California - Northern

[lawatt]

I meant round worms. Pin worms are similar. If you saw the round worms(look like spaghetti) in the poo, the chicken would have a severe infestation.

The float test will test for all intestinal parasites. Some sources claim that most chickens will have round worms, especially those that free range. Worms are more of a problem in wet places but still common everywhere. a bad infestation will make them sterile, eg., no eggs will be produced.

Good Luck!

thanks Ron! (as always, so informative!) is there anything else besides worms that might cause her behavior?

 

[ronott1]

Quote:
Your welcome!

without other symptoms, I would not be too worried. The float test is good because the pooping slowly could be caused by that.

Sneak up on them at night and use a flashlight yo examine her vent. If they try to get away from you, hold them upside down by the feet. They will calm down quickly. You then slowly move them back up right. They usually stay calm after that.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Ok I have not done a head count in a while but I just did one.

In the meat pen: 6 roos, 1 female (getting culled- she is just not doing well. that mold stuff still working itself horrible spell on her)

In the coop:
4 Cockerels/Roosters | 2 Marans + 1 B Orp = 20 weeks old. 1 Bantam Wyandotte = approx 12-18 mos
12 Pullets/Hens | 2 EEs + 1 FBCM/BO mix + 4 Buff Orp = 18-20 weeks old. 4 Buff Orps almost 30 weeks old. 1 Bantam Wyandotte = 12-18 mos.

We are going to my husband's uncles in a bit. With these numbers should I still try to sweet talk him out of some hens? His are all about 2-3 years old and have bare butts (and he does not know why and frankly neither do I since I've never dealt with bare bums).

1 to 3 is a pretty tight ratio and can stress your hens. I'd cull down to 2 cockerels and hold off on adding more to the flock - then you can hatch more in the spring from your own flock.

 

[ronott1]

Guess what? I have some of them fancy birds now....

 

[zooweemama]

1 to 3 is a pretty tight ratio and can stress your hens. I'd cull down to 2 cockerels and hold off on adding more to the flock - then you can hatch more in the spring from your own flock.

I wish I could cull. Copper is on the watch list though. Samson (Marans) is a keeper- everyone is attached to him, so far is not aggressive and he looks really good. Joe (Orp) is also a beloved of the kids (me too)- he is completely non-agressive. The bantam rooster (a 'gentleman' of the males) belongs to my mil. So if I cull - Copper goes. None of the females have names but these have stood out for us and the Joe is a biggest of the male Orps (didn't get many though) and Samson is the 2nd most attractive and what looks to be fairly close to standard.

I will keep thinking on this. It's hard when your flock is small and you find some nice male examples of breeds you want to keep. ahhhhhh

 

[zooweemama]

Guess what? I have some of them fancy birds now....

Eep love them!!

 

[zooweemama]

thanks Ron! (as always, so informative!) is there anything else besides worms that might cause her behavior?

I'm sorry for your troubles. It's the hardest part of chicken keeping. <3

 

[zooweemama]

PMing you.

That last one and the other like it is SO pretty!

Well that didn't turn out right. It's the white chicks you shared.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Sorry, I bet this is a boy. See the red coming in on the wing bow?

 

[ronott1]

Quote:
I love the Dorking Rock crosses. They were one of the meat bird crosses before the Cronish Rock crosses. They should be big chickens too. I am thinking about trying to get some heritage parents to try a cross like this with.

One of the little roos is already making the food sound for the hens. He also is very protective. His Dad was a very good flock manager and since the cross should make a bigger Roo than either of the parents, he should be a very big boy.