Consolidated Kansas

[Hawkeye95]

Okay, did more reading on Gape worm-- I just don't think that's it. It sounds like that progresses a lot faster and the breathing goes bad fast. They have done the stretched neck thing-- but it does seem to be getting better- not worse. AND the breeder did say that she wormed them before I got them. I guess I still think respiratory. They are still sneezing. Okay, going to run to the farm store today and try to pick up all this stuff. What is the LA00 whatever.. is that in a bottle- does is say for swine and cows on it like everything else? I can get Baytril-- would that be better? I'm sure my vet would do that. What about amoxicilin? Would that be better than Baytril? Sigh. Why is this still hanging on and on?? Shouldn't they be doing so much better by now? It's like they seem a tiny bit better... but are about the same and no worse. I guess I should be happy they are no worse.

 

[Hawkeye95]

I changed their pen and cleaned it out again this morning. I set out a bowl of yogurt and sprinkled their crumbles on top of it. But they are all eyeballing it like I'm trying to poison them.

Just leave it in there? Will they eventually go for it??? It's already been in there 10 mintues... no dice.

 

[chicken danz]

I am on my own today until late afternoon. Of course the water is frozen everywhere and I am going to have to get out and somehow get some water to some young birds who don't have a heated bowl. This isn't how I wanted to work back into trying to care for my birds.
I had several new hatches during the night. I small handfull of black silkies in the group. I have one chick I am confused about. It has 5 toes. It could be a partridge silkie I guess, but it is much bigger than the black chicks. It has a stripe like a GL Wyandotte. The only other breed I have with 5 toes are Salmon Faverolles and it doesn't look like them. I honestly don't remember what the partridge silkies looked like when I got them. I know with my Faverolles if they mix with something else they will be missing a toe on at least one if not both feet. So I would think the same would be true with the silkies. Any one know? I really need to find a way to afford to pay someone to finish my chicken trailer so I can get the purebreds all separated.
Hawkeye,They'll eventually try the yogurt. It's just something different. I've dipped beaks in it before a bit forcefully and they fight but then once they get the taste they love it. I think Ivy or checoukan had a different way of introducing it If I remember right.
My guess is that they are still dealing with shipping stress. Their systems are so tiny and vulnerable. It doesn't take much to make them sick. If I were you I would look at it this way: How concerned are you in reality? If you have a vet that actively treats birds you are so much luckier than most of us. I do a lot of my own treating because I really have no other choice without driving 80 miles round trip. But if I had invested a deal of money into some quality birds and they weren't doing better I might spend the time and money to go to a vet. It's like this: You can kick yourself later for worrying too much or you can kick yourself later for not doing more. You can listen to our advice all day long but what is ultimately going to make you feel best about it.
I don't suppose you could call the vets office, give them the symptoms and what you've been doing, and ask if they think you need to bring the birds in? If he's a really good vet and isn't just going to take your money he should honestly advise you.
As far as the poopy rear end goes if you have them inside where it's warm, a nice warm bath is often soothing to them as long as you can get them to just settle down and enjoy it. (after they think you are trying to initially kill them!) There is a really nasty smell to a sick chickens poo and even with bathing it will make them stink. You just don't want any chance of them chilling when they aren't doing well anyway.

 

[chicken danz]

Trish, GPs are naturally a very shy dog. You will have to continue to work with them. It took probably 2 weeks for my female to warm up to me because she had never been in contact with humans and was at least 3 months old when I got her. My male was much younger and he really took no time at all.
I can leash my male because he liked to run off when he was younger but I still can't leash my female. She just panics. I bought a bite collar to use on her but never used it. It just looks freaky. Not being leash trained has it's problems for sure. It's so funny because she loves her collar. She prances around like it is jewelry if I take it off and put it back on. But attach anything to it and she goes ape. If I decide to keep a pup this litter I think I will start working with the leash at about 8 weeks.
Ok not wanting to get in an argument but still have problems of the whole concept of not having human contact with the pups. A good dog with natural instincts is going to be a good dog period. If you want them to attack people that are stealing goats that is one thing, but keeping predators away is a natural instinct. OK I sure dont

 

[checoukan]

Quote:
hawkeye Good morning! Ok. Ready. got pencil and paper....?

LA-200, at most feed stores, in the cattle section. NO LA-300..... Why I'm not sure, but does not work as well. In a a box, is a liquid injectable, there are other generic forms of the LA-200. Get which ever that does not matter, just read the labels, and go from there.

Baytril, at the vet.

My choice. Liquid injectable, expensive. Some vets will not sell baytril. If you have a good working relationship with yours hopefully you can get some. 7cc will cost around $10.00, but you are only going to use a 1/4cc. Don't get any more than that, you won't need that much, and when you get low, go get a few more cc's. Larger birds, adults might give them more, but young, and bantams, any more, and you will kill them!! Strong stuff!!

Poopy butt--- Like danz said...they really stinck when you give them a bath

, so if the vent is not blocked, I would not worry with that too much, Its nasty, I know, but I think you will be adding insult to injury now with the cold temps!!

Lice--

When you got the birds did you feel the creepys then or now?

Did you notice any like gray powder above the vent? If there is, or was, they have lice, and just get some pour on 'Boss, Ivermectin, or Saber" They are in the cattle section once again. You are only going to use like a 1/4 cc again, and that will take care of your lice for around 4 months. If you keep your birds on that program, you will get ahead of the lice, and will not have to worry about those little buggers sucking blood anymore.

Gape worm, I don't know where you got your birds, but, I doubt that would be a problem now. I would like to know what the breeder wormed with, how much, and when thou, that information should have been sent with the birds.

Did she bath the birds right before she sent them too you? I hope they were dry at shipping time.

 

[ByN8ureHomstead]

Quote:
If pouring on is there a wait on eating eggs?

 

[ByN8ureHomstead]

Can dehydrated hot peppers be used as a dewormer?

I have been told pumpkin can be used as a dewormer.

 

[chicken danz]

I've read that the pumpkin seeds are the part that worms. But if you have access to pumpkin why not just let them enjoy it. I didn't score any this fall and I sure would have loved to. I think next spring I'll try to plant some pumpkins in a protected area and see if I can grow some of my own feed and medicine. I bought diatomaceous earth to worm with but haven't tried it yet. I haven't seen any indication of worms any where.... Just like to be safe.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Thank you so much ladies!! I wrote everything down!!

On the other hand, I did just get back from the vet. I was too freaked out. This vet I went to, he treats birds-- parrots, parakeets, etc. So I got a hold of the right vet, whew!! He listed to Zorro's lungs, and said they sound clear, BUT-- that he does have an upper respiratory infection, because when he shakes his head, he has clear drainage come out. Zorro's poopy butt smells like a pig farm! Seriously...ICK! The vet gave me a half bottle of Baytril (big bottle!!) and lots of syringes. We weighed Zorro and then he estimated a little lower to be sure that Zorro isn't overly stressed with the drug. He got his first injection there at the vet and he'll get his second here at home with me tonight. I'm feeling sooooo relieved I went. Zorro started laying down on his side and even laying his head down on his comb! He is not feeling well. The other two are not this bad. They will not be on the Baytril for a couple more days until the Vet says okay. He wants to be sure Zorro (aka guinnea pig) does not keel over from the Baytril, then I'll bring them in and we'll estimate how much they need and give it to them. They are sneezing, but are eating and seem okay for now. This vet is seriously awesome! He just handed over everything and showed me right where to inject. So, we're good to go! I'm going to pray Zorro is going to be fine. OH- and vet says that his poopy butt is likely from the antibiotics, but he said don't worry about trying to give him probiotics right now-- we'll work on that later. Zorro had two good looking poops while he was there. Not runny, or anything. They were solid and held up-- no blood. They smeared out his poop and really looked at it and then checked his vent and plucked some feathers and helped break up the poop that was stuck and clean him up a bit-- no water. I'm stressed!!!! ACK!! I've contacted the breeder (again!!) but she just doesn't want to believe it's a respiratory infection- keeps telling me it's likely mites. Vet said we can run blood later and see what disease we're working with if I want, for now, we're just doing "rescue" measures.

 

[Trish44]

Danz, well I agree with you on the hands off things with the GP pups. I understand the breeder's rationale, that she wants the dogs to bond to the stock & not to the humans, but I don't see why they can't do both. Lily, the white pup that is bigger is already warming up to me today, she is the most outgoing of the two sisters. Jasmine is much more reserved & cautious & it will probably take me longer to earn her trust, but I think she will eventually come around. The two pups have had a bad experience today with my Big Red rooster. He is very, very protective of his hens, which is what his job is, but when I let the pups out of their run this morning for the first time he saw them as a threat or else he wanted to establish that he's in charge, whatever the case he went after little Jasmine & chased her & rolled her twice. She ran yelping back into the dog run & into the dog house & has refused to come back out. I know he didn't hurt her, just scared her a lot. Then I was out with Lily later on & Red went after her too. She is bigger & not as shy or reserved & she yelped, but has stayed out walking around. Do you all think that the dogs & the rooster will figure it out or do I need to get rid of him? He's been awfully good at watching over my hens, but if he's going to attack my puppies I don't know if he should stay. I was going to keep him until Rudy, my Partridge Rock rooster gets bigger & then he can take over. Right now Rudy is still only about a third the size of Red & he is still limping around with his hurt foot.

Oh, by the way I got my first blue egg today, but I'm not sure if it's from my EE hen or one of the two Lavender Ameraucanas. I really am kind of thinking it's from the EE since her comb has gotten more red lately & Red is paying her attention now.

Hawkeye, I think this weather has been hard on the chickens after such a hot summer. I treated mine when they got the respiratory thing & for the most part they're doing all right now, but my BC Marans rooster still sounds like he may have some remnants of it. He's running around doing what chickens do, but he just isn't totally over it altogether. The others all seem fine now. I agree, I think the trip probably stressed them a lot & along with the cold they just weren't able to fight it off. You might try mixing some dry old fashioned oats in with the plain yogurt & see if your chicks will eat it then. Mine all just fight over that when I put it out for them. I'm glad you found a Vet that will treat chickens, I don't think we have one here that will. It sounds like you're on the right track now anyway. I'm sure the breeder just doesn't want to think the chicks could have been sick when you got them from her, that's probably why she is denying that they have a respiratory illness.