Soft Shelled Eggs

            This one isn’t a disease, but it is something I’ve run into several times during my chicken keeping adventure.  Strictly speaking, and in a lot of cases, it’s no big deal.  There are a myriad reasons chickens will have soft shells.  Kind of like you and I getting a sharp pain or pinch out of nowhere.  Oh there’s a “reason” for it, but you never figure it out and it never happens again or happens so infrequently you’re surprised each time.  Possibly not the best analogy, but the only one I could come up with right now.  Grin… 

            I’ve come across soft shell eggs in two different forms.  The first, is simply eggs with thin shells.  They don’t look any different than other eggs, but when you go to pick them up, they have a totally different “feel”, in that you just know the shell isn’t as hard as the rest and when put in the basket with the others, it cracks.  Or when I go to crack it in the kitchen, it pretty much squashes, getting egg shell in whatever I’m trying to crack the egg into.  The second way is to find an egg that looks nearly transparent and is squishy and wiggly.  They almost feel like a jello egg (if you’re old enough to remember jello wigglers or when jello came out with the molds to use knox gelatin and make Easter Eggs from jello).  These are a bit fun to play with, so long as you don’t mind the possibility that you’ll break it, creating a big mess and wasting the egg. 

            So, what are some of the causes of these conditions?  I’ll list them in order of how I approached the cause.  Numbers 1 and 2 are the only conditions I’ve had to face in the soft shell scenarios.  I’ve been able to reverse the thin shells in as few as a couple of days by addressing number 2 quickly.  Lord willing, I’ll never address the rest of the issues.

1.  Hot days.  When the weather turns really hot, chickens naturally slow the egg making process.  It takes energy to create eggs and energy creates heat, so the obvious answer is to not create any extra heat.  Also, chickens slow their food intake in the extreme heat (whatever extreme is to them in their environment – here, it is when it gets to and stays 95 or so for several days in a row; in your area, it could be 85 and over). 

2.  Calcium Deficiency.  Calcium, obviously, is needed to create eggs.  Remember, as well, calcium is needed to maintain a healthy body.  So, chickens need a bit more calcium to maintain health and egg production.  It only stands to reason if they only have enough for one or the other, something has to give and like humans, their body will protect itself first.

3.  Overall Protein/Mineral/Vitamin Deficiency.  Chickens need good levels of all of these.  If your chickens are free range and have access to lots of good weeds, grass and bugs, they’re most likely getting everything they need.  Unless you see an issue, leave it alone.  However, if you feed a commercial feed or mix your own (which is what I usually do) then you may need to take a look at your feed.  Is it missing something?  Could you supplement with something natural?  There are a lot of benefits to weeding your garden aside from helping the plants you want to grow have more space and nutrients - - weeded gardens produce weeds that need to be discarded and chickens LOVE weeds!  When mine were penned, I picked weeds regularly for them.  I dumped all my weeds in their pen.  Heck, in the winter, I used to pick weeds directly from the yard to give to them.  It was great for them and the lawn come springtime.  Avoid feeding spinach, chard and citrus.  All three interfere with calcium absorption in hens.  Just leave them off the chickens’ menus.  Easier to not feed them these than to worry about doing so and whether Otter loves oranges and ran off with a bigger portion that she should have.  J  The following weeds/herbs are particularly high in calcium, so consider adding these to the menu instead:  alfalfa, burdock root, chamomile, chickweed, clover, dandelion greens, horsetail, lambs quarter, mustard greens, nettle, parsley, peppermint, raspberry leaf, rose hips and watercress.

4.  Certain Breeds/Ages are More Prone than others.  Older hybrids (Sex Links, Comets, etc) and older birds are more prone to soft/thin shelled eggs simply because the hybrids are bred to optimize their production quicker (thus using up their reserves quickly) and the older birds simply start getting “old” (like older humans can begin breaking bones as they age).
5.  Stress.  Enough said?  Bullying, barking dogs, threats regularly (meaning a hawk or some other predator is repeatedly trying to get to them and more can cause any number of adverse effects on hens with the first response being withholding those jewels from the nest and soft/thin shelled eggs next.

               

Disease #1 - Coccidiosis

            So, you’ve made the decision to get chickens.  You’ve built their house, nesting boxes and pen, procured (or made) feeders and waterers.  You’ve researched breeds, driven your significant other, children and friends showing pictures of this breed, that breed and asked tons of questions on every online forum you can find.  You’ve decided you can have x number hens and one or no roosters. 

            The Feed Store brings in their shipment, you go wild!!  You find an online hatchery and cannot believe there are even more breeds actually available than you thought possible and you melt the plastic!!  Your friend hears you are “finally” ready for chickens and she sets 4x the number you agreed with your significant other you could  have in the incubator (after all, they may not all hatch, right?).  However it happens, you now have chicks. 

            What happens now?  NOW YOU LEARN!!  Yes, now the learning really begins.  Oh, you’ve read and read and read and you know a lot.  But there is SO much more to learn and it’s unlikely you’ll actually ever learn it all.  I thought, at one point, I knew a lot.  After reading these last few months and following several other blogs, I realize just how un-learned about chickens I am.  I’m not a novice and I’m not inexperienced.  I’m just not as up on my game as I thought I was. 

            Learning chickens is an amazing experience.  They can be taught.  I find it takes a lot of patience and persistence, but they can be taught.  The hard part of the chicken experience is the poor health learning.  There are so very many things that can go wrong with a chicken it’s crazy.  These next few posts, I hope to share with you the things I have personally run into.  I hope that you read this and are able to use it (actually, I hope you don’t and can’t, meaning I hope you never have these issues to use my mistakes and victories).

            Let me start by saying I AM NOT A VETERINARIAN, SKILLED VET TECHNICIAN, HUMAN DOCTOR OR SCIENTIST.  I am only sharing my personal experiences and what has worked for me.  You make your own informed decisions and treat accordingly.

COCCIDIOSIS

            First thing you want to know is your chickens.  Watch them, observe them, touch them, interact with them.  This way, you’ll know when they’re off.  What?  Little Peep is laying down a lot?  Why?  She usually runs around like a, well, chicken.  Mr Pip is hunching his head into his shoulders?  Doesn’t he usually walk around with his beak in the air?  How about Feather Butt who’s hiding in the corner?  Doesn’t she usually freak if she’s not wing to wing with another chick?  These are all classic symptoms something is wrong.

            Coccidia that infect chickens do not affect other types of livestock, and vice versa. (Ex:  Goats carry Coccidia – they can’t give it to chickens)  This also goes along with different species of birds – not all birds carry the same parasites.  The Coccidia that I speak of here is referring to the Chicken variety only.

            Coccidia are microscopic parasitic organisms that infect poultry when ingested.  They are found on the ground or in droppings.  They attach themselves to the lining in the stomach, multiply and become oocysts that feed in the digestive tract which makes it bleed. Once infected, your bird passes the parasites in their poop days before they exhibit symptoms. 
            However – with the above said – coccidia are actually everywhere.  You can’t prevent it from being there.  You can only arm your chicken with what it needs/takes to keep them healthy in the first place.  Prevention means a strong immune system which means resistance.
 Coccidiosis is caused by nine different type of Eimeria protozoa, some are more serious than others. It can be fatal.  Chickens that survive an outbreak are often immune to the specific type they contracted and more resistant to the other strains.
            Chicks, are more susceptible to Cocci than adult birds, but adults are not totally immune.  If an adult has a compromised immune system, it can get sick, so be mindful of your feather babies.

SYMPTOMS

Dirty, unkept and grungy looking
Weak
Fluffed feathers
Pale skin, feet or comb
Refusal to eat/drink
Head tucked into their shoulds (hunched look)
Bloody Poop / Yellow Foamy Poop

MEDICATED VS NON-MEDICATED

I use medicated feed with all chicks now.  I have lost chicks to Coccidiosis on several occasions when I didn’t.  Now, all chicks get it.  It’s not an experiment I’m ready to try at this time.  I have read and have raised chicks with the hen and not used medicated feed and had no problem.  There is some talk that they build an immunity this way.  It stands to reason and I’ve seen it first hand on several occasions, but now that I know it’s in the soil in a larger population than where I used to live, I’m still not willing to try it right now.  I have raised chicks off the ground with great results without using medicated feed and had no issue when I finally put them on the ground.  Think I got lucky there. 
            Recently, I had 4 chicks on the porch, never having touched the ground.  They were beautiful, healthy and happy.  I had a hen who needed to be away from the Big Girls, so I brought her onto the porch.  Well, she pooped in the water (yes, I cleaned it the minute I saw it), but apparently, it contaminated the water to the point the chicks got sick.  Classic Cocci signs and even though I treated them, they all died.  So – medicated feed from here on out until I can find a natural alternative.
            Medicated Feed, however, will not treat or cure Coccidiosis if chickens do exhibit symptoms.  

CLEAN WATER

            Keep chick water clean!  As I mentioned above, poop (and it’s everywhere!) contaminated water can spread the disease as well as the poop itself.  Best bet is to use waterers with small resevoirs so they can’t get grubby feet into it, it’s harder to get their bum over the side and they can’t kick as much bedding (probably pooped on) into it either.

PREVENTION

            An acidic system is a great deterent to Coccidia.  Apple Cider Vinegar in the water, fresh Garlic – both are great for creating a hostile environment for Coccidia.  These will both also help with other types of worms/parasites.  

TREATMENT

            The one I have used and had success with is Corid.  You can purchase this at the Feed Store (I know, particularly, Tractor Supply carries it – and that’s not a plug for them, I just happen to know every time I’ve gone to get it, they have it).  It comes – the one I buy – a foil type package and is a powder.  1/3 tsp to a gallon of water.  Refresh every day.  Treat for 5 days.  Then, again in 10 days repeat the treatment. 
            There are other treatments, one in particular seems to get a lot of attention – a Milk Flush.  I have found Corid (even though it’s a chemical) works and works fast, so it’s my choice.  I can’t see letting anything suffer and die like Coccidios will cause them to do, so I use it. 

             I do use a vitamin water after treatment is over to help replace what is lost by the parasite and chemical.  So far, it seems to be a good thing.  I also add in a few extra veggies and some scrambled siblings – er – eggs for extra protein.  I like them to bounce back quick.

Above all, watch and react.  If you see a problem, address it immediately, don’t wait.  A chicken can be fine today, not quite fine tomorrow but not sick and dead the next day!!

GOOD LUCK!!  Next week, I’ll talk about Wry Neck and what I’ve done for/with that.

Chicken Diseases and My Journey

Chickens, like any other animal (us included), they get sick or injured and need treatment.  Unfortunately, like other animals (children and men excluded), they cannot tell you what hurts or what does not feel good.  This means, you and I have to be not only Friend and Veterinarian/Nurse, but Detective as well. Our VERY BEST DEFENSE against ailments is early discovery.  If you can catch an issue at the very beginning stages, you are more likely to have success with the outcome.  I learned as I went along.  I was proactive by reading, reading, reading, but you can read all you want, experience is the very, best teacher. 

Here is my story:

When I first got chickens, I was ecstatic.  I had chickens!!!  How cool was that?  I had done my reading.  I knew what to look for and how to treat it.  I was all set.  For the first nearly year and a half, everything was fine.  I had no issues whatsoever – well, aside from the incredible desire to increase my flock size by about 100 because these chickens were proving to be so much more amazing that I expected - - and I had yet to experience any problems and thought they were incredibly easy to raise. 

 

One day, I realized one of my girls wasn’t feeling well.  I let her go another day while watching her and googling possible problems and their cures.  When she finally exhibited what I felt were clear and concise signs, I treated her for what I suspected the problem to be and got better w/in 24 hrs.  Easy peasy.  Another couple of years went by, I kept my flock manageable (I was hiding them in a suburban backyard, mind you) in size and had very, very few issues aside from an eye infection (from getting pecked in the eye) and a probable broken toe (which I saw what likely cause it, but said bird would not let me treat it, still moved around nearly as well as before and is still getting along just fine, w/out my having helped, and only limps on the cold and damp days.  I did lose one bird that I have, to this day, no idea what happened.  She just keeled over in the coop one night.  She had absolutely zero signs of any issue, although she always seemed “not quite right”.  We teasingly called her Neuro Chicken.  She was just flat strange – I am not opposed to the idea she had true neurological issues from birth.  The other bird I lost was due to an attempted Hawk Attack – she was hit and rolled severely, probably causing internal injuries.

All of this amazingness led me to believe there was nothing to this Chicken-Keeping Thing.  I mean seriously, if I could do it this easily, why didn’t everyone else?  Well, like my experiences with child-rearing, I was going to get my eye-opener, it was just a matter of time. 

After a couple of years, I moved and brought my chickens.  Still, things were great.  However, shortly after moving I lost 2 chickens mysteriously.  My daughter was staying at my place, chicken sitting and called me to say she found them dead one morning.  Again, that mysterious death.  I had been very busy with the move as well as the normal things I did and I was afraid I had missed something, but I didn’t think so.  I chalked it up to stress from the move as everyone else was doing perfectly fine. 

I met and married Hubby and moved (again).  This time, I was less stressed on the move (well, as stress free as a move can be) and did it much better.  Pen built, chickens moved and placed in the house in the evening so they would wake up in their new surroundings thereby, hopefully, reducing stress.  Things seemed great, still.  Everyone thrived.  I lost a good rooster one day, but I still believe he chocked to death.  I was feeding them some kitchen treats and they were going nuts.  He kept grabbing large pieces of veggies and trying to gobble them down with one gulp rather than break them up like everyone else was doing.  All of a sudden, he started flapping and thrashing and dropped dead.  Seriously!  The same respitory illness I had to deal with before popped up in a couple of the girls, so I treated that again and they got better w/in the same 24 hrs as the first one did.  Still easy – right?

A year goes by when Hubby and I moved (the third one in under 2 yrs for me - ugh) to our current little piece of heaven.  We did things right again – built the pen, moved the girls over one evening and things went very well.  I lost one older bird just after moving, though I was pretty sure I knew the cause of that.  She was old, stressed from the third move in such a short time and we had 3 days of torrential downpours 2 wks after moving in.  I believe, with the coop as wet as it was (2” of standing water inside), she simply got too wet and cold.  I had tried to put in enough hay to keep them out of the water, but it just wasn’t enough – everything and everyone was walking in water for a while – our whole town was virtually under water, there was no getting around it. 

The next 6 months go by.  The only issues I face are another chicken with the respitory issue – I had started using apple cider vinegar in their water once I hear the “different” breathing in one bird and, that cleared things up but this time, so I used the antibiotic.  She didn’t get better.  I then noticed she was limping.  Hmmm, did she step on something?  I started watching her.  I checked her legs – they looked a bit swollen, but nothing obvious to say injury.  I kept watch and one day noticed something I had never seen before.  The scales were lifted on her ankles and feet.  Off to my magazines and google! 

Scaly Leg Mites!  They are not necessarily life threatening, unless left untreated.  I treated her, but was too late.  She, as well, was an old girl.  Apparently, she had a compromised system (she was the one who I had treated a couple of times for the respitory issue) and did not battle them well.  Take into account she seriously disliked being handled and that adds stress to treatments.  I ended up losing her.  I found the leg mites on another bird – who just barely showed the signs – and treated her.  I also treated the coop and gave it an extremely thorough cleaning.  No more leg mites (for now). 

Fast forward a couple more months.  I purchased some chicks.  I kept them inside, in a brooder for about 6 wks, then moved them outside with a light.  W/in 3 wks, I started losing chicks.  In 3 days, I lost 7.  The weather had been uncooperative (cool and rainy), so I thought at first, I had made a bad move and was preparing the inside for them again, when I noticed something about the way they were moving about and that their poo looked different.  So, back to the magazines and google.  Coccidiosis!  Really?  I’d read all about this, but in the years I’d had chickens and hatched chicks, I had never, ever had an issue with this.  Off to Tractor Supply for the treatment.  I did end up losing one more before the medication kicked in, but the rest got better.  Whew – crisis adverted.  I did more reading on prevention.  I would rather prevent than treat! 

A year and a half goes by with few issues – save the dog issues – that aren’t easily spotted and addressed; ones that nearly anyone can recognize and take care of.  About 2 months ago, one of my daughter’s Silkies starts twisting her neck funny.  At first, I watch her and start reading (notice a trend here?).  Wry Neck is what I come up with.  3 main causes, of which I’m sure (am I?) I know which one is her cause.  Though, I have to take into account she wasn’t thriving like she should have since she had been injured in the dog wars and hadn’t been the same since.  This is something I’ve noticed with sparkling clarity – once a chicken has suffered a severe trauma, they nearly never survive w/out issues that shouldn’t really be issues for long.  I treated her for the Wry Neck, but ultimately it claimed her (which all the reading said it more than likely would).  Another of my birds now has it – since it is not supposed to be contagious, I am continuing to read on her symptoms. 

 

On to the latest issue.  Mites!  Yep.  Another bird – one who suffered a trauma a few months ago (severely attacked by the others when I tried to introduce her to the flock – in the “approved” manner) now has mites.  I did not recognize it until a couple of days ago.  I got the treatment and have treated her, but she isn’t doing so well.  I’m hoping by getting rid of the mites, I’ll be able to bring her back, but I have to say, I’m not hopeful.  My inexperience may have had too high a cost for her.  I feel incredibly guilty about this. 

I know I do my best, but I am sure my best could be better.  I continue to read, read, read.  I now “inspect” my birds regularly.  I check feet, notice comb color, watch who is eating/drinking and how vigorously they do so.  I keep the coops clean, watch for injuries and hope and pray. 

In the next month or so, I’ll be posting about each of the diseases or issues I’ve had.  I hope I am able to help you on your journey.  I want to be a “map” for you to follow that will keep you from having to blaze your own path.  If I can do that for even one of you, I’ll consider this a true gift.

  

 

Until next post – Blessings, Good Thoughts and a Very Happy Day!!

Time Passes

Time flies by when you're not looking.  When life gets busy and things get frantic, time passes even more quickly.  I want to apologize for leaving my readings hanging (I know you've been holding your breath waiting for my next crazy post - grin). 

Let's start by saying, I'm making progress!!!  Yes, I am.  It's slow and small, but it's progress.

For Thanksgiving, we took a trip to Texas to see our Daughter and NEW GRANDDAUGHTER!!!  Yep, we have a new Granddaughter.  Oh boy, oh boy is she adorable.  2 Beautiful Granddaughters now. 

Christmas came and went, quietly.  It was a time of remembering why we celebrate the season and remembering family.  Gifts were small (not only did we not have the extra funds, but we wanted them more special and considering my son cried when he opened his, I believe this was accomplished) and family time was huge! 

Immediately after the holidays were over, we had a huge chore ahead of us.  Fix up the other home on the property.  Our son, his wife and our granddaughter (#1) needed a place to live.  So, while I went to work and cared for the garden (sad state that it was) and critters, hubby spent his days doing some serious fix ups.  Towards the end of Feb, the kids moved in. 

OH THE FUN I HAD!!!!!  Lydia (my granddaughter) and I took care of the critters every evening.  She helped hand out food, close pens and give out tons of loving.  We cured her fear of frogs - she still didn't love them, but I'll bet had they stayed, she may have gotten there - and bugs.  Let's face it, on a frog you simply CANNOT be afraid of creepy crawlies.  :-)  We weeded the gardens, picked beans and did a couple of craft projects. Sadly, the kids moved out after 3 months.  Lydia's Mom was home sick and the kids went back where they came from.  I really, really miss my chore buddy.

Now, we're back to just the two of us.  I'd say empty nesters, but with all these critters, who could possibly say that? 

So, the spring garden is fighting for it's life with all the weeds (you get the theme here if you've been with me a bit).  I'm winning, slowly, but I am winning.  Once I get it weed free, I'll be planting my winter garden.  The lettuces, turnips, radishes, beans and Holstein CowPeas did awesome.  The squash, so, so.  Not sure what the peanuts are doing yet, but the potatoes had a very poor showing.  Did I mention this is a new garden?  The original one turned out to be on a natural drainage slope for the property and I was constantly rebuilding rows and putting plants back in the ground.  This one is in a great area - the old horse pasture - and very close to the house, so it's convenient and I can look out the window of the kitchen and see it. 

The goats are doing well.  We did lose one of our babies.  Worms - the nasty little things.  I was devastated.  A friend had given me 2 babies just before we lost Hope.  I was grateful.   They've helped fill a void.  I'm milking Mollie now and she's a great milker.  We're learning day by day, the best way to keep a healthy herd.  I'm really learning the animals and can spot problems almost immediately and I address them.

The chickens are, well, a mess.  I have some new ones coming up.  They will be replacing many of the current layers.  I'm very unhappy with the current layers' attitudes.  They aren't personable or even semi-friendly.  This is not the flock I want.  So, with that said, I've hatched out a few Australorps and a few Frizzled Americaunas and will switch out once they're big enough to go into the Big Kids' pen. 

Now that you've had the update, let me share with you what's coming.  I'll be posting informative posts, more recipes and hopefully, more items that I make and offer at the market.  I'll share more specifics on what I do and the results I net with that doing.  If you have ideas or thoughts, please, please share them. 
Have you seen my FaceBook page?  I post a lot there - it's convenient and portable.  Check us out and Like our Page.  Facebook.com/Heritagepreserved.