- Nov 26, 2010
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Hi Folks,
I have 11 chickens, all 7 months old. Two of the hens are buff orpingtons. One started laying a couple months ago and is a steady layer. She is friendly and plump. The other hasn't started laying yet. Today when I picked her up she was substantially lighter than the other one, which may account for her not laying. The one I am worried about, Big Girl, is a bit shyer than the other one, but she eats and drinks and scratches like usual.
All the chickens seem well in their attitudes. However:
1. About a month ago, my bantam partridge cochin had a prolapse and when the vet took an x-ray to check for eggs in her oviduct, she said the hen was suffering from calcium deficiency. And the cochin hen was quite thin.
2. About 2 weeks ago, I lost a cochin rooster. He fell ill suddenly. I started to treat for coccidiosis, but as his condition deteriorated I doubted my diagnosis. I did not detect his paralysis, but I think at the end he was paralyzed. This suggests botulism to me. Unfortunately I did not have a post-mortem done.
I feel them all laying crumbles and then I throw a bit of scratch out a few times in the day. They have a secure insulated coop with a lamp for cold nights and a run. Sparrows do come eat the corn from the scratch. They have access to crumbles and water at all times. I use deep litter in the coop. The litter is straw. There are shavings in the nest boxes. I think it is pine.
Nighttime temperatures are around 20F lately and daytime 30 to 40F. Consistently freezing temperatures are predicted starting in a couple days. They all seem like they are handling the cold fine so far.
I am thinking parasite, but which one? Is there a broad-spectrum wormer that would get the most likely suspects? Other ideas?
I have 11 chickens, all 7 months old. Two of the hens are buff orpingtons. One started laying a couple months ago and is a steady layer. She is friendly and plump. The other hasn't started laying yet. Today when I picked her up she was substantially lighter than the other one, which may account for her not laying. The one I am worried about, Big Girl, is a bit shyer than the other one, but she eats and drinks and scratches like usual.
All the chickens seem well in their attitudes. However:
1. About a month ago, my bantam partridge cochin had a prolapse and when the vet took an x-ray to check for eggs in her oviduct, she said the hen was suffering from calcium deficiency. And the cochin hen was quite thin.
2. About 2 weeks ago, I lost a cochin rooster. He fell ill suddenly. I started to treat for coccidiosis, but as his condition deteriorated I doubted my diagnosis. I did not detect his paralysis, but I think at the end he was paralyzed. This suggests botulism to me. Unfortunately I did not have a post-mortem done.
I feel them all laying crumbles and then I throw a bit of scratch out a few times in the day. They have a secure insulated coop with a lamp for cold nights and a run. Sparrows do come eat the corn from the scratch. They have access to crumbles and water at all times. I use deep litter in the coop. The litter is straw. There are shavings in the nest boxes. I think it is pine.
Nighttime temperatures are around 20F lately and daytime 30 to 40F. Consistently freezing temperatures are predicted starting in a couple days. They all seem like they are handling the cold fine so far.
I am thinking parasite, but which one? Is there a broad-spectrum wormer that would get the most likely suspects? Other ideas?
