I can't stop thinking about my poor white hens. When I looked at them earlier, only one was on the roost. Two were on the floor in boxes, and one was perched in the door of the coop. Super pale combs, one comb was flopped over. The one on the roost seems fine.
About a week ago I asked one of the sitters to take pictures of them for me. They were standing in the run with their heads tucked under their wings, and feathers slightly puffed. It looked like coccidiosis to me, so I walked her through how to put the corid in the water. They had five days of that. Saturday I talked to the mom of the teen sitters when she called to tell me about the broken waterer. She said "Two of your white hens are acting sickly," then said she was sure I was aware. I told her yes, that's what the medication was for. She told me she had seen them moving around, eating and drinking. That was the best I could hope for at the time, and I'm glad they were hanging in there. Well tonight I talked to my mom, who house sat for several days, and she said one (or possibly more, because she can't tell them apart) of the white hens was "walking like she was drunk." I asked if she was falling over or had bad balance and she said no, just very, very cautious steps. Lift one foot and hold, then slowly lower and lift the other. So in the morning I'm going to check for bumblefoot first, then see if they're egg bound. I'm going to try to do this one without posting in the emergencies thread, but my knowledge is so very limited.
I got about five books on chickens/herbs/homesteading for Christmas, though, so if I ever get time to read I'll surely learn something.
Went out yesterday my Rooster went from nice dark red comb. 24hrs later covered in black spots. I have a salve I make for porisis.It has all anti inflamtory oils, butters,and essential oils. So I decided to give it a try. Its dry pox so I took a Q-tip and put it on all the scabs. Then I worried all night wondering if I did the right thing. When I went out to day to see if it helped and to see if anyone else had it. I has happliy suprized to find all the scabes were half the size they were yesterday. I have two other hens that have it but only one or two scabs. I did some reading on how contagious it is.If an infected chicken drinks while it has the scabes and backwashes in the waterer it can infect other birds. Their poop and dander are contagious too and can stay that way up to a year. So to morrow I'll treat again. Been washing wateres every day with 10% bleach and water. I'll be gone all day tomorrow. So just treat them and clean the warters. Wed. will be clean and disinfect coops. It's three chickens in two different coops. I'll try to keep my other two coops from getting it. Someone asked me if it they could get it from their chicken, the answer is no you can't. I hope they shrink in half again like last night. Pam 
