I'm new to chicks and something is wrong

[annewandering]

That makes sense-I definitely know what to look for now! What an adventure. On a happy note my EE is alive, eating and moving around a bit, my buff looks almost normal and the other buff is improving. The 2 wk olds are quite spunky and one is outgrowing the others but the tiniest one that I'm sure had very early signs of cocci is very much improved. Whew.

Whew! That has been a learning experience for a few of us.

 

[sarajane]

Michael I do have a question about using a coop that came with our home. We've got it secured and dry. I scraped out 2 tubs full of poop and pine shavings that were at least a year old from the previous inhabitants. My question is what do I need to do to make sure that it's sanitary for my birds before I put them in it?

 

[Michael Apple]

Michael I do have a question about using a coop that came with our home. We've got it secured and dry. I scraped out 2 tubs full of poop and pine shavings that were at least a year old from the previous inhabitants. My question is what do I need to do to make sure that it's sanitary for my birds before I put them in it?

It sounds labor intensive but isn't. If you have all the accumulated dry droppings and dust/cobwebs swept/vacuumed out of the coop, it is time to sanitize it. Oxine AH is an excellent disinfectant and very safe. I've use for a number of years. Biophene is a good premise disinfectant too. Get a hand pump sprayer, mix the disinfectant with water according the the label (Oxine is 3.5 oz per gallon/Biophene is 1 oz per gallon). Spray all surfaces of the coop including walls, floor, crevices,nest boxes, and roosts. Let it dry. Get a good pyrethrin EC (emulsified concentrate) like Permectrin II or Ravap E.C. and spray all the surfaces just like you did with the disinfectant. Let it dry and your coop is ready for new shavings and new birds.

 

[sarajane]

So all of my birds are now doing great after the coci except one. My buff orpington still looks terrible. She has grown, and her head is not hunched anymore but she is still half the size she should be and her feathers are still pretty terrible. I'm just wondering how long it takes them to be over coci or if she has something else. There are no bloody poops, she just looks mangy and hasn't looked "normal" since I started this thread. Also, she behaves fine-not lethargic or anything-she's actually the best bug catcher and appears to be at the top of the pecking order as she bullies the other birds a bit and takes their bugs away.

 

[ten chicks]

So all of my birds are now doing great after the coci except one. My buff orpington still looks terrible. She has grown, and her head is not hunched anymore but she is still half the size she should be and her feathers are still pretty terrible. I'm just wondering how long it takes them to be over coci or if she has something else. There are no bloody poops, she just looks mangy and hasn't looked "normal" since I started this thread. Also, she behaves fine-not lethargic or anything-she's actually the best bug catcher and appears to be at the top of the pecking order as she bullies the other birds a bit and takes their bugs away.

I would not worry,she might just be a slow developer(i have one orpington that is smaller with some ratty feathers,she is now at 9 weeks starting to catch up and feathers are looking better)if she is eating/drinking and behaving normal,she sounds ok.

 

[sarajane]

ok thank you It can be so stressful the first time doing something new. We are having so much fun with it though.