Chicken won't eat feed just corn, weird neck motions, lost weight

[Wyorp Rock]

The DE suppose to help with parasites, bugs, and keeping the food from getting mold. When I feed her separately I don't add either DE or egg shells.

The egg shells are also large enough that if the chickens want to not eat they can. Actually often times there are leftovers.

I did some research on fecal float (see link below) it seems to be a complicated process.Is there an easier way to do this? Should I perhaps just give her Equimax or Albendazole?

Most feeds already have a little DE in them, it's used to help keep kill grain weevils in dry grains/feed. DE will not prevent mold. DE will not treat intestinal parasites like worms.

A fecal float can be performed by your vet if they are willing. Gather a sampling and have them look for worms.

You could deworm your flock without getting a fecal float. Albendazole (Valbazen) will treat most worms that chickens can have except for Tapeworms. Dose is 0.08ml per pound of weight given orally once, then repeated in 10 days.

Equimax will treat Tapeworms only. Dose for Equimax is 0.033ml per pound of weight give orally once, then repeated in 10 days.

When feeding back egg shells, crush them up. For me, I prefer to save up a few on an old cookie sheet, then throw them in a cooling oven when I'm done baking. This dries them out a bit and makes them easy to store excess and/or crush them up. Not everyone does this, but I'd crush them up either way.

Is grit needed even with the Purina feed and the rocks on the ground?

Grit is a pet peeve of mine. I recommend that grit (Crushed Granite) be provided regardless of what the birds eat or their environment.

 

[ika]

Okay, so summary so far:

• Coconut oil twice today
• No more DE
• Medicate with Albendazole
• Medicate with Equimax
• Get grit

Can I medicate for Albendazole and Equimax at the same time?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Okay, so summary so far:

• Coconut oil twice today
• No more DE
• Medicate with Albendazole
• Medicate with Equimax
• Get grit

Can I medicate for Albendazole and Equimax at the same time?

It would be best to get a fecal float to see if worms are even at play.

Check her crop to see that it's emptying. Encourage her to eat a nutritionally balanced poultry feed and cut out the treats.

Is her crop emptying completely overnight. Check it first thing in the morning before she's had anything to eat/drink.

I'd give her some coconut oil twice daily. Massage her crop during the day and let us know what it feels like. I wonder if she has a blockage or perhaps sour crop.

Getting a fecal float to rule out worms is always a good idea.

A fecal float can be performed by your vet if they are willing. Gather a sampling and have them look for worms.

 

[ika]

Is there any easy way to find a vet that performs this service? I only know of 2 vets in the whole Phoenix metro area that accepts birds and both charges hundreds for any type of procedure.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Do you have a vet that treats any other animals like cats/dogs? A fecal float is a simple test that any vet can do if they are willing.
It's the same method they use to look at stool samples for dogs/cats or other animals.

Vets can be very expensive so I completely understand if getting testing is not possible.

If that's the case, then I would deworm with Valbazen (Albendazole) and see how it goes. While chickens do get Tapeworm, these are not quite as common as Roundworms, etc. which the Valbazen will take care of.

 

[Razzlefrazzle]

Albendazole (Valbazen) will treat most worms that chickens can have except for Tapeworms.

From what I've read Valbazen also treats tapeworms. Wondering why do you think it doesn't?

 

[Mosey2003]

Is there any easy way to find a vet that performs this service? I only know of 2 vets in the whole Phoenix metro area that accepts birds and both charges hundreds for any type of procedure.

Any vet is able to do a fecal. Whether they WILL or not is up to the vet, most will. If you can't find a pet vet willing to do it, try large animal/horse vets, it's extremely routine for horses.

 

[ika]

I'll reach out to a dog/cat vet nearby to see if they do it. However, I have another question.

Her droppings are very minimal, how much do I need to give them?
Here's a picture of what I believe was last night's pile. There are some wood shavings around for some scale reference.

From what I've read Valbazen also treats tapeworms. Wondering why do you think it doesn't?

I believe that Valbazen doesn't work as well for tapeworm. Which I can attest. They had tapeworm (maybe) and roundworm once and Valbazen did not work. However, Equimax solved the tapeworm problem.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I believe that Valbazen doesn't work as well for tapeworm. Which I can attest. They had tapeworm (maybe) and roundworm once and Valbazen did not work. However, Equimax solved the tapeworm problem.

Because of reports like this. Many people seem to have found that Valbazen has not been effective in treating Tapeworm. Praziquantel seems to be the most common treatment at this time.

However, you probably have read that Valbazen treats Tapeworm, I have too, there's plenty of info out there. Plumbs Vet Drug Manual says to use Albendazole at a rate of 1mL/22kg of body weight twice daily for 3 day, then repeat in 2 weeks for treatment of tapeworms and flagellate parasites. So, if that's something folks want to do there's that too.

From what I've read Valbazen also treats tapeworms. Wondering why do you think it doesn't?

 

[dawg53]

From what I've read Valbazen also treats tapeworms. Wondering why do you think it doesn't?

I've dealt with tapeworms many times and have used Valbazen for years. Valbazen will not treat tapeworms due to tapeworm resistance. Take it from me, a horse wormer containing praziquantel will completely eliminate poultry tapeworms.
Zimecterin Gold or Equimax is what I use for tapeworms. I prefer Equimax. Both products will also get rid of trematodes.