4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[egbert]

Hi,

 

I collected my Omlet chickens and their Eglu the Wednesday before last and have had some concerns re. their health ever since.

 

The Gingernut Ranger seems well and is laying every day and has been since day 1, whereas the Miss Pepperpott is only intermittently laying.

 

The first egg she produced appeared speckled, but having thought about it and looking at more recent eggs, I believe that it was very blood spattering. This has since cleared up, but I would like to know what might have caused this?

 

She has also been sneezing every day and although Omlet have sent me some Cirticidal which I have been using since Saturday, her sneezes are still continuing. When I collected her, she had mash stuck to her beak and I did ask the chap there whether or not it was anything to worry about, but he said no. She still gets bits stuck to her beak every day due to her runny nose.

 

Another cause for concern is the colour of her face - it is often white, but occasionally quite red. Which should it be?

 

They are being fed the Omlet Organic food and I have been mixiing Bokashi Bran, Garlic, Poultry Spice, and Dioatoms into this. They have been free ranging every day and have been offered grapes as treats, although they have since learned how to help themselves from the vine!

 

I found a single Red Mite under the roosting bars on the first clean and I have tried to cover all corners by disinfecting with Johnson's and liberally spreading Red Mite Powder around the Eglu. I have also used this and Lice Powder on both birds. Finally I have ordered some Flubenvet and will be worming them as soon as this arrives.

 

It would be great if someone could stop me from worrying!

[Groovychook]

Hello

 

I don't know the answer to all your questions but the reddening face is just a sign that she's ready to lay and I'm sure it's nothing to worry about.

 

Just thought I should mention that Diatom is something that you can sprinkle in their dust bath, nest box and roosting bars to help prevent red mite. As far as I know, it's not something to be adding to their food.

 

Hope that helps a little... it's a real worry when you first get your girls!

So many things to remember!

[Jools]

Well the sneezing could be a concern, or it could be nothing more than the reaction to a dusty environment ..... lots of red mite powder. I had a bantam susceptible to the same thing.

 

However, Mycoplasma is fairly common in poultry and brought on by stress, like moving to a new home. If that's what she has, then she (and her eglu mate) will need antibiotics from the vet to clear it up.

 

Some chickens do lay speckled eggs, of varying intensity at different times. Do the speckles wash off? If so, it is blood, it's most likely to be the result of lice or mites.

 

The paler colour of the intermittent layer might be a worry, but if she's not in full flow yet, it could be that she's just not in full flow yet. Or it could be a sign that she's under the weather because of mycoplasma.

 

If it is mycoplasma, it won't clear up on its own, or with citridical. A trip to the vets is the only answer.

 

Keeping chickens seems so simple at first, then you go through the OMG they have everything wrong with them, before settling down to they are animals and they do have problems but not everything is life-threatening. Honestly, they are worth it and I hope you enjoy your's too.

[egbert]

Thanks for the reassurance regarding her face colour!

 

Re. the diatom: I have set up a dust bath for them inside their run, using a large gravel tray containing play sand and diatom, but they have completely ignored this!

 

It does actually say on the box though that the suggested rate of feed is 5%, so I have been following that. Is that not what others do?

[Groovychook]

If it says on the container that you can add it to food, then go for it! Sorry if I worried you- I wasn't aware you could use it in that way!

 

As for them ignoring the dust bath, mine wouldn't go anywhere near theirs for a while- I'm sure they'll get the hang of it soon!

[egbert]

OK, I have done some reading about Mycoplasma and I really hope that it is not this!

 

I will monitor the girls until Friday and if the sneezing hasn't stopped by then I will contact Omlet again.

 

One thing that I did miss out in my original post was that the Pepperpot did come with a few pulled and broken feathers from her back, so I think she was being picked on in her holding pen, but that might not be relevant.

 

I was certainly not expecting to have to make a visit to the vets within two weeks of getting chickens.

 

I have held back on naming the girlsuntil I am sure that they will both be with me for some time; wait and see I suppose.

[sjp]

you shouldn't need to worm them yet unless they've been on grass for a few months

as for diatom I don't think you need to put it in there feed all the time with powders added to feed it best to add cod liver oil it helps it to stick otherwise the powder settles to the bottom of the feeder .

the runny nose could just be a cold or from the stress of the move/new home you might need to get some repite if its not to bad or a trip to the vets for baytril but that carries the problem of egg withdrawl

[Egluntyne]

The single mite you found could have been a red spider mite. Red mite usually hang around in clusters.

[Space Chick]

I have a warren (same as a ginger nut ranger) that is a sneezer. Her chest is clear, she's happy, otherwise healthy and laying well. I put it down to a mild allergic reaction to the diatom, red mite powder, hemcore, something I am using.

[..lay a little egg for me]

When we got our chickens, one was always sneezing and then after a couple of days started having a rattly chest. We returned her to the supplier and got a replacement. Then one of the others started sneezing. As she seemed OK in herself, and was my DS's favourite chook, I did not try to take her back. She was sneezy for about a week and then it started to clear up. I put it down to the stress of moving home and having to sort out the pecking order in the new flock.

 

A lot of people seem to find their new chooks start sneezing so I think the move is v stressful for them and any colds going around come out (just like kids at the start of the new school term! ). If she seems well in herself, I would not take her to the vet but keep up the citricidal. If her breathing starts to sound rattly though, it may be worth a vet visit. But since most vets seem to know zip about chickens, you may not get the best advice from them

[LJ's Chooks]

I put diatom in their food give it a quick swizz around every day, and i'm sure they are getting some cos i found a worm in their poo, so it does help on that front.

 

Dont be too concerned, the chooks are settling in and it's also about us chicken mums settling in too... you will be totally paranoid to start with, but its how you learn. They are fantastic.... I certainly cannot say it will be a walk in the park, cos we have had issues, but the rewards by far outway the downsides... I bet you already have names in your head, even if you have not uttered them to the chooks.

 

Ohh and watch out... they are verrrrrry addictive!!! We started with two.... say no more!!!!

 

try not to worry too much an this is a great place to ask questions! We all started here once ... good luck and welcome

[egbert]

Thanks all for the encouraging words of advice.

 

I am pretty certain that it was a red mite that I saw and not a red spider mite and I think that this was carried in on one of the chickens.

 

Although they shouldn't really need worming yet, they have been free ranging on the lawn and I would like to ensure that this base is covered.

 

Unfortunately, the Gingernut Ranger has also started sneezing today so I am a little worried about that, but less so now I suppose.

 

Names - we have named them I suppose, but my OH is using these more than I am, as I still think that there is a possibility that they will need replacing. Miss Pepperpott = Doris and Gingernut Ranger = Margaret!

 

Addictive, tell me about it! Even though I am very paranoid about their health at the moment, I have thought about selling my little fishing boat that is sat on a hard standing outside the house and building a WIR with a ! But that will definately come later, when I am convinced I have healthy chickens.

 

In the meantime, I am going to give Omlet a quick call to keep them in the picture.

[egbert]

Update - I have spoken to Omlet and I must say that I am rather unimpressed.

 

They have suggested that I buy some Avipro and try that, any thoughts?

 

They have also suggested that I e-mail barbara@omlet.co.uk to ask her advice, which is what I have done.

[cluckbok]

I would see how she goes and if she still bad maybe take her to the vet, but call Omlet first to see what they say.

 

We've had to take our poor Rosie to the vets today as she has a chest infection, she sounds like she's got asthma! he gave her some Baytril and said if that doesn't work, then nothing will, so we are hoping

 

We've had her nearly 2 years and she's a much loved pet.

 

I hope your chook gets well soon, it may be just a move that's upset her.

[egbert]

Thanks for the reply and I hope that Rosie makes a quick recovery.

 

I have received a reply from Barbara at Omlet and I am much more impressed and relaxed.

 

For the time being I will order some Avipro, continue with the Citricidal and monitor both girls.

 

Has anyone bought some Avipro online recently and able to suggest the best place to get it from?

[quickcluck]

I got mine from here

 

http://www.viovet.co.uk/p3681/Avipro_Plus_-_300g/product_info.html

 

It was here the following day

 

Hope they are feeling better soon and you can throw yourself into enjoying your chooks!

[egbert]

Thanks for the Avipro link, some is now on its way to me!