Depressed Chicken

[hello duck]

Hi, can you help me.
I have 2 Maran Bantams cockerels that seem depressed; feathers fluffed up looking a little pale and just not their happy little selves.
These chickens are 7 weeks old and at first was quite happy to go to their new house, they would chirp scratch around and venture out side to enjoy the sunshine but now they are just not happy.
1 week after they went to the new house I put the 5 week old ducks in the house and also some 5-week-old Cochins, I think they are more like Pekin’s you never know what you will get off ebay.
Every body seemed happy at 1st but over the last few days something changed, they both eat and drink Ok, 1 of them has a reddish brown watery poop, the chickens and ducks do not mix, I have what I call baby pens and when they all get to 10 weeks old (weather permitting) they go to their new home but only after they have been weaned of the heat lamps, all my others birds are fine, its just these 2 that I am worried about, any help or advice you can give me would be very much appreciated.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
BW Duck

 

[hello duck]

any help Please!

 

[hello duck]

Hi, Is there anybody out there that can help me!
ANYBODY!

 

[justusnak]

Hmmmm, im not sure what is going on there.....you havent changed thier food at all? Is thre a chance that the ones from E BAy are sick, just not chowing signs? I would try some ACV in the water....and maybe go in there in the evening, after everyone is roosting...see where they are roosting. Maybe they were bumped from the top of the pecking order? Try some boiled egg....see if they will eat that, its great for energy.

 

[hello duck]

Hi, Thanks so much for your reply, all my chicken and ducks are from eggs bought on ebay and then hatch in my incubator, infact every single chicken i have (44 in totel) are all from the same seller.
these 3 chicken are still in the baby pen and are on there own, they have been sinced they hatched being the only 3 out of 10 eggs and the only 3 i have ever had a problem with.
do you know anything about poo, what would cause reddish brown poop, i havent changed their food they are still on chick crumb, and what is ACV i am so very new to keeping chickens.
my very 1st chickens to hatch was in December 2006 and now are at point of lay, i can't wait for my first egg.
sorry for rabbiting on, lookforward to your reply.
BW Duck

 

[birdlover]

Hey duck! I'm no expert but I do have a question. Is their food medicated? If not, they might have coccidiosis which is mostly found in baby chicks. To get rid of it you need to get some amprolium (maybe at a food store?) and I would get medicated chick starter from now on so you can prevent it in the future (even if no one has it now). ACV is apple cider vinegar and I have been told that organic is the best to get because the cloudy stuff at the bottom (called "the mother") is what helps the chickens ward off disease. Good luck with your boys!

Edited to add: Baby ducks aren't supposed to eat medicated chick starter.

 

[AccidentalFarm]

Quote:
That is correct. Pastuerized ACV is worthless in this regard. It is, however, fine for cleaning waterers and such.