Hi, I had some chickens sick and a couple die. One for sure died to MG and a secondary infection(per necropsy inspection by state diagnostic lab after death). The others most likely died from the roundworm (that's what the state Dr thinks anyway. He did not get to see these birds). I also had a blood test done on a couple birds and they have been confirmed to have MG. A fecal sample was also sent in and they have roundworms. I also can see that they have little straw colored bugs on them.
I took some advice and changed their feeding regimen from grains to organic layer feed. I have to mix the layer feed with water or the chickens won't eat it
I also bought some wheat and started sprouting it. I am also giving them almost daily "treats" of a mix of crashed pumpkin seeds, flax, garlic, and psyllium husk mixed with a little water so the psyllium doesn't choke the chickens. I have also been reading lots and lots on here about proper nourishment for my flock.
I have cleaned out their coop a couple of times in the last two weeks. I put a dust bath in the cool for them consisting of a little sawdust, DE, and ash. They seem quite happy with this. But I worry about the DE. If it cannot be breathed in, what does it do being in a dust bath? I did this under some suggestion on here. I have also sprinkled some of the DEin their nesting boxes along with some pine needles and some sawdust. Their littler is hay.
I bought some poultry protect spray from Flemingoutdoors.com. I followed the directions and sprayed down each chicken and their snow filled yard and the coop, especially the nesting boxes.
I am waiting for some denagard that I ordered to get here. I read about it on here. The other meds for MG say not to give to birds laying eggs for human consumption.
As for the roundworms, I am feeding the mix above. I sometimes pit a little DE in the mix. I couldn't give the piperazine or Saxons because they both read not to give to birds laying eggs for human consumption so I started looking up natural cures for intestinal parasites and came up with the current almost daily treats.
I thought I had this all figured out and was hoping that my little natural parasite cure would work (I HATE manmade chemicals), but a hen died last night. She had the same symptoms as the 2 birds the state vet thought died from intestinal parasites. She had a pasty butt and just quit eating one day and died. Something a little different about her than the rest is I think she is the one that has never laid annegg since I got her. Oh, they do get grit and oyster shell... Sorry I didn't put that inthe feeding part above.
Anyone know how I should move forward? I am really starting to get weary of all this. I think I know where the MG came from and I have decided to never buy from a swap again. Is it true that I can't add more birds to my flock? Do I have to either cull them or close the flock? Of course I will make sure they are healthy before I add anybody. Closing my flock isn't an option for me. Treating the birds with meds that can't be given to egg layers also isn't an option for me. The whole point of my birds is to eat and sell their eggs. Of course I am quite attached to them (so is my husband...btw, what does DH mean? I have seen so many people use that term...). Anyway, so of course we don't want to kill them either. I am very confused about this MG thing. Some people make it sound like a big deal and yet others say everyone has it... Anyone want to lend me some advice?
I took some advice and changed their feeding regimen from grains to organic layer feed. I have to mix the layer feed with water or the chickens won't eat it
I also bought some wheat and started sprouting it. I am also giving them almost daily "treats" of a mix of crashed pumpkin seeds, flax, garlic, and psyllium husk mixed with a little water so the psyllium doesn't choke the chickens. I have also been reading lots and lots on here about proper nourishment for my flock. I have cleaned out their coop a couple of times in the last two weeks. I put a dust bath in the cool for them consisting of a little sawdust, DE, and ash. They seem quite happy with this. But I worry about the DE. If it cannot be breathed in, what does it do being in a dust bath? I did this under some suggestion on here. I have also sprinkled some of the DEin their nesting boxes along with some pine needles and some sawdust. Their littler is hay.
I bought some poultry protect spray from Flemingoutdoors.com. I followed the directions and sprayed down each chicken and their snow filled yard and the coop, especially the nesting boxes.
I am waiting for some denagard that I ordered to get here. I read about it on here. The other meds for MG say not to give to birds laying eggs for human consumption.
As for the roundworms, I am feeding the mix above. I sometimes pit a little DE in the mix. I couldn't give the piperazine or Saxons because they both read not to give to birds laying eggs for human consumption so I started looking up natural cures for intestinal parasites and came up with the current almost daily treats.
I thought I had this all figured out and was hoping that my little natural parasite cure would work (I HATE manmade chemicals), but a hen died last night. She had the same symptoms as the 2 birds the state vet thought died from intestinal parasites. She had a pasty butt and just quit eating one day and died. Something a little different about her than the rest is I think she is the one that has never laid annegg since I got her. Oh, they do get grit and oyster shell... Sorry I didn't put that inthe feeding part above.
Anyone know how I should move forward? I am really starting to get weary of all this. I think I know where the MG came from and I have decided to never buy from a swap again. Is it true that I can't add more birds to my flock? Do I have to either cull them or close the flock? Of course I will make sure they are healthy before I add anybody. Closing my flock isn't an option for me. Treating the birds with meds that can't be given to egg layers also isn't an option for me. The whole point of my birds is to eat and sell their eggs. Of course I am quite attached to them (so is my husband...btw, what does DH mean? I have seen so many people use that term...). Anyway, so of course we don't want to kill them either. I am very confused about this MG thing. Some people make it sound like a big deal and yet others say everyone has it... Anyone want to lend me some advice?
