NY chicken lover!!!!

[rancher hicks]

Thanks everyone. I have to improve the ventilation for nights like last night. It's an old barn with a stone foundation so it's usually pretty cool. I have a window that I can put a fan in I just have to reinforce it a bit.

Do you have a "cupola"? Now please if your barn needs work ask for help to save it. Lots of old Barns are being lost. This old house has an article on Barn conversions. My brother did one in Cato, NY years ago.

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I'd like to put one on my hoop coop. I may try to do one after I put the aluminum panels on.

 

[Gramma Chick]

Quote:

 

[rancher hicks]

Can't say. Just cut and paste from the internet.

 

[Gramma Chick]

Quote:
Oh I thought it was the actual barn..is it at least in Cato ?

 

[Purple Iris]

Hi all, my 2 adult chickens are now 16 months old, and the 2 little chicks are around 11 weeks. We have had lots of wet and humid weather, and our adult Leghorn is looking decidedly droopy, some feather loss, seems to stand and just zone out, before snapping out of it and foraging as normal. She has also stopped laying - although she was never that regular.

I thought she was molting, as she never has before, and is 16 months now, over a few days there were bundles of feathers in the coop in the mornings - one day I counted 32 that had fallen out overnight, she lost a few of the bigger wing feathers, and then after just a few days it seemed to stop. I'm wondering if I mistook a stress reaction for a molt? She's not used to kids, and we had friends with a 5 yr old son staying with us, who raced around the garden nr the coop, being quite loud, she is generally an anxious girl anyway, so this may have affected her.

I used my headlamp, took them off the roost at night, and did a thorough under wing and around vent mite inspection on all 4 chickens, but did not see any mites, and no evidence of them in the coop and ark when cleaning them out. So next on my list of possibilities is worms. I am not seeing any worms in the stool, but I know some of them are small and hard to see, some of the stool has been a little loose, but usual color - and we've had temps in the high 80's, dramatic thunderstorms, and lots of really humid days, so guessing some of those could affect digestion if any of them are causing stress.

The only recent change has been that I am mixing their layers pellets with a grower/feeder crumb (currently about 50 / 50) as I am hoping to introduce the 2 chicks currently living in a side run in with the adults, so they can all live in 1 coop, and the young ones can't eat layers pellets - but from research here on BYC, OK for the adult birds to eat grower food if they have access to oyster shell, which they do. The molt and unusual behavior started a week or two before I changed the food.

So, I have been going round in circles reading the threads about recommended dewormers, the adults have never been dewormed - I just believed info I saw that there's no need to deworm your chickens. Now, after a few hours on BYC this afternoon, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed, and realizing I should have given them dewormer already.

The strongest opinion seems to be that the goat dewormer Valbazen is the most recommended as a first dewormer due to the fact is kills all types of worms that chickens get, and they die over several days, and are digested so there is a lower risk of causing the intestinal damage / death, possible with other dewormers that act more quickly but potentially mean all the dead worms trying to pass cause some kind of blockage.

I have not found anywhere locally (Buffalo area) that sells Valbazen, although there are multiple suggestions for places it can be purchased online. The bottle is large, and I only need doses for 2 chickens and 2 chicks (initial dose and another in 10 days) although I've read there can be several years until the expiration date, there's no way I'll use it up. In some of the threads, people seem to share 1 bottle between multiple chicken keepers - but none of them are in this area. I've sent an email to a sheep farmer friend who used to keep goats on the off chance she may have some leftover.

So, for those with more experience - do you think this 'not herself, not laying, some featherloss, zoning out' sounds like it could be an intestinal parasite problem and a dewormer would be a good idea, if so, opinions on valbazen? Anyone know of anywhere locally where I might find a small quantity?

ETA: Pearl our other adult chicken does not have any featherloss, is acting normally, and still laying an egg a day.
Thanks!

 

[rancher hicks]

Oh I thought it was the actual barn..is it at least in Cato ?

No but I can check with my brother and see if they have a picture of the one they converted.

 

[rancher hicks]

Hi all, my 2 adult chickens are now 16 months old, and the 2 little chicks are around 11 weeks. We have had lots of wet and humid weather, and our adult Leghorn is looking decidedly droopy, some feather loss, seems to stand and just zone out, before snapping out of it and foraging as normal. She has also stopped laying - although she was never that regular.

I thought she was molting, as she never has before, and is 16 months now, over a few days there were bundles of feathers in the coop in the mornings - one day I counted 32 that had fallen out overnight, she lost a few of the bigger wing feathers, and then after just a few days it seemed to stop. I'm wondering if I mistook a stress reaction for a molt? She's not used to kids, and we had friends with a 5 yr old son staying with us, who raced around the garden nr the coop, being quite loud, she is generally an anxious girl anyway, so this may have affected her.

I used my headlamp, took them off the roost at night, and did a thorough under wing and around vent mite inspection on all 4 chickens, but did not see any mites, and no evidence of them in the coop and ark when cleaning them out. So next on my list of possibilities is worms. I am not seeing any worms in the stool, but I know some of them are small and hard to see, some of the stool has been a little loose, but usual color - and we've had temps in the high 80's, dramatic thunderstorms, and lots of really humid days, so guessing some of those could affect digestion if any of them are causing stress.

The only recent change has been that I am mixing their layers pellets with a grower/feeder crumb (currently about 50 / 50) as I am hoping to introduce the 2 chicks currently living in a side run in with the adults, so they can all live in 1 coop, and the young ones can't eat layers pellets - but from research here on BYC, OK for the adult birds to eat grower food if they have access to oyster shell, which they do. The molt and unusual behavior started a week or two before I changed the food.

So, I have been going round in circles reading the threads about recommended dewormers, the adults have never been dewormed - I just believed info I saw that there's no need to deworm your chickens. Now, after a few hours on BYC this afternoon, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed, and realizing I should have given them dewormer already.

The strongest opinion seems to be that the goat dewormer Valbazen is the most recommended as a first dewormer due to the fact is kills all types of worms that chickens get, and they die over several days, and are digested so there is a lower risk of causing the intestinal damage / death, possible with other dewormers that act more quickly but potentially mean all the dead worms trying to pass cause some kind of blockage.

I have not found anywhere locally (Buffalo area) that sells Valbazen, although there are multiple suggestions for places it can be purchased online. The bottle is large, and I only need doses for 2 chickens and 2 chicks (initial dose and another in 10 days) although I've read there can be several years until the expiration date, there's no way I'll use it up. In some of the threads, people seem to share 1 bottle between multiple chicken keepers - but none of them are in this area. I've sent an email to a sheep farmer friend who used to keep goats on the off chance she may have some leftover.

So, for those with more experience - do you think this 'not herself, not laying, some featherloss, zoning out' sounds like it could be an intestinal parasite problem and a dewormer would be a good idea, if so, opinions on valbazen? Anyone know of anywhere locally where I might find a small quantity?

ETA: Pearl our other adult chicken does not have any featherloss, is acting normally, and still laying an egg a day.
Thanks!

I am sorry for your trouble. Here's is my take on the situation.

1. Don't give layer feed to chicks only 11 weeks old. If you are.

2. I usually switch my entire coop to 20% Dumor chick starter. Or just regular grower but don't mix the chicks as young as 11 weeks. I have had hens with chicks and make the switch until they're grown.

3. It might be worms but don't get overwhelmed even though it may sound like OMG! and all that. Worms do not usually present a major problem and you'd most likely see them in all birds. Keep water and waters clean. Don't let it sit for days. Add some Organic Apple cider vinegar once in a while to their water. There are other wormers out there and you can use one even if there are no worms I can't say it would hurt.

You will find lots of opinions as to what works and what doesn't. Don't get caught up in that, or you'll go crazy. Just pick the one that works for you.

4. Be sure they have insoluble grit. Yes I know they get stones and all that but added grit is a good prevention. It keeps things moving through their system. Especially if you feed greens and other non feed items. Sorry for such a large pic. I buy this for about $12 where I'm at. I usually dump a big pile in the same corner of my chicken run or yard.

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5. Watch your girl and see that she is eating and pooping. That is number one.

6. Keep them calm. I do not allow kids to chase or pester my birds. (not that you are) Chickens can get stressed and stress can bring on an underlying problem.

7. It's hard to say what the problem is. Check her poop every time you see her poop. Watch for unusual poops.

Check the "Poop" page on the internet. http://www.chat.allotment.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=17568

I wish you well. I hope some of this helps.

Rancher Hicks

 

[Frankie Ruiz]

Hey everyone. Thought I'd introduce myself to my fellow New Yorkers! I'm in Long Island and currently have a flock of easter eggers, few silkies and a Black Jersey Giant. I have BBS Ameraucana eggs, BBS Marans eggs, Rhodebar eggs and a few bantie cochin eggs in the incubator due to hatch the 31st. I also just bought a welsummer rooster and 3 welsummer pullets from a breeder in PA. Going to be a lot of fun around here

 

[rancher hicks]

Hey everyone. Thought I'd introduce myself to my fellow New Yorkers! I'm in Long Island and currently have a flock of easter eggers, few silkies and a Black Jersey Giant. I have BBS Ameraucana eggs, BBS Marans eggs, Rhodebar eggs and a few bantie cochin eggs in the incubator due to hatch the 31st. I also just bought a welsummer rooster and 3 welsummer pullets from a breeder in PA. Going to be a lot of fun around here

Welcome. Clearly you have "chickenitis". Have you seen the doctor for it? It's not fatal unless you have a spouse who will shoot you for having too many chickens.

My wife has changed since I've gotten chickens. Here's a pic from not to long ago.



I wish you well,

Rancher, no longer mention new chickens to wife, Hicks.

 

[Frankie Ruiz]

Welcome. Clearly you have "chickenitis". Have you seen the doctor for it? It's not fatal unless you have a spouse who will shoot you for having too many chickens. My wife has changed since I've gotten chickens. Here's a pic from not to long ago. I wish you well, Rancher, no longer mention new chickens to wife, Hicks.

thankfully being 18 I won't have to worry about a spouse shooting me anytime soon! lol!! Thank you for the warm welcome