sick chickens again

[Lenka]

We got our first eggs october 11th. at the time they were still on grower because I was not expecting them to lay until early november. I gave them grower pellets a few days later. at this time I ad lost 3 of the chickens with the 4th being this morning.

I will go get some safegauard- will look for the other one too. Can I just treat with safeguard for now if I don't find the other one?

thank you for the quick replies

 

[ChickenCanoe]

They may have worms but unless they're real thin, I doubt the symptoms indicate worms. I wouldn't worm them unless a fecal sample indicated they had a huge load. The wormer could knock down a bird on the verge.
Another thing that causes thin birds is campylobacteriosis. It also causes bloody stool and rapid death. A fecal test will diagnose this as well as worms.
I would do a fecal sample right away. Ask your vet for a container that will keep the stool from drying out because the bacteria won't show up in the sample if it dries out.
Collect the sample midday as that gives a more accurate count on the worms/eggs.
Losing 4 birds to similar circumstances is an indication a necropsy may be overdue and stop guessing.
There is no effective treatment for campylobacter, just as there is none for lots of the things chickens can get.

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/22/campylobacter-infection

 

[Pathfinders]

They may have worms but unless they're real thin, I doubt the symptoms indicate worms. I wouldn't worm them unless a fecal sample indicated they had a huge load. The wormer could knock down a bird on the verge.
Another thing that causes thin birds is campylobacteriosis. It also causes bloody stool and rapid death. A fecal test will diagnose this as well as worms.
I would do a fecal sample right away. Ask your vet for a container that will keep the stool from drying out because the bacteria won't show up in the sample if it dries out.
Collect the sample midday as that gives a more accurate count on the worms/eggs.
Losing 4 birds to similar circumstances is an indication a necropsy may be overdue and stop guessing.
There is no effective treatment for campylobacter, just as there is none for lots of the things chickens can get.

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/22/campylobacter-infection

Very good point about de-worming possibly sending a bird over the edge that is dealing with other things as well. Thanks for posting that Canoe.

 

[Lenka]

I've never de wormed them, and I did get some today (wazine and safeguard) but Im gonna hold off giving it to them. I will wait a while to see how the Jersey is doing. I am giving them ACV in their water, buts its a walmart brand one.. is that less effective then the one with "mother" in/on it? (I read something about that on another thread, but didn't find anything that said anything about which one is better or if they're both good.)

 

[Eggcessive]

Sometimes the intestines can be damaged from a bout of coccidiosis, making the chicken susceptible to other diseases. Here are 2 links to read: http://www.chickenvet.co.uk/health-and-common-diseases/coccidiosis/index.aspx
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex4616

 

[Lenka]

Sometimes the intestines can be damaged from a bout of coccidiosis, making the chicken susceptible to other diseases. Here are 2 links to read: http://www.chickenvet.co.uk/health-and-common-diseases/coccidiosis/index.aspx
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex4616

thank you for these.. good info from them.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I've never de wormed them, and I did get some today (wazine and safeguard) but Im gonna hold off giving it to them. I will wait a while to see how the Jersey is doing. I am giving them ACV in their water, buts its a walmart brand one.. is that less effective then the one with "mother" in/on it? (I read something about that on another thread, but didn't find anything that said anything about which one is better or if they're both good.)

I doubt the walmart brand is raw and unfiltered. It doesn't have to be organic but it must be raw ACV.
If it isn't it has been pasteurized. If it says distilled, refined or pasteurized on the label it still has acetic acid and useful for preserving food or cleaning but no longer has the bulk of the health benefits people use it for.


This is a quote from the Bragg website.

Quote: ETA
There's also another good explanation of the differences here:
http://www.ehow.com/facts_7258171_organic-pasteurized-apple-cider-vinegar.html

scroll down to medicinal properties

 

[Cknldy]

Our Walmart sells ACV w/mothers, located beside the other acv but costs more. Charge more to do less to it-go figure huh It is Heinz brand and says on the front "unfiltered all natural apple cider vinegar with the mother." $4. Hope your troubles end soon.

 

[Eggcessive]

The Heinz brand says right on the label that is is unfiltered, unpasteurized. It is not as cloudy as Braggs. You can make your own by taking a cup of Braggs, placing it into a gallon jug, and add 2 cans of frozen apple juice along with the water for mixing them, put a paper towel on top of the jug with a rubber band, and put it away in a cupboard for a month. You should see the mother--a cloudy blob visible in the jug. During summertime, a month is plenty, but in winter the time may take longer to brew. The only thing that mother vinegar adds is probiotics and vitamin B, but regular old vinegar will change the pH in the gut. The use of ACV in the water is controversial--some advocate it, others say it doesn't matter, some say it is harmful.

 

[Lenka]

well I got the Braggs bottle since thats all there was that wasnt the sore brand which wasnt unfiltered, to try on them. Hopefully that will help.

thanks again for all your help, and I really hope the rest of my girls will be ok.