How Quickly Does Albendazole Work?

[dottychicken]

We're on our 2nd lot of chickens in 3 weeks as one of ours died and another wasn't 100% either so we've started afresh.

 

We've had them 5 days and one of the Gingernuts twitches her neck a lot, like she has Tourettes. We checked for red mite a few days ago in case she was trying to get rid of an itch but there was nothing. She was seemingly pecked in the eye on her second day as she kept closing it and it was watering but now it is fine. She is being normal in every way otherwise except some of her feathers below her vent aren't fluffy, like they are congealed with something greasy. There have been curry sauce-like poos and they could be hers.

 

What do you think? Is she ok? Can this be normal for a chicken?

[jellykelly]

Have a look around her bum for signs of mites. The fact that mention her knicker feathers are clumped together could suggest some form of lice/mites. If there's any grey type cement at the base of the feathers, it's a sign that she has lice/mites (or recently had and was treated).

If she has creepy crawlies, a quick blast of Johnsons anti mite spray will clear her up.

 

With regards to the twitch, she could have an ear infection or again creepy crawlies could be making her itch.

[scarlettohara]

What happened to your poorly chook that went to the vet? You are having bad luck

[dottychicken]

We never took her to a vet as she got bad quickly over the bank holiday weekend and died on the Monday. It may have been sour crop as she felt squidgy and swollen there and she was being very sick. We brought her in to keep her warm as she was freezing, she made you cold holding her, and she died shortly after in my arms. It was so sad as we'd only had her 12 days but had got very attached and she was the best layer, 7 in a row from the 3rd day!

 

We'll get them out free ranging tomorrow for the first time when my husband is back and pick her up to check her again for mites or anything on her neck.

 

Would an ear infection be fatal if left untreated and are there likely to other outward signs? She looks to be happy and very active apart from the neck twitches.

[scarlettohara]

I'm new to chickens too (had mine since March) but the advice on here is if your chook looks poorly then she has probably been hiding it for a while, they seem to go downhill quite quickly. I noticed one of my new skylines was a bit quiet on Monday and when i picked her up she was bubbly, I took her to the vet within 1/2 an hour and she has antibiotics for a respiratory infection - today she is completely well

[dottychicken]

So we should probably take her to the vet? Argh curse for not having a car.

 

How much does it usually cost to have them looked at and how much were the antibiotics?

 

Thanks

[scarlettohara]

My vet has chickens so I think is very fair - he charges me a consult for a childs pet - £16 and I think the antibiotics were about £10. However i have no idea what is wrong with your chook - if it is mites or some other critter then I imagine treatment is simpler, hope she improves