Running out of options

[Capt. Toddy]

Spiritdance, my hens are 2 to 4 years old. They have access to oyster shell as they need it. They free range in the yard 3-5 times a week so get plenty of calcium. There's no problem with the eggs shells anyway.

ddawn, yes the two I bought could be older than advertised, and the eggs I am getting are from one of my original birds, so they're definitely not pulling their weight.

snowflake, that's a great idea to give them so yoghurt for the pro-biotics. I'll buy some when I go shopping this week. We are in a fairly temperate climate here.

bluere11e, I thought about changing feed suppliers, but my neighbours use the same supplier and get 3-4 eggs a day.

Some more info about my small flock. One of my original birds has diarrhoea and has had it for ages (months) despite worming and treating with ivemectin. It's brown in colour and has bubbles in it, which is meant to be a sure sign of worms. Surely she couldn't still have worms after everything I've done? She looks in good condition and her comb is bright and upright. Could it be something else?

Cheers

Rod

 

[chickenaddictntn]

I would give them some birdseed mixed w/ your regular feed and think about replacing the non-productive ones.

 

[Capt. Toddy]

UPDATE:

I've just bought some natural yoghurt have been giving them a cup mixed in with a cup of oats for the last couple of days. They eat every last bit of it and gobble it down in no time at all. I've also bought some more worming liquid and will give them a dose in the morning.

I've also started diluting a bit of apple cider vinegar in with their drinking water, and giving them a cup of bird seed daily.

There's been no change yet, nor was I expecting one this soon, but it'll be interesting to see what happens in the coming weeks.

Regarding getting some more hens, I purchased three 12 week old pullets at Christmas but haven't mentioned them. I'm looking forward to them getting on the lay so we get a more regular supply of eggs. However, I am still concerned that the two hens I bought late last year are not laying. I was told when picking them up that one was just coming into her first year of laying and the other was two years old, so they should be in their prime. I think I may have been duped by the seller as to their real age but have no way of knowing. Does anyone know how to age a chicken with any accuracy?

Regards

Rod

 

[ChooksChick]

Quote:
First, I want to mention that I have often had the same thought, and I've used Ultra Kibble from C&S for my main protein supply for some time. If you have a Tractor Supply nearby, you can get them to special order the 15# bags of it, and I hear they will soon offer it in a chick formula, as well.

It's 40% protein, and is actually a 'supplement' but I use it to supplement scratch seeds from my local feed mill (non-gmo) and mix it to give a 21-24% protein mix. I augment with lots of fresh greens and fruit an veggies, so I keep it above the optimum 16-18% for my laying flocks, so the fresh stuff doesn't lower their overall intake.

The 15# bag of UltraKibble is $22, but it's well worth it and costs me less overall because with the optimum feed, there's less indegestible protein (soy) for them to waste, and there's less poop- and what they poop is cohesive and less stinky- and less of it!!! When you mix it 1:5 or 1:6 (by volume, or scoop) with scratch, it's overall far LESS expensive.

For those who haven't the opportunity to get UltraKibble, if you can find Mizzuri or some other specialized waterfowl or zoo fowl feed, you'll be able to do the same thing- if you can find nothing of the kind, I suggest BIG bulk koi feed, and then augment it with scratch. It's hard to figure out the right combo to get the right protein content and the nutrients are important.

To the original poster: I would suggest that the birds are not quite done with parasites, and while I can't suggest the right meds in an Aussie market, there are many options here that are multi-special solutions. We have a paste horse-wormer here called Fenbendazole that kills MANY forms of worms and mites on our birds, and while it's often too powerful to use as a first-strike, it sounds as though you've done the primary worming I'd recommend already with other wormers. If you can find the equivalent there, it's usually in an easily administered syringe, marked for the horse's weight. It may still be called fenbendazole there. We give about a pea-sized lump (maybe less, depending on bird's size) in feed or in a grape.

It ought to finish any parasitic infection. If that isn't it, and there isn't any molting or broodiness you haven't noticed, I'd wonder if the birds aren't just older than you know.

Best of luck!