Pale combs & dirty bums

[Chickenmomof6]

DE only works when it's dry and isn't terribly effective. It's also a respiratory irritant and generally not effective enough to warrant putting your birds in danger.

Both worms and mites can be difficult to detect. You can try deworming with fenbendazole which is a safe and easy-to-find dewormer. The dosage for fenbendazole 10% horse paste is 0.25ml per pound orally for 5 consecutive days. Their is an egg withdrawal period of 14 days but you probably won't have to worry about that.

Some here have suggested running a white piece of paper through their feathers when they're on the roosts to find mites. I just run my arms through their feathers and feel for mites crawling on me, but most people probably don't want to do that!

I definitely do not want them crawling on me!!!! Going out now to do the mite test. They’re already on the roost for the night.
Thanks for the deworming information. I will try that…

 

[StinkyAcres]

I definitely do not want them crawling on me!!!! Going out now to do the mite test. They’re already on the roost for the night.
Thanks for the deworming information. I will try that…

Sorry, I got the part wrong about the paper method. Most people wipe the roosts with white paper to look for smeared blood caused by the full mites. But I suppose running the paper through their feathers should work too. Let us know what you find.

 

[Chickenmomof6]

Sorry, I got the part wrong about the paper method. Most people wipe the roosts with white paper to look for smeared blood caused by the full mites. But I suppose running the paper through their feathers should work too. Let us know what you find.

That sounds so much easier. I will che k tomorrow evening. Thank you!!

 

[wkshaddon]

The pale combs are normal this time of year and when they are not laying. The black spot on the comb looks like a little dried blood from pecking and is not usually something to worry about. I would say cut the treats by at least half. Do you know how old they are?

I agree. 2 cups of corn every day seems excessive.

 

[Chickenmomof6]

I agree. 2 cups of corn every day seems excessive.

They get a 1/2 cup containing fly larve and chopped corn in the morning and the same in the evening. That’s for all 5 birds to share though. Is that too much? Should I reduce that amount? They also have their pellet food out all day.

 

[Borders3]

A quick and easy way to give them extra protein is to soak dried cat food and give it to them. A cup of dried should be enough for five hens. I cover it with warm water first thing in the morning before I go to work, then feed it to them in the evening when I come home. It helps with molting and to produce eggs.

 

[Chickenmomof6]

A quick and easy way to give them extra protein is to soak dried cat food and give it to them. A cup of dried should be enough for five hens. I cover it with warm water first thing in the morning before I go to work, then feed it to them in the evening when I come home. It helps with molting and to produce eggs.

That is awesome, and I have a cat too so that should be enough!! Thanks so much!!

 

[Borders3]

They get a 1/2 cup containing fly larve and chopped corn in the morning and the same in the evening. That’s for all 5 birds to share though. Is that too much? Should I reduce that amount? They also have their pellet food out all day.

I would only give them the treats and soaked cat biscuits at night before bed, that way they eat the pellets all day, with the treats at night they then have a full crop before bed. The cat food is around 32 per cent protein so quite a big jump on the layers pellets gives them a help with molting and laying.