: diarrhoea, blood or mucus in droppings, most commonly found in chicks but not exclusively, can result in death or leave permanent damage to the gut
Treatment: Coxoid in drinking water as soon as possible, followed by a multi-vitamin tonic. Use Bi-oo-cyst to kill oocysts in coop/brooder and on drinkers, feeders etc.
Prevention: Vaccination, chick crumb containing a coccidiostat, good hygiene

Dehydration
Symptoms: Hen looks unsteady on her feet
Treatment: Provide fresh clean water, if not drinking use dropper to drip water into her mouth. Can be a symptom of another condition - look for other symptoms.

Diarrhoea
Symptoms: Runny droppings, dirty feathers around bottom
Treatment: Ensure plenty of clean drinking water is available. Feed only layers pellets or mash, with a little corn if it's winter, until the problem improves. Do not give greens or kitchen scraps. A Tonic may help if the problem has been long lasting. If you haven't wormed the flock recently, treat with Wormer.
Egg Bound
Symptoms: Hen looks like she is straining with her bottom close to the ground
Treatment: Difficult to treat, oil (vegetable/baby) around the vent may help, if the egg is broken there is severe risk of infection so please see a vet. Can lead to Prolapse.

Egg Peritonitis
Symptoms: Swollen abdomen, loss of weight, laying soft shelled or no eggs, generally looks unwell, if severe can cause respiratory distress
Treatment: Antibiotics if diagnosed early

Feather Pecking
Symptoms: Feathers missing, bloody wound if severe, can occur when new hens are introduced to a flock or if hens are over-crowded, bored hens can even peck their own feathers out!Treatment: Anti-bacterial wound powder or Gentian Violet Spray for open wounds
Prevention: Anti-pecking spray on new hens, prevent hens becoming bored (more space to forage, perches in run etc).

Fleas
Symptoms: Small insects that jump, reduction in egg production, anaemia, scratching.
Treatment: Apply Diatom directly onto the hen, especially under the wings and around the bottom, clean the coop with Poultry Shield. Also Tonic in water.
Prevention: Use Diatom regularly inside the coop and on your hens.

Frostbite
Symptoms: Cockerel's comb turns black, the tips may fall off if severe. Hens are less likely to be affected.
Prevention: Rub Vaseline on comb during cold spells

Gapeworms
Symptoms: Gasping, head shaking, neck stretching, gurgling sound (easily confused with respiratory diseases)
Treatment: Worm with Flubenvet

Heart Attacks
Symptoms: Sudden death, usually in older chickens, often as a result of stress.

Impacted Crop
Symptoms: Hard lump in the crop, watery droppings, fluid from mouth
Treatment: Get oil (olive, vegetable) into crop and try to massage the lump so it breaks up and can be passed through the digestive system. If this does not work, see your vet.
Prevention: Use wood shavings instead of straw/hay for bedding and do not feed long grass.

Injury / Open wound
Symptoms: Bleeding, Wound, Sore, Redness
Treatment: If severe apply pressure to stop the blood flow, if just a graze clean the wound, dust with anti-bacterial wound powder or Gentian Violet Spray

Muscle / Soft Tissue
Symptoms: Limping
Treatment: Limit hen's movement to rest the damaged area, make sure she can reach food and water, this takes time but it should heal itself

Eyes
Symptoms: Bleeding, swelling. Can be caused by pecking, accident, foreign object in the eye, sometimes the eye can be missing altogether.
Treatment: Bathe the eye area carefully to see the damage, remove foreign object if present, she may need anti-bacterial eye drops from your vet, if the eye is absent see your vet.

Lice Symptoms: small insects (1-4mm) crawling on the hen at the base of the feather, white spots at the base of the feather are eggs, reduction in egg production, anaemia, scratching.
Treatment: Apply Diatom directly onto the hen, especially under the wings and around the bottom, clean the coop with Poultry Shield.
Prevention: Use Diatom regularly inside the coop and on your hens.

Marek's Disease
Symptoms: Paralysis of one leg and/or one wing, loss of mobility, death. Usually occurs in birds between 12 and 28 weeks old.
Treatment: None Prevention: Vaccination as a very young chick, buy vaccinated stock - all the hens and chicks sold by Durham Hens are vaccinated against Mareks.

Moulting
Symptoms: Loosing feathers, not laying
Treatment: Natural process occurring once a year, Poultry Spice can help hens recover quickly

Northern Mite
Symptoms: small insects (less than 1mm) crawling on the hens, anaemia, scratching, reduction in egg production
Treatment: Apply Diatom directly onto the hen, especially under the wings and around the bottom, clean the coop with Poultry Shield. Also Tonic in water.
Prevention: Use Diatom regularly inside the coop and on your hens.

Prolapse
Symptoms: Internal tissues sticking out of the vent, hen distressed.
Treatment: See your vet

Red Mite
Symptoms: Anaemia, scratching, reluctance to go into the coop and/or lay in nest boxes
Detection: Use Red Mite Alert to detect the presence of red mite in your coop.
Treatment: Tonic in water, thoroughly clean the coop with Poultry Shield, apply Diatom regularly to the hens.
Prevention: Dust Diatom regularly inside the coop and on your hens. Clean the coop with Poultry Shield.

Respiratory Diseases (many with similar symptoms/treatments)
Symptoms: Coughing, sneezing, wheezy chest, head shaking, discharge from nostrils
Treatment: Separate hen from flock, give Herban, Respite or antibiotics (Tylan or Baytril) from your vet

Scaly Leg Mite
Symptoms: Scales lifted on legs
Treatment: Apply Scaly Leg Spray

Sinus Infection Symptoms: Swollen patch below the eye on one or both sides, if severe the eye area may be swollen too, also water/pus from eye/nostril.
Treatment: Separate hen from flock, Herban or antibiotic from your vet

Sour Crop
Symptoms: The crop will feel like a water balloon, soft and squishy.
Treatment: Caused by a fungal infection. Tip the hen forward to let the fluid pour out of the crop through her mouth (CAUTION: do not hold her like this for long as she needs to breathe!) Feed natural yoghurt. If it doesn't improve quickly see your vet.

Splayed leg
Symptoms: In newly hatched chicks, one leg sticks out awkwardly, unable to walk/stand.
Treatment: Tie a piece of wool around one leg at about knee height, leave about 2cm loose between the legs and then tie to the other leg at the same height. This will act like a splint and keep the legs in the correct position. Remove after 2 days or when the chick can walk unaided.

Worms
Symptoms: diarrhoea, blood in droppings
Treatment: worm regularly with Wormer
Although this is a very good list it is not an exhaustive list and there are many more ailments and conditions poultry suffer with and from just like us humans, so please take that into account when reading or using this information, Thanks

 

[serama hen]

IS THE CONTEST STILL ON

 

[cluck-cluck]

Oh, no, they're over Serama Hen, sorry! It was a fun hatch though. I bet there will be a New Years hatch maybe even an Xmas hatch or Thanksgiving hatch, if you want to try and join one!

 

[Herducks]

New Years Day hatch:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/720896/4th-annual-byc-nyd-hatch-a-long

 

[Chucklecluck]

Just had 26 quail hatch out yesterday, expecting chicken chicks any day now

 

[jennyworley35]

Hi I was wondering if we were still going to get the hatching eggs for winning the contest? I haven't heard anything about it since the contest. Would love to get them!!

 

[Durham Hens Ltd]

Hi, I wrote this symptom sorter and list of chicken ailments etc. for our website: www.durhamhens.co.uk. It is copyright material belonging to Durham Hens Limited. Please post a link to our website and acknowledge the source or remove it from the forum. Margaret Manchetser, Director, Durham Hens Limited.

 

[cindersga]

THIS INFORMATION CAME FROM www.durhamhens.co.uk AND BELONGS TO THEM. THANK YOU FOR MAKING SUCH A WONDERFUL EMERGENCY FACT SHEET FOR ALL US CHICKEN LOVERS.

SORRY I POSTED AND DIDN'T LIST CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE.