That Quail Place Forum
Raising Gamebirds => Health Issues => Topic started by: Pheasant Hollow Farm on May 05, 2004, 08:48:20 AM
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This is the second Ring-necked Pheasant hen, that I have had in a two(2) week period that has died from being egg bound.
I have never had a hen die from this before. Could age be a prime factor cause of this? The hens in question were 3 years old.
Steve
Pheasant Hollow Farm :(
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This is definatly a calcium deffiency. Make sure all birds have access to oyster shells. Another possibility is a vitamin D3 defficiency which would effect their ability to matabolize calcium.
Age could be a factor, you may want to limit your breeder stock to 2 years. You may want to try two new things this year, possibly three. First of all plant spinach, if it will grow in the pen all the better if not dress a patch somewhere on your property. Throw a little lime out about 5lbs per 1000 square feet. Put on some fertalizer in the same amount with a value of 13-13-13. And finally sew in the seeds then just barely cover with dirt useing a rake. Keep moist for about a month. Spinach provides high levels of vitamin K which helps in egg development.
If it's feasible add a bit of vgetable oil to your feed. This will help the birds pass things easier. You can either top dress or mix enough for each day if you use standard or pelleted feed. If you use a grain mixture with added protien mix 1/4 cup for every 10 lbs. For top dressing just poor enough to saturate feed lightly but not become soaked.
One last thing to do is to add Russells Vitamin Pack to the drinking water in the suggested amount. This can be used at all times and is very good preventative medicine for an entire flock for various ailments including stress, disease and dehydration. It has the D3 in it.
The vegetable oil is just to get a quick remedy the other two are very cheap measures that can be employed all the time to make your flock a more reliable source of eggs.
Good luck