FLORIDA!!!!!ALWAYS SUNNY SIDE UP!!!

[Wyandotte Blue]

Hi! I do not want to start a new thread because I will never find it . . . my four chicks have grown up - 3 hens and one Rooster. I have been getting two eggs every day for several weeks. Except for two days when I only got one egg each day. They are not free range or they would be hawk food I have them in a very large indoor/outdoor coop, and they can chose whether to be inside or outside, so I gather the two eggs every day. My question - one hen may not have started laying, is that a situation? Or do they lay then stop then lay again so they could all be laying, but off and on? Also I have noticed my hens are starting to walk around with their beaks parted - plenty of fresh clear water every day and shade and we have had a very nice breeze; the outdoor coop run is 12 x 12 by 9' tall, there is a roof over half and a black netting over the other half so sunshine is diffused except when it can come in when sun rising or setting. I do not remember if beaks open a bit was normal in my silkies. These are Blue Wyandottes and I adore them.

 

[jessschlles4]

Just curiosity killing me... I picked up a blue ameracauna chick about 3 weeks ago. She's only slightly larger then when I first got her but she's feathering out like there's no tomorrow and is quite the 'oinker'. -Shes ponyed up to the food nearly all day every day. All my other birds have at least doubled their size by 3 weeks, so I'm wondering if this baby blue is a bantam. Can anyone give me an expected size range (maybe compare to fruit size) of where a bantam chick would be at 3 weeks??? Little Pop Rocks is between the size of a small and medium lemon. Thanks!

 

[jessschlles4]

How old are your hens? I've read where some hens dont lay til 8 months to a year... hope you dont have to wait that long!

 

[Wyandotte Blue]

My hens are 6 months old as of April 14th!

 

[jessschlles4]

I believe 4 to 6 months is the norm for first eggs, she may just be a late bloomer. Just keep an eye out. Also, some hens don't like to lay in the nesting box, you may have to have an egg hunt!

 

[Wyandotte Blue]

I just read up on de-worming. I have never de-wormed. I just ordered Wazine from Amazon. I believe my hen with her beak open is in deep trouble, I also just read up on that. The Wazine will not be here until Monday. Anyone out there with any ideas what I can do tomorrow if it is indeed worms causing my hen trauma?

 

[Red Banks]

I just read up on de-worming. I have never de-wormed. I just ordered Wazine from Amazon. I believe my hen with her beak open is in deep trouble, I also just read up on that. The Wazine will not be here until Monday. Anyone out there with any ideas what I can do tomorrow if it is indeed worms causing my hen trauma?

Go to any feedstore or TSC. They have Wazine. TSC is open on Sunday.

 

[getaclue]

I just read up on de-worming. I have never de-wormed. I just ordered Wazine from Amazon. I believe my hen with her beak open is in deep trouble, I also just read up on that. The Wazine will not be here until Monday. Anyone out there with any ideas what I can do tomorrow if it is indeed worms causing my hen trauma?

I would cancel the Wazine order, if it's not too late. Panting can simply be from being active in this heat, which is normal, or it could indicate something more serious. First things first. Pick up the hen that you think is in "deep trouble". Is there a bad odor coming from her mouth as she's breathing? Can you hear a rattle to her breathing? Feel her crop. Is it simply full, or is it hard as a rock? As you are holding her, slide your hand down towards the breast area. Is the bone protruding a little more than it should be? Slide your hand just a little further down the breast area, not fully under her, but between the bottom of the breast bone, and her legs. You should be able to feel her breathing. Can you feel a rattle as she breathes? Are her eyes clear? Any bubbles in her eyes? Is there any swelling around her face? Is there a discharge from her nostrils? Look at her comb. Are there any sores? Now turn her around, and at an angle so you can examine her vent area. Don't hold her upside down. If you need to, push the feathers away, and look at her vent. Any bad odor? Anything protruding? Is the vent red, inflamed, or swollen? Now set her down, and examine the rest of your birds, and let us know.

Depending on the answers to these questions after you examine your flock, I suspect it's more likely a respiratory issue, and you will need to go to your local feed store, and get an antibiotic. Tylan water soluble powder, or Tetroxy HCA soluble are usually available. Either one is fine, since they're both the same thing. Yes, it comes in injectable form too, but I personally would start with the water soluble form. Instead of individually dosing them, I prefer to mix it in their waterers, or in a gallon water jug, and pour it into their water buckets. I use the small measuring spoon, and add a little at a time to the water, stirring it with another spoon, or swirling it as I add the powder, until it just starts to change color. It will be pale yellow. Mix fresh solution every day for at least 7 days. I don't go over 10 days with it. I don't eat the eggs for at least 2 weeks after their treatment has ended. Some people prefer to go 3 full weeks.

Instead of Wazine, get Safeguard liquid goat wormer, and a dosage syringe. Safeguard treats more types of worms, including gape worm, whereas Wazine only treats roundworms. Weigh your bird, tilt it's head back, gently pry it's mouth open, and squirt a little at a time it it's mouth, let it swallow as needed, until it's gotten the whole dose. (You will probably end up wearing a lot of it the first time around, but don't worry, both you and the birds will get the hang of it quickly. The first time, don't worry about making up for any they've lost.) The correct dosage for Safeguard liquid goat wormer is .23 ml/cc per pound of bird, but rounding it up to .25 ml per bird is fine, and easier to calculate. 1 ml/cc per 4 pounds of bird. 1.5 ml/cc for 6 lbs. of bird. 5 consecutive days of worming will get rid of almost all types of worms, including gape worm. Don't eat the eggs for 3 weeks (21 days). Do NOT do the 3 ml/cc per gallon of water that is suggested by some. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...g-and-wormer-misinformations-graphic-pictures

 

[cmom]

Cmom...where did you learn to make them? That's pretty cool skill.....!?

Years ago I bought a hand cutter and looked at all kinds of cages. I cut the wire by hand then and that was hard. I eventually got pneumatic tools which made it easier.

 

[cmom]

Quote:
When you use Wazine there is a two week withdrawal period where it is suggested that you do not eat the eggs and with meat birds not to process them. I have used Wazine many years ago but now I put some Food Grade Diatomaceous earth DE in the birds feed. So far no worms.