Fowl Not Foul Flock Diary

June 2001

On 31st May I noticed the Green the ex-battery hen had an impacted crop. I flushed the crop out three times using a crop tube and lukewarm water, and I managed to remove all of the crop's contents apart from one stubborn fibrous and doughy lump about the size of a large marble. On the following day I checked Green, hoping that she would have passed the lump during the night, but it was still there. I flushed Green's crop again, but unfortunately could still not remove or break down the lump - though I could feel that it was smaller than it had been on the previous day. This made me hope that Green would be able to slowly pass the lump, and that she would be clear by the next day. On 2nd June the lump in Green's crop was slightly bigger. I tried to flush her crop out again, but still could not shift the lump. I gave her some extra grit, and hoped that with the help of the grit, Green would be able to pass the lump herself. But on the morning of 3rd June I found that Green had not been able to pass the lump.

On 3rd June I noticed that White Tara had been in the nestbox for rather a long time. I removed her and examined her, finding that she had a swollen abdomen. I suspected that she might be having trouble laying an egg. I left her to it for another couple of hours, hoping that she would be able to pass the egg. But she couldn't. At lunchtime I gave her a couple of drops of olive oil via her beak, and a few ml into her vent. I placed her in a warm, private nestbox and left her alone. I checked on her at early evening, and found that she had still not laid the egg, so I bathed her abdomen with a warm damp flannel for about 20 minutes before placing her back in the nestbox. On the next day she still had not passed the egg, so I made an appointment for her at the Vets. I also made an appointment for Green, who had still not been able to pass the blockage in her crop.

The Vet (an experienced Avian Vet gave White Tara an internal examination, but could not definitely feel an egg. There was definitely something abnormal inside White Tara, so we decided to have her x-rayed (but not under anaesthetic). The x-ray revealed that there was a large solid unidentifiable mass inside the hen, which took up almost all of her abdomen. The Vet also noticed a slight cyanosis (blueing) to one of the spikes of her comb, indicating that she was suffering from pasteurella. We then decided that the best thing to do with White Tara would be to give her euthanasia.

White Tara and Green will not be forgotten.

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The Vet and I discussed the Pasteurella problem with a view to the prospects for the rest of the flock. I had been researching the internet, and the Vet verified the information I had found. If I'd owned a commercial flock, the whole lot would have to be culled immediately. As the flock are pets (and the Vets know how much we care about our chickens), the Vet suggested that we cull birds as soon as they showed signs of illness. We discussed keeping the birds alive with drugs, but they'd need more antibiotic treatment, and any which recovered would remain carriers of the disease for the rest of their lives, passing it on to any new birds which arrived in future. Excessive use of antibiotics is against my principles (please seeThe Drugs Don't Work - Factory Farming's Threat to Human Health ), so we decided that it would be best, in the long run, to cull the birds. He was very sorry to give us the bad news, and was very nice about the whole thing.

I brought the bodies home for post-mortem. I found the following in White Tara:- There was a thick (1 cm thick) layer of subcutaneous fat, then a membrane, then another thick (about 1 cm (min) to 2 cm (max) thickness) layer of yellow fat surrounding the thin transparent sac holding the intestines. The gizzard and proventriculus also had a thick layer of yellow fat, the fat around the gizzard 2cm thick on average. The large white mass was a huge lump of caseous material which had collected inside a loop of the intestines (maybe started to develop in the 'stalk of the yolksac' between the jejunum and ileum). The intestines before this lump looked pinkish and healthy; after the lump the intestines were greyish-brown looking. The lump itself was the consistency of children's plasticine, and the size of two and a half tennis balls moulded together. I cut into the lump to see if I could find anything inside, but it was just this solid cheesey material. I'm amazed the hen was able to produce normal feaces with all that going on inside her! The huge lump had pushed the gizzard and proventriculus up into the chest area. The reproductive system looked as though it had been redundant for a long time (I could find no developing yolks). Contents of chest cavity and everything else appeared normal (normal-looking liver and lungs). I'm completely guessing that this means that White Tara had a localised pasteurellosis infection which had concentrated itself in the intestines and caused them to secrete masses of caseous material.

Alektor the Barnevelder seemed perfectly happy to stop being broody when her infertile eggs were taken away from her at the end of May, and she quickly adjusted to normal chicken behaviour over a few days, which she spent mostly wandering about clucking, and fluffing herself out, spreading her wings and growling at any bird which came too near her. Alektor had lost weight while brooding the eggs, and had a huge appetite. Coincidentally, while Alektor was adjusting to normal behaviour, Ayam Betina was showing signs of broodiness. She would be found sitting in a nestbox on eggs, and would fluff herself out if disturbed - I shut her in a nestbox on her own to see if she was serious, but she didn't keep to it, so I let her out again after a day or so.

Even before we had the bad news about the pasteurella infection in the flock, we had been trying to find a new home for the geese. I wanted them to go to a place where they would have access to much more grass, and ideally a lake or river to splash, wash and swim about in. Unfortunately, it was almost impossible to find a home for them - and now that they had been exposed to the pasterurella infection, there was no hope for them. We made the difficult decision to give them euthanasia before they got sick, and end their lives when they were still happy birds.

On 6th June we took the geese to the Vet for euthanasia. They died peacefully and with dignity. They will not be forgotten.

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I asked the Vet his opinion on killing chickens by neck dislocation. He agreed that it was more humane than other chicken killing methods, and said that he had no problem with despatching chickens that way, as long as the person doing it knew what they were doing.

Basic Table of Flock Status, June 2001

Entries made on 6th June are coloured Blue. Entries made after 6th June and nearer 16th June are coloured Red.

Bird name.	Breed.	Sex.	Age (years).	Egg laying?	Signs of cyanosis to comb and/or other symptoms?
Michael Caine Alan Partridge Brahma	Brahma	f	5 or more	yes, occaisionally, avg. 1 per week	none
Roadkill	cross bred bantam crossed with large spangled leghorn	f	3 yrs and 7 months	yes, regularly, avg. 1 per day stopped laying, became broody	slight cyanosis to comb blade
Duracell	ex-battery	f	4 or more	yes, regularly, avg. 1 every 3 days	slight cyanosis to comb blade hanging around in nestbox a lot
9-Volt	ex-battery	f	4 or more	yes, regularly, avg. 1 every 3 days	none looking fluffed and lethargic
Professor Hawking	ex-battery	f	3 or more	yes, regularly, avg. 1 every 2 days producing less, avg 1 every 3 days	none hanging around in nestbox a lot
Little Wing	Jersey Giant	f	2 years 1 month	yes, regularly, avg. 1 every other day producing less, avg 1 every 3 days	none
Ashley	Exchequer Leghorn	f	2 years 1 month	yes, regularly, avg. 1 per day	slight cyanosis to comb blade
Flathead	Ancona	f	2 years 1 month	yes, regularly, avg. 1 every other day producing less, avg 1 every 3 days	slight cyanosis to comb blade, also possibly arthritic legs sitting down a lot, though not alarmingly more than usual
Red	ex-battery	f	2 or more	Can't say for definite if she actually lays every day, but egg numbers indicate an, avg. 1 per day producing less, avg 1 every 3 days	none
Orange	ex-battery	f	2 or more	Can't say for definite if she actually lays every day, but egg numbers indicate an, avg. 1 per day producing less, avg 1 every 3 days	none slight cyanosis to comb blade
Yellow	ex-battery	f	2 or more	Can't say for definite if she actually lays every day, but egg numbers indicate an, avg. 1 per day producing less, avg 1 every 3 days	none slight cyanosis to comb blade
Brown & Red	ex-battery	f	2 or more	Can't say for definite if she actually lays every day, but egg numbers indicate an, avg. 1 per day producing less, avg 1 every 3 days	slight cyanosis to comb blade slight cyanosis to comb blade, fluffed & lethargic, also possibly arthritic legs as she has developed a creeping gait.
Yellow & Black striped	ex-battery	f	2 or more	Can't say for definite if she actually lays every day, but egg numbers indicate an, avg. 1 per day producing less, avg 1 every 3 days	none slight cyanosis to comb blade, looking fluffed and lethargic
Blue	ex-battery	f	2 or more	yes, regularly, avg. 1 per day producing less, avg 1 every 2 days	none
Purple & Red striped	ex-battery	f	2 or more	Can't say for definite if she actually lays every day, but egg numbers indicate an, avg. 1 per day producing less, avg 1 every 3 days	none
Lilac	ex-battery	f	2 or more	yes, regularly, avg. 1 per day producing less, avg 1 every 2 days	none
Red & Pink	ex-battery	f	2 or more	Can't say for definite if she actually lays every day, but egg numbers indicate an, avg. 1 per day producing less, avg 1 every 3 days	none slight cyanosis to comb blade, looking fluffed and lethargic
Pink	ex-battery	f	2 or more	Can't say for definite if she actually lays every day, but egg numbers indicate an, avg. 1 per day producing less, avg 1 every 3 days	none
Grey	ex-battery	f	2 or more	Can't say for definite if she actually lays every day, but egg numbers indicate an, avg. 1 per day producing less, avg 1 every 3 days	none
Red & Yellow striped	ex-battery	f	2 or more	Can't say for definite if she actually lays every day, but egg numbers indicate an, avg. 1 per day producing less, avg 1 every 3 days	none
Red & Black striped	ex-battery	f	2 or more	Can't say for definite if she actually lays every day, but egg numbers indicate an, avg. 1 per day producing less, avg 1 every 3 days	none
Orange & Black striped	ex-battery	f	2 or more	Can't say for definite if she actually lays every day, but egg numbers indicate an, avg. 1 per day producing less, avg 1 every 3 days	none
White	ex-battery	f	2 or more	Can't say for definite if she actually lays every day, but egg numbers indicate an, avg. 1 per day producing less, avg 1 every 3 days	none looking fluffed and lethargic
Black	ex-battery	f	2 or more	Can't say for definite if she actually lays every day, but egg numbers indicate an, avg. 1 per day producing less, avg 1 every 3 days	none
Brown	ex-battery	f	2 or more	Can't say for definite if she actually lays every day, but egg numbers indicate an, avg. 1 per day producing less, avg 1 every 3 days	none looking fluffed
Orange, Red & Grey multicoloured	ex-battery	f	2 or more	Can't say for definite if she actually lays every day, but egg numbers indicate an, avg. 1 per day producing less, avg 1 every 3 days	none looking fluffed
Sillyoggin	Indian Game	m	8 months	n/a	none
Ayam Betina	Barnevelder	f	8 months	yes, regularly, avg. 1 per day producing less, avg 1 every 2 days	none looking fluffed and lethargic, hanging around in nestbox a lot
Alektor	Barnevelder	f	8 months	none lately, due to broodiness producing less, avg 1 every 3 days	none looking fluffed and lethargic, hanging around in nestbox a lot, sits down a lot, thin and weak, finds it difficult to walk
Jogoo	Marans	f	8 months	yes, regularly, avg. 1 per day producing less, avg 1 every 2 days	none looking fluffed and lethargic
Pivnyk	Marans	m	8 months	n/a	none
Ceiliog	Cream Legbar	m	8 months	n/a	slight cyanosis to comb tips plumage looking scruffy and worn
Kellagh	Cream Legbar	m	8 months	n/a	slight cyanosis to comb tips plumage looking scruffy and worn
Kura	Silver Campine	m	8 months	n/a	slight cyanosis to comb blade sudden, severe lameness to right leg. Hock joint warm to the touch.
Kuritsa	Silver Campine	f	8 months	yes, regularly, avg. 1 every other day producing less, avg 1 every 4 days, may even have stopped	none occaisionally looking fluffed and lethargic
Moojee	Cream Legbar	f	8 months	yes, regularly, avg. 1 every other day. Shells sometimes show thickened bands producing less, avg 1 every 3 days	none looking slightly fluffed, plumage looking scruffy and worn
Pita	Cream Legbar	f	8 months	yes, regularly, avg. 1 per day producing less, avg 1 every 3 days	slight cyanosis to comb tips (this bird has a rose comb) looking slightly fluffed, plumage looking scruffy and worn
Dave Gorman	Silkie	f	6 months	no - though fast approaching point of lay has begun laying, avg 1 per day	none discernible - any would be difficult to see anyway, as the Silkie has blue-black skin.
Fakey	unidentified bantam	f	unknown	yes, regularly, avg. 1 per day	none
Cab	unidentified bantam	f	unknown	yes, regularly, avg. 1 per day	none looking slightly fluffed

• Those showing the tiniest signs of illness on the outside would be culled sooner, as even a tiny sign of disease on the outside means that the bird is going through hell inside.
• Less chickens would cut down on the chicken feed bill.
• It would be better to cull those showing small signs of illness now, than to wait for them to look really ill and suffering.

So, the first batch to be culled would be:-
Red, Orange, Yellow, Brown & Red, Yellow & Black striped, Blue, Purple & Red striped, Lilac, Red & Pink, Pink, Grey, Red & Yellow striped, Red & Black striped, Orange & Black striped, White, Black, Brown, Orange, Red & Grey multicoloured, the most recently rescued ex-battery hens - because they had already had much more of an exciting and free life than they would have had in battery cages. Also because we had not had them for very long, and therefore were not quite as attached to them as to some of the other chickens.

Flathead the Ancona would also be culled, because she had been having difficulties walking for a long time, and had spent a lot of time sitting down, especially over the past few months.

I was very upset that the Cream Legbar brothers Ceiliog and Kellagh were showing cyanosis to the tips of their combs, and reluctantly we added those to the cull-list also.

As the days went by I noticed that Alektor, the Barnevelder who had been broody, was rather wobbly on her feet

On 12th June I found Alektor the Barnevelder collapsed on the ground when I went to put the birds to bed for the night. She couldn't walk or even stand, and could not open one of her eyes. When I picked her up, the flow of Reiki started, very strongly of its own accord...it felt so strong that my hands were almost unbearably hot. The hen's heart had been beating irregularly when I first found her, but within seconds of the flow starting, the heart calmed down and became regular. She was able to open both her eyes. The hen just lay relaxed completely in my hands. When I moved one hand to treat her head, she rested her head right into my hand, gradually her eyes closed and she went to sleep. I don't know how long I treated her for time seems to stretch and contract somehow during Reiki) but eventually I gently put her back in her house, being careful not to disturb her sleep.

In the morning I was amazed to discover that little Alektor could walk again, and could open both her eyes, and was looking much, much better. She could walk about with the rest of the flock, albeit gingerly, and she seemed happier.
I also noticed that Ayam Betina was looking fluffed, and rather more dull than usual.
I sent the flock Reiki during the week - hopefully it helped those who were feeling ill.

Unfortunately, because they were looking so obviously sick, I added Ayam Betina and Alektor to the cull list.

Roadkill became persistently broody, so I let her sit on some eggs. She took them from me almost as fast as I could give them to her. She rolled each egg underneath her body with her beak, and shuffled them into position with her wings. She fluffed herself up, and clucked to the eggs as I shut the door to the rabbit hutch she had nested in.

One morning when I let the chickens out, I noticed that Kura was limping severely on his right leg. I have no idea how this happened, as he had been perfectly ok on the previous day. He may have fallen off his perch during the night, or knocked himself somehow during a tussle with another bird. He couldn't actually bear weight on the right leg, and held it up most of the time. He got around by hopping on his left leg. The limp didn't seem to bother him very much, and he even managed his regular morning persual of Pivnyk without much trouble. I caught Kura with some difficulty because even on one leg he was far too quick and agile for me!
I brought him into the house for a close inspection. I could find no breakages or dislocations, so Kura must have strained or pulled a muscle or ligament. I sat him on my lap and gave him Reiki. He sat still and relaxed for about half an hour, then he got up, so I put him back in the garden. When I let him go I noticed that he still held his leg up most of the time, but he did let it touch the ground occaisionally.

I continued to send the flock Reiki during the week.

On the afternoon of Friday 15th June I rigged up a tarpaulin shelter in the garden. This would act as a slaughter tent, and a screen to prevent any neighbours (and especially their children) seeing the cull in progress if they came near. The chickens didn't like the large green tarpaulin, and avoided going under it at first, but soon lost their nervousness when they saw me walking about underneath it.

Early in the morning of Saturday 16th June, I collected a camera from Ridwan Hughes and made a farewell video of the chickens while they were still alive. (Video clips will be digitised and added to the Obituaries Page).

At about 10.30 am on the morning, Bob and Jim arrived dressed in overalls and fully prepared for the task ahead. They were very nice men, and were sympethetic with us, and with the chickens. One by one I handed Jim the chickens on the cull-list, and he quickly and expertly dealt with them. He also taught Bob and Colin the skill. Some of the birds' necks were easier to dislocate than others. The bodies, after they had finished their reflex flapping, were placed out of sight into old feed bags. We had a tea break and discussed the whole flock carefully. We came to the conclusion that it would be best for the chickens, and for the local wildlife, if we went ahead and culled the whole flock at once. It would also be better for us in the long run, because then we would be able to get more chickens sooner rather than later, and not have to worry about the welfare and happiness of any sick ones.

I made another video of the birds that hadn't been on the original cull-list, so that they could be remembered. After the video was finished, we finished our tea, and got on with the job. I decided that it was about time that I was taught the skill, and I managed to kill one chicken. There definitely is a knack to it, and I advise that if anyone inexperienced tries to kill a chicken this way, they need someone experienced to show them exactly how it is done.

Eventually all the chickens had gone. We thanked Jim and Bob for helping. Just as they were taking their wellies off ready to change back into their shoes, I heard a rustle in the shed. The rustle was coming from underneath a large pile of plastic bags waiting to be recycled. I searched among the bags and found Kuritsa. She had obviously realised what was happening and had gone to hide in the shed. I would have liked to have kept her due to her intelligence, but unfortunately she would have infected any new chickens with pasteurella if she did not die of it herself in the future. So unfortunately she had to go as well.

A Special Obituaries Page has been made for all the fowl. They will not be forgotten.

There will be more chickens in the months to come.

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Thanks to the following people for their help through this difficult time, and for their help with the fowl over the years:-