Colorado

[Ashdoes]

I just lost another bird this morning - going into her 3rd winter and I'm pretty sure it was a build-up of internal parasites/worms.  I just didn't catch it soon enough but she couldn't keep weight on and had just started to show signs of anemia.  SOO - since we're headed into the dark and difficult time of our Colorado year, anyone have suggestions of what I should be doing to better control parasites?  I check my birds externally at least once a month, have spread food-grade DE around their inside coop and have just added more apple cider vinegar to their water (while I can before it goes into the galvanized heated waterer soon).  What am I missing?  I'm pretty sure when I lost my first bird it was probably parasites too (looking back at weight loss and such) and I don't really want to haul up to CSU for a necropsy when my flock hasn't had contact with anyone else and all signs point to parasites.  Any suggestions?  Worming protocols you follow?  Thanks for the help.  Now down to 3 birds and feeling depressed since it seems as I've failed my flock when I probably could have done something sooner to save her.

Because of the very wet, warm summer, we just had our first parasite issues as well. We used Valbazen wormer first, but it wasn't effective in the overload of tapeworms, so we had to use an equine wormer, which finally worked. You should start with the Valbazen, which I had to order online, since it takes care of all worms including tapeworm. Only if you continue to see tape worms in the chickens poo, should you use the equine wormer. If you search Valbazen on the forum, you'll find a lot of threads with great advice and dosing info.

 

[Ashdoes]

After speaking with another woman at CSU, I'm more confused then ever. She said they rarely would tell someone to cull the whole flock, only in severe cases, and only once since she's been there. She said mareks is so endemic to the chicken population that most people have already bought birds with it, if they've bought from a private breeder that doesn't vacinate. And that it would be our decision to continue to sell birds, from this flock, that have already had contact with the (possibly) infected mareks chickens.
Doesn't that seem awful, and just a huge part of the problem? I have two or three cochin males, and one female with vulture hocks, we wanted to find them homes in a layer flock...but isn't it really awful to sell them to someone, knowing they could infect and kill off existing birds in the flock? I mean, I know exactly where it came from (if it's mareks) and I'm pretty upset to be going through this, simply because someone thought it was ok to sell me a bird that was exposed. Saying all this, it's not 100% mareks, but given the ages and symptoms, it's very likely. I'd like everyone's opinions on this, because at this point, I'm very ready to give up on the whole thing and be done with chickens completely.

 

[Percheron chick]

Because of the very wet, warm summer, we just had our first parasite issues as well. We used Valbazen wormer first, but it wasn't effective in the overload of tapeworms, so we had to use an equine wormer, which finally worked. You should start with the Valbazen, which I had to order online, since it takes care of all worms including tapeworm. Only if you continue to see tape worms in the chickens poo, should you use the equine wormer. If you search Valbazen on the forum, you'll find a lot of threads with great advice and dosing info.

I find this interesting. I've never had a problem with internal or external parasites with my chickens and have appreciated our dry climate for this bonus. Good wake up call to be on the lookout this year. Maybe I'll just deworm each chickens as they go through their molt. If you use horse dewormer paste for tapes it needs to be one that contains praziquantel (Equimax, Zimectrin Gold). I would stay away from Quest Plus. Way too easy to overdose and I've never seen any studies with it.

 

[Percheron chick]

Lol. If you'd like, I have a bunch of 10-11 week old pullets, I have 1 barred rock, 3 white leghorn and 13 silver laced wyandottes if you would like them. They aren't laying yet and are very friendly and love to be held/petted. Pm me if you want any, otherwise they go to freezer camp in a month!!

I know we all have different uses for our birds but I would not be sending SLW pullets to freezer camp (any pullets for that matter). You can get a decent price for them on CL ($15-25 depending upon age) most times of the year. I can't raise SLWs fast enough in the spring to sell. Put the free CL cockerels in the freezer. You might also be able to trade a pullet for 2-3 cockerels. I think that's a good deal for most city folks.

 

[Ashdoes]

  I find this interesting.  I've never had a problem with internal or external parasites with my chickens and have appreciated our dry climate for this bonus.  Good wake up call to be on the lookout this year.  Maybe I'll just deworm each chickens as they go through their molt.  If you use horse dewormer paste for tapes it needs to be one that contains praziquantel (Equimax, Zimectrin Gold).  I would stay away from Quest Plus.  Way too easy to overdose and I've never seen any studies with it.

Yes, Zemecterin gold is the one we used. I was very comfortable using it, after reading the info on the box. They've done studies, and even giving three times the actual dose, there were no side effects. I felt like that made it more forgiving, with attempting to correctly dose chickens.
I also found, when using the Valbazen, giving the dose orally was easier then pieces of bread soaked with the dose.

 

[Ashdoes]

I know we all have different uses for our birds but I would not be sending SLW pullets to freezer camp (any pullets for that matter).  You can get a decent price for them on CL ($15-25 depending upon age) most times of the year.  I can't raise SLWs fast enough in the spring to sell.  Put the free CL cockerels in the freezer.  You might also be able to trade a pullet for 2-3 cockerels.  I think that's a good deal for most city folks.

Agreed. Pullets will sell, always always.

 

[corancher]

After speaking with another woman at CSU, I'm more confused then ever. She said they rarely would tell someone to cull the whole flock, only in severe cases, and only once since she's been there. She said mareks is so endemic to the chicken population that most people have already bought birds with it, if they've bought from a private breeder that doesn't vacinate. And that it would be our decision to continue to sell birds, from this flock, that have already had contact with the (possibly) infected mareks chickens.
Doesn't that seem awful, and just a huge part of the problem? I have two or three cochin males, and one female with vulture hocks, we wanted to find them homes in a layer flock...but isn't it really awful to sell them to someone, knowing they could infect and kill off existing birds in the flock? I mean, I know exactly where it came from (if it's mareks) and I'm pretty upset to be going through this, simply because someone thought it was ok to sell me a bird that was exposed. Saying all this, it's not 100% mareks, but given the ages and symptoms, it's very likely. I'd like everyone's opinions on this, because at this point, I'm very ready to give up on the whole thing and be done with chickens completely.

This is the same thing I have heard time and time again. Mareks is everywhere. The mareks vaccine does not always work either. Most of the big importers vaccinate all chicks for Mareks because mareks has been found in some of their flocks. These flocks were not culled but the owners were told to use preventive treatment such as culling sick birds and vaccinating all chicks. This will be certainly be denied but my source has first hand knowledge.

If you want a totally clean flock, cull everything, clean everything, wait several months then get your new birds, have them all tested for disease, and close your flock if all test clean.

You would then need to not bring any outside birds (including chicks) into your flock without being tested and quarantined off your property until you are sure there is no disease. Do not let anyone that has been exposed to birds on your property as they can carry disease on shoes and clothing. Even if all this works, then you have to worry about wild birds bringing disease in. Also do not trust just because someone is NPIP that they are clean. All it means is at the time and date of testing they were clean of whatever disease they were tested for which is not normally marek's unless the test was requested. If they bring a diseased bird into their flock the day after testing and you bring in one of their birds into your flock during the year until they are tested again then it is possible that you exposed your flock.

My point is that we need to be careful. Have your chicks vaccinated if possible, watch for disease and try to isolate sick birds. Take preventive measures but don't make yourself crazy over it. The Ebola problem should be a good measure for all of us. All the best laid plans, don't always work.

 

[Ashdoes]

It is so frustrating! im checking on the baby stall every couple hours, keeping an eye on the younger birds for any symptoms of lethargy or not eating.

 

[Double Kindness]

Well I got 20 pullets for sale/trade for cockrels or muscovy ducks or a french bcm pullet then! I was holding them today as they follow me around & was dismayed at how light they feel. They would be excellent layers though, and are very sweet and spoiled. But aren't all our chickens spoiled??

My bf says freezer camp or gone... b/c I have 19 chicks in the barn that need to move outside eventually.

I was surprised out of 27 straight run chicks only 5 are boys!! Pfftt so much for my dp meatie project. I have white bresse, ayam cemani and haffies chicks, the bresse are suppose to be great meat chickens, caponizing equipment is through Chinese customs, but who knows how long to get here?

I would gladly trade any of my dp meatie pullets for any cockrels anyone doesn't want, understand though, they are headed to freezer camp in a month.

 

[Ashdoes]

CSU Initial report:focally extensive pulmonary absces/granuloma. Poor body condition
Makes me feel bad, but I knew we were watching her waste away. Not sure what it means, but will find out in the next few days. They got on that necropsy fast though.