HELP PLEASE!!!!

[AccidentalFarm]

Quote:
You can take a poo sample to a vet and have them check it out.

I'm kinda stumped, too. Maybe you could give them some vitamin/electrolyte solution in their water for a few days and see if that helps any. It certainly can't hurt them.

You can also fall back on the old standby's just to bring up their health, if it is in fact, an issue.
Yogurt with active cultures mixed in with feed, Organic Apple Cider Vinegar in the water (not with the V&E though), you can even sprinkle some food grade DE in with the feed and on the birds to help with internal and external parasites - plus it gives them a bit of extra trace minerals. The DE is also good sprinkled liberally in the coop bedding.
Boiled crushed egg with the shells is really good for them, as well.
Many people crush a clove of garlic and add it to the birds water, too. It has natural antibiotic properties.

Personally, I tend to rotate the ACV and garlic on a weekly basis and opt for the V&E only if there seems to be a problem. Yogurt is given as a treat a few days a week, but it is okay to give more frequently than that. It helps to boost the good internal bacteria.

As for the wounds, Wound-Kote is a good topical antiseptic spray (same as Blu-Kote). There is another one called Furall that is an antibacterial spray. Both are available at farm and ranch supply stores. My 5oz. can of Wound-Kote cost $6.70. A word of caution with these blue/purple sprays...THEY WILL STAIN EVERYTHING!! I had it on my hands for days before I could get it all off. I'm not sure if it ever comes out of clothing. Also, I had a small problem with it recently- I used it to spray a chicks toes, so that I would be able to tell her from the rest in the brooder and all it did was draw attention to her toes, and everyone else started pecking them. I've not had this problem when it is sprayed on the body of a bird.

I sure hope you find out the problem and get it resolved. Please keep us posted.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

FamilyofChickens, I was a little confused when you said they're only out when someone is around. Where are they when someone isn't around? In the shed? In a run? What time of day do you usually let them out to free range?

 

[FamilyOfChickens]

AccidentalFarm: Well, I think I'll give the garlic and yogurt a try. (They all seem quite healthy, but you never know, I guess.

) And we'll be going to the feed store later on to get something for the wounds.

WoodlandWoman: I mean they're generally out as long as someone is home, (which is usually all day, since it's summer break.) We let them out in the morning, around 9 AM or so. When I let them out in the morning is when I found the wounds the other day. They go in the coop if it's chilly, wet, or rain's coming. When someone isn't around, they are in the shed.

I appreciate everyone's help so far, and I'll definetely keep you all posted. Right now three of the four roos are seperated from the hens, and nothing happened this morning, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

It's possible that the daylight hours they're confined in the shed may be contributing to your problem.

Although your spacing in the shed is fine for when they're settled in for the night, I think it may be too small for them during the day. The recommended minimums for chicken spacing is 10 square feet per chicken in confinement situations or in a run for daylight hours. In addition, if chickens are used to being free ranged and then are restricted access, that can cause aggression, also.

I know it's always hard to figure this sort of problem out, because it can have so many different causes. It can be really frustrating. I hope you can work it out.

 

[FamilyOfChickens]

Well, the wounds have really only occured twice. And both tims they had just been in the shed for the night. (I found them in the morning.)

We got vitamins/electrolytes yesterday, and I'm going to put it in their water today. (It won't harm them if there's nothing wrong with them, right?) We also got pine tar and I'm going to try and do that today, also. Would it be all right to put it on their backs, also?

 

[AccidentalFarm]

The V&E will not harm them.

I've not used Pine Tar, so have no answer on that one.

 

[BeckyLa]

The only thing left to do would be to put a remote camera in the coop that transmits to your computer so you can watch what they do. Perhaps you have one or two aggressive types that if culled or rehomed would bring peace to your flock. My understanding is that they can be bought at Walmart at a reasonable price. Several folks use them so hopefully someone will come on that can give you better more detailed info.

 

[annrich]

just my 2 cents. I had 3 roosters in with my younger hens. 2 older ones and a young guy lol. The older roosters gaurded the food like it was gold, and pecked the ladies hard if they tryed to eat. we made them a seperate "bad boy " coop.

So maybe it is your roo's.

Good luck

Ann

 

[FamilyOfChickens]

EVERYONE: Thank you all so much for your help!!!!

I really appreciate everyone's advice. I still don't know what the issue is/was, but it hasn't happened again, so I'm holding out hope that it won't.

2 of the 4 roosters will be going to new homes this Saturday (You wouldn't believe the response I got by placing an ad in the classifieds of the local paper! The ad first ran yesterday, and about 6 people have already called.

) Well, again, THANK YOU!!!

 

[WoodlandWoman]

That's all very good news. I'm glad things have worked out so well.