MJ's little flock

[RoyalChick]

The results aren't in yet. I don't usually learn the precise numbers because it's the recommendations that matter and those come from the vet who considers the bigger picture. But I will try to remember to ask for them.

But, yesterday's vet was Dr Jing and she was confident Edie would survive anything except cancer. Even if it turns out to be EYP, once Edie's blood is clotting, she can clean the infection up surgically and with antibiotics, then switch Edie on to Suprelorin to prevent recurrence. It's the first time I've heard someone say EYP is not a death sentence! I was very surprised.

Oh I do hope that is right. Once again I am stunned at the vet care available to you versus here. Very jealous!

 

[MaryJanet]

Oh I do hope that is right. Once again I am stunned at the vet care available to you versus here. Very jealous!

I'm stunned in the other direction. I always imagined the US to be so far ahead of Australia in terms of research and services. To my eyes, it's appalling that so few of my online friends can access even rudimentary support over the phone from a suitably qualified vet.

On the other hand, I count my blessings and recognise how privileged I am. It saves me a lot of time guessing and reading up and asking unqualified people who haven't even examined the chicken for support and worrying if I'm on the right track.

 

[MaryJanet]

Oh I do hope that is right. Once again I am stunned at the vet care available to you versus here. Very jealous!

She wouldn't have said it if it weren't right. No way. Doing so would be highly unethical and that profession in Australia is highly ethical - I was on a round table with several vets a few years ago and was impressed with the systemic ethical diligence they had set up and took for granted.

 

[ManueB]

Last night the youngsters discovered the picnic table.

And pooped on it. Twice. evidently, once is never enough!

Well, you did set the picnic for them so that's the least they could do !

The results aren't in yet. I don't usually learn the precise numbers because it's the recommendations that matter and those come from the vet who considers the bigger picture. But I will try to remember to ask for them.

But, yesterday's vet was Dr Jing and she was confident Edie would survive anything except cancer. Even if it turns out to be EYP, once Edie's blood is clotting, she can clean the infection up surgically and with antibiotics, then switch Edie on to Suprelorin to prevent recurrence. It's the first time I've heard someone say EYP is not a death sentence! I was very surprised.

Ok, now I understand better why you were so concerned that it could be EYP.
If we mistakenly led you to believe that it was always a death sentence, I have to apologise.
My thought is that the earlier it is diagnosed, the better the chance of long term survival. In the beginning, it's just egg yolk inside causing an infection from a bacteria ?
But I do also think that even if cured, a hen that had it once is more susceptible to getting it again, hence maybe the saying that we are just buying them months of life when treating.
Early targeted antibiotics+implant would be the best way to give the hen a chance. It's why I had Laure implanted preventively when she started laying eggs without the shells. And the implant is not legal in some US states, I believe ?

Also, I want to add that while cancer can not be cured, I have heard of some hens living a good 18 months after diagnosis, with only the last weeks being very difficult. In regard to the length of a chicken life that is quite long.

Your vets seem both knowledgeable and careful. Between them and you Edie couldn't get better care.

Hattie is much improved. Her eyes look great. Seems we got her over whatever was going on.

Thanks for checking.

I'm also very glad to read this. It's such a relief when a treatment solves a chicken's issue especially dear Hattie.

 

[MaryJanet]

The 2024 Egg Count is in.

Katie 173
Ivy 143
Mary 51
Edie 7
Peggy 0

Total 374

That's 83 fewer than last year's tally, which included 52 eggs from Janet, Joyce, and Christa, and 105 more eggs from Edie.

Mary is going very well and steadily tapering off her laying, and Peggy has survived being a laying hen, bless her black heart

It's very interesting to look back and see my plan for hatching, which was carried out once a broody was ready (Mary). I continue to wait for Ivy to go broody and will source half a dozen eggs for her when the time comes. Maybe I'll try a different provider as the ones from Pip n Grow seemed to have thin shells. Recent progress on that project is that the youngsters vacated the little coop last night and went to roost (uncomfortably) on its roof. I relocated them to the branch in the hens' roost. It'll be interesting to see what they choose tonight. If they neglect the coop for a week, I'll deep clean it and prep it for laying and setting.

 

[MaryJanet]

Well, you did set the picnic for them so that's the least they could do !

There wasn't any food there, just a dirty container on its way to being washed, but it seems that and a little curiosity were all it took for the little ones to hop up and time their poops.

Ok, now I understand better why you were so concerned that it could be EYP.
If we mistakenly led you to believe that it was always a death sentence, I have to apologise.
My thought is that the earlier it is diagnosed, the better the chance of long term survival. In the beginning, it's just egg yolk inside causing an infection from a bacteria ?
But I do also think that even if cured, a hen that had it once is more susceptible to getting it again, hence maybe the saying that we are just buying them months of life when treating.
Early targeted antibiotics+implant would be the best way to give the hen a chance. It's why I had Laure implanted preventively when she started laying eggs without the shells. And the implant is not legal in some US states, I believe ?

Also, I want to add that while cancer can not be cured, I have heard of some hens living a good 18 months after diagnosis, with only the last weeks being very difficult. In regard to the length of a chicken life that is quite long.

Your vets seem both knowledgeable and careful. Between them and you Edie couldn't get better care.

I'm also very glad to read this. It's such a relief when a treatment solves a chicken's issue especially dear Hattie.

My reading about EYP on BYC and on the wider internet is that it's not survivable. I don't recall you ever saying that. Your experience with suppressing ovulation with suprelorin stands out as an exception.

 

[RoyalChick]

She wouldn't have said it if it weren't right. No way. Doing so would be highly unethical and that profession in Australia is highly ethical - I was on a round table with several vets a few years ago and was impressed with the systemic ethical diligence they had set up and took for granted.

Oh I didn’t mean it that way. I meant with anything medical there is an element of uncertainty, so I was just hoping for the good outcome she predicts.

 

[MaryJanet]

Oh I didn’t mean it that way. I meant with anything medical there is an element of uncertainty, so I was just hoping for the good outcome she predicts.

Gotcha! Thanks for explaining.

 

[MaryJanet]

Sad face aside, she just went after the youngsters so I'm thinking her twice daily anti-inflammatory is working just fine!

 

[RoyalChick]

View attachment 4019635

Sad face aside, she just went after the youngsters so I'm thinking her twice daily anti-inflammatory is working just fine!

Oh dear. That is quite a look!
Mind you, Calypso doesn’t look much better because she decided to discard all her feathers just as we approach the coldest time of year. Why couldn’t she have opted for October? Even November would have been OK.