One of our Buff Orpington pullets is feeling poorly I think. I went into the coop yesterday and noticed one of the girls hanging out under the heat lamp, kinda all hunkered down and fluffy looking. It wasn't all that cold.

Today it was the same story. I picked her up and she felt light and seemed kinda weak tho she does seem to take an interest in food. Any ideas?

-- john leake (natlivent@pcpros.net), January 10, 2001

Answers

John i am not sure, but i think you could be dealing with coccidiosis. I will tell you we have had this problem before and have been fairly successful. The symptoms would be ruffled feathers, soiled vent, bloody or watery droppings, and lethargy. Of course, you caught it early so all symptoms may not be present. They will act very weak and will feel very thin and wasted to the touch. A sulfa product like Terramycin can be used to cure this. You just put it in water, the hard part is getting them to drink it. Mix small amounts at a time as you want to keep it fresh. I pick mine up at the local feed mill, but a farm store will have it also. I hope this helps somewhat. I wish you luck!

-- Shau Marie Miller in WI (shau@centurytel.net), January 11, 2001.

John, good luck. I think we are having a coccidiosis problem at our farm. Could someone please enlighten me, too? Is it species specific? I am concerned that some of my sheep have been drinking pond water and the youngsters are starting to look less than bright-eyed. Of course, I am fencing them out of the pond area.

And did Corid get completely discontinued? Anyone using Sulmet? Is anyone using anything else? Thanks.

-- sheepish (WA) (rborgo@gte.net), January 11, 2001.

Chickens are dropping like flies on all my poultry forums, and for no apparent reason. Necropsy, done by vets, the state, or the owners are showing coccidiosis. Sure glad that I free feed my chickens 17% Chick Starter with Amprolium from hatching and throughout their lives. (Learned that from an ol' poultry person.) I've never had a case of cocci. Actually, to date, I've never had a sick chicken. The birds hatch healthy chicks who grow up to have healthy chicks. They lay eggs all year 'round with no lights/heat. (We only have a few nights down in the teens.) They're fat, healthy, heavily feathered and ya can't tell they're moulting except for all the feathers around. Guineas are fed the same. The birds all free range during the day.

You can't call it 'luck' after all this time. I contribute it all to the feed and the feeding of Diatomaceous Earth, free feeding, the daytime free ranging, and pens with plenty of room for them to roost in at night.

My opinion! And I hope your bird is better soon.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), January 12, 2001.

John and Sheepish, if you're not visiting The Classroom @ The Coop and you raise chickens, you're missing some valuable information. They're at www.the-coop.org. They have a health forum and some very knowledgeable people on there. And some who just like to post but you'll be able to tell the difference pretty quick.

Rogo, is the amprolium in the chick starter considered medicated chick starter. That's what I've been told to feed until they start laying. Do you keep yours on it after they start laying or switch them to something else. You're right about keeping them healthy and you'll have healthy chicks. I baby mine way too much but they are healthy and I hope they stay that way. Thanks.

JackD

-- JackD (jdenterprises@centurytel.net), January 12, 2001.

I prefer not to get dosed continually with tetracycline products being fed to my poultry, I prefer to use cider vinegar at a rate of one tablespoon to the gallon of water, changed daily. The hen could have Sudden Death Syndrome, a wasting type disease that is apparently caused from the mineral imbalances from heavy egg production, the vinegar water will help, but I too, lose about one hen a year to SDS, despite all organic precautions taken! I have Buff Orps too, best of luck with the hen,

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), January 14, 2001.

I use Sulmet every 6 months or so. Try to treat them before any symptoms occur. I usually pick a time when egg production is slow so that I don't have to lose as many. I have heard from my cousin who raises pigeons for a living that if you add pure garlic powder to feed you won't have intestinal pests. Haven't tried it because I am wondering if it will flavor the eggs. Is it safe to eat eggs from laying chickens that are being fed the medicated chick starter? I have always heard that you shouldn't. Also, the reason I raise my own eggs is so that I can be sure of what I am eating and anitbiotics isn't on my wish list of food items. Did I miss some information? I had a chicken that started dragging one leg, then the wing became paralyzed, then the other leg and wing and then she died. Any ideas on that one? All the other chickens of the flock were fine. Thanks

-- Cindy Palmer (jandcpalmer@sierratel.com), January 14, 2001.

Annie thanks for the tip on the cider vinegar. I am always looking for natural ways to treat my animals. This leads me to ask Cindy, how much garlic does your cousin put in the food? Also i don't eat eggs from my chickens when they are medicated. I have been lucky, i have only had to use medications twice in almost ten years. Love the tips i get on this forum. :)

-- Shau Marie Miller (shau@centurytel.net), January 15, 2001.

== Rogo, is the amprolium in the chick starter considered medicated chick starter. That's what I've been told to feed until they start laying. Do you keep yours on it after they start laying or switch them to something else. ==

JackD ~ Yes, Amprolium is the medication in my Chick Starter. Corid is Amprolium. But altho Corid is given to cure coccidiosis, feeding chick starter to the sick birds won't help; the amount in the feed is only a preventative.

My chooks and Guineas stay on 17% Chick Starter their whole lives. When they start laying, I mix Diatomaceous Earth and oyster shell into the feed. This is all I feed. The birds free range during the day. They lay eggs all year 'round with no heat/lights. I eat the eggs. I'm not much of a chicken eater, but others who feed like I do eat the meat.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), January 16, 2001.

Rogo, Thanks. I too keep mine on medicated chick starter but only until they start laying. I understand that medicated c/s protects them until their immune system can strengthen. D/E is also a great idea for prevention. Mine love scratching around the yard and I think are healthier for it. I like the vinegar idea also and will try it. Thanks for the information.

JackD

-- JackD (jdenterprises@centurytel.net), January 17, 2001.