Blocked nostrils, lice and mites, "broken down"

[SteffAce]

We were given some cornish bantam chickens. The gentleman we got them from was very a nice guy. He loved his chickens and showed them. His health had gotten to the point he couldn't care for them though. He didn't realize some of the issues his chickens had until we were catching them. He was giving them to us for free, so they would have a good home. We are new to chickens.

We built two 10' x 7' coops for the chickens. There are 7 white laced red cornish banatams in one and 13 dark cornish bantams in the other. They are bedded on TSC fine shavings. There poop looks normal, but we are newbies.

Here is what we are dealing with:

1. Some of them were mouth breathing with clogged nostrils. There wasn't any rattling in their breathing though, and it didn't appear to be panting. At one point he said it was genetic and at another point he said it might be allergies. I'm thinking it was from a dusty pen. However, this morning I don't see any clogged noses except these two. None were mouth breathing. On closer inspection, I'm wondering if it is from the overgrowth of the red part (sorry, I don't know the technical name for that). I have the vet coming out to pull a coggins on my horses. I can have him bring antibiotics for the chickens. I prefer not to give them antibiotics if it isn't necessary though. What do y'all think?

2. I saw lice on them. I'm pretty sure they have mites too. Before putting them in the coop, I gave them a pea size of ivermectin paste. I made a permethrin dip in a 5 gallon bucket. I soaked them up to their head until they were saturated. We will put DE in the pen today. I also got some play sand for dust baths and will mix DE in that as well. I'm thinking about ordering Elector PSP and treating them with that too. I would have used that in the first place, but I couldn't find any locally. Is there anything else I should be doing or not doing, for this?

3. I noticed some were lethargic after the dip but recovered after about 5 minutes or so. I chalked it up to poor health. I'm thinking they could be anemic from the lice/mite. Are there supplements I should be giving them while they are recovering? They are currently getting 16% layer crumbles and some fresh veggies from our garden. I have grit to put in there as well. I have some Grub Terra Black Soldier Fly Larva coming in today for them as well.

4. There are two that are "broken down" according to the guy. One side of their body is hanging lower than the other, and they are limping. The guy said they are heavy birds and get injured easily jumping off of things, and that is why his roosts were only a few inches off the ground. It does seem like something like that. I figured I'd better ask though in case it is a virus or a genetic something.

Thank you in advance!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

At one point he said it was genetic and at another point he said it might be allergies. I'm thinking it was from a dusty pen. However, this morning I don't see any clogged noses except these two. None were mouth breathing. On closer inspection, I'm wondering if it is from the overgrowth of the red part (sorry, I don't know the technical name for that).

Welcome To BYC

I do agree, it looks like they have excess tissue covering the nostrils. Likely this is genetic and there's not a lot you can do about it but keep the nostrils clear of food and debris.

I saw lice on them. I'm pretty sure they have mites too. Before putting them in the coop, I gave them a pea size of ivermectin paste. I made a permethrin dip in a 5 gallon bucket. I soaked them up to their head until they were saturated.

Ivermectin is dosed by weight, so you may want to check your 'pea size' to ensure you gave the correct dosing. You repeated dosing in 10-14days? Ivermectin can help with Mites since mites mainly feed on blood, so when the mites bite the chicken, it should kill them. For Lice, Ivermectin is not going to do much, lice mainly feed on feathers, skin and dander.

Elector PSP is an option, I've never used it but some people feel it's effective.

Another option is to get Permethrin poultry dust and dust your birds in 5-7day intervals. Put the dust in an old sock and use it like a powder puff, dusting the birds and working the dust all the way down through the feathers to the skin.

I noticed some were lethargic after the dip but recovered after about 5 minutes or so. I chalked it up to poor health. I'm thinking they could be anemic from the lice/mite. Are there supplements I should be giving them while they are recovering? They are currently getting 16% layer crumbles and some fresh veggies from our garden.

Being lethargic after being dipped, could be from bugs biting them and stress.

16% Layer feed is the minimum. You may want to consider feeding an all flock type feed that is 18-22% protein, especially if you have a rooster too.

It wouldn't hurt to offer poultry vitamins a couple of times a week.

There are two that are "broken down" according to the guy. One side of their body is hanging lower than the other, and they are limping. The guy said they are heavy birds and get injured easily jumping off of things, and that is why his roosts were only a few inches off the ground.

Photos of the broken down birds?

Cornish are heavy birds, so it's possible what he told you was correct.

 

[SteffAce]

Welcome To BYC

I do agree, it looks like they have excess tissue covering the nostrils. Likely this is genetic and there's not a lot you can do about it but keep the nostrils clear of food and debris.

Ivermectin is dosed by weight, so you may want to check your 'pea size' to ensure you gave the correct dosing. You repeated dosing in 10-14days? Ivermectin can help with Mites since mites mainly feed on blood, so when the mites bite the chicken, it should kill them. For Lice, Ivermectin is not going to do much, lice mainly feed on feathers, skin and dander.

Elector PSP is an option, I've never used it but some people feel it's effective.

Another option is to get Permethrin poultry dust and dust your birds in 5-7day intervals. Put the dust in an old sock and use it like a powder puff, dusting the birds and working the dust all the way down through the feathers to the skin.

Being lethargic after being dipped, could be from bugs biting them and stress.

16% Layer feed is the minimum. You may want to consider feeding an all flock type feed that is 18-22% protein, especially if you have a rooster too.

It wouldn't hurt to offer poultry vitamins a couple of times a week.


Photos of the broken down birds?

Cornish are heavy birds, so it's possible what he told you was correct.

Thank you for all the advice. I went to take videos of the rooster. He doesn't seem "broken down" at the moment. He just has a slight limp, so he seems to be getting better.

For the ivermectin, the paste I had is for horses, so the dosages are broken down into 250 lb dosages. Chicken guy at the feed store said to give about a pea size. I can repeat it in 10-14 days. I did the permethrin dip to treat the lice. I'll have to repeat the ivermectin and permethrin dip if I don't get the PSP. I'm debating. The PSP is expensive, but it is supposed to be a one-and-done treatment. That is a great idea with the sock and the dust!

I was at the feed store today. They do have 20% layer, so I'll make sure to get that next time. I assume the layer is okay to eat for the rooster, or should I get an all flock and set out oyster shell? I think he would eat the oysters shell though, right? I read that the calcium is bad for chicks

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It's up to you what you feed.

A lot of folks that keep roosters feed an All Flock feed since roosters are not "layers". Layer feed contains extra calcium for actively laying pullets and hens.

Chicks should be fed a chick starter up until the point of lay, they do not need the extra calcium that is in layer feed.