Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Suzy]

Hi,

 

My exbatts have been our of their cages a year tomorrow

 

Regan has been a bit off colour for the last few days.... she is eating and drinking but if the other two are 100mph, she's sort of 50mph. She's normally 110mph.

 

She just seems a bit lethargic and although she does stuff, she appears hunched up some of the time, just looking at the others and looking a bit fed up - that's the best way to describe it.

 

She's not laid for a while now, but I have checked her undercarriage and there is nothing egg shaped so I don't think it's an egg or a softee.

 

On the advice of the BHWT Careline, I've checked her crop and it's empty each morning and she is wormed up to date.

 

Whilst there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with her, I just wondered if there was anything I shold be doing? I am well aware that she is a very old hen in exbatt terms, so I just wondered if anyone had any thoughts.

 

I'm giving her yoghurt ( I might video that in future as it was so funny!) and she's having corn and exbatt crumbs.

 

Any ideas gratefully received!!!

 

Thanks

 

Suzy

[chelsea]

It sounds like you've done everything right (checked her crop/wormed her etc)

 

Is she moulting by any chance? 4 of mine are moulting and are not 100% in their ways but are still eating/drinking normally.

 

How is she eating & drinking?

 

What did you worm with? (Flubenvet is best)

 

I would maybe give her the once over for lice/beasties if you haven't already.

 

Avipro is a great "pick me up" for under the weather hens if you have any. I would maybe suggest keeping an eye on her and if things are still concerning you or she appears to deteriorate you maybe pop to the vet.

 

Lets hope it's just a "phase" and she's perky very soon.

[sandyhas3chucks]

Snap, mine keeps doing this, (May 08 release)she often seems to be eating but isn't.

However she will eat spaghetti, toast loves some sandwich and grapes. I let her have whatever she will as I fear this may be the beginnig of ........ shhhhhh.

She has however laid loads of lashes over the last few months, so sometimes she is fluffed up, like with a softee on the way and then lays these flesh monsters.

She retained some a while back we think and had massive temp with onfectiobn and was antibiotics almost a month before she cleared up and put on weight, which I think she has lost again.

My others have been iffy with the molt so could also be that too.

Sadly it is hard to judge. Have you checked her crop to see uf she IS eating enough? through the day?

she seems to be happy thoough unable to compete with speedy chooksters, so I feed her treats alone or with slower ones.

No answer #i know but a shared experience

[Chucky Mama]

All sounds like good advise, the only thing I would query is whether you have been worming with Flubenvet rather that Verm-x?

[sandyhas3chucks]

All sounds like good advise, the only thing I would query is whether you have been worming with Flubenvet rather that Verm-x?

good point,

shouldn't trading standards get the wording changed on VermX?

It is not a wormer and does not claim to kill worms, only "control" . by prevention.

I was as many are mislead by the labeling when I started out on this journey!

Does not appear to have any trials either to back up the claims unlike oregano producte(another herbal/natural product(not worms just digressing)

not saying it doesn't repel worms, but like water repellant is not the same as waterproof there IS a difference!

[Suzy]

Hi all,

 

She is definitely on flubenvet so no worries on that front.

 

She's up and about this morning as normal but still subdued.

 

I don't think she's moulting. There is one feather on the floor and I can't guarantee who it came from.

 

It may be a lash, will keep an eye out. She has had one before but was very ill then and wouldn't leave the eglu.

 

I have ordered some avipro, and I will dispense that as soon as it arrives.

 

Thanks for all your suggestions.... Really appreciated. I'm cooking sweetcorn as their anniversary treat!

 

Suzy

[sandyhas3chucks]

the only other thing is citricidal and oregono oil products.

I am making sure my old girl gets some daily, another blackbird size lash this mrning so that is why she was still fluffed upo yesterday. Not that I would wish one on your girl, but lets hope that is all it is.(I am with mine) Mine seemed brighter today and I cooked more spaghetti and earlier as apart from green things (including grass) and a few treats she is not really eating anything "substantial".

Again just sharing what I am going through, so we can be comparing!

it's a fragile emotional time for us I feel,

I am giving her what she wants really, half expect to find her not with me every morning

[Suzy]

A softee today! - and she's much perkier - so this looks to have been the problem.

 

Am actually relieved that it as all it was. She is so much happier, and so am I.

 

Sandy, it sounds like you are doing an amazing job with yours. I am trying to do the same (cooking sweetcorn for them at the moment)

 

Hope your girl starts feeling a bit chipper soon....

 

And thanks everyone for your support...

 

Suzy

[Jools]

shouldn't trading standards get the wording changed on VermX?

It is not a wormer and does not claim to kill worms, only "control" . by prevention.

I was as many are mislead by the labeling when I started out on this journey!

Does not appear to have any trials either to back up the claims unlike oregano producte(another herbal/natural product(not worms just digressing)

not saying it doesn't repel worms, but like water repellant is not the same as waterproof there IS a difference!

 

From the Verm-x response in the stickied Worming thread (June 2006):

 

"Being 100% natural and therefore not a classified and licensed medicine we are unable to publish or use any marketing that implies we are such - this includes certain words e.g. 'de-wormer or anthelmintic' and prevents us from publishing our efficacy trials."

 

I've been in touch with Verm-x and they tell me that DEFRA allows the use of ‘Verm-x controls internal parasites’ without using the word ‘wormer’, which is apparantly is the same for all herbal products.

 

They also confirm that Verm-x not only creates an environment within the gut that is uninhabitable for internal parasites but also eradicates all internal parasites that may be present. Now obviously not everyone here agrees that's the case, but as I said in the other thread, there are probably other factors at work.

 

So I don't think it's a trading standards issue Sandy, but if you have any queries, I can give you their e-mail address.

[The Dogmother]

Unfortunately, ex-batts are more prone to laying softies so keep an eye on her and perhaps add some limestone gflour and cod liver oil to their diet to boost their calcium levels.

[sandyhas3chucks]

don't stress too much over what you may or may not be doing. seems that some despite all the supplements you can throw at them still lay softees towards the end of their egg laying days

Avipro is good as contains phospherous as does baking crushing and feeding their own shells back.

Mine also love fine crushed oyster shell which can help.