superjules Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 Some of us omleteers from Herts/beds area went to the talk on "Starting with Chickens" by Frank at Thorne's today. Obviously, we already know a lot from being on here all the time, but there were a couple of things that came up that I hadn't heard before: The spores from bark chippings can cause botulism if the chickens eat any Cleaning your henhouse with Jeyes fluid can cause vent gleet And the "quote of the day" was when Frank compared a pure-breed hen to a lawnmower - neither get used during the winter! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 Thanks Superjules. Interesting about the Vent gleet and Jeyes Fluid, remember someone on the forum recently with vent gleet - maybe that was the cause. Will remember that now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 Vent gleet . Never 'eard of that - sounds nasty . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 Glad I am not the only one - what is vent gleet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 Glad I am not the only one - what is vent gleet? Found this on an Aussie site: "Vent gleet is a messy, smelly discharge which causes swollen, reddened skin and sticky, soiled feathers around the vent. There is usually a coating of white crusty material as well. The affected hen may look depressed, she produces only a few eggs or stops laying. Vent gleet may be contagious, so remove the affected hens from your flock. Cleansing and veterinary treatment may clear the problem but in most cases humane culling is a kinder alternative." Also: "Vent Gleet cloacitis, or pasted vent, is very common with chicks, and a rare condition with adult birds. It can be fatal if not treated. Symptoms: In chicks, especially in the first two weeks, droppings stuck to the vent which wont allow the chick to evacuate it's bowels. Adult birds show similar symptoms. Treatment: Use a warm, damp towel, to remove hardened droppings from the vent, and make sure chicks are kept in a warm, draft free area, feed chick starter with grit available to them, and have a clean water supply. Chicks will typically get over this on their own after a couple of weeks. This can be genetic, so any bird that keeps having this problem should be culled. Retrieved from "http://www.gamefowlfacts.org/wiki/Vent_Gleet" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 The affected hen may look depressed No blooming wonder . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwichick Posted April 7, 2008 Share Posted April 7, 2008 Frank compared a pure-breed hen to a lawnmower - neither get used during the winter! Except here in sunny California Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted April 7, 2008 Share Posted April 7, 2008 Vent gleet is believed to be caused by a herpes type virus, in which case the use of Jeyes fluid is unlikely to be the cause (although it could probably aggravate the symptoms). Having said that, I don't think I'd like to use Jeyes in a hen house anyway - very harsh stuff! Good quote about the pure breeds and lawnmowers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted April 7, 2008 Author Share Posted April 7, 2008 An irritated vent can't be very nice either way. Having researched it a little more, lots of conditions which cause irritation and "pasting of the vent" , including yeast infections, all seem to be lumped together under the term vent gleet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pickles Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 i was there to.Picked up some interesting info. Do you recall when Frank said the next talk would be, im sure he mentioned one in may for incubating eggs. I would like to go along. Jules just looked at your gallery, think i must have been standing next to you with my husband, huddled up keeping warm. Hubby wasnt really interested in talk, but at least he came along for the ride. Was good to show him all the diff breed chickens they stock there to. Luckily he liked the ones i want to get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 Shame we didn't know you were there. Superjules, Jules, Jomaxsmith and I were all stood together. It was a mini meet. Next time we'll need a secret signal Didn't notice when Frank said the next talk was. Did you hear him take the **** about feeding chickens porridge? So glad the girls didn't hear him. They would have had his eyes out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pickles Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 yes did hear the porridge comment, thats how i worked out i was prob standing next to you all. Funny guy, few strange views but seemed very knowledgeable. Im sure he said 4th may, but that is a bank holiday weekend, do they usually have them then? Would like to learn more about incubating, currently got 7 quails in my new little incubator, only been cooking since last thursday though. Tried to candle earlier, in a word wasnt happening. Not sure how you are supposed to see past all the markings on the shells. Might well get my new birds from Thornes, seem well looked after. Is Frank there all the time tending to them? ive only ever spoken to the tall slim guy and seen the tall slim one with the accent. was stood next to you all. just working out who you all are now. Did you have the woolly hat on? i was stood with my husband in a parker coat, mousy hair glasses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pickles Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 i will have to wear a rose in my lapel next time LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 I had the "Ooops, word censored!"nal Hat. That's how I get spotted. Frank is very knowledgable but also very stuck in his way's. I don't go to Thornes very often as I would only want to buy more chickens. The best person to talk to is Superjules. I think she has moved in there Haven't you Jules? Don't know anything about hatching but I'm sure any questions you have Thornes will be able to help with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pickles Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 i only found out about it through you lot anyway i think, when i was asking if anyone knew of any local breeders as i was looking for some orps. Managed to only visit twice in this last month. Seeing as you are all experts with the eglu's do you know if i bought a rablu that it could be converted into a chicken eglu? wood the roosting bars fit into one, or would you have to swop the base or something? really cant afford to buy an eglu but keep looking, missed one that came up on here a few weeks ago Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 I think they do converter kits in the Omlet shop. http://www.omlet.co.uk/shop/shop.php?cat=Rabbit%20Extras&sub=conversion%20kits I don't really know how it works. I'm sure someone does. Have you tried posting on the rabbit section? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pickles Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 no not yet only came to me earlier, yet another master plan. just thought i would ask whilst you was on line. And have more experience than me of the eglus and this forum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted April 8, 2008 Author Share Posted April 8, 2008 He said the next talk is on the 4th May, they are going to change the format as it was too busy and Frank is worried that people aren't getting enough out of it that's specific to them so they are going to limit numbers to 25ish and you will have to book. I'm not going to that one as incubating is not for me and I wouldn't want to take up a place if they are limiting numbers. One of the women at Thorne's who works on the nursery side of it said that their day is not complete until I've been. Isn't that nice?!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 I'm not saying a word!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrandMrsG Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 Did you hear him take the **** about feeding chickens porridge? I'm curious Lisa as to why this guy took the **** about feeding chooks porridge. Is it bad for the chooks or something? I have to confess that I do share a little of my morning porridge which I mix in the girls layers mash and they love it, they eat every s"Ooops, word censored!" while at work during the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted April 8, 2008 Author Share Posted April 8, 2008 He thinks they are spoilt! It's just a lighthearted little dig at us folk who pander to their chooks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrandMrsG Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 That's cool, it's my privilege to pander to my chooks! I have a friend who looks after my chooks when I go away from time to time (she has a flock of 20 chooks) and she thinks I spoil my girls, I only have three chooks and I don't care whether I spoil them! May be I'd think differently if I had a flock of 20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted April 9, 2008 Share Posted April 9, 2008 That's cool, it's my privilege to pander to my chooks! I have a friend who looks after my chooks when I go away from time to time (she has a flock of 20 chooks) and she thinks I spoil my girls, I only have three chooks and I don't care whether I spoil them! May be I'd think differently if I had a flock of 20 Nah. I think you'ld still spoil them. I know I would. I'd love to have a flock of 20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted April 9, 2008 Share Posted April 9, 2008 I'm curious Lisa as to why this guy took the **** about feeding chooks porridge. Is it bad for the chooks or something? It was part of a theme on hens not needing _anything_ other than mash/pellets and drinking water to keep them in optimum laying health. Frank was actually quite stern on not feeding too many treats, especially mixed corn as that takes a long while to digest and makes them feel full so they don't take in enough mash/pellets for the rest of the day to see them through the night and to lay well. He gives a handful of corn to 9 hens 3 times a week only. 'Watery' treats like sweetcorn, cabbage and fruit are not as bad but should only be given at around mid-afternoon to allow the hens to digest them then go for more proper food before bed. It was a talk for beginners and therefore hobbyists so he wasn't anti spoiling them a little, just pointing out that it's not good to fill them with too many treats Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
druids57 Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 Hi Im sure that Someone posted on here maybe a week or two ago as they recently lost almost all her hens when they had vent gleet. Cant remember who though maybe if anyone does or knows how to trace back they could let her know about the jeyes fluid just in case she has unknowingly been using it. Druids Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...