How Quickly Does Albendazole Work?

[cd8jbr]

I have five ex-batts (liberated Oct 23rd 2011) and they seem quite happy and healthy, they squawk to be let out into the garden and when the WIR door is opened it's like the start of the Grand National - they're off! The only question I have is that one of the chickens isn't doing quite as well as the others.

 

Henrietta was always pretty much fully feathered and as the biggest she tends to be the boss.

 

Dumpling, Nugget and Funky were pretty poorly feathered but could be worse but poor little Noodle was scrawny and heading towards oven ready. Noodle is now a very pretty hen, fully feathered and, now she's not being bullied seems very happy with life she's always the first to investigate things and chases any crows which dare come into the garden! Dumpling and Funky could do with 'finishing off' when it comes to feathers but are almost there - the wing feathers have taken some time to come back and they generally look just a little like they aren't quite there yet - but they're on the way and seem happy and healthy.

 

Then there's Nugget - she just hasn't responded as well as the others and still looks quite untidy, her bum has become baldy and is alternately red and pink and she has a lot of broken and missing feathers from that region. She's still out there with the rest and active and scratching around and loves a good dust bath (I have doused all their baths with diatomaceous earth). I've had a good look at her bare botty and can't see anything, it's soft and she doesn't seem unduly concerned about it being examined although she won't be easily caught twice! They aren't very tame yet - but getting there.

 

They are all let out whenever the weather is clement enough but kept in if it's rainy. They are fed on Ex-batt food recommended by the BHWT which is supplemented with grit, greens, mealworms, grapes. They are currently being wormed with Flubenvet.

 

They have cuttlefish to pick at, cider vinegar in their water. Their eglu is cleaned and sprayed with Johnsons housing spray. I have put hay in their eglu for bedding as they were so featherless at the beginning although as the nights are warming up now I'm planning on stopping using it and just putting some bedding in their nest box (shredded paper ok?) - but I still have hay in there as we keep getting frosts forecast.

 

So...now you all know the story of the birds does anyone have any idea why Nugget has a bare, red/pink bottom? I have had a few 'softies' recently too - is that likely to be connected?

 

Sorry this is a bit of a long one but I thought if I gave all the background it might help!

 

Thanks for your help and advice, I love my chickens and don't want anything amiss to go without being rectified.

[staceychristie]

OK,

The others are probably pecking her bum (out of your sight, either in the run or dust bathing). Broken feathers may be a clue, as there's nothing as juicy as a nice new growing feather. To stop any attraction to the baldy spot, you could use gentian violet spray (DON'T get it on your clothes or hands - it stains! ) and I've also found that the only anti feather peck that ours hate is 'Scarper' (smells like an old char/wood BBQ).

As long as she's getting to eat and any treats you give them, then she will recover. Our 'special needs hen' is now almost as big as the boss, and has a full set of feathers... she's quick!!!

 

Good luck.

 

Stacey

[Egluntyne]

Soft eggs have been reported many times in connection with ex batt crumbs. Maybe it's time to change them onto layers pellets of a different brand.

 

The broken feathers suggest that at least one of the hens is pecking at Nugget. Have you tried spraying the area with one of the anti pecking sprays available?

[cd8jbr]

Thanks for your replies. I haven't seen any of the other hens going for Nugget's bum but there are broken feathers so it's a strong possibility and I'm sure she'll look a treat wearing purple! She does get her share of the treats and food so hopefully she'll be a stunner very soon.

 

I had no idea that soft eggs were associated with ex-Batt food, I thought as they'd been specially formulated they would be the best thing for them! I will start them on a different layers pellets and introduce them gradually just to be sure there are not upsets about it.

 

I've got a lot to learn about chickens but I do think they are lovely and am currently wondering about getting a cube...I've read chickens are addicitive - it seems they are!

 

Thanks again for your help!