Chicken bald back

[suebee]

It is such a shock isn't it, when everything appears normal, and we don't know what's lurking in the background.

 

Could you not contact the guy who took your boys, and see if he'll let you have one of them back?

[charly1979]

So sad to hear your news

 

Hope you get some comfort over the next few days, Im sure Monty was happy you were his mummy xx

 

Reading previous posts re spot on treatment about 2 yrs ago when I had to take Pie to the vets she had lice and the vet popped something on her neck as part of the treatment although not sure what it was and back then the surgery was new to seeing chickens as clients/patients (whereas now they have built up more knowledge etc) but cant think it would have been anything unlicienced maybe worth asking a vet next time your in (which I hope will be a VERY long time if never)

 

Big Hugs to you xx

[suebee]

Meant to say mimi, Johnsons anti mite spray (not licenced for poultry) is very effective against lice, and is intended for other pet birds, pigeons, budgies etc. One of mine came to me with lice... (I was horrified that I hadn't noticed!), and I used this on her. I sprayed twice, with a week between, and never saw them again. I must admit, I don't use a preventative on the girls, though I do add buzz busters (louse powder with permethrin) to their bedding/nest box.

[Luvachicken]

Awwww, mimi5, I'm so sorry to read about Monty.

I have been out all day so only just read your post.

Things in life can be so cruel sometimes.

I think I need to read up on Mareks and lice myself.

 

I hope your other chooks keep well and sort out their new pecking order.

Sending you much love xx

[mimi5]

Thanks luvachicken. Just dreading tomorrow morning now:

 

a, will be horrid no Monty 1st down the ladder

b, will anyone else be poorly?

 

I've had the pekins 15 months and boy have I been on a steep learning curve!!! This was my originals 1st moult and it's been tough on them. Mareks and lice are new experiences to add to my collection!! Winter really dosen't help either!!

[Redwing]

The Mareks vaccine needs to be given in the first six weeks after hatch, I very much doubt it will do anything if given now

 

The plus side is that Mareks is not common in Pekins and there is a decent chance that none of the others will suffer from it

 

Northern fowl mite is the very devil to get rid of, its obvious as a cigaratte ash type deposit around the vent, the mites are tiny, the 'ash' is their deposits, part the feathers till you find the skin around the vent, you will see tiny mites dash across the skin

 

Lice are flatter and usually brownish and much more obvious

 

Lice are easy to get rid of with some Johnsons anti mite spray available on the internet and sometimes from pet shops. Its not licenced for use on poultry but it does work well. A few treatments 4 days apart will knock them in the head easily

 

Northern fowl mite can be treated with the same spray but needs much more agressive tactice, repeated spraying at 4 day intervals for a couple of weeks should help

 

With any infestation the quickest way to knock back the population and get the bird on the road to recovery is a bath

 

Always dry any bathed bird in the house overnight in a ventilated box by a radiator. You can blow dry them if necessary instead

 

Neither lice or NFM live in the coop so a clean out should suffice to be honest. If it IS NFM and it persists you may be wise to remove the woodchip and re-do just to give you the best chance of getting rid of it

 

Both will will affect a weak host in preference to a strong one so you may find that none of the others suffer at all

[jeshen]

Just read your post. So sorry to hear about Mr Monty - he looked a beautiful boy and a real character in the photos I've seen. What a horrible shock for you. To be honest I'd have done exactly the same as you and left them to settle in to new quarters in peace. These things just seem to happen quite often with chickens, I'm learning. (Have lost both Gladys and Ethel since August.) Hope all's well with your girls. xx

[coco]

So sorry to hear about Monty. I lost a pekin last week who had been ill for a while and despite my watching her like a hawk she went downhill and died anyway. Hope the rest of your hens are ok.

[Cheeky Chooky]

So very sorry to hear about Monty...what a handsome chap he was *hug*