Wasting Disease... Have you heard of it? How do I know for sure?

[chick818]

Can you see the photos? I think I did it right.... Can the vitamins hurt if I give it to them even if they don't need it?

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

vitamins don't hurt given in proper amounts. I tlooks like your chick is fine just slower to feather than the others. no reason other than genetics.

 

[chick818]

Quote:
Thank You that is reassuring...

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

I wish you could see my buglies! I have three out of a group of 26 who lost all fuzz but only grew back half the feathers at half the speed of the others. I had to "hold them back" when the others graduated to the big pen without the light, so there they were in with the new batch of "kindergardners" looking very Jurassic.

 

[chick818]

Quote:
Really???? Thank you. As I have said before, we have been depressed about this thinking that somthing was wrong... I still think I am going to get some vitamins. And can they occassionally have loose or diff color stools?

 

[chick818]

So should I wait to put that one outside overnight? I was planning on doing that after Memorial Day.....

 

[sammi]

if the odd droppings started after you started giving treats..that could be the reason..
I'd skip the pop corn..
could be the grapes causing the loose droppings..
or just the intro of new food.
when they get out, do they peck at grass?
are they on ground where other chickens have been?

I'd keep a close watch, and wouldn't hurt to have some Sulmet, sulfadimethoxine , or albon on hand.
just in case. I they get cocci, you have to act fast.

watch for any respiratory symptoms.

 

[Calebs Acre]

Chick818

Where do you live? I ask because I believe you have talked to the same person who told me the same thing about my babies and then offered to take them from me to "heal them". Then she sold the chicks when they were "healthy." She just tried to do the same thing to me with some geese and when I refused, she wrote me a letter threatening to report me to the authorities for "starving" my birds.

She insisted I had cocci, but upon examination of the feces and discussing it with someone from the State Vet's Office AND seeing fecal charts provided kindly by people here on this forum, I realized there was no Cocci. She insists any waterfowl with runny feces are about to die. She was trying to take away one of my dewlap toulouse geese. She told me the goose wouldn't live for 24 hours. So, I put the goose in the house and fed her under my direct observation and watched her poop and in a few days returned her to the back yard, but kept her in with a smaller group of geese and she's been fine.

The vet told me not to medicate for cocci or worms on a whim because it is so hard on the bird.

It's just too coincidental with the "wasting disease" she called genetic and the Foy's All In One. She asked me for days if I had ordered it yet. She was incensed when I told her I disagreed with her advice and was going to handle it my way. I guess because she's taken silkies, RIRs, jersey giants and other birds from me and actually convinced me that I should never have chickens.

Once I empowered myself with some reliable information, I no longer gave in to being controlled. I still am not that secure about owning chickens, but I am going to try again.

Guess I am just curious if there is another person out there giving the same advice. For the person who talked to me, "lots of experience" = a little over a year. I'm so happy we BYC to check out these things and I LOVE to read Glenda Haywood's postings!

I hope you have good luck with your chickens! Maybe you're a neighbor of mine?

 

[Calebs Acre]

Chick, did you search the forum for information on cocci and mareks symptoms, just so you can be informed? I know if you see anything in the feces that looks like blood, you should look for treatment, and I also know that birds have several different colors of "normal" colored poop, depending on their diet. Your chickens do not appear overly thin to my inexperienced eye, but there are many qualified BYC-ers here who might be able to look at those photos and give you more peace of mind.

It's going to be a bit cool tonight. I tend to let my ducks and geese go out during the day starting a few hours at a time during the day and see how they do. Then, when it's going to be a nice, clear night, I pick their first night outside. As long as they are doing well, I leave them out after that.

Maybe you should look for a post by Glenda Haywood and PM her?

OK, all out of suggestions!