please advise

[Lori J]

I added hens to my flock and they smell. Do you know how your dog smells after rolling in a dead frog or something?

After a few days, they don’t smell so bad, just faintly musty. Any ideas what could have caused them to smell like that? Is it within the realm of normal?

 

[Painted Calls]

Definitely not normal.

If they were living in squalor I can see that happening though.

Would probably be a good idea to go over each one really well. Making sure there aren't any skin infections/parasites present.

 

[Lori J]

Definitely not normal.

If they were living in squalor I can see that happening though.

Would probably be a good idea to go over each one really well. Making sure there aren't any skin infections/parasites present.

any suggestions on what to look for parasites-wise?

 

[Compost King]

a muddy yard will cause that, Chickens need to be dry. I had an issue with mud everywhere that started about 2 years ago and it lead to parasite issues. Mostly mites and or Lice.

To chick for mites and lice inspect the vent (yuck!) that's where you usually find them running around the most. If you have them you have a choice of dusting them or spraying them. Change out the bedding int he coop and spray that down too... then use livestock dust on the bedding you put in. Plenty of threads on treating mites and lice on BYC. I would even consider covering their legs in vaseline to prevent or kill Scalymites even if you do not see signs, by the time you see the signs the chickens will have messed up looking legs that I am told is painful.

 

[Painted Calls]

any suggestions on what to look for parasites-wise?

Hearing about their previous conditions.. All of them lol.

Go out at night and check around the base of their tail and around their vents. Look for anything moving and for clumps of eggs.

 

[Compost King]

Check all your chickens, even the ones you had before. I am going to check mine now because I haven't checked in a year. It hasn't been very wet here but its been wet enough for a check and when others bring up situations in BYC it reminds me that I need to do routine checks on the birds.

 

[Lori J]

a muddy yard will cause that, Chickens need to be dry. I had an issue with mud everywhere that started about 2 years ago and it lead to parasite issues. Mostly mites and or Lice.

To chick for mites and lice inspect the vent (yuck!) that's where you usually find them running around the most. If you have them you have a choice of dusting them or spraying them. Change out the bedding int he coop and spray that down too... then use livestock dust on the bedding you put in. Plenty of threads on treating mites and lice on BYC. I would even consider covering their legs in vaseline to prevent or kill Scalymites even if you do not see signs, by the time you see the signs the chickens will have messed up looking legs that I am told is painful.

Thank you! Would mites cause a stink, or are the result of the bad conditions that caused the stink?

 

[NatJ]

Would mites cause a stink, or are the result of the bad conditions that caused the stink?

Mites and stink are probably not related, but both could come from bad conditions.

 

[Painted Calls]

They most likely stink from living in gross conditions.

 

[Compost King]

Thank you! Would mites cause a stink, or are the result of the bad conditions that caused the stink?

Others already said it, the stink and the mites (if you have them) come from the same conditions, the Stink really isn't a problem (I assume) it will go away as conditions they live in improve but Mites and Lice (as well as other possible Parasites) are a problem and since they come from the same conditions that create stinky birds its a good idea to check for them.