Whats wrong with Molly?

[gwright6]

Molly is 3 years, very active. About 3 months ago she started molting and is still going through that process. Yesterday I saw her standing, puffed up. Not moving. I checked her over, didn't see anything out of the ordinary. I checked her this morning for sour crop and impacted crop and her crop was empty. Today she has some secretion coming from her vent that makes me think that she has a yeast infection. I read that yeast infection and impacted crop go hand and hand. We are in Texas and the weather is in the high 70's so she's not in a cold environment that would make her puff up to keep warm. Was thinking maybe parasites but I am currently on a 5 day regiment of safeguard in the water for the whole flock. Any thoughts here? I'm lost as to what to treat her for.

 

[Eggcessive]

What color and consistency is the discharge from the vent? Does it seem like egg white or egg matter, or white urates? SafeGuard is best given orally since it does not mix with water and will settle out. The dosage also cannot be known when in wster. Usually dosage is 1/4 ml (0.23 ml) per pound of weight, about 1.25 ml for a 5 pound chicken, given orally for 5 days. Shake it well between drawing up each dose, since it settles out. Is she eating? I would check her crop this pm to see if she has some food in there.

 

[gwright6]

Thanks for your quick comments. I will get the answers to these questions today about Molly. I haven't separated her today, but will do so tonight to get answers. On a different topic, how do you use safeguard as a prevention for a large flock?

 

[Twilia]

Safeguard is a dewormer, not recommended for a preventative due to the chance of creating a parasite resistance. Drugs are for treating the worms. Although it has not been proven, some poultry keepers use natural methods to hinder the worms form taking hold in the birds system.

I read something like this, but you will likely have to research further; You can crush garlic and allow to set for 24 hrs. to release a chemical, called juglone (this is what interrupts the parasites). Add the garlic to the chicken's water during times of stress.
How large is your flock? Hoped this helped some

 

[coach723]

There is no way to "preventatively" worm a flock. The medications will treat parasites that are there, they will not prevent them from getting them. So there is no reason to treat unless they have parasites. Those who have high parasite loads in their environment may worm regularly, since reinfection rate is high with some parasites (like roundworm) as the eggs survive a very long time in the environment. The birds ingest the eggs in the environment and those hatch into the worms in the gut. The medications kill the worms, but not the eggs which is why repeated dosing (how many doses and spacing between depends on the medication and the type of worm) is needed to get them all. But they can be reinfected by the eggs in the environment. And each infected bird is depositing thousands of eggs back into the environment in their droppings. How often to worm is individual to each flock based on the parasite load in that particular environment. Some can worm once or twice a year and their flock is healthy, some may need to worm more often. Some worm every spring or every spring and fall. But worming when there are not parasites in the gut of the bird, is not doing any good, just wasting time and money.
I tried herbals and natural remedies when I first started with chickens and found them completely ineffective. They are fine to use to perhaps strengthen immune systems and keep the gut healthy and in balance, but in my experience, they do not take care of a load of worms. I lost birds. Some of them can become very ill from parasites.

 

[Twilia]

There is no way to "preventatively" worm a flock. The medications will treat parasites that are there, they will not prevent them from getting them. So there is no reason to treat unless they have parasites. Those who have high parasite loads in their environment may worm regularly, since reinfection rate is high with some parasites (like roundworm) as the eggs survive a very long time in the environment. The birds ingest the eggs in the environment and those hatch into the worms in the gut. The medications kill the worms, but not the eggs which is why repeated dosing (how many doses and spacing between depends on the medication and the type of worm) is needed to get them all. But they can be reinfected by the eggs in the environment. And each infected bird is depositing thousands of eggs back into the environment in their droppings. How often to worm is individual to each flock based on the parasite load in that particular environment. Some can worm once or twice a year and their flock is healthy, some may need to worm more often. Some worm every spring or every spring and fall. But worming when there are not parasites in the gut of the bird, is not doing any good, just wasting time and money.
I tried herbals and natural remedies when I first started with chickens and found them completely ineffective. They are fine to use to perhaps strengthen immune systems and keep the gut healthy and in balance, but in my experience, they do not take care of a load of worms. I lost birds. Some of them can become very ill from parasites.

Do not deworm with naturals. They are only meant as preventatives. They work by making the system harder for the worms to take hold, but, do not kill worms or even flush them. That is what the drugs are for. But be cautious: Chemical dewormers that are used too often, or in the same family, will create a real, scary situation if they worms adapt to the chem. dewormer; they will be immune to it, making it useless. And the chickens will suffer the penalties.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound, of cure.

 

[gwright6]

Safeguard is a dewormer, not recommended for a preventative due to the chance of creating a parasite resistance. Drugs are for treating the worms. Although it has not been proven, some poultry keepers use natural methods to hinder the worms form taking hold in the birds system.

I read something like this, but you will likely have to research further; You can crush garlic and allow to set for 24 hrs. to release a chemical, called juglone (this is what interrupts the parasites). Add the garlic to the chicken's water during times of stress.
How large is your flock? Hoped this helped some

 

[gwright6]

I put crushed peppers, garlic,poultry probiotics poultry booster, oyster shells and grit in their food. I feed Texas Natural and I put apple cider vinegar in their water. I make a breakfast every morning of organic black beans and or lentils, greens from my garden, organic dried fruit and any thing left in the kitchen from the night before. I have 175 chickens

 

[coach723]

Oyster shells and grit should be provided separately, in separate feeders, so that they can take what they need. They will take it when they need it. Garlic can be toxic and cause a specific type of anemia if too much is eaten.

 

[gwright6]

thank you for your advice