The Poultry Keeper

Dusty · Joined: 07 Jan 2008 Posts: 934 Location: St. Asaph

Well as you know one of my bantys has been to the vet and has been given Baytril. One of the other Dutch Bantys has now started with the swollen sinus so has been dosed and quaranteend.............but whilst 'frontlining' the other girls I checked out 'chatters' my lovely Black Rock and her breast bone is so prominant Crying or Very sad

She along with the others is wormed every month, free ranges every day, pellets available and given porridge, corn daily and any other goodies available.

She has a yucky rear end so i've put Coxoid into their water this week.

She's moulting so not laying but neither are the others who should be such as the Barbu's who only came into lay about 8 weeks ago.

Coop cleaned weekly, no sign of red mite.

All seem happy eating and foraging

Your advice please, it seems that everything is going wrong at the moment.

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3452 Location: Monmouthshire

Moulting birds put all their energy into growing new feathers, so a high protein diet helps. I go back a stage with a skinny bird, so a layer would be put on to growers pellets, and kept with one other bird for company until she'd put on a bit of weight. Treats can be counter productive. You say you worm monthly which seems excessive unless you have a major problem. A lot of people do their complete flock twice a year.

Dusty · Joined: 07 Jan 2008 Posts: 934 Location: St. Asaph

Thanks henwife.

I used Verm X, should I not give it monthly then? I've obviously mis read the instructions somewhere Embarassed

I'll get some growers then because bless them there are enough feathers being shed to stuff a duvet Laughing

Bhindi · Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 10:37 am Post subject:

Verm-x does need to be giving monthly (or as close to), as its a preventative. It will stop them from ever getting a large worm burden. It does not kill worms, but makes the hen (the host), an undesirable home!.

I notice at this time of year even my favourite Bhindi starts to sport a slightly mucky rear, which she never has at other times, this seems to be the sign that she is about to go into moult, as for her she always drops her rear feathers and thats why muck starts to build up around there. This may be the case for your girl???

I'm sorry I have no experience in sinus problems, but if I did, I would be doing 1 of 2 things. Visiting the vet and or phoning Retford poultry.

Dusty I hope you can sort out your probs. and that things start to improve for you. x

Dusty · Joined: 07 Jan 2008 Posts: 934 Location: St. Asaph

Thanks Bhindi,

Yes Black Rock has only recently had dirty rear end and loads of her feathers around so that may well be the problem.

2nd Banty responding to the Baytril already, sinus gone down, 1st Banty still swollen but is lively so hopefully by end of course of Baytril she'll be ok.

I know animals will get ill etc but I don't want my ignorance to cause any suffering to the girls so thanks to everyone for the advice. Smile