Recent content by Mayalys

The other hen was sick with reproductive issues, not contagious. Sadly, she’s now dead as expected, and we started the integration process. What we chose to do in the end was bring the bantam every morning to the neighbor’s on the other side of the road, and the neighbor got some of his chickens...

I’m sorry you are going through this. Unfortunately, chances are there is nothing you can do (I was told that too, I tried hard anyway and it didn’t help, but I’m keeping fingers crossed for you). This is not vent gleet — vent gleet is a yeast infection that shows as white (not clear) discharge...

That was my first thought. Unfortunately, I just don’t know anybody else that doesn’t pack chickens like sardines, has a predator proof coop, and is also diligent about chicken care. It seemed a good idea to attempt to figure out if it is possible to work within these constraints.

I will shortly have to integrate a laying Cochin bantam (probably around one year old) into my neighbor's flock of 6 full-size chickens (oldest is 8, youngest 2.5). It is unfortunately my across the road neighbor, and we do not share a fence. Both sets of chickens free-range during the day and...

How is her crop? Chicken will drink a lot of water if they have a blockage, and may also go to the nesting box.

In my experience Isas need more protein than is in a standard feed. I feed Dumor as well, but mine free range and stuff themselves up on grass and protein.

We had one of those hens who started deliberately walking up to my husband and pecking him really hard when she was still quite young. He tried everything (“pecking” her back, making her submit, everything you can think of, and nothing worked). Eventually, we figured out it was some sort of...

I hope your hen is feeling better right now. Sometimes, after feeling very sick due to egg laying issues, my hen would enter a partial molt which allows her to stop laying for a bit, Sorry, no experience with lice as it’s not something my chickens than free range during the day tend to get...

If you live outside of US, you might be able to get the hormone implants. They are illegal in US, and that makes me really unhappy. Mine also only lays every so often, and if I see runny egg with no shell, I give her three days of Aqua-Mox in food, which I now always keep in hand. Seems to...

Chances are the vet will prescribe meloxicam for inflammation (this is what I got, but I'm unsure if it added something to the antibiotics). I would hold the steroids personally. I still think the most likely situation is that she got an infection from a previous broken egg. My experience has...

If she has a habit of soft shelled eggs, one might have broken in before and you might be seeing the results of it (aka an active infection causing further laying issues). I would give the antibiotics for a full treatment. Try mixing the antibiotic with cat food (mine are partial to Purina in...

My chickens don't eat pellets, and yes, I tried, but they free-range so they have options. I understand pellets are digested with more difficulty than crumbles, so chickens generally don't prefer them if they have a choice. It's simply more convenient for humans because there is less powdery...

I have no idea why they don't allow implants for chickens. But then again, you can't buy dewormers specifically for chickens in US either. I think they just haven't caught up with the needs of the backyard farmer. Two years ago we didn't have a vet in town that officially treated chicken either...

Not in the US, you can't insist. One may, after all, sue the vet if they've done something illegal and win, even if they requested it in the first place. The legal system here is a thing of wonder. I will look into MSM, thank you so much for the tip! Unfortunately Clavulanic Acid tastes...

I'm so sorry you had to go through that; it really is heartbreaking. When the previous one got sick and I found out that this breed's issues are due to too much egg laying, I asked about the possibility of pausing the laying for the others and found out implants are illegal in US for poultry...