The Poultry Keeper

lallym · Joined: 02 Nov 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Dept 86

I have 7 chickens and a cock. Two of the chickens have been sick since august and despite garlic, vinegar, visit to vet, antibiotics, vitamin supplements they are still not recovered. They look depressed, they are slightly lame and do not move about much. They have a run but also access to the garden when they want it. The are housed in a barn which was disinfected before they moved in. They were purchased August 20th and although fine for about 2 weeks and even started laying, they then got sick, stopped laying and sickly since. Vet thought vitamin deficiency but supplements have not helped. All thoughts appreciated. Dept 86 nr L'Isle Jourdain.

Sylvia · Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 2:18 pm Post subject:

I've moved this posting to the Poultry Clinic thread as I thought It might get more response there.

Hope that is OK

Sylvia

Pekinout · Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 1219 Location: Cornwall

I'd cull the lot of them. Start again with healthy birds.

Donny · Joined: 10 Nov 2008 Posts: 73 Location: Weymouth

Might sound silly, but is the soil ok where they dig, a friend experienced something simular only to lose the lot. Turned out that the previous occupant heavily used weed killers and such.

Magpie · Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 667 Location: Norfolk

What antibiotic have you given them? Not all bugs are treatable with the same antibiotic so you might have to give them a different one.

Have they been wormed? Listless behaviour and lameness can be a symptom of worms. What are their droppings like?

Tim

Squidge · Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Posts: 269 Location: Folkestone, Kent

How are your hens? Is everything OK? If they are still the same have you checked for red mite which would make them lethargic and listless? Also give some live yoghurt to counteract the effects of the antibiotics

lallym · Joined: 02 Nov 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Dept 86

Thanks all for replies - I was away, hence slow response. Still lethargic and slightly lame. I think soil OK - not used for a number of years. Have been wormed. Antibiotic is Pneumobiotique. Checked for red mite - moved them and still same. We will probably kill them end of this week as is way too long.

Squidge · Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Posts: 269 Location: Folkestone, Kent

I'm sorry to hear your news, I wonder what the problem is? Such a shame for the birds.