fat marans
In the Brooder
- Jul 22, 2017
- 26
- 17
- 29
Their nasty conditions cause me to writhe like a captured mealworm for days on end, but at least it is not a rapidly fatal problem. I understand that the admin encourages reading the reference forum and links, but because of severe private problems I will post here as I do the research to possibly save time for the poor birds.
1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
One of each: Cuckoo Marans, buff orp, delaware, misidentified blackstar?, misidentified redstar?, fat ameraucauna, thin ameraucauna. Weights seem to vary with individual and over time, so no measurements.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
All or most hens have dirty vent feathers. The blackstar? and some others have no vent feathers at all, and red area is inflamed-looking and rather disgusting.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
I estimate it's been going on for more than a year (gulp!)
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
See 2)
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
See 2)
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
Sparrows invade the feeders daily, water is nasty, food nasty (poop, possible insect infestation), outdoors area pooped (coop gets cleaned frequently)
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
See 6), feeding seems otherwise normal
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Seems fine. Some droppings look "dyed" red, but not blood-red. This may be red food coloring from feed.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Relentless worrying and fruitless research
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
First move entire flock to a "clean zone" with clean food, clean bedding, etc. (Couldn't find much info on group quarantines, is this a good idea?), check for coop and body parasites, and perhaps run to the vet while they recover. Then do a massive anti-feces campaign in the cage and coop roof, replace bad water, food, etc. Get a roof for the outdoors enclosure so thin ameraucauna doesn't fly out, sparrows don't enter, reinforce coop and enclosure against predators.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
Not yet.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
Coop and run inside a large deer-netting enclosure. Roof for coop and run, but not enclosure. Two sides are concrete walls. Enclosure floor is rocks, poop, flies, with some areas containing leaflitter, very old grass clippings, or dust. Coop floor is grass clippings, with some rocks and more poop. Nest/sleeping area is green dried alfalfa hay, which I am a bit suspicious of.
1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
One of each: Cuckoo Marans, buff orp, delaware, misidentified blackstar?, misidentified redstar?, fat ameraucauna, thin ameraucauna. Weights seem to vary with individual and over time, so no measurements.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
All or most hens have dirty vent feathers. The blackstar? and some others have no vent feathers at all, and red area is inflamed-looking and rather disgusting.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
I estimate it's been going on for more than a year (gulp!)
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
See 2)
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
See 2)
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
Sparrows invade the feeders daily, water is nasty, food nasty (poop, possible insect infestation), outdoors area pooped (coop gets cleaned frequently)
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
See 6), feeding seems otherwise normal
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Seems fine. Some droppings look "dyed" red, but not blood-red. This may be red food coloring from feed.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Relentless worrying and fruitless research
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
First move entire flock to a "clean zone" with clean food, clean bedding, etc. (Couldn't find much info on group quarantines, is this a good idea?), check for coop and body parasites, and perhaps run to the vet while they recover. Then do a massive anti-feces campaign in the cage and coop roof, replace bad water, food, etc. Get a roof for the outdoors enclosure so thin ameraucauna doesn't fly out, sparrows don't enter, reinforce coop and enclosure against predators.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
Not yet.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
Coop and run inside a large deer-netting enclosure. Roof for coop and run, but not enclosure. Two sides are concrete walls. Enclosure floor is rocks, poop, flies, with some areas containing leaflitter, very old grass clippings, or dust. Coop floor is grass clippings, with some rocks and more poop. Nest/sleeping area is green dried alfalfa hay, which I am a bit suspicious of.
