Chicken bald back

[Bluebell2009]

Hello!

 

One of my hens seems to have lost a bit her appetite... I had her for 3 months now and I de-worm them with Verm X every month.

 

She seems fine, walks around in the garden and comes running when we open the garden door, but doesn't seem to be too bothered even for treats!

 

Any thoughts?

[Egluntyne]

I would consider worming her with Flubenvet, which is a wormer. Verm-X is merely a herbal supplement which, along with others of its type, may render the gut inhospitable to parasites, but legally speaking it is not allowed to call itself a wormer.

 

Have you given her a health check? ie Looked her over for signs of lice or mites, and listened for any wheezing or rattly breathing, snotty nose etc.

[Jools]

Assuming they're youngsters and not "second hand chickens", if you've only had them for three months and you haven't got them on chicken sick ground, you'll be incredibly unlucky if they have worms. If you do think that they have worms already then there's no harm in using flubenvet, but I doubt very much that's the problem. Verm-x controls internal parasites and that includes worms, so I wouldn't be put off using it.

 

My only other question would be if she's laying at the moment?

[Redwing]

How old is she and was she interested in treats before?

 

Any other 'symptoms'?

[Egluntyne]

It could be that she is filling up when free ranging of course, and hasn't much room left for her pellets. Might be worth confining her to her run for a day or so and see if she eats a bit more.

[Bluebell2009]

Hello!

 

She is an ex battery hen, and I had her since the beginning of August. I have never dewormed my hens with Fulvenet, but I will give it a go!

 

She seems to be pecking at grass, but not too enthusiastically I though maybe the weather was 'depressing' her a bit !

 

When they arrived they had some lice, but I treated them with the lice powder and haven't seen any since! However, I will have a closer inspection today!

 

She used to go mad for treats, although I try not to give them too many, just one little bit every evening. She loved spaguetis and bolied potatoe, corn,..... all the treats hens love

 

I think I'll deparasitise them with fulvnet and see how she progresses

 

 

Thanks a lot for all you suggestions!

[Bluebell2009]

Forgot to mention that she is not laying now....

[Jools]

They eat a lot less when not laying, but it's a concern that she's not wanting her treats. Hope she picks up soon.

[Egluntyne]

Have you examined her, and in particular, felt her crop?

[Bluebell2009]

Hello!

 

I have just popped home to put the them back in the run, and I found that Poppy had lice again!

 

My other hen seems fine. I inspected her as well, and I saw just a couple of lice on her.

 

I coated both with diatome powder. As I mentioned they arrived with some lice, and I did treat them until mid-September.

 

 

I clean the coop once a week, specially now in winter that they spend lots more hours in it. However, I never use any mite powder on it. DO you suggest I should?

 

About the crop, I feel it and it is never very full nowadays. It does feel quite empty.

 

I guess my next step now is to use Fulvenet and see if she perks up a bit more.

 

She doesn't look very poorly, she is fine, but I could tell she lost interest on tasty food! I would say that she doesn't seem too bothered....

 

Thanks again for your suggestions!

[Bluebell2009]

Just a quick update about Poppy, she is been doing lots better since we stared coating her with diatom powder and she has started laying again!!!

 

 

With the fulbenvet I also ordered a bucket of dried mealworms as a treat, and they are loving them!...

 

Thank you very much for your help!

 

[Egluntyne]

Good to hear that she is perking up.

 

These parasites can really take their toll.