Sooo much pooping

[Cloud9]

Hi all firstly hope you all had a good Christmas and have a Very Happy New Year

 

I have posted on here a few times and, I'm ashamed to say, usually when I am having a problem with my chickens (I don't get much time otherwise due to house renovations/small children )

 

Anyway, I hope some of you can help?

 

I feel quite upset to say that I don't think my chickens are in great heath at the moment A while ago they seemed to get lice or mites. I am sure they weren't red mite as they were brown and looked like mini headlice and moved quite quickly? I rushed and bought some red mite powder from the local farm shop and put this both in the house and on my chickens after thoroughly disinfecting the house, bars, etc.

 

I have since bought some diamotus earth (sp?) and have tried to keep the house as clean as possible but this hasn't been easy due to a) the extremely bad weather of late and b)the fact that my chickens house is very messy with droppings and so is the nest box as I'm sure one is sleeping in there?

 

I think that perhaps my two youngters are moulting but wondered if this could be due to mites? I haven't seen any sign of them lately though?

 

I had suspected one of my chickens of eating the eggs and so I made a mustard egg and that was devoured totally!! Since then eggs have been virtually non-existent with only about 3 in as many months or longer

 

Today I've noticed one of them has really white scaly comb and face and is very pale. She is eating OK and scratching around and drinking. I've given them some dried meal worms (christmas pressie) and some corn today and I have been giving them warm porridge or weetabix mixed with poultry spice during the severe cold weather.

 

They are wormed every month with verm-x.

 

What could be wrong with my chickens? What am I doing wrong? PLEASE HELP - I've had one of the girls for a while yet still feel a complete novice :(

 

A

[Plum]

Chin up its ok to come on here when you have problems. I think a lot of them are under the weather with moulting and taking a christmas break and that.

 

If I was you I would cover bases by worming with Flubenvet so you get rid of any worms. Some say Vermex isn't that great but is fine with some. If you haven't any eggs at the moment it won't harm giving them a squirt with Johnsons antimite and repeating in 4 days to make sure the lice are gone.

 

I'm afraid I didn't wash down the house properly until yesterday, too blooming cold Perhaps now its a bit better you'll be able to.

 

The comb being a bit pale and face being pale is probably just a sign of moulting and I wouldn't worry too much, it'll pass. My Pigeons comb and face are a bit pathetic too.

 

You can help them pick up by adding a tonic to the water like lifeguard or poultry spice to the food and give them a bit extra protien like cat food or tuna but just a few times a week so they get their pellets or mash as main food.

 

Come spring our girls will be beautiful. I hope.

[bessandra]

Hi A

Happy Christmas to you too!

 

Awww dont be too down about your girls - its a harsh time of year. While us humans are often at our lowest ebb so are our girls. I'm sharing in your low mood about my girls, as you are, yours.

As plum says, boost their protein, keep them warm and keep up with your good hygiene practices. I wouldnt worry about them laying for now - that takes it out of them so support their winter rest and go buy free range from Tesco or wherever!

 

Try not to worry - enjoy the New Year!

~R~

[Egluntyne]

I'd consider worming them with Flubenvet. In my personal experience the herbal supplements are not terribly effective as wormers, and indeed, by law they are not allowed to use the word 'wormer' in their blurb.

 

I would also use the anti-mite spray if they are still infested as the diatom is best used as a preventative than as a treatment, and some brands are more effective than others.

 

Also. I would cut right down on treats and make their layers pellets form the main part of their diet.

[Phosphorus]

Just wanted to add that red mite are only red after sucking blood - they are brown when they haven't had a feed yet. Could still be the dreaded rm.

 

I would definately use anti mite treatment - the comb going pale could be a sign of anaemia in your hen, I wouldn't just assume it is moulting. My girls seem to keep their combs red even when moulting, although mine are a bit silly and try to lay eggs at the same time as growing feathers

 

Hope it all works out for you. Oh and I haven't cleaned my cube as much lately either - trying to spur myself on to do it today!

[Cloud9]

Hi all and many thanks for your replies. I have given my girls a thorough looking over today with hubby's help and I'm pleased to say there are no sign of any mites at all - on the birds or in the eglu. I have however had to clean them out again today as they are very messy of late but dusted the eglu with diatomus earth and rubbed red mite power in all the girls just to make sure. I've also greased all of their wattles and combs with vaseline. They must be feeling a bit perkier as I've had one egg today

 

However, from looking at the litter tray it looks like one of my girls has diarrhoea (sp?) well it looks like tan grainy dried flat yuck I have had this before when one of my birds was off colour - she then seemed to have a blocked crop but I managed to empty this and she's been eating/drinking well ever since and very active.

 

All girls have signs of new feather growth.

 

I've never seen any sign of worms. Could this be due to the moult, the cold weather or something she's eaten (I've been giving them dried meal worms?)

 

Hope you can help - sorry to keep asking but just want to get my girls back on tip top condition.

 

Thanks

 

Ali

[Christian]

Runny droppings could be a sign of worms, so I would personally worm with Flubenvet asap. Many worms cannot be seen with the naked eye. If they are kept on the same area, then worming is recommended.

 

Hope they are all looking better and laying again soon