2 yo hen with messy rear, lost another

[tcskansas]

Hello, I am new here and this is my first post, hoping someone can help. One of my NH hens died a few days ago, she had poo stuck on her rear, became listless, comb was pale. Now a few more hens have the yucky butt. Some NH and Wyandottes. I checked vents, they are not blocked, and the hens are still acting normally. They free range during the day and are locked in a coop at night. Could worms or mites be causing this?

Thanks so much for everyone's time, I am looking forward to spending time on this forum, I won't feel so crazy for loving my chickens!
Amanda

 

[LynneP]

Please let us know their age, diet and egg-laying status. Any signs of mites/lice? Did you notice anything special about the one you lost, particularly around her vent? Do the birds free-range? Have you changed anything lately in the coop or have they been exposed to new food or plants?

 

[tcskansas]

Some of the hens are 1 yo and some are 2 yo. They free range during the day. Nothing new in the coop. Diet is a mix of scratch grains and layer mash. Not sure who is laying good and who is not, they have shared boxes, been averaging a dozen eggs a day from 19 hens, some of the hens are 4 and 5 years old, so probably don't lay very well. Didn't notice anything around the vent except some particles of poo, some reddened skin in some areas. I saw a tiny reddish bug on one, I'm thinking northern fowl mite? I bought some powder today for that. The poo seems to cake in a downward line from the vent for several inches. We've had this property for over 2 years, haven't planted anything new, don't use pestisides on the lawn or anything like that. The girls like to run around the house, and of course the horse pen and goat pen.

Thanks!

 

[Renee]

It could be mites, and I think it's a good idea to dust for them.

You may want to try removing the scratch grains and keeping them on layer mash exclusively, and getting some AviaCharge 2000 vitamins to supplement. they may have a bit of a vitamin deficiency, and fortunately that is easy to cure. I use PolyViSol liquid baby vitamins since the local feedstore does not carry AviaCharge.

You may also want to do a fecal test for worms. Runny poo is often a symptom, and this time of year the worms seem to be common.

 

[LynneP]

I agree with Renee, control the feed, treat for pests. Monitor closely, this can get out of control, fast. Any chance of confining to a run until you are sure they are better?

 

[tcskansas]

No, I don't have a run for them, I could keep them locked in the chicken coop but I don't think that is good for their health either. It's old and very dusty. Thanks for the advice, I will get them some vitamins, adjust feed and do the dusting, any suggestions on types of wormers?

Thank you thank you thank you!!!!

 

[Renee]

You should do a search for wormers. Some are more poisonous than others, and the withdrawal times for eggs are different. Some, like Wazine, say not to use on hens for egg production, but many people use it anyway, and throw the eggs away for two weeks. Each wormer also kills a different type of worm.

Good luck.

 

[Wynette]

Wazine is not a very effective wormer - there is an all-natural one out now called Verm-X - www.ver-xusa.com I don't know how it works, as I've never tried it, but I've been wanting to. It could very well just be a mite issue.

 

[Momma_Cluck]

Isn't Food Grade DE also a Wormer????
Mixed into yogurt I had heard works ....???