How Quickly Does Albendazole Work?

[Cambridge chiks]

Hi all,

 

We've recently got 3 girls , all point of lay. We're concerned about the health of the smallest one as occasionally she holds her beak open for a few seconds and cranes her neck up. After a bit a Internet research it seems that this could be symptomatic of a cold/flu, or some sort of parasite? Her comb is noticeably paler then the other 2. We did a quick examination and can't see any discharge from the eyes or nose. Her vent also looks clean and white. A majority of her droppings are moist and yellowy, much like the second photo of poo on the omlet chicken health section.

 

Otherwise she's perky and bright-eyed, and darts about the garden flapping her wings.

 

As this is our first time we're concerned for her health and would appreciate any experienced advice. Should we take her to a vet? If so, could anyone recommend a vet in the Cambridge area?

 

Many thanks,

 

[Egluntyne]

She could just be shifting food down her gullet.

 

If she had gapeworm, ordinarily she would be doing it constantly, and coughing and shaking her head in an attempt to shift the parasite.

 

If she isn't thriving it is always worth asking a vet's opinion.

 

Have they been wormed recently?

 

Any signs of lice on her or redmite in the housing?

 

Does her chest sound wheezy or rattly?

 

Is her main diet Layers pellets with just a few extras?

[Cambridge chiks]

Hi Egluntine,

 

Many thanks for your reply.

 

She’s definitely not doing it constantly, I’ve literally seen her do it 5 – 6 times in the last 2 weeks. It just stood out because we’ve not seen the other 2 do it at all.

 

Difficult to tell if she’s thriving or not. This morning she seemed full of energy as usual. Of the 3 birds she’s the smallest, but what she lacks in size she makes up for in attitude. She’s the first out of the coop in the morning, seems more confident and inquisitive than the others, and has even chased off the cats a few times. It’s just that this is our first time and we’re a little worried – me seemingly more so than my wife.

 

The birds were fully inoculated by the supplier (local farm with pet shop), not 100% if this includes worming, I’ll check with them later.

 

We’ve looked through her feathers and skin and can’t see any lice. We cleaned the coop after the first week of having them, let the various compartments dry fully in the sun, and then generously dusted red-mite powder around the coop. Not checked since for lice in the coop, but will do this weekend when we clean it again.

 

It did sound like her chest was a little rattly yesterday, but not weezy. I’ll check again tonight. I did wonder if she was getting too cold at night. We looked in on them one night and they were huddled together in a bundle in one of the nesting boxes. Very cute but could this indicate a poorly insulated coop?

 

Her main diet is indeed layers pellets with a few extras. These include corn, some veggie s"Ooops, word censored!"s, and whatever bugs and worms she finds when roaming around the garden. There’s also a bowl of grit for them.

 

Fingers crossed it’s nothing serious, we’ll keep an extra eye on her this weekend and maybe take her to a vet too.

[Egluntyne]

Sounds as if you have got all bases covered.

 

I would just keep an eye on the rattly chest, and if it persists or worsens, a trip to the vet might be a good idea.

[Cambridge chiks]

>> Sounds as if you have got all bases covered.

That's great to hear, thanks!

[Budgies]

Cambridge Chiks, just to say that the huddling together in the coop at night is normal chickeny behaviour - they love to snuggle up. I don't think heat or cold has any bearing on this behaviour - my girls used to squeeze in the nesting box together sometimes to sleep, even one on top of the other!

 

Hope your little lady improves soon, I'm with Eglutine, if it persists or gets worse a rattly chest should be seen by your vet.

 

Good luck!