OP
Tororider
Veteran Member
Nice to hear. I have yet to put a light out in the coop, but apparently am going to have to post haste.
Chickens, and things related
- Thread starter Tororider
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dooleysm
Platinum Member
Another 6 last night, including a small white egg, which I think is from my banty hen that is still raising those 4 chicks (the biggest of which is almost as big as she is). That's 8 confirmed layers, maybe more.
Last night when I was out there to lock them up I noticed one of my newest roosters was down on the floor of the coop, with the same symptoms as the previous half a dozen or so chickens that have died. I didn't see him there this morning so I don't know if he got better or if he crawled outside in the dark. This is starting to eat at me and I think I'm going to have to break down and start looking for answers over on the chicken board, unless you guys have any ideas.
In every case, it comes on very suddenly. I find a chicken laying on the ground of the coop. You can tell that they aren't right because they are kind of laying on their side, not sitting like a normal chicken. They don't seem to be in pain or overly distressed. It's like a partial paralysis or something. They can't get on their feet to walk, but they will live for a couple days before I give up and put them out of their misery. I just don't know what the problem is. It seems like if it was a disease it would affect more chickens than just 1 every 6-8 weeks. They show no other signs of illness or getting picked on or anything. Very bizarre.
Last night when I was out there to lock them up I noticed one of my newest roosters was down on the floor of the coop, with the same symptoms as the previous half a dozen or so chickens that have died. I didn't see him there this morning so I don't know if he got better or if he crawled outside in the dark. This is starting to eat at me and I think I'm going to have to break down and start looking for answers over on the chicken board, unless you guys have any ideas.
In every case, it comes on very suddenly. I find a chicken laying on the ground of the coop. You can tell that they aren't right because they are kind of laying on their side, not sitting like a normal chicken. They don't seem to be in pain or overly distressed. It's like a partial paralysis or something. They can't get on their feet to walk, but they will live for a couple days before I give up and put them out of their misery. I just don't know what the problem is. It seems like if it was a disease it would affect more chickens than just 1 every 6-8 weeks. They show no other signs of illness or getting picked on or anything. Very bizarre.
OP
Tororider
Veteran Member
Man I need to get a light out there.
dooleysm
Platinum Member
It took a while to have an effect, but it's definitely working now!
Marek's disease is what the chicken folks are saying I have. Well, not me, the chickens. It seems as though there is no cure. Only a vaccination for chicks. Apparently it's very difficult to get rid of too. It sticks around in any feathers or dander and can pop back up at any time.
Unless it starts happening with greater frequency, I guess I'll just live with it.
Marek's disease is what the chicken folks are saying I have. Well, not me, the chickens. It seems as though there is no cure. Only a vaccination for chicks. Apparently it's very difficult to get rid of too. It sticks around in any feathers or dander and can pop back up at any time.
Unless it starts happening with greater frequency, I guess I'll just live with it.
OP
Tororider
Veteran Member
Can you get the chicks you have now treated? I can't remember if it is an injection or if you can use medicated feed? Bummer either way
dooleysm
Platinum Member
It's an injection. The only thing I'm out is the feed and $1/bird. At the current death rate it's really not worth spending much money or time to attack the problem. I got the feeling that only chicks could be innoculated, but I didn't research it too in depth.
I'm taking a pup to the vet in a couple weeks for his last round of puppy shots, I'm planning to discuss it with the vet at that time.
I'm taking a pup to the vet in a couple weeks for his last round of puppy shots, I'm planning to discuss it with the vet at that time.
4720 OWNER
Gold Member
My girls have given up for laying. But they are older and need the extra rest. Just a cfl out there and the heating pad under the waterer and it was -10 last nite!! Got some others from the neighbor and the others are creating a new pecking order so more than a few are A that are really PECKED.
dooleysm
Platinum Member
Some of my bantams have taken to roosting up in the rafters, right up against the metal roof. I guess we had just the right combination of humidity and freezing temps the other night. One of them must have been wedged in and her feathers froze to the metal. There's a big patch of chicken feathers frozen to the roof. I bet there was some squawking when she flew down in the morning!
I'm up to 7/day now, with at least one new layer, based on the tiny eggs I've been finding every other day or so.
I'm up to 7/day now, with at least one new layer, based on the tiny eggs I've been finding every other day or so.
OP
Tororider
Veteran Member
After snowblowing and shoveling the foot of snow we got last night and this morning I decided to put a light in the coop. After shoveling another path back there, thankfully a short ways, I found the girls snug as a bug in the coop. They weren't interested in the snow apparently. I had a trouble light that I took the incandescent out of and put a halogen in, 75w(equivalent) daylight bulb. Overkill on the wattage, but my wife doesn't like the light given off by the daylight bulbs, too white, so I figured I would use that. I am looking forward to more eggs again.
OP
Tororider
Veteran Member
Well I went out to check the hens tonight, and it was funny seeing light coming from the coop. Now I will have to wait a couple days to see if I start getting eggs again.