Feeding advice for bantams (one broody, one moulting)

[bluekarin]

Daisy has been laying soft eggs for well over a week now. Moonshine, did the odd one or two but she is back to laying again. To start with Daisy was looking really poorly (like she did when we first got her and we think she had a case of worms and we thought we were going to lose her) so I am Flubenveting them all this week. They do have a bowl of oyster shell but I am wondering if she isn't getting enough calcium? Seems odd as the other two are laying good eggs. I have added some powdered calcium horse stuff (can't remember what it is right now *) to their layers mash this evening to see if that helps. I was thinking that maybe she is going to moult as there have been quite a few of her white feathers around the run. Not a huge amount, but a noticiable amount. I've noticed some new feathers growing on her neck a few weeks ago. Can a moult go on for a long time? Cocoa however is absolutly fine. Trying to find her voice but its still pathetic compaired to the other twos; especially Moonshine.

 

*limestone powder!

 

Also, had a look at her when I went to shut them in and I have noticed a few lice on her. I shall be having a fun morning tomorrow. Not had to spray them before so it will be interesting. I take it I should do all three? Moonshine will be very difficult as not only is she black but she is not the friendliest chook.

 

NEW EDIT:

 

I've just sprayed my girls with Johnsons mite spray stuff *Not licensed for use on poultry in UK. Egg withdrawal period of 48 hours applies. My question is do you just do a few sprays as it says on the bottle or do you cover them in it? I've done about 8 sprays in total on the back of their necks and where I can on their bums - not being the most helpful they could have been today I've also sprayed the rest of the bottle (not much left so not the whole bottle) round their nest box and inside their house, just in case.

 

Also, am a bit confused as to what is best to use in their house and on them.

Xeno 200?

Red Mite Powder?

Diatom powder?

 

If I was to do the dunking method what would I use in the water?

 

Sorry its so many questions and I thought I knew what to do, but guess after nearly a year I am still a novice!

[xScrunchee]

Cannot answer all of your questions so thought I'd bump this up

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I squirted my girls' bums with 2 or 3 bursts of Johnsons (*not licenced for use on poultry in the UK*) .

 

I think it's Ivermectin you put on the back of their necks.

 

I've not used Xeno 200 but I understand that Red Mite powder is a preventative so could be sprinkled about the house/on chickens regularly and Diatom will kill the mites so again dust house/chickens if you have mites.

[bluekarin]

I've bought some Diatom powder (Scatts are getting really good at their poultry supplies) and have scattered it around the nest box and house and a bit where they usually do a dust bath. I also sprinkled a bit on them for good measure. I shall leave it a few days and check again but fingers are crossed that this has done the trick.

 

I'd still be interested in what people use when they dunk their chooks in a tub trug to treat them.

[beach chick]

we did 3-4 squirts of Johnsons on their bums, and one at the back of the neck for good luck on sunday!!

next day they seemed much brighter, more active and less preening. am also giving an extra high protein meal a day at the mo (cat food, scrambled egg...)

 

I sprinkle diatom, red mite powder and louse powder all over the house at the moment. also add any/all to the craters they have dug for dustbathing.

 

and I spray the cube with poultry shield once a week after hosing out and cleaning.

 

all of this is possibly overkill!! but the girls seem fine, and I hate the little beastie mitey crawley things.