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

[Valkyrie]

Apache is still moulting. I have Lifeguard in the water, poultry tonic in the food, they have been frontlined, dusted and wormed, but Apache is still looking very pale around the comb and eyes. Sioux is now jumping on poor patch and ripping out feathers (only started that nonsense today). Apart from that Apache feels lighter than normal but new feathers are now covering all the previous bald spots and she appears to be eating fine. I have Avipro'd their brekkers too. No sign of red mite in the run and it is all clean. What else can I do to boost her system?

[ClaireG]

Have you tried extra protein? Thats good for feather growth, either rinsed tuna or a little cat food.

[Jools]

It sounds like you're doing all you can tbh. Moulting really takes it out of some chickens and puts them under the weather for a while. Just carry on with the TLC and keep an eye on her for any change. Oh, and don't let Sioux start feather pecking her!

[Valkyrie]

I was wondering about the cat food - I thought I had seen something about that before. So far they have had a little tuna and loads of fresh mealworms (and dried) - running down my mini mealfarm (I have become terribly allergic), so they have been getting big, small, beetles and larvae.

I had bought some anti-pecking spray as a precaution and this evening I squirted Apache with some - and as it ponged to high heaven I also did a teeny bit on the others to make them all pong together! After being squirted with the water gun Sioux did stop - I only heard one more incident later in the afternoon, hence the spray this evening.

So off to the shops in the morning for some kitty food. Now I haven't done that since I got some for a hedgehog and the huge slugs scoffed it all!

 

Thanks peeps.

[Valkyrie]

Couldn't find organic cat food in Te$co's (I don't want to give them anything that may be of uncertain origin - especially if I'm eating their produce, again chance of any egg would be a fine thing ), so I put a whole tin of tuna into 3 dishes with cod liver oil and some bokashi. Well you would think I had starved Apache for days! She scoffed a whole dish and then started on another! She actually looks redder today although she paled down early afternoonish. She seems to be rather perky tailed anyway. The 3 dishes worked well (placed a few feet apart) so that Sioux was occupied with hopping from one to another and thereby giving the other girls a chance to eat without being chased away. Apache didn't give Sioux any opportunity at all. When I took them down to the cube this evening Apache was still licking the bowls clean. Yay, not much washing up for me then and no wastage. I have always given them a small amount before because I didn't think they would eat it all. How wrong I was.

[abwsco]

Oregano oil was a miracle worker for our Mo.

[Valkyrie]

Oregano I have heard of and have some in the garden, but not the oil - is it easy to come by?

[abwsco]

Oregano I have heard of and have some in the garden, but not the oil - is it easy to come by?

 

They can have oregano from the garden as far as I know or dried oregano. I got Ropadiar off chickenfee on ebay as it was the cheapest I could find. There's Oregostim and Herban? as well I think.

 

Pity you're not nearer as I rushed and ordered the ginormous pack Think I need 100 chickens to use it up even though it's got a long use by date.

[Valkyrie]

Perhaps I should say I used to have some in the garden - I think it may have been scratched up. I will keep my eye out for some - can't use Ebay, it won't recognise me as a different person with regard to having a work mailing address - even if our names are different. Stupid ebay. Perhaps they have some in the health food shops. Otherwise they will be having a herbal platter with the dried stuff. Thanks anyway Anne. Wish I was nearer, love a Lancashire accent. Rather fond of Bumble doing the cricket commentary.

[sandyhas3chucks]

Apparently you need lbs of the stuff dried.

I keep posting about this since I was adviced to get some. it's great.

You can buy it at "pets corner" at some garden centres it is the one starting with H. (sorry an age thing ) Or purchase online Oregostim ( I use, no spec reason) I think ter is a 3rd cannot recall.

There are also some saying there is something in cat food that is bad.

I will go find it if you want

(HERBAN AND OREGOSTIM)

[Patricia W]

Sounds good - another good reason to visit a garden centre! Maybe it'll perk my lot up

 

Tricia

[Egluntyne]

Have you wormed them recently?

[Jools]

I'm a Herban fan too, it seems to clear up early signs of lots of problems and I used it with my chicks this year instead of protexin (or whatever it's called). I'm nearly out, so I'll give the Rodipar (sp??) one a go if it's a bit cheaper.

[sandyhas3chucks]

I have oregostim, the dose is 1.5 ml per 2.5 litres and double if they are ill.

(I only put this in for strength comparison)

I got as at the time as it was "next day delivery on this product, and I wanted something fast )

I "think" I read that there is only one that tells you what the strength is.

Herban is about the same price as I paid for oregostim (if I recall right) but is a tiny bottle, but may be stronger and is availbale to walk in and buy.

Mine won't eat the 4 sorts I have growing in the veggie patch(shame they are not even prettier I could grow it all over the garden

The help line at O Stim is very good too

[Jools]

Unfortunately I can't tell you what the dosage is with Herban because I managed to leave my bottle outside by the tap one night and the slugs ate the label! It's something like 3ml for 5l or thereabouts, but don't quote me! I know I bought the smallest bottle two years ago so it does last a very long time.

 

I had some pretty varigated oregano in a herb window box and I put a plant in with my chicks this year. They devoured it pretty quickly ..... and fortunately it re-grew too.

[Valkyrie]

Sorry I haven't replied - my notification seems to have gone up the creek. Wish I'd seen the bit about the cat food. It took a long time for me to find something suitable - tuna but with added vitamins! I decided that fish can't really be organically grown considering the mucky stuff that goes in the sea, and I eat fish anyway. The tin had more than any other brand of protein. As they turned their noses up at it first, they soon tucked in (seems to be much more popular than a blooming pumpkin). I add cod liver oil to it and some bokashi just in case the cube ends up smelling like Billingsgate. But I hope it's one that hasn't got nasty bits in it! Normal tuna for them then from now on.

Yep wormed a couple of weeks ago - regular thingy, and frontlined when she didn't improve in case it was a parasite thing.

I haven't been to the health food place, but I like the idea of a trip to the garden centre too.

Today she looks quite a nice pink - not quite as red as the others (not far off though), but much deeper colour than before. She seems to have kept it all day - sometimes she has been a little pink and then paled, so hopefully she is on the mend. They are given 3 separate dishes so that she doesn't get pushed out. Anyone would think I had starved her.

 

Just a thought - should I Flubenvet again so soon? Just in case?

 

I did pop into the local pet shop yesterday, spoke to a young lady - turns out she and her dad have had chickens for years. She was very surprised when I said about mine moulting. Chickens don't moult. Yes they do. Perhaps it's the breed then. Er, fine, whatever. I left.

[sandyhas3chucks]

do you think she feels pants and off just because of the moult?

what are her poos like?

they can feel real real yuk sometimes with a moult

[Valkyrie]

We have variations of poos, all seem normal - some squirty, some solid, no sign of bad things in any poosies. Er, I do have a bit of a hang up with them, nose down to study. She is still quite pink this morning and thankfully not wishy washy pale. Hopefully it is just the moult as you say. She shows up more because the other 3 have such bright red wattle and daubs.

[Jools]

If you've used Flubenvet and Frontline in the past few weeks, I'd resist Flubenvetting them again tbh as you can overwhelm their systems if they're a bit below par.

[Valkyrie]

Thanks Jools. Her little stubby tail feathers are up high, so perhaps she is feeling much better. She is likely not as cold now that she has a nice brindled undercarriage, bottom and the wings are getting a bit longer. I don't think I need pester the vet just yet, but I will keep an eye on her. As for the others, still no eggs bah humbug.

[sandyhas3chucks]

oooooo, just been on another forum and followed a link .

and this

Treatment and prevention of Coccidiosis, often known as 'Going Light'.

 

A safe and rapid treatment for outbreaks. Coccidiosis in pigeons is characterised by progressive loss of colour. Paleness of mouth and throat and dull plumage. Loss of weight may occur and droppings will appear discoloured and watery.

 

Water soluble treatment for coccidiosis added to the drinking water for 7 days.

Available in 112ml and 500ml which treats 30 birds and 130 respectively.

 

Contains Amprolium Hydrochloride 3.84% w/v

 

I have ZERO knowledge of this but just the paleness hit me!

[Jools]

I was stunned to read last week that "Going Light" is also Avian TB

 

I always thought it was one of those descriptions used for "going downhill for no particular reason, it's just one of those things"

 

This internet thing throws up some scarey stuff doesn't it!!

[Valkyrie]

Well thank goodness for good-looking poo! But pidgeons - blooming things - are everywhere here - 13 on the front lawn last weekend germ spreading horrible fat woodpidgeons.

Who said chicken keeping was easy? Mind you, I have learnt lots already - then there is always something else new that crops up.

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Koojie, have you tried your girls with pilchards....mine went completely barmy for their tea tonight....usual heap of pellets, water and I added 4 mushed up pilchards which I'd rinsed the brine from.....interestingly the girls who are moulting/had moulted most were snaffling the longest........they also let the 2 Bufflings boys stick their beaks in which left me totally especially as Snowdrop was head down/bum up in the same bowl

 

I got a large tin of 8 pilchards today in Tesco for 70p, so a fair bit cheaper than tuna, especially if they eat it as heartily as they have done today May have to get some at cash & carry if it works on their feathers...and get used to smelling of fish all the time

 

Sha x

[Valkyrie]

I know - the girls have that lovely aroma about them. They seem to love anything doused in cod liver oil too. Yuk. Well their feathers are wonderfully soft. I have a cupboard full of pilchards from offspring going potty over them with mayo in sandwiches - and then stopped eating them. Come to think of it, I like pilchards too. Also mackerel. I agree, Patch is the one scoffing first and still slurping the bowl long after the others have gone. But a plus - the girls who turned their noses up at the pumpkin have now munched all the seeds after I cut the thing in half. I have separated the bowls as Piggy Sioux has now become Pecky Sioux and she spends half the time wandering between bowls while the others get stuck in.