Meyer Hatchery Chicken pics anyone??

[NanaLynn]

I started a thread about my girls' issues and included these pics but no one has responded ...

My BR's belly is so red I don't know if I should put something on it. Middle pic is my Cuckoo Marans and her chest just looks really dry and the first is my BA. Looks a bit worse than the other day.
I just went out after they had been asleep for a few hours to check for mites with the flashlight and saw nothing. I'm not sure if I'm happy or sad. At least I would know if it was that.

I went to my feed store today and showed the chicken guy my pics and he said others have come in with the same issues and and he's not sure what it is.

He thought maybe I should worm them. Anyone think that would help?
I thoroughly cleaned the coop yesterday and sprayed the walls with Sevin and put the powder everywhere but I didn't individually dust them because of their dry/red bellies. I didn't want to cause more problems. They do have lots of fresh wood ash, DE and Sevin to dust bathe in and most were doing it yesterday.

Any help is most appreciated

I'm really at a loss

I'd put Nu-Stock on them if I were you. The sulfer will help with the irritation and really is a cure all, just my opinion. I put it on Oreo's dog wound and it helped a lot. Plus it smells and taste nasty so if someone is picking feathers it should deter that too. I'd also give some fresh garlic and herbs too. You can mix in some cayenne pepper and pepper flakes as well to help with worms and also give them pumpkin or squash seeds. I got my Nu stock on Amazon and also a tube at the feed store. You need to shake it a lot before applying and wear gloves. It's really for horses and dogs.

http://www.nustock.com/

I'd also like everyone else said keep an eye out for feather picking. If your mean RIR is the trouble I'd move her to chicken jail for the sake of the others until you can find someone to take her.

You may want to try posting your questions on this thread too.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...eeping-thread-ots-welcome/30190#post_13214022

 

[NotableNancy]

I just ordered chicken health book too! Can't wait to study it. I'm hoping it will help with diagnosis faster and more accurate. Good luck, Nancy. Keep us updated. I'm sure one of us with have to deal with this at some point too.

Phewwww... that was an ordeal. 4 hrs. to dust all birds and clean out nests and coop. I can't believe I have to do it again.
here's what I did...

I tricked them all into going back into the coop. 2 outsmarted me so I had to run them down and catch them. (there's an automatic door so next time i will keep
the wood door closed and not have to trick them back inside. that wasn't easy)
Then I took one at a time and held them on their backs on an upside down plastic trashcan lid. (it would be nice to be able to stand to do this and put them on a table but
I didn't have all that handy)
With gloves and mask on, I rubbed Sevin all over them making
sure to get vent, behind head and neck and under wings really well. Flipped them over and did their backs.
Cleo, who I haven't picked up since she was 6 weeks old because she hates people, screamed
bloody murder the entire time. I was afraid a neighbor was going to come over and see what the heck was going on it was so bad. Then I gave them a huge treat of meal
worms. They still hate me though.
I cleaned out all the nest boxes, sprayed with Sevin spray then sprinkled Sevin on bottom and used shavings. No more straw. I had sprayed the roosts, all sides with the Sevin spray
on the weekend but I will put some powder on it later. Forgot to do that. All windows are open to air it out but really there is no smell inside from the spray or powders.
Never saw a single mite, louse, egg, bug or anything but I'm glad I did it. They were all rushing into lay eggs right after I finished so I guess they aren't too traumatized.

I will check Henrietta mostly to see how her red belly is doing. And I guess do it all again in a week. I may try the putting them in a bag with head sticking out trick. Might be easier.
I will let you know.
Hopefully this works. Would be much easier to do with another person but my DH isn't that much of a hands on guy.

Now I'm off to muck stalls/clean barn for another 2 hours! Maybe I'll finally sleep well tonight. I've been doing so much reading on here to learn everything I can i'm going to bed way past my
bedtime

 

[NotableNancy]

I'd put Nu-Stock on them if I were you. The sulfer will help with the irritation and really is a cure all, just my opinion. I put it on Oreo's dog wound and it helped a lot. Plus it smells and taste nasty so if someone is picking feathers it should deter that too. I'd also give some fresh garlic and herbs too. You can mix in some cayenne pepper and pepper flakes as well to help with worms and also give them pumpkin or squash seeds. I got my Nu stock on Amazon and also a tube at the feed store. You need to shake it a lot before applying and wear gloves. It's really for horses and dogs.

http://www.nustock.com/

I'd also like everyone else said keep an eye out for feather picking. If your mean RIR is the trouble I'd move her to chicken jail for the sake of the others until you can find someone to take her.

You may want to try posting your questions on this thread too.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...eeping-thread-ots-welcome/30190#post_13214022

Thanks!! I have Pick-No-More Cover up lotion is that the same as nustock?? Ingredients are Methyl Anthranilate, Tee Tree Oil, Calendula and Aloe Vera Gel
I'll put that on my BA's head.

My RIR is in chicken jail right now but just in the run in the corner. Just to give them a bit less stress for a few days.
I have a call in to get the name of a guy who came to pick up all my neighbors chickens he was getting rid of. He came out to his
house and took them all away. He might not come out for one chicken though. If no go, I will def. put her on Craigslist. Had it
all typed up then thought I would call this guy first. I don't know why but Craigslist makes me nervous. If someone wants her I would
meet them somewhere and do the 'deal' I'm leery about going to people's houses or people coming here.
THANK YOU!!!

 

[christine9]

I just ordered chicken health book too! Can't wait to study it. I'm hoping it will help with diagnosis faster and more accurate. Good luck, Nancy. Keep us updated. I'm sure one of us with have to deal with this at some point too.

Phewwww... that was an ordeal. 4 hrs. to dust all birds and clean out nests and coop. I can't believe I have to do it again.  
here's what I did...

I tricked them all into going back into the coop. 2 outsmarted me so I had to run them down and catch them. (there's an automatic door so next time i will keep
the wood door closed and not have to trick them back inside. that wasn't easy)
Then I took one at a time and held them on their backs on an upside down plastic trashcan lid. (it would be nice to be able to stand to do this and put them on a table but 
I didn't have all that handy)  
With gloves and mask on, I rubbed Sevin all over them making
sure to get vent, behind head and neck and under wings really well. Flipped them over and did their backs.  
Cleo, who I haven't picked up since she was 6 weeks old because she hates people, screamed
bloody murder the entire time. I was afraid a neighbor was going to come over and see what the heck was going on it was so bad. Then I gave them a huge treat of meal
worms. They still hate me though. 
I cleaned out all the nest boxes, sprayed with Sevin spray then sprinkled Sevin on bottom and used shavings. No more straw. I had sprayed the roosts, all sides with the Sevin spray
on the weekend but I will put some powder on it later. Forgot to do that.  All windows are open to air it out but really there is no smell inside from the spray or powders. 
Never saw a single mite, louse, egg, bug or anything but I'm glad I did it. They were all rushing into lay eggs right after I finished so I guess they aren't too traumatized.

I will check Henrietta mostly to see how her red belly is doing. And I guess do it all again in a week.  I may try the putting them in a bag with head sticking out trick. Might be easier. 
I will let you know. 
Hopefully this works.  Would be much easier to do with another person but my DH isn't that much of a hands on guy. 

Now I'm off to muck stalls/clean barn for another 2 hours!  Maybe I'll finally sleep well tonight. I've been doing so much reading on here to learn everything I can i'm going to bed way past my
bedtime   

You did good!! I think I might do it too before I get an infestation. These bugs freak me out.

 

[NotableNancy]

I just googled Methyl Anthranilate:

Methyl anthranilate acts as a bird repellent. It is food-grade and can be used to protect corn, sunflowers, rice, fruit, and golf courses. Dimethyl anthranilate (DMA) has a similar effect. It is also used for the flavor of grape KoolAid. It is used for flavoring of candy, soft drinks (e.g. grape soda), gums, and drugs.

actually smells kinda yummy.
I'll give it a try since i have it on hand.

 

[christine9]

Did you determine your RIR was doing the feather picking? Interesting.

 

[NotableNancy]

Did you determine your RIR was doing the feather picking? Interesting.

I'm not sure who is doing it but she is the crazed nest guarder and pecks them all until they get out of the nest. It seems really stressful for them at egg laying time. Some of them
are in and out of the nest boxes for hours trying to lay the eggs and I still find random eggs on the poop board I'm guessing because she doesn't let them in there long enough to lay.
I will try to start watching them more but I really never see a bully except for her and that's only nesting issues. there's just light head pecking at bedtime or when I'm giving treats out.
But the one with the thin head feathers I have never seen get picked on except for the nesting. Odd.

 

[chickadee5002]

I was thinking it was the feed as well. Not the broody thing just because I've had a broody before and none of the ones with missing feathers are showing any signs. The feed store had Feather Fixer feed (just started carrying it this month!) so I got 40lb of that to add to the feed they already get. I'll put it in just part of the regular feeder. I think it was back in Jan or Feb, can't remember unless I look back at our thread, but they all stopped eating their feed and I thought it was moldy/old or something so I switched them to Agway feed. They seem to love it and it smells so nice. Much better looking than the Purina. We have very few choices here since there chicken keeping isn't a big thing around here. There are no feeds with animal protein so maybe I have to start giving them more protein myself. Thanks!!

Can I just say I love our thread... you guys are the best

Hope everything will work out!

 

[NanaLynn]

I'm not sure who is doing it but she is the crazed nest guarder and pecks them all until they get out of the nest. It seems really stressful for them at egg laying time. Some of them
are in and out of the nest boxes for hours trying to lay the eggs and I still find random eggs on the poop board I'm guessing because she doesn't let them in there long enough to lay.
I will try to start watching them more but I really never see a bully except for her and that's only nesting issues. there's just light head pecking at bedtime or when I'm giving treats out.
But the one with the thin head feathers I have never seen get picked on except for the nesting. Odd.

Have they gone through a molt yet? Maybe it is just a combo of molting and feather picking?. Other girls might pick on the ones that are losing feathers from a molt. Since you don't see bugs, there may not be any. Have you checked for them at night as well? I heard that's when they are worse.

I looked up the Nu Stock info, here it is

• ingredients: sulfur, pine and mineral oil.
• For Mange on dogs-also cuts & skinned places
• Treatment of ear mites
• Cures red mange
• Heals any type of wound, bite or laceration
• For cuts, bruises, burns, swelling, soreness, loss of hair, tender hooves, proud flesh, scratches, rain rot, mud poisoning, dew poisoning

 

[trsturself]

I didn't see bugs on mine for a long time. I did see eggs around the neck area on a couple a long time before I saw actual bugs. We dusted them twice and I thought we were good but then a couple months of wet weather later and I could see bugs. I hope it gets resolved, whatever it is!