EriLynCap
Chirping
- Aug 11, 2022
- 19
- 38
- 59
I apologize in advance for the length and for any future clarification questions. I am terrified of making things worse due to thinking I understand and being wrong.
I have 4 chickens and a rooster. When I got them mid July they were this year's hens to my understanding and seemed very healthy looking. One hen had a bald back was laying for me within the first couple days, the rest started laying beginning of September, and I believe the rooster to be at an age between the 2 hen age ranges. I was told her back was from too many roosters on the free ranging property she came from.
We put some blue coat and a little chicken saddle on her so the feathers would have a chance to grow back. They have not. Her wings have feather damage from wearing the saddle so long, and at one point it looked like they started coming back but they are gone again.
We have since dealt with mites where I treated with hand dusting them with diatomaceous earth as well as mixing it with clean sand in their run, followed by diluted ivermectin that I had on hand spraying the coop only because I couldn't find it it was safe to use on them. This was sprayed and dried with fresh bedding before they came back from free ranging for the night.
The following week I re-cleaned everything and sprinkled permethrin along the edges and cracks of the coop (it is a smaller coop from family farm and home so free ranging has been a must, I am in the progress of building an 8*8 shed sized coop for these 5 and my 3 muskovys to share for winter) I scoop the coop regularly so it doesn't build up and rake the small run 1-2 times a week. (I lock it up at night to for safety but make sure they aren't forced in the small coop box) I have picked them up and checked feathers and vents multiple times I haven't seen mites in 4 weeks.
However all but one seems to be losing weight, my 2 gold laced wyandottes have needed their butts washed from poop buildup, some poop looks normal some looks like pure liquid. I have looked to the best of my ability and very limited knowledge and do not see worms.
But something is not right. They seem to be dropping weight, when I checked them over the one not getting her feathers back had very cold legs compared to the rest of them. They seem a bit more standoffish, even my sexlink that's always come running to see if I have snacks isn't acting herself and is now missing a small section of feathers from her back. I have seen what seems to be dander and they do itch like dry skin or some issue but like I said, I've been checking them very closely and have not found any more mites.
What can I do? I have called around, no vet in my county or the next one over sees chickens, nor can they recommend someone else when does.
I've waited over 6 years to finally be allowed to get my own chickens, I don't want to lose them due to unintentional poor care. (I have friends with chickens, none of them have dealt with any of this so they can only guess too)
They are on an all flock feed so I don't have to get special feed for ducks, which I have just started learning how to ferment and they also get random supplements of either scratch grains, wild bird seed, dried bugs, or cracked corn to keep things interesting and try to be well rounded... We also sometimes share fruits and veggies for a boost.
Thank you so much for reading this far and for any help you can share.
Posting pictures of the cause of my potential overreaction.
I have 4 chickens and a rooster. When I got them mid July they were this year's hens to my understanding and seemed very healthy looking. One hen had a bald back was laying for me within the first couple days, the rest started laying beginning of September, and I believe the rooster to be at an age between the 2 hen age ranges. I was told her back was from too many roosters on the free ranging property she came from.
We put some blue coat and a little chicken saddle on her so the feathers would have a chance to grow back. They have not. Her wings have feather damage from wearing the saddle so long, and at one point it looked like they started coming back but they are gone again.
We have since dealt with mites where I treated with hand dusting them with diatomaceous earth as well as mixing it with clean sand in their run, followed by diluted ivermectin that I had on hand spraying the coop only because I couldn't find it it was safe to use on them. This was sprayed and dried with fresh bedding before they came back from free ranging for the night.
The following week I re-cleaned everything and sprinkled permethrin along the edges and cracks of the coop (it is a smaller coop from family farm and home so free ranging has been a must, I am in the progress of building an 8*8 shed sized coop for these 5 and my 3 muskovys to share for winter) I scoop the coop regularly so it doesn't build up and rake the small run 1-2 times a week. (I lock it up at night to for safety but make sure they aren't forced in the small coop box) I have picked them up and checked feathers and vents multiple times I haven't seen mites in 4 weeks.
However all but one seems to be losing weight, my 2 gold laced wyandottes have needed their butts washed from poop buildup, some poop looks normal some looks like pure liquid. I have looked to the best of my ability and very limited knowledge and do not see worms.
But something is not right. They seem to be dropping weight, when I checked them over the one not getting her feathers back had very cold legs compared to the rest of them. They seem a bit more standoffish, even my sexlink that's always come running to see if I have snacks isn't acting herself and is now missing a small section of feathers from her back. I have seen what seems to be dander and they do itch like dry skin or some issue but like I said, I've been checking them very closely and have not found any more mites.
What can I do? I have called around, no vet in my county or the next one over sees chickens, nor can they recommend someone else when does.
I've waited over 6 years to finally be allowed to get my own chickens, I don't want to lose them due to unintentional poor care. (I have friends with chickens, none of them have dealt with any of this so they can only guess too)
They are on an all flock feed so I don't have to get special feed for ducks, which I have just started learning how to ferment and they also get random supplements of either scratch grains, wild bird seed, dried bugs, or cracked corn to keep things interesting and try to be well rounded... We also sometimes share fruits and veggies for a boost.
Thank you so much for reading this far and for any help you can share.
Posting pictures of the cause of my potential overreaction.
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