Newbie ~ Need Help Please ~ 3 Issues

[Boo Kitty]

We were given a young rooster early summer, he's lived with us without any issues or concerns. Dec 20th I bought 3 laying hens from a breeder. Everyone integrated well, no bullying. So here's the problems - biggest concern 1st.

1 - Since the girls have been home, 1 of them has had 2-3 watery movements. BUT, this morning I found this... Worms, yes, but what kind and how to treat please. I've not given them any pasta. Then what in the world is the red stuff. It ALMOSTS looks like a fetus?!

2 - No one is laying. Daisy gave me a huge egg the day she got here and a day or 2 later. Then she gave me a much smaller egg as day later and nothing since. Maisy and Pepper haven't laid anything. My rooster, Nugget, "guards" the door and doesn't let them out a bunch and when they come out it's short lived and they go back in OR under the coop in the dirt nests. Nugget allows Maisy to come and go and hey are ALWAYS together. My thought is not enough sun??? Water and 16% layer feed is always available with lots of treats.

3 - Now, Miss Daisy was in a separate pen from Maisy and Pepper when we picked up the hens. She has been allowed to be "over worked" by a rooster. She was raw in a few places and my heart broke. I've been putting Vetericyn plus on her and she is slowly getting better. What else might I do? AND is this normal wear & tear?? My heart tells me it was inhumane to allow her to get this "damaged" by that rooster.

Thank you all sooooo very much I just wanna make them happy and healthy.

=) Peggie Sue

 

[azygous]

First, please repost your photos and after clicking "insert" click on "full size image". That gives us a bigger pic and more detail.

It appears your flock has a heavy case of worms. This can inflame intestines and cause heavy intestinal shed. The flock needs to be wormed. But before you do, prep them for shock by giving electrolytes for a day before. Heavy worm loads can cause shock after the worms die and electrolytes will ease the danger.

Pick up some Goat wormer Safeguard. It will treat most worms. The worms your chickens may have appear to be round worms, but the photos are too small for me to be sure.

This is a bad time of year for egg laying, having short days. As the days lengthen, eggs will reappear.

Rooster damage occurs most of the time with inexperienced cockerels, over-sexed with a rush of hormones. Until they are much older, they tend to overdo the romance. Separate this Romeo for the time being. I have a partitioned off section of my run where a rooster can hang out and watch the girls while being prevented from showering them with his fervent attentions. By this time next year, he may be ready for limited association with the hens. There is no cardinal rule saying a rooster must have constant access to hens. It doesn't harm them in the slightest to keep them apart.

 

[Boo Kitty]

azygous - thank you here are better pics. But, there were more worms in this one dropping when I was cleaning up the coop​

Thank

 

[Boo Kitty]

First, please repost your photos and after clicking "insert" click on "full size image". That gives us a bigger pic and more detail.

It appears your flock has a heavy case of worms. This can inflame intestines and cause heavy intestinal shed. The flock needs to be wormed. But before you do, prep them for shock by giving electrolytes for a day before. Heavy worm loads can cause shock after the worms die and electrolytes will ease the danger.

Pick up some Goat wormer Safeguard. It will treat most worms. The worms your chickens may have appear to be round worms, but the photos are too small for me to be sure.

This is a bad time of year for egg laying, having short days. As the days lengthen, eggs will reappear.

Rooster damage occurs most of the time with inexperienced cockerels, over-sexed with a rush of hormones. Until they are much older, they tend to overdo the romance. Separate this Romeo for the time being. I have a partitioned off section of my run where a rooster can hang out and watch the girls while being prevented from showering them with his fervent attentions. By this time next year, he may be ready for limited association with the hens. There is no cardinal rule saying a rooster must have constant access to hens. It doesn't harm them in the slightest to keep them apart.

Thank you so much - I had actually forgotten about dropped egg production due to winter. Thankfully I rescued Daisy from the over zealous rooster, my rooster doesn't seem to be all that interested in getting busy, if I may, but he's just under a year old. I have read up on the goat wormer and will be headed out in the morning to pick some up. Hubby has agreed to add an addition to the current 30x30 playground to be able to separate them when needed.

Do I need to replace all my deep litter to aid in prevention of further infections? And do we need to treat the yard in any way?

 

[azygous]

Since you live in mild wet climate conditions, worms will be constant, but worming your flock on a routine basis will be enough to mitigate the consequences. This way, worms will be present but not in harmful heavy loads.

Keeping the deep litter turned regularly and allowing for oxygenation of the soil with air and sunlight, should be adequate for keeping worms under control.

Here is info on Safeguard dosage. But it's wise to alternate types of wormers so worms don't become resistant.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/safeguard-mash-zero-day-egg-withdrawal.1254653/

 

[Boo Kitty]

Since you live in mild wet climate conditions, worms will be constant, but worming your flock on a routine basis will be enough to mitigate the consequences. This way, worms will be present but not in harmful heavy loads.

Keeping the deep litter turned regularly and allowing for oxygenation of the soil with air and sunlight, should be adequate for keeping worms under control.

Here is info on Safeguard dosage. But it's wise to alternate types of wormers so worms don't become resistant.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/safeguard-mash-zero-day-egg-withdrawal.1254653/

Again, thank you so much! You are amazing =)

 

[Lenny loves chickens]

We were given a young rooster early summer, he's lived with us without any issues or concerns. Dec 20th I bought 3 laying hens from a breeder. Everyone integrated well, no bullying. So here's the problems - biggest concern 1st.

1 - Since the girls have been home, 1 of them has had 2-3 watery movements. BUT, this morning I found this... Worms, yes, but what kind and how to treat please. I've not given them any pasta. Then what in the world is the red stuff. It ALMOSTS looks like a fetus?!

2 - No one is laying. Daisy gave me a huge egg the day she got here and a day or 2 later. Then she gave me a much smaller egg as day later and nothing since. Maisy and Pepper haven't laid anything. My rooster, Nugget, "guards" the door and doesn't let them out a bunch and when they come out it's short lived and they go back in OR under the coop in the dirt nests. Nugget allows Maisy to come and go and hey are ALWAYS together. My thought is not enough sun??? Water and 16% layer feed is always available with lots of treats.

3 - Now, Miss Daisy was in a separate pen from Maisy and Pepper when we picked up the hens. She has been allowed to be "over worked" by a rooster. She was raw in a few places and my heart broke. I've been putting Vetericyn plus on her and she is slowly getting better. What else might I do? AND is this normal wear & tear?? My heart tells me it was inhumane to allow her to get this "damaged" by that rooster.

Thank you all sooooo very much I just wanna make them happy and healthy.

=) Peggie Sue

You could get her a chicken saddle to help the rooster not tear feathers. But it will calm down as her gets older

 

[Boo Kitty]

You could get her a chicken saddle to help the rooster not tear feathers. But it will calm down as her gets olderView attachment 2943343

Yes, I've decided to sew some up for when my rooster discover the ladies. I figure as long as he leaves her alone I'll leave the saddle off as to not damage her new emerging feathers