⠀ help, please!?!

[hollie2100]

So I am new to chickens. Decided we wanted a small back yard flock so I heard of some buff orpingtons locally for sale. Four hens and a rooster hatched last summer. I researched the breed and really liked so my husband brings home these bird. And they look horrible  pale combs with no tail feathers! The previous owner reassured us they were just bullied. Next day I looked and they had mites!! So...I got 7dust and individually dusted each bird best I could, dipped there scaley legs into gasoline, & then emptied the coop powdered seven dust in there used a natural insectoside to spray corners added fresh shavings on top and moved the chicken coop to fresh grass put them back in thereThen gave them wazine I think how its spelled I mixed 1oz to one gallon within four hours they were pooping worms!!!! At this point I'm so grosses out cause they were eating them!!!! Will that cause them to get back in the intrstine?? & what should my next steps be?? Please any info will be great

 

[junebuggena]

It sounds like the wazine is working. You should probably repeat the treatment in another week or so, just to make sure that they are clear. Also, four hens will likely get overbred by that rooster. The recommended hen to rooster ratio is 10 hens for 1 rooster. Overbreeding can cause feather loss and injuries to the hens; and they may not lay very well from the stress. I know you didn't ask, but you'll need to know about proper feeding of your flock. Layer pellets should only be fed to actively laying hens. Flocks with a rooster and other non laying birds can be fed an all flock or flock raiser type feed. Crushed oyster shell should be made available for the layers.

 

[hollie2100]

So having him isn't good? Or what.and I'm feeding 16% pellets 2x a day and 2grain scratch periodically through the day since there still up in coop with 7ft run they will soon be free range hopefully. But I been drying out egg shells crushing them up and giving to them with various vegetable leftovers will that work?

 

[junebuggena]

You can keep him, you'll just need to get a few more hens, and a bigger coop and run. Feed should be made available all day long. Layer pellets should only be fed to actively laying hens, otherwise, the added calcium will damage the kidneys. Your birds will need the higher protein content of a flock raiser type feed to help grow back their feathers, and you can safely feed it to all chickens of all ages. Scratch should be used more as treat, not a regular feed. Only about 10% of their diet should come from treats. Eggshells are a good calcium supplement, but any calcium supplement should be fed separately from any other food so that those who don't need won't accidentally eat it.

 

[hollie2100]

They will be free range soon. But we only want 5 chickens tops so I don't know what to do?
& I'm getting one egg a day not sure who is laying. The scratch is just a treat mainly feeding the 16% pellets. They're all together I only have one coop so would the flock feed be okay cause one hen is laying daily and I'd say after mites gone and worm free they'll all start laying

 

[junebuggena]

Basically, chickens don't like change. Change of any kind can stop egg laying. Once they are in better health and have gotten used to things in their new home, they will start laying again. 16% protein is a bit on the low side for feed. Feathers are 90% protein, so birds with feather damage need a higher protein content to help grow those feathers. Egg whites are also mostly protein that has to come from somewhere as well, so don't expect too many eggs from them until they are in better shape.

 

[Toddrick]

I have one rooster and three hens. They can get along fine as long as your rooster isn't overly aggressive. Sure they will be over mated, which will make their back feathers all messed up, but that's about the only issue I've had.

I hatched my own eggs over the winter, and wound up with four males and three females in my flock. Now that was a dilemma! I wound up culling the father, and (luckily) giving away the two most dominant males. I suppose the rooster I kept is the least ideal breeding stock, but at the same time, he might be ideal for such a small flock.

PS - Wazine is only supposed to work on one type of worm. If I were you I'd get some Safeguard or Valbazen and worm again.

 

[hollie2100]

He is a runt and runs from the hens all day. When is a roster considered mature? Maybe he isn't there yet. Yes I hope to get them better soon. I asked at feed store they said 16% is highest feed? What could I give them for more protein until they look healthier

 

[Toddrick]

He is a runt and runs from the hens all day. When is a roster considered mature? Maybe he isn't there yet. Yes I hope to get them better soon. I asked at feed store they said 16% is highest feed? What could I give them for more protein until they look healthier

Technically he is not a "rooster" until he's about a year old, but rather a cockerel. But I consider them mature when they start crowing, because that is when they start taking lead of the flock and mounting the ladies. I've never had a problem with my males eating layers feed, but they also do get to free range quite a bit.

 

[hollie2100]

He was hatched last summer she said he was smallest one