Best Course of Action

[ReelFaster]

Hi folks, I am new to BYC and brand spanking new to owning Chickens. We bought 4 chickens just over 4 weeks ago. 3 from the same seller (2x buffs, Easter egger) and the very next morning from another seller (1x Plymouth Rock).

Recently I've noticed one of our buff orpington's was constantly drinking water. Just about every time I was out there checking on them, or gathering eggs she was always at the nipple waterer. Initially I thought she was having trouble getting it, but after watching her I can see that she wasn't. But to be safe I added a water bowl. She would drink from that excessively as well and still return to the nippler. So I began to pay closer attention to her, I can see her comb was a little paler (pics below) then the other orpington. But it was that color when I first got her. I also noticed her legs might be infected with scaly leg mites. I was ultimately able to see her poo twice, once yesterday and once today and noticed it was foamy yesterday and today but today's had what appears to be a bit of blood in it. She is eating and drinking, however she is def on bottom of the pecking order for sure but she does get her fair share when I give treats or some left overs from dinner. Below are some pics of her legs, poo and comb.

Again being new to chickens I didn't do a good job of checking out the chickens when I bought them, hec I've never even held a chicken, but should have done a better job, that's on me. Also being so new to owning chickens I am not sure what the best course of action is. If indeed scaly leg mites I think I can try and tackle that and treat her and other 3 as a preventative. But this foaming poo looks like some type of worm which I am not sure what to purchase or treat. I do not have any local vets in this area that will care for chickens so I am mostly on my own with the help of you fine folks. Thanks for your time and help on this!

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you feel of her crop in her upper right chest and let us know if it is empty and flat, full, hard, doughy, or puffy? In the pic it looks enlarged. With impacted, sour or pendulous crop, chickens may drink a lot of water. Smell her breath for a sour or rotten odor. I would also think about worming her with Valbazen or SafeGuard Liquid Goat Wormer.

Yes she has scaly leg mites by the loose scales. You can use ivermectin pour-on 0.1 ml per every 2 pounds of weight, to the back of her neck along the spine, and repeat in 2 weeks. Or you can soak her legs in warm soapy water, and then apply a thick coating of petroleum jelly or other thick oil 1-2 times a week.

Here is some reading about crop problems:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[ReelFaster]

Can't thank you enough, I will try and feel her crop and see what I can find. I will also look up those wormers, thank you much!

I suspected she had leg mites, I tried taking some pics and seeing if others have them as well. Easter Egger and P.Rock look ok and the other Buff is hard to tell but I may just treat them to be safe. Again thank you so much!

 

[Eggcessive]

This article may be helpful although I would not use gasoline on legs—yes, it works, but there are more less harmful treatments:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/scaly-leg-mites-in-chickens/

 

[ReelFaster]

Thank you!!

I did just feel her crop. I couldn't feel any big lumps or anything soft or doughy. I felt some stuff but was kinda small. But then again am very inexperienced but I felt it pretty good.

 

[Sally PB]

If you suspect you have one bird with crop issues, feel hers, and then feel the other birds' crops. Sometimes it helps to compare different ones to get the sense of how they should be.