Lots of concerns about one chook :( RIP Ezy

MrsM · **Joined:** Fri Nov 11, 2011 11:51 am **Posts:** 163

We've had the 2 adopted RIRs since mid december last year, and they are both about 18m-2yrs old. Up until a few weeks ago they were going great. We were told that one is a regular daily layer, and the other lays a few eggs a week.

The chook that lays a few eggs a week - first of all, we arent sure she is laying at all. We get almost 1 egg a day and I am pretty sure they are coming from the other one (though I cant separate them to be positive). So thats concern 1 - no eggs.

Concern 2 - Very dirty bottom. Her poos seemed fine, but she developed a dirty bum. Now I do know they are used to sleeping in a coop that had no roosts, and more often than not I find both the RIRs sleeping on the hay in their nesting box, so this could be a contributing factor... but over the last few days her poos went runny, so something isnt right. I just gave her butt a warm soapy bath but it was a bit difficult to get it all off and clean her properly so I trimmed what was left of those dirty feathers back. The skin underneath looks perfectly healthy so thats good. She has been eating and drinking and scratching around as per normal which is also good. I also didnt notice any bugs or wounds in the area either

Concern 3 - Worming. I didnt know when they were last wormed so I figured it was safe to do now (esp with the dirty bummed chook), so I just made up a batch of treatment for them but I am sure I have done it wrong. The bottle says 8ml per 100ml water (for a 3kg bird) and 16ml per 200ml for a 6kg bird, 24ml/300 etc. I have 3 chooks so I made up a 1500ml bottle of water and added 120ml of the worming treatment (its 8ml per 100ml water) but that doesnt seem right at ALL. The water is bright pink and it has quite a strong smell. One of the chooks took a drink and practically spat it out and refused any more (even though I made sure they have had no water since about this time yesterday). I am sure I have stuffed the wormer/water ratio up somewhow because it just seems way too strong. Have I?

Hens and Hobbits · **Posted:** Sun Feb 19, 2012 5:54 pm

Hi, MrsM,

Is little Bagee in with the BIG girls? Is she the approximately the same weight as them? As it is difficult to work out the correct wormer to water ratio. Are you using Aristopet Worm Enda Poultry Wormer? The bottle dispenses 16 drops/mL (Dose mL), would that mean it equates to 4 drops per 100 mL of water??? The water colour is pink. If using the aforementioned wormer, the water is to be withheld 2 hours before nightfall and medicated water made available at first daylight thus thirsty hens in need of a drink, fresh water is to be given when the worming infused consumed or after 8 hours.

MrsM · **Joined:** Fri Nov 11, 2011 11:51 am **Posts:** 163

Bagee is as big as the other girls and they FR well together, but go to separate coops at night. Is it bad if the ratio is out?

Hens and Hobbits · **Posted:** Sun Feb 19, 2012 8:10 pm

Hi, MrsM,

Sorry I can't be of more help in regards to the ratio of wormer to water and possible over dose of it. I daresay the instructions can be a little confusing. Perhaps just verify the brand that you are using and someone out there maybe be able to assist with the proper amounts since all three chooks are of the same size.

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

Hi, MrsM

,

Sorry your chookie is unwell, maybe she just ate a bad bug?

Try garlic infused water and a follow up treatment of apple cider vinegarat full moon when all the beasties are out, in between quarterly chemical wormings, do this at the start of each season so you will remember when you have done it. There are a number of posts on the topics for the correct amounts of garlic to water and apple cider vinegar to water. It seems to vary from person to person, also an apple cider vinegar product website.

http://www.stockhealth.com.au/apple-cider-vinegar

Natural yogurt is also good for upset tummies restores the good bacteria. I often give it after the garlic/apple cider vinegar treatments. The chookies love it on a hot day!

MrsM · **Joined:** Fri Nov 11, 2011 11:51 am **Posts:** 163

Hi H&H how are you? The wormer I used was the Aristopet one you mentioned, but I didnt use the dropper I measured it with the little measuring cup that came with it. I cant see how I put more in than required for 1500ml but the smell and taste of it (according the chooks) doesnt seem right.

PP, she doesnt seem ill at all, but I think I will make them up some garlic porridge in the morning and mix some yoghurt through it. I dont have natural yohgurt but since they love strawberries so much I doubt they will mind if I use the strawberry yoghurt lol

kwinagi · **Joined:** Sat Dec 15, 2007 8:58 pm **Posts:** 236

what are you worming them with?

can you directly apply the wormer to the individual bird, ie work out a rate per bird instead of per litre?

some people suggest raspberry cordial to overcome the distasteful flavour of the liquid wormer.

Hens and Hobbits · **Posted:** Mon Feb 20, 2012 5:33 am

Hi, MrsM,

Thanks for asking, I'm as well as can be. I use the natural yogurt with the acidophilus, you can get it quite cheaply down at NQR in Lilydale.

kwinagi wrote:

some people suggest raspberry cordial to overcome the distasteful flavour of the liquid wormer.

Silly question, would you have hyper chooks on raspberry cordial?

kwinagi · **Joined:** Sat Dec 15, 2007 8:58 pm **Posts:** 236

hehe hens and hobbits,
NOPE
not inducive of hyper chooks lol.

Hens and Hobbits · **Posted:** Tue Feb 21, 2012 5:52 am

Just could vision hyper chooks running madly around the back yard after raspberry cordial laced already pink worming solution [smilie=a_withstupid.gif]

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Lots of concerns about one chook :( RIP Ezy

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