Down Mulberry Lane

Update on chickens...

This morning I awoke and found another one.  I am down to 19 healthy chicks in the Production Red Flock, from 27.  I have one sick black australorp and one sick production red.  They are sitting in the front picture window in our parakeet cage.  The little red one I think will die.  The black one has been hanging on quite a while... a few days.  I have been doing some reading and am wondering if it is botulism.  Their bottoms are clean, they look otherwise healthy (feathers are good, no cuts, no oozings, etc.).  But they get floppy, like they are paralyzed... and that was a symptom of botulism and New Castle Disease (but they say there are no reports of new castle disease in the states... so I am leaning towards botulism).  They will develop paralysis of legs, wings and neck during the infection.  They will usually come out of it if they are older, which is why I think the older chick of about a month in age is hanging in there.  The little ones a week old or less have all died within hours of getting floppy. 

The sick ones are being hand fed and watered... what a bunch of work!  That and having sick kids on top of it!  My Megan got sick now... she said she didn't sleep well and started throwing up this morning.  My baby is getting better, but she is still a bit weak and her eating is not the best and she still is napping for long periods. 

I cleaned out the cage, and washed and sterilized everything that I could.  I boiled the water glass containers for 15-20 minutes each.  I cleaned the others with soap and water and then wiped down with rubbing alcohol.  Actually, I first dipped my plastic bottom of my waterer in the boiling water... don't do that!  It curled up in a banana shape.  That's when I decided to clean well and rub with alcohol. 

After that I cleaned out the brooder (the horse trough) and sterilized all the containers in the brooder.  What alot of work.  I am done sterilizing, but now I need to clean up my canning pot as that is what I boiled all the items in... but I needed a break.  I also went out and did outdoor chicken chores for my Megan.  Those chickens are so much friendlier than these little bunchkins we are now raising.  We have an assortment outside... some older bantams, buff orpingtons, one black wyandotte, some new hampshire reds and a few mutts... LOL.  They still lay a few eggs, just not very regularly.  (and yes we have a light on in the  barn, they are just old... most are 3yo). 

I am plum chickened out this morning.  I was thinking about supper and I'm thinking I'm going to avoid chicken tonight!  LOL

Warmly, ~Melissa