How to raise Backyard Chickens: Re: [CHICKENS-101] Is Something Seriously Wrong with my Chickens and is my whole flock at risk

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Re: [CHICKENS-101] Is Something Seriously Wrong with my Chickens and is my whole flock at risk

I'd check the date on the bag of feed. If the feed is fresh, I'd change to another brand. It if it is not fresh I'd take it back and exchange it for a fresh dated bag of feed. Stay away from Purina they are having vitamin and other problems. Get poultry vitamins in their water until you can get some red cell and mix it in their new feed. If you have red cell and some grain, I'd put some red cell on their grain, pull their feed, and give the red cell on their feed.
I could be wrong but it sounds nutritional to me. Would you send me pics?

Cathryn     rainbowsilkiesTM Michigan

    From: Gary Fletcher <gary@garyfletcher.us>
 To: CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com 
 Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2012 8:15 PM
 Subject: [CHICKENS-101] Is Something Seriously Wrong with my Chickens and is my whole flock at risk

 I'm scared to death that I have a serious illness on my hands that is  going to affect my entire flock.  I've researched online some but couldn't really come up with a reason for my sick chickens.  If they are going to make my entire flock sick, I can cull them, but I'm very very attached to the frizzle and I would really hate to do it.  

I have a 5 month old black frizzle bantam hen.  A month ago she was beautiful and high on the pecking order.  Yesterday I noticed that she was avoiding the other chickens, she looks dull, feathers are not fluffy like they were and   her comb is gone, almost nothing there at all and what is there has turned dull  grey.  She also has small bald patches on her head and a couple small open sores.  They are flat, not raised and not really noticeable until you look close.  

I also have a 3 month old rhode island  red.  He is missing feathers on his back, under his wings and on his belly.  Also, nearly his whole head is bald and kinda covered with rough grey skin and his comb is gone too.  No open sores and he is  very active. Eats well and pretty much acts like the  other chickens, just has these apparent problems.  

I put both chickens in the hospital brooder, put anti biotic ointment on their sores, treated them for coccidiosis, giving them electrolytes and vitamins daily, dewormed them with a broad spectrum de wormer.  Also, I have penicillin G that I treat my goats with.  I've read online that it can be used for chickens, under the tounge, but this is an injectible IM drug.  Should I try a small injection dose perhaps in the  meaty part of the leg?  If so and how much?

Any information or advice on how to   treat this and diagnose it would be greatly appreciated.  

Gary Fletcher