Recent content by ChickenCanoe

Marek's is my first guess. There is no cure. Sorry.

Don't handle you birds for a few weeks.

If one knows weight loss has been insufficient, it is important to make significant changes in RH. Just dry it out as much as possible. Humidity isn't a set number. By that, I refer back to natural incubation. A hen doesn't have a hygrometer and she can't control weather. She has to make do. She...

I thought photosynthesis occurs with a certain amount of light so I think moonlight can be sufficient. Most plants certainly don't need direct sunlight. Any ambient light of sufficient candle power can cause the process.

Won't help. It is supposed to etch and harm the exoskeleton of things like slugs. But not something as microscopic as a coccidia protozoa. They are about 1/10,000,000 of a meter in length. Even vets and vet technicians with good microscopes sometimes have trouble identifying them.

After the initial shock, lone birds, especially lone hens tend to take chicks under their wing and soon watch over and guard them. I've even had cockerels adopt baby chicks after living alone for a while. Chickens love friends. The best is to give them plenty of space.

Oh, then you don't want to slaughter early. That would be like eating squab with even less meat. So you'll need to wait till they are a minimum of 15 weeks to get any size on them. That aging will create 2 conditions. Unlike Cornish X that only live 6-8 weeks, they haven't had time to run around...

Paying close attention to water (potential spills) and keeping bedding dry will make a huge difference.

From the looks of it, you could use it for chickens. Like everything else, all things in moderation. However, I should make you aware of a far superior product to boost the health and nutrition of chickens. It is Nutri-Drench. They are formulated for a variety of phylum, class and species...

What is JumpStart?

Did you already adjust humidity based on your belief they haven't lost enough weight? After adjusting humidity, it takes at least a couple days to see an appreciable change in weight loss. I would definitely move to weighing for accuracy. I used a couple inexpensive pocket gram scales for years...

OK, then I would probably do it now because I think they are done. What does your friend feed their birds? Type of feed, crude protein, mill date of feed, other foodstuffs? Feed not less than 2 months from mill date may have lost some vitamin content and amino acids. Vitamin A, D and E (among...

Definitely increase them. If they go crazy for them and eat till they are gone, there's your sign. I'd get a 50 lb. bag of crushed oyster shell. That will last you a year or two and you are assured she is getting enough. A bird that is producing more shells than they can replenish...

I would be worried. The problem is that with many things, including live animals, the USPS sub contracts to other venders. It could be UPS, FedEx or much smaller companies that fly that route. It is a juggling nightmare but none of those companies handling the packages has the ability to scan...

My first guess is a calcium issue. Does she eat the egg shells? I would try getting some oyster shell but for the time being, a calcium pill, maybe some tums.