Sarag4914

Chirping
Jul 28, 2020
8
69
54
Hi everyone

I thought it was about time I joined as I've been using the threads for information over the last few months.

I became a first time chicken mama 2 weeks ago when I finally brought home my 3 silkies.

IMG_20200726_161330.jpg




They are uk LF silkies, I have a bearded red plye at 13 weeks old, a bearded partridge at 13 weeks old and a non-bearded cuckoo at 11 weeks old.

They are more of a pet than anything else, I have wanted to keep chickens for many year and I got a crazy crash course when they arrived. (I'm still recovering) it doesn't matter how much research you do and how prepared you think you are when its new to you and something goes wrong panic sets in.

It was a 3 hour drive back to Scotland with my small hopefully all girl flock. I'd taken a dog crate and forgot the newspaper in all my excitement so the gentleman I bought them from gave me some hay he had for the rabbits so they wouldn't slide around.

Everyone arrived a bit shaken up but seemed ok, eating, drinking and scratching around. I noticed them sneezing almost straight away just every now and again, I checked them over but couldn't see any other symptoms. I contacted the gentleman and he said to use ACV in their water for 3 days ( week 2 still sneezing every now and again, any advice?)

I also noticed them scratching alot but because they had just started moulting I didn't pay much attention but after 2 or 3 days I was beginning to think it was more than that so I checked them all over and the cuckoo (Mable) had little bugs on her vent. I immediately messaged the gentleman who said it could be from the hay and to use mite powder round the vent and under their wings and mite spray the coop and change all the bedding and add some garlic powder to their feed, which I did. It worked and that cleared up that.

So crazy first week!

I waited until they settled in a bit more after their forced bath and new surroundings and decided to worm them, I'm on days 5 of flubenvet in their growers pellets. They weren't fans to start with but I haven't gave them anything else so they have gave in and are eating it. I'll repeat in 3 weeks time.

I'm assuming because of their molt it's making them a bit more subdued than I'd expected chickens to be. I'm so anxious about them after the bugs, sneezing and their molt. I just want them to be happy, healthy and relaxed so I can chill and enjoy them a bit more.

Once their wormer is finished should I give them anything to help them with their molt? How worried should I be about sneezing every now and again without any other symptoms and is there anything I can give them to help it?

Thank you for reading my epic tale of being a first time chicken mama of 2 whole weeks.

P.s last night was the first night they put themselves into the coop at bed time, so proud.

Sara
 
@Kiki I've been pretty upset about it too

He showed me round his property, the birds he has were all happy and healthy looking. No sneezing. they were on shavings. Coops and runs were clean.
The hay he gave me to put in the crate for the ride home was in a separate bit for his rabbits.
The bugs I think were lice of the hay (so small and hard to tell) there were only a few on one of the birds and it was dealt with pretty quickly. Its been almost a week now and every time I've checked them since they have been clean.

i have no idea what has caused the sneezing and the gentleman I got them from doesn't seem overly concerned by it, he just keep saying keep an eye on it which isn't very helpful to a new chicken owner.

It happens maybe once every hour or two. They have no other symptoms. Eyes, nose, breathing are all clean and clear. No swelling to the head etc. Eating and drinking fine with normal poops. I use shavings in the coop which has plenty of ventilation to help with any dust and wood chip in the run. They have no external parasites that I can see and are being wormed at the moment. They are fed growers pellets and have clean water twice a day.

any advice on what might be causing it?

I don't think you can get permethrin for chickens in the UK
 
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