chick818
Songster
- Apr 22, 2009
- 131
- 0
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I have spent several hours researching my chickens symptoms and I am unable to fully identify with any one in particular. So I am hoping to list her symptoms and someone may be able to point me in the right direction.
I have 4 hens about 5/6 months old that free range in our fenced in long Island backyard and they are locked up at night. 2 have started laying eggs over the last 3/4 weeks, and 2 do not.
Yesterday, one cochin hen (whom does not lay eggs, I don't think) started to walk but tip over on her left side. However when my daughter tried to pick her up she ran away fine. Last night when we checked her she was not on the roost. Today I observed that she is not falling over but walking very unsteadily and has to catch herself . She eats, drinks and is walking around with the others while pecking at the ground for tidbits. I noticed that her tail feathers are down while the other's are up. She also does have runny poop on her bottom looks dark brown. But I haven't seen her go yet. She appears to be of normal weight and her eyes look fine in color. We do not use pesticides on our lawn.
Labor Day Weekend, we started them on a laying feed (blue seal brand) along with some oyster shells. And we use pine shavings only in their coop, with a bit of hay where they lay eggs.
They were bought from a small Long Island Farm, so they are not vaccinated for Mareks. I realize that it is a possiblity but can not fully identify with the symptoms. And noticed that cocci has possiblity in this as well.
If anyone can give me a better idea so that I can try to make an assesment. I am unaware of any avian vets around here, but my 2 cousins are vets of the usual more domestic kind.
In either case could I do any harm if I purchased some poly-vits and gave the ACV in the water? Also should I worry about my children touching them? And do I need to discard my eggs?
Sorry so long of a post..... I appreciate any help/advice....
Thanks,
Tara
I have 4 hens about 5/6 months old that free range in our fenced in long Island backyard and they are locked up at night. 2 have started laying eggs over the last 3/4 weeks, and 2 do not.
Yesterday, one cochin hen (whom does not lay eggs, I don't think) started to walk but tip over on her left side. However when my daughter tried to pick her up she ran away fine. Last night when we checked her she was not on the roost. Today I observed that she is not falling over but walking very unsteadily and has to catch herself . She eats, drinks and is walking around with the others while pecking at the ground for tidbits. I noticed that her tail feathers are down while the other's are up. She also does have runny poop on her bottom looks dark brown. But I haven't seen her go yet. She appears to be of normal weight and her eyes look fine in color. We do not use pesticides on our lawn.
Labor Day Weekend, we started them on a laying feed (blue seal brand) along with some oyster shells. And we use pine shavings only in their coop, with a bit of hay where they lay eggs.
They were bought from a small Long Island Farm, so they are not vaccinated for Mareks. I realize that it is a possiblity but can not fully identify with the symptoms. And noticed that cocci has possiblity in this as well.
If anyone can give me a better idea so that I can try to make an assesment. I am unaware of any avian vets around here, but my 2 cousins are vets of the usual more domestic kind.
In either case could I do any harm if I purchased some poly-vits and gave the ACV in the water? Also should I worry about my children touching them? And do I need to discard my eggs?
Sorry so long of a post..... I appreciate any help/advice....
Thanks,
Tara
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