Bird tune-up

[zigzag45]

I recently purchased two Buffs to add to my flock. After driving over an hour, I was disappointed to see the birds didn't look like they were thriving. They were in a pen that was over-crowded with other young birds.

I went ahead and purchased them, but am keeping them quarantined for awhile. They are 12 weeks old, but smaller than my brahma's that are 7-8 weeks old. Their feathers don't look healthy, either by sheen or quantity and the birds stink (didn't know that till they were home).

I'm brand new to chicken farming. Suggestions on what to do to give them a jump-start and back to good health? I think I'll put a container of sand with D/E mixed in. Should I try to powder them in DE as well? I have them on pro-biotic in their water. I'm wondering about doing a preventative wormer (maybe homeopathic, garlic glove - my chicken's for dummies books recommends that). Also, the previous owner had them on a medicated chick feed. I've not used medicated with my current girls and would like to switch them off it. I've mixed their old food with mine right now to help them transition.

In summary, I'm looking for suggestions as to what I should/could do to help them come up to speed?

Thanks!

 

[Eggcessive]

I can see that you don't want to use medication if you don't have to. However, when you say they smell bad--that can mean infectious coryza or coccidia, or maybe nothing. If you read the posts on here it is risky buying birds from someone you don't know because you can wipe out your whole flock with a respiratory disease, so it's great that you are islolating them. Clothes, shoes , food and water dishes, and old pine shavings from their coop later can contaminate your healthy chickens. Personally I would take them back, forget getting my money back just to get rid of any illness. But if you choose to keep them, I think things I like to use are apple cider vinegar with "mother" in water 1 tablespoonful per gallon, occasional garlic chopped in feed or water plain yogurt given 1-2 times per week as a probiotic, ground pumpkin seed (fresh zucchini or squash cut through the middle in summer in good, too) as a wormer, and wood ash from your fireplace mixed with sand and dirt for dust-bathing to keep lice and mites away. If you get an infestation, after cleaning out your coop, dust with pure wood ash. If you should get cocciosis, I would get Corid which is not a horrible chemical, just a thiamine blocker, amprollium (the same as in the medicated feed, only more concentrated) to treat the chicks.

 

[zigzag45]

Thank you Eggcessive. For all the reading I've done here, I hadn't picked up the part about not buying from someone I don't know. Since I don't know anyone, that means I'm only buying chicks from a hatchery.

I think I have some Corid on hand already, it was part of the chick starter kit from Cackle, or an add-on I bought with it.

I appreciate the suggestions. Toughest thing for me now is deciding whether I keep them.... the thought of jeopardizing my current girls, which are doing great, scares me. I'm too new at this to loose all of them.

 

[zigzag45]

I wanted to close the loop on this question. After extensive thought, I put an ad on CraigsList (CL) for two free Buff Opingtons. Within an hour or two, I had five people saying they wanted them. First guy didn't show, second guy was thrilled. He said they looked healthy to him, but was happy to take them A couple days later I saw another CL add for Buffs from a different place. It wasn't too far from where I was working. I went this time with a large degree of skepticism. However,t hese birds looked healthy, well feathered, and in great shape. They were better separated by age, in reasonably sized pens - all around much better. They were about the same age but probably 20% larger. So, I took the risk again and so far so good.

thanks for your help!