New member, Helen

[HelenSpain]

Also meant to say I would totally consider doing an Epsom salt soak for 15 minutes or so. I'm not sure, but I know they use it for egg binding, so maybe it will help her to relax and possibly alleviate some of the swelling.

Thank you for your helpful suggestions. Will hopefully be able to implement some of them tomorrow and make her happy again.?
Not sure why I haven’t had much success with my chickens I do fear a lot is to do with contamination from wild birds/sparrows and their droppings and bugs. We also had two very heavy infestations of red mite which I didn’t know about when I first became involved with chickens.
I have tried very hard to look after them and it has been very upsetting when things are not going well.
Anyway, goodnight & thank you once again, hopefully better news tomorrow....

 

[Hope Hughes]

Hello
Welcome to BYC!!
So glad to have you here!!
Thanks for sharing your story!!
You have come to the right place.
There are many people on here that are ready to help in anyway they can!
The learning center also has alot of great information on it as well!
Enjoy!​

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I have tried very hard to look after them and it has been very upsetting when things are not going well.

Very sorry, I do know how that feels.

Where I live we are overrun with wildlife. Oh the species I've seen in my own backyard. It's true they do have some impact and doing things like not hanging out feeders to attract them is important. My birds free range and eat bugs all day long. That is where some worm species are picked up. When an earth worm is consumed it can have other type (sorry don't know which ones) of worm eggs on it and survive into the intestines where they take hold.

Mind if ask how you treated for the red mites? Some places the weather really helps certain things to proliferate.

We are here for you best we can be.

 

[ronott1]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens!
You have gotten some good advice!

Bookmark this page!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/emergencies-diseases-injuries-and-cures.10/
Since your Hens are in the 3-4 year old range, you will start having problems with them. They look like commercial layers which are prone to laying problems at this age.

Since you are in Spain, can you switch them out for Basque Hens or Pita Pinta's?

 

[drumstick diva]

Hoping for the best possible outcome for your hen.

 

[Teila]

G’Day from down under Helen Welcome!



I too am hoping that your hen makes a full recovery.

 

[HelenSpain]

Very sorry, I do know how that feels.

Where I live we are overrun with wildlife. Oh the species I've seen in my own backyard. It's true they do have some impact and doing things like not hanging out feeders to attract them is important. My birds free range and eat bugs all day long. That is where some worm species are picked up. When an earth worm is consumed it can have other type (sorry don't know which ones) of worm eggs on it and survive into the intestines where they take hold.

Mind if ask how you treated for the red mites? Some places the weather really helps certain things to proliferate.

We are here for you best we can be.

The red mite infestation was dreadful. I have never seen anything like it in my life.
The chickens were losing feathers and I had read about mounting and presumed that is what was happening.
When I did anything in the boxes or picked anything up I felt little itchy crawly on my hand or arm but couldn’t see anything.
Then one day I wore my glasses out there, the wretched mites were everywhere, in the food dishes on the boxes.
Our chicken coops at the time were Two large dog traveling boxes that had been converted for us. They had oil cloth tacked on the top to keep them dry. Underneath the oil cloth, even in the hinge brackets were bugs. Piled up in places it was dreadful. Chickens were anemic & almost bald in patches. Felt dreadful. Went to the pet supply/ agriculture place and was sold zotal disinfectant and a Spanish chicken man said to use a tiny spot of cat frontline on the chickens. We blitzed and scrubbed & cleaned everything. This went on for awhile but when we lifted the oil cloth there were millions more under that. We made a bonfire of the boxes, everything went. Bedding, everything.
Not the chickens though! We utilized an old dog kennel and two plastic dog travel crates. Very lucky we had all this stuff to hand really.!
The very best tip I read was to use Vaseline. A layer of it where the kennels join and round all the edges. This traps the little beasts. I still check and have had a smaller infestation which having stripped down the kennels disenfecting and having a good clean up things have been ok. I do check the girls for mites and treat with a drop of frontline if I feel there’s anything. I never dreamt owning chickens would be so involved and time consuming!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I might consider switching to permethrin. It is effective against most mites and a lot of other things including mosquitoes, safe (at least as much as frontline), affordable, and very easy to use. I bought it to keep mosquitoes off my goats and discovered so many other uses! A $10 trigger bottle labeled as horse fly spray has lasted me more than a year and a half with 2 large goats, 3 large dogs, and 60+ chickens. I DON'T just use it and assume my preventative measures are working. I use it when I see something (lice once), and have verified I wasn't missing something by taking the bird to the vet for inspection. He confirmed there was previous evidence of external parasites, but none currently (at that time). Like you say though, it is an ongoing process! You can spray it on your walls and in your boxes, and has a residual that keeps killing for a period of time depending on the species. It is topical only and LABELED for use in chickens, requiring NO withdrawal time for eating eggs. Without the consultation of a vet or some solid EVIDENCE (study references) that there is NO residual to worry about in the eggs, I would hesitate to use and might even go as far as to call it an illegal use! I promise, I'm not trying to pick on you and only mean to be helpful. Like with anything, you have to do what makes sense to and work for YOU.

The vaseline may work for the large cracks you can identify, but I'm sure they can find smaller crack elsewhere. Bonfire was a good way to go. That sounds like a big nightmare. Glad you are past it now. It's a lot easier to keep up with things than try to fight infestations (I know they happen and aren't relative to your cleanliness). Oh boy if you have a lot of birds or no one to help it is sooo much more difficult and time consuming to treat them. Are you able to do so with out chasing them all around? Or is that another one of your challenges? Thank you for sharing your experience. It's very helpful.

 

[HelenSpain]

I might consider switching to permethrin. It is effective against most mites and a lot of other things including mosquitoes, safe (at least as much as frontline), affordable, and very easy to use. I bought it to keep mosquitoes off my goats and discovered so many other uses! A $10 trigger bottle labeled as horse fly spray has lasted me more than a year and a half with 2 large goats, 3 large dogs, and 60+ chickens. I DON'T just use it and assume my preventative measures are working. I use it when I see something (lice once), and have verified I wasn't missing something by taking the bird to the vet for inspection. He confirmed there was previous evidence of external parasites, but none currently (at that time). Like you say though, it is an ongoing process! You can spray it on your walls and in your boxes, and has a residual that keeps killing for a period of time depending on the species. It is topical only and LABELED for use in chickens, requiring NO withdrawal time for eating eggs. Without the consultation of a vet or some solid EVIDENCE (study references) that there is NO residual to worry about in the eggs, I would hesitate to use and might even go as far as to call it an illegal use! I promise, I'm not trying to pick on you and only mean to be helpful. Like with anything, you have to do what makes sense to and work for YOU.

The vaseline may work for the large cracks you can identify, but I'm sure they can find smaller crack elsewhere. Bonfire was a good way to go. That sounds like a big nightmare. Glad you are past it now. It's a lot easier to keep up with things than try to fight infestations (I know they happen and aren't relative to your cleanliness). Oh boy if you have a lot of birds or no one to help it is sooo much more difficult and time consuming to treat them. Are you able to do so with out chasing them all around? Or is that another one of your challenges? Thank you for sharing your experience. It's very helpful.

Thank you for your reply and previous advice.
The worst thing here is communication, that Spanish Neighbour has chickens & seems to have no probs with his, possibly because they are kept in an old stone built barn & never come out? Ours are treated to a large safe run with an outer area when we are around to make sure they are safe from cats or predators. We had 9 initially and now only 2. The poorly girl is now in the downstairs bathroom, she has had a few drinks of water also a little half hearted peck at food. Fingers crossed she is stronger tomorrow. I will try & get some permethrin. Would it have any other trade name or anything?
Happy New Year, good luck with all your pets.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Permethrin is the active ingredient and not a trade name. I know there is one sold here called Gordon's. And mine was labeled with some other brand but said clearly "horse fly spray". You can find it any feed store and even Walmart type stores near the pet department. So for me I just turn over products and look at the "active ingredient".

And just a little info regarding it. Permethrin is a synthetic form meant to copy an extract fro the chrysanthemum flower. There are organic version but they are much pricier, and since I can't afford to go all organic anyways, that just isn't what I use. There are some other products like carbaryl that may be available to you. I haven't used it, so no personal experience. If your weather is freezing, then consider something in powder form (or maybe even sticking with what you have). The spray is easier and my weather isn't frozen

I'm sorry I can't remember, did you already try offering scrambled egg? The water is important so I'm glad to hear that she had a few drinks! Definitely hoping for some recovery !

Your Spanish neighbor might also be culling his bird before issues ever arise. People who raise broilers will not likely ever face mites or other things the way people who keep chickens year round do. And also he might just not be sharing everything. I have experienced WAY more than I share, especially when it comes to the challenges. No reason to burden anybody, unless it's a need to know basis.

I have used frontline plus for my dogs when a visitor used to bring fleas to my place. It was more effective and had less side effects for my dogs than others meds. That visitor no longer comes over and I don't get fleas. My point being that I'm not trying to knock what has worked for you and just expressed what my personal concerns would be.

Are you planning to keep more chickens or are these two ladies your final fowl guests?

Best wishes always!