MillyJude Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 Hi Last wednesday we got two new hens and a cockerel, all about 20 weeks, from a local breeder. One of the hens sounded a bit gurgly when we got her so i put some acv in their water and she has perked right up, no more gurgling. But now the cockerel seems unwell, lethargic with diahrrea. He had really watery squirty diahrrea when we first got him so i suppose this is an improvement, were it not for the fact that he now seems ill. He is still eating and drinking, i have changed the water and put poultry tonic in it. He is in a big field of grass and trees and he has been pretty keen on eating the grass. He was in a small pen at the breeders so no access to green stuff. I read that stress can cause diahrrea, so could it just be that? Should i pen him offthe grass for a bit? Also should mention, i found some worms in their droppings tray the day after we got them, could have been our other hens but never noticed it before. I Had ran out of wormer so some more should arrive tomorrow and i will do them immediately, could his symptoms be worms? He is a lovely friendly boy, but is now sad and humpy . Feel really sorry for him, never had a cockerel before so feel like a newbie again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MillyJude Posted November 12, 2013 Author Share Posted November 12, 2013 Reading my own post it sounds like it must be worms but i thought he couldn't have them as surely they get wormed regularly at a breeders? Or is that just naive? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 It's naive, I'm afraid. Some breeders actually buy them in from auctions and don't know where they've come from. That's why it's best to keep new ones isolated for a couple of weeks. I think I'd take him to the vet for a check up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 I could be the worm burden yes I would suspect crop problems though, i he has been eating grass it may have balled up in his crop making it hard to take in food, so he may have cut down on his eating making him lathargic, this would also explain the watery poo Have a good feel of his crop now and then again in the morning to see if it has gone down, it should completely empty overnight. if there is hardly anything in there now that may be a concern as it should be full Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 13, 2013 Share Posted November 13, 2013 I agree, and would worm them with Flubenvet too. Some Orego-stim in the water helps with gut issues caused by stress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MillyJude Posted November 13, 2013 Author Share Posted November 13, 2013 I checked his crop yesterday and it seemed fine, so hopefully the flubenvet will arrive today. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
