Shrinking cones and wattles?

[Eggcessive]

I just wanted to add that my grown daughter used to let her parrot take showers with her, and that parrot was pretty loud. Apparently quite a few parrots like showering, and she learned this from other parrot owners. But chickens do not like bathing in water normally. It is probably just something your friend suggested not knowing about chickens and their behavior—a newbie mistake, so now you know. My chickens will stand in pans of water during the hot summer weather to cool off.

Your pullets may need more daylight hours as said previously. They sometimes can start molting when they have a stress, so look for feather loss. Just watch them for any signs of illness, look them over for lice and mites, and consider worming them while they are not laying.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

I just wanted to add that my grown daughter used to let her parrot take showers with her, and that parrot was pretty loud. Apparently quite a few parrots like showering, and she learned this from other parrot owners. But chickens do not like bathing in water normally. It is probably just something your friend suggested not knowing about chickens and their behavior—a newbie mistake, so now you know. My chickens will stand in pans of water during the hot summer weather to cool off.

Your pullets may need more daylight hours as said previously. They sometimes can start molting when they have a stress, so look for feather loss. Just watch them for any signs of illness, look them over for lice and mites, and consider worming them while they are not laying.

I didn’t have the water on. I just put them in the shower while I went surfing for a couple hours. I did have the radio on. They laid eggs in the shower, maybe they didn’t like it. My other six are still laying every day, so hopefully I didn’t traumatize my two silver gray dorkings.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

They do seem a bit young to molt. I would check to blood sucking parasites. Check their skin around the back of neck, vent area and under wings. Look close, cause sometimes the little critters can be fast and almost skin colored.

The one thing I have noticed recently is they seem to be getting their feathers in the back a little poopy and I have been having to clean them up more than usual, not a lot of poop, but they never really had that before.

 

[Eggcessive]

If they have any loose poop or diarrhea, it can collect around the vent on feathers. Some hens may develop an enlarged lower belly, that “catches” droppings more often. I would feel for any swelling under the vent (compare them to other chickens,) remove the dried poop and consider washing the bottoms with soapy water. Trimming excess feathers may help. Flies will be attracted to poop around vents, and they can cause a maggot infestation called flystrike which can be deadly during warm weather. So good to keep them cleaned off.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

If they have any loose poop or diarrhea, it can collect around the vent on feathers. Some hens may develop an enlarged lower belly, that “catches” droppings more often. I would feel for any swelling under the vent (compare them to other chickens,) remove the dried poop and consider washing the bottoms with soapy water. Trimming excess feathers may help. Flies will be attracted to poop around vents, and they can cause a maggot infestation called flystrike which can be deadly during warm weather. So good to keep them cleaned off.

Thanks for your reply, yes I keep a eye on that because I have read all the horror stories about flystrike! I pick them up frequently and they like to sit on me, so I don’t like them to have any poop on them. I just wonder if anyone thought it was worms? I don’t know if you are routinely supposed to worm your chickens?

 

[Eggcessive]

Many people do routinely worm their chickens. In tropical climates that may be several times a year. Once a year is good if you live in a cooler or dry climate. The average is probably twice a year. Some do not worm at all, but you can get a fecal test from a local vet on some fresh collected droppings in a plastic bag. There are also test kits available here:
https://www.amazon.com/Reptiles-Rab...d=1541344498&sr=8-6&keywords=equine+worm+test

Valbazen 1/2 tsp given once and repeated in 10 days is good to use. SafeGuard Liquid Goat Wormer or Equine Paste 1/4 ml per pound of weight, given once a day for 5 days will treat most chicken worms.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Many people do routinely worm their chickens. In tropical climates that may be several times a year. Once a year is good if you live in a cooler or dry climate. The average is probably twice a year. Some do not worm at all, but you can get a fecal test from a local vet on some fresh collected droppings in a plastic bag. There are also test kits available here:
https://www.amazon.com/Reptiles-Rab...d=1541344498&sr=8-6&keywords=equine+worm+test

Valbazen 1/2 tsp given once and repeated in 10 days is good to use. SafeGuard Liquid Goat Wormer or Equine Paste 1/4 ml per pound of weight, given once a day for 5 days will treat most chicken worms.

Thank you, The Valbazen is 1 treatment? Not weight dependent at all? How many days should I not eat the eggs for? Can I give the eggs to my dogs? Thank you so much for your time.

 

[Eggcessive]

There could be medication found in eggs for up to 2 weeks after treating. Some don’t worry about it, but it is best to toss the eggs. Using them for your dogs could give them small doses, and might create resistance. Valbazen can be given 1/4 ml for a bantam, 1/2 ml for most chickens, and 3/4 ml for a large hen or rooster. 11mg or 1 ml per pound of weight is about right. It settles out so shake it well.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

There could be medication found in eggs for up to 2 weeks after treating. Some don’t worry about it, but it is best to toss the eggs. Using them for your dogs could give them small doses, and might create resistance. Valbazen can be given 1/4 ml for a bantam, 1/2 ml for most chickens, and 3/4 ml for a large hen or rooster. 11mg or 1 ml per pound of weight is about right. It settles out so shake it well.

Thanks, I think I will bring some samples to my vet for a fecal float test. I have brought one of my chickens there before when she had an eye infection so I know she does aviary medicine.