new hens are gonna need a LOT of TLC... UPDATE: LICE!

[technodoll]

The rest of the flock is fine, thank goodness.

I'm learning...

The baby cochins seem fine now, acting the same as the baby silkies: eating, drinking, flitting around, then sitting and grooming and napping. Only one of them has missing feathers under her neck, the pics make them look worse than they are. I will get better photos today.

Now the EE's are another story: one of them is DEFINITELY sick with a bad eye infection, the other needs to grow feathers. They were both in the same pen when I got them so I'm keeping them together for the same round of antibiotics. I wish to heck there was a single vet within 150 miles who would treat chickens, but nobody cares. I'll do what I can for them and the rest is in the hands of God

 

[LynneP]

About wild bird suet- good for feathercoat and skin, helps keep calorie load up in winter. They love it!
And lucky chooks you have them, what is $20/bird compared to knowing you did the right thing. A bargain!
Medicated feed might be an option for a while, if available.
And if you can get food-grade diatomaceous earth to put in with their bedding, it's a good preventive for all parasites, though if you eventually see anything, treat with what is needed in addition. Cocci is a real possibility so if you suspect it, you can always get Corid (Amprolium) separately at most ag stores.
I agree with what was said about quarantine but you're past that now and will have to deal with it.
Might be wise to move all to house and make a huddle box in an enclosed space.

 

[patandchickens]

Unfortunately the most likely causes of bubbly/crusty eyes in chickens are incurable -- some chickens will survive, but they remain carriers for the rest of their lives, so you would end up having the disease permanently in your flock, meaning you will go through this over and over and over with all future chickens.

Hopefully yours have one of the less-likely possibilities that they *can* completely kick in time... but even so, chances are pretty good the existing flock will get it, some of 'em anyhow. It can take days, weeks, or in the case of CRD sometimes many months before 'the other shoe drops'.

If you are planning on buying started or adult birds again, it would be *really really really* worth setting up proper quarantine facilities, preferably in another building entirely (garage?) or a separate little small coop.

Best of luck,

Pat

 

[technodoll]

So what causes crusty/bubbly eyes?

How can I treat it?

Right now she's inside with her sister, who does not have eye problems (so far)...

Planning 5 to 10 days on Neo-Chlor since it's the only antibiotic I have http://www.drugs.com/vet/neo-chlor-can.html

I'm already attached to my new little girl but if she will never be cured or can contaminate the rest of my flock, I cannot keep her...

That would be irresponsible

 

[Katy]

Unfortunately if they were in with your others at all they have already been exposed. I know you were trying to do a good thing for the chicks, but when it comes to bio-security there just isn't a place for feeling sorry for and bringing home sick birds.

 

[patandchickens]

There are a bunch of possibilities, the commonest being CRD (chronic respiratory disease, meaning specifically Mycoplasma infection), ILT (infectious laryngotracheitis), IB (infectious bronchitis) and coryza. Survivors remain potentially-infectious carriers in all of these.

You should probably do some reading on the Diseases&Emergencies section of the forum or in a good chicken health book/website, see if you can narrow it down any more, but it can be difficult to tell these things apart.

The rest of the flock has already been exposed, yes?, but at least you could maybe separate all 4 new ones now, and always tend them LAST (AFTER doing <whatever> with the existing flock) and wash up very well afterwards. WOn't prevent transmission of disease but it does reduce the chances of it, which sometimes is the best you can do.

Best of luck,

Pat

 

[technodoll]

I wrote to Dr Brown asking for his advice on what to do now, since I can't turn back time.

Crossing fingers for a miracle...

ps: I am checking ALL of my flock to make sure they are fine, so far so good...

 

[technodoll]

I think I'm being punished.

I was wiping the little EE's gunky, swollen eyes and found tiny LICE crawjing on her face... checked the feathers on her head and neck and she was crawling... full of nits!!!

WHAT THE H*LL!

Nothing around her vent or stomach, I checked before I brought her home!!

So I deloused the four new birds plus the my two baby silkies, since the rest of the flock takes profuse dust baths every day I'm hoping they will be spared but will do a complete check anyways.

SO DISGUSTED.

So perhaps her eye infection is due to all the bugs on her head and face and not to some virus???

They're both still on antibiotics, just to be sure.

I am never, ever doing this again

 

[CheerfulHeart2]

Hang in there.

 

[ilroost]

tech if you can get some sevin dust(all walmarts carry this), and dust them all real good it will take care of the mites or lice. It takes time but will work .Also dust the coop and your other flock as they have been in there with them already. Hang in there