Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

[V1cky]

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[Fancychooklady]

Metronidazole is what was referred to me on the disease forum which is why I'm trying to find fish-zole somewhere but doesn't look like we stock that here in Oz.

The canker's in her mouth. She's still able to eat atm but don't want to leave it too much longer untreated.

She gets fed mixed grain and standard mash. Is that ok?

You are on the right track. Canker is a protozoan parasite destroying the living tissue in the birds esophogus . No form of ' natural ' remedy has been reported to help this condition .
As with coccidiosis the Protozoan will be in the environment . It's important to keep the waterers clean and fresh and the feeders away from moisture. This is where most protozoan multiply by the thousands.
Metronidazole is the drug of choice as it is a broad spectrum antibiotic and is most effective against anaerobic bacterial infections and is also used as an antiprotozoal .
Fishzole , if you can get it is the next best thing. I personally would order it online , better to be safe than sorry.
Canker is highly contagious so best to isolate the bird and put off any new additions to your flock , for now . Goodluck.

 

[Teila]

Good morning folks

Good luck with the hatch Luke; nice looking eggs!

Howdy V1cky and welcome to the thread.
I am definitely not at expert on what ails chickens are there are far more experienced people on this thread. However, for my own interest and education, I did some research and there was an interesting article on using Copper Sulphate:
http://www.pets4homes.co.uk/pet-advice/how-to-treat-canker-in-poultry.html

But then I see on newer posts that you have tried that.

At the risk of opening the whole ‘ACV-can-of-worms’ I wonder if Apple Cider Vinegar would have a benefit as a preventative once you have the canker under control.

appps I am sorry to hear your soft shell issues are continuing.

Tee hee sjturner79 yep, that ratio sounds about right

Howdy Kleonaptra, welcome to the thread.

Aaargh cwrite how frustrating for you that the dog has returned!

Hey Anniebee you could be right with regards the weather and Dusty’s strange behaviour. By the afternoon yesterday she was back to being a normal hen and keeping her mealworms for herself; no grumbling, protecting etc.

Arrgh, this weather is not only messing with the girls but it is keeping me on my toes; rain covers on; rain covers off (before they blow off) and now to batten down the hatches; 40-50km/hour winds have 6 girls very subdued and hiding under or in the coop; they do not like the wind. Can’t see them doing much free ranging today.

I have some good news; Blondie has also returned to laying. Her break, due to broodiness, moulting etc ended yesterday after 22 weeks and 6 days.

The last time we had two eggs in one day was the last day Blondie laid; so that is the next milestone

 

[V1cky]

Fancychooklady..

I have her isolated from the rest except for one old roo to keep her company. I know it's a risk I'm taking with him but I feel bad leaving her on her own.

I have heard wet food could have been the cause of this and the fact she's an old bird herself probably didn't help.

 

[V1cky]

Teila...

I still have the copper sulphate and was thinking of using it as a preventative for the others. Last thing I want is a full blown outbreak on my hands. One hen with it is enough stress for me lol

 

[Teila]

Hey V1cky; I read "Copper Sulphate should never be given to poultry in powder form on it's own because just a tiny amount of it will kill a chicken. It has to be diluted in water and mixed in with apple cider vinegar before being given to the birds."

Just me and my paranoia but I do not think I would use it as a preventative on my gals. The whole "kill a chicken" thing is a bit scary

Yeah, OK, it does say diluted is OK and I would use it on a chicken that actually had canker, but not sure I would go down that path as a preventative.

I am the same with Condy's Crystals .. I have a friend who gives it to their chickens once a month in water and apparently in low doses it is OK but high doses are toxic.

While I do worm my chickens regularly with 'chemicals', I wonder if using some chemicals as a preventative on a regular basis may be harmful.

PS. I just wanted to add that any questions I ask etc are not meant as a criticism and are posted more for my own educational purposes as they may prompt discussion which may be helpful.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Fancychooklady..

I have her isolated from the rest except for one old roo to keep her company. I know it's a risk I'm taking with him but I feel bad leaving her on her own.

I have heard wet food could have been the cause of this and the fact she's an old bird herself probably didn't help.

I'd probably do the same thing. Isolation for some can be more traumatic than the illness itself. The good news is that most protozoan are destroyed by excessive heat or cold. With the snap freeze Aus is experiencing ATM there will be a few less of them around.
Be very careful using copper sulphate, it can be toxic. We use it externally on the horses for ringworm, mud fever and seedy toe ( all ailments due to copper deficiency in the soil ). I might add that the animals in question , all came to us with these problems. As most of our land is old orchard , it is very high in copper.That being said, animals need copper for optimum health and resistance to disease, especially of fungal origin which include protozoal- type infestation .
Copper in our soil is inhibited when the pH is either too low or too high, so I'm not sure why they are mixing it in a ACV . If the problem has arisen as a result of the pH being too low, then by adding ACV you would be compounding the problem by lowering the pH even further.

 

[V1cky]

Teila...

I was worried when I used copper sulphate on the hen in question.. thinking I'd get the dosage wrong and kill her as a result but it didn't do her any harm (that I am aware of) nor did it harm the canker either :/
I haven't decided yet if I'm going to dose the others but if I do it wouldn't be a regular thing because I'd prefer not to use chemicals either but maybe good for the short term just to make sure no other outbreaks happen since it's always a possibility while there's one around carrying it.

 

[V1cky]

I'd probably do the same thing. Isolation for some can be more traumatic than the illness itself. The good news is that most protozoan are destroyed by excessive heat or cold. With the snap freeze Aus is experiencing ATM there will be a few less of them around.
Be very careful using copper sulphate, it can be toxic. We use it externally on the horses for ringworm, mud fever and seedy toe ( all ailments due to copper deficiency in the soil ). I might add that the animals in question , all came to us with these problems. As most of our land is old orchard , it is very high in copper.That being said, animals need copper for optimum health and resistance to disease, especially of fungal origin which include protozoal- type infestation .
Copper in our soil is inhibited when the pH is either too low or too high, so I'm not sure why they are mixing it in a ACV . If the problem has arisen as a result of the pH being too low, then by adding ACV you would be compounding the problem by lowering the pH even further.

I don't know anything about ph levels. Only thing I'm aware of is my ground is acidic while I think means my chooks can be low in iron as a result but like I said before I don't know anything about levels so not sure what harm or problems it may cause them.
ACV I think is used more for an immune system boost more than anything.

 

[Teila]

Hey V1cky, yep, I hear ya; I would have been worried also; checked and triple checked the dosage and probably have gotten hubby to check it also

It is hard sometimes to know what is the right thing to do.

As I said, I am far from an expert and basically, besides participating in the discussion and offering support, I am not going to be much definitive help.

On the ACV subject, I do use ACV for various reasons and one is: It is reported to act as an antiseptic killing bacteria in their throat and is also reported to keep bacteria out of their water. I know it is recommended to people with sinus issues also.

But, I also believe that the jury is still out on the pros and cons of ACV and probably will be for a long time yet