Old Austrolorp Hen

[Journeyman291]

She seems healthy but has had diarrhea for months and now her eggs have small black crusty spots on them. She's 6 or 7 years old I think. Started putting vinegar in their water and just ordered some diametrious earth today. Any guesses as to her issues?

 

[nuthatched]

I'd stop adding vinegar to the water, it won't help.
Diotomaeceous Earth will not fix any problems and can cause a few, I'd cancel that order.
What's her diet? How's her crop feel? Squishy, doughy, hard etc?
Have you ever wormed her?

 

[Journeyman291]

Tiny amounts of vinegar stops the water from algae formation plus aids in digestion, probiotics and can strengthen the immune system, at least according to several websites including Google AI. Food grade DE externally helps with lice, mites, etc, plus kills internal parasites. It's advertised as such on many websites including veterinary blogs, Chewy and more. In fact it's been used for thousands of years as a human health aide. I've used it for years in my organic garden for pest control. Research it. It's an amazing natural product. For the last several years I found two local resources for non GMO layer feed. Not cheap.
For treats they get Kalmbach scratch feed mixed with some mealy worms/black fly stirred with Kicking Chicken feed supplement. They come running for that stuff lol. ( 5 hens, 4 are just 7 months old)

 

[theoldchick]

What is her diet? I've had many hens live to their teens and even though they are laying I will switch feed from layer to Flock raiser and supply oyster shells on the side. I do not overfeed them as obesity will kill them. A fecal sample to the Vet will help determine if she has internal parasites. Also, make sure the area where she roosts and lives is clean and free of mites.

 

[Journeyman291]

Thanks

 

[nuthatched]

vinegar stops the water from algae formation plus aids in digestion, probiotics and can strengthen the immune system, at least according to several websites including Google AI. Food grade DE externally helps with lice, mites, etc, plus kills internal parasites. It's advertised as such on many websites including veterinary blogs, Chewy and more. I

If you're on municipal water, or a well system with a sanitizer, the sanitizers in the water will kill any probiotics from the acv, leaving just slightly acidic water.

I have researched it, in fact. Heavily.

It's highly celebrated by blogs and advertisers are just parroting statements they've seen somewhere, who are parroting poorly referenced papers.
Just because everyone says it, doesn't make it true, you must do your own research when it comes to the wellbeing of your livestock.

Real, peer-reviewed research studies from around the world have proven that D.E is mildly effective at external parasites (within specific parameters).
Completely ineffective on internal parasites.

Harmful for you and especially your birds to breath. A birds respiratory system takes up most of their body, it causes major scaring along the bronchial tube and the rest if the system.
The sharp amorphous silica found in d.e, the kind that stays sharp when damp and theoretically kills parasites, is not the kind that makes up the mass of Food Grade D.E.
If the properties needed to kill parasites were in food grade d.e, it wouldn't be food grade and would kill chickens through shredding the g i and causing massive bleeding.


Not ecologically friendly, it's a product of Strip-mining. (Deforestation, erosion, habitat loss, ground water pollution, acres and acres of sterilized dirt where nothing with grow for hundreds of years etc all come from strip-mining.)

Rattlesnake venom, asbestos, cancer and tobacco are also 'natural'. The phrase 'natural' has vague stipulations and is just now being looked into for safety standards . Anything that's effective, is not going to allowed to be used willy nilly.
I'd reccomended you do some deeper investigation when you have the time.



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Quotes by Martin K. Nielsen, DVM, PhD, DEVPC, DACVM, M.H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
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[Bawkbok]

Diarrhea for months doesn't sound good. It might be helpful to see pictures of her poop. What color is it? Yellow? Green? Black? Clear?
All indications of something wrong but different issues.
6 or 7 doesn't seem that old, but maybe it is for an Australorp?
Pictures of the black spots on her eggs might also be helpful for those that are more experienced than I who could actually provide insight.
Wishing you the best.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Food grade DE turns to mush when wet, which means it is completely ineffective once ingested. But if anyone wants to spend their money on it they are welcome to do so. I used it librally on my squash plants to control those nasty shield-shaped bugs that suck the life out of the plants. It proved completely ùseless. I also used to use it on my dogs and chickens externally, then I got some in my eye. I got rid of all I had that day. I don't want to breathe it and I don't want it around my animals. But you do what you want.