Solanacae
Crowing
I have a chicken that I think has worms. Last night I brought her inside after finding her sleeping on the floor of the coop rather than roosting. She was so light when I picked her up and after examining her, she’s very skinny. She has been acting off for a while, but she had a very hard, late molt this winter, and I had chalked the behavior up to that. Her appetite is good and she drinks a lot of water - she has seemed unusually thirsty lately. Her color is normal for this time of year - she’s not laying yet, sorry for the poor lighting in the pictures. I brought her inside to monitor her and to see how her poop looks. Her poops are on the runny side, though still hold some shape and are very smelly. Her butt is damp and dirty. Her crop seems a little firm but she did eat this morning so I’ll check tomorrow morning before giving her food to see if her crop is clear and treat for impacted crop if needed.
If it’s not impacted crop, then what are my options for treating for worms? Or is there something else these symptoms are pointing to that I’m missing? The hen in question will be 2 years old in a couple months, is not laying, and is gets 18 or 20% protein feed (depending on what’s available, just finished an 18% bag this last week and added some 20% pellets) from a local mill. I do ferment some feed, it is served as a mash in the morning and doesn’t constitute their entire diet.
I have 16 chickens, two of which are 19.5 week juveniles that are growing adult tail feathers at the moment. I read some articles late last night about dewormers but the names are all a jumble in my head right now. I do remember reading that one type (Safeguard?) is not recommended when you have chickens growing feathers. I currently have three ladies laying, though I have 5 more that I expect will start any day now. I’d like to use something that doesn’t have an egg withdrawal period for that reason, though I understand I probably can’t have everything I want. More important is that I get whatever is wrong cleared up so she can gain some weight back.
If it’s not impacted crop, then what are my options for treating for worms? Or is there something else these symptoms are pointing to that I’m missing? The hen in question will be 2 years old in a couple months, is not laying, and is gets 18 or 20% protein feed (depending on what’s available, just finished an 18% bag this last week and added some 20% pellets) from a local mill. I do ferment some feed, it is served as a mash in the morning and doesn’t constitute their entire diet.
I have 16 chickens, two of which are 19.5 week juveniles that are growing adult tail feathers at the moment. I read some articles late last night about dewormers but the names are all a jumble in my head right now. I do remember reading that one type (Safeguard?) is not recommended when you have chickens growing feathers. I currently have three ladies laying, though I have 5 more that I expect will start any day now. I’d like to use something that doesn’t have an egg withdrawal period for that reason, though I understand I probably can’t have everything I want. More important is that I get whatever is wrong cleared up so she can gain some weight back.
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