keall
New Member
Posts: 48
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Post by keall on Oct 19, 2009 20:58:14 GMT 8
I bought 2 Australorp pullets at an auction in June in Kelmscott. They never seemed very robust and they were not good foragers. I also bought pullets in July and these seem more robust and active. I read the problems Ashley was having with her chooks and one of mine came down with the same symptoms, pooey bum tail between it's legs and unsteady on it's feet, barely able to stand up. I bought some worming medicine (moxidectin), which I fed straight into the crop,as per vet. After 2 days she has started passing 6-8 cm long white strings(worms?). She has perked up a bit but still not standing. Will see how she is tomorrow.
The other Australorp has been broody since it laid its 4th egg. Do broody hens lay eggs, as this one is still producing.
Do worms go tr hough the whole flock?
Do worms lay dormant in the chicken?
Dave
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Post by annieyokie on Oct 20, 2009 8:01:24 GMT 8
I have never had a broody hen lay eggs ,sometimes it appears that they do as other hens will lay almost on top of them and they tuck the egg under .Some of my australorps spend quite a while on the nest to lay .Is she on there all the time? About worms They will go through everything . The eggs lay dormant in the sand they can come in in slugs ,on veg leaves etc and if you have just wormed them any eggs that didn't get killed will hatch in 2 weeks . THey even get in through the skin .Horrible little things . unfortunately all animals including us have some parasites (not just worms),It is when they take over it is a problem. The healthier the Individual is the less likely they will become a problem. I would saw your Australorps were run down a bit when you got them and there bodies have just got totally infested with worms. To keep the flock relatively free giving them garlic fresh or crumbles in their feed or water once a month helps and regular worming whether it be herbal or chemical gives much healthier chooks. I would also give the australorps a vit mix and some good food as the worm infestation will have run them down .
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keall
New Member
Posts: 48
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Post by keall on Oct 21, 2009 21:27:52 GMT 8
The broody one is seperated and has produced an egg. Would this almost continual broodiness be a result of being low from the worms as well? How long would it take for a chook to recover from an infestation of worms? Would it eventually kill them despite treatment? As we are really new to this chook keeping thing, we are absolutely devastated believing that that the Australorps have come complete with worms. The other pullets purchased about 10 days later were and still are so much more active. Unfortunately today she took a turn for the worse and is no longer with us. As goes with the greif process we are angry for the suffering these girls are going and gone through. What a learning curve. Worm all new chooks, regardless of origin.
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Post by shea on Oct 21, 2009 21:34:40 GMT 8
Iam sorry keall that I don't know the answers to your questions but hopefully someone can help. Sorry for the loss of your australorp.
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Post by fluffychook on Oct 22, 2009 7:42:28 GMT 8
Sorry to hear about your loss and yes it is something most people do is worm all new chooks, quarantine is also a very advisable thing too.
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Post by Duck Diva on Oct 22, 2009 8:04:32 GMT 8
Hi keall, Im very sorry to hear your girl didnt make it it is awful to lose a feathered friend. Even though the chooks had worms, it may be that the sick one had another underlying problem which caused her death after she became run down from the worms. She may have also had a very bad case of worms and had been in a bad way for sometime. I have read that chooks are very good at hiding sickness and often they dont show it until they get stressed or are very far gone. Once the medication has killed the current worms, you usually do a followup 10 days later to kill any new ones that have hatched in their system since. I would keep to a regular worming schedule say every 4 months and of course if you get any new ones. I would give the chooks a vitamin supplement for poultry like Soluvet etc. to boost them up and get them healthy again quicker. I hope some others can add to this whatever I have forgotten. Not at my best in the mornings I wish you all the best with your chooks. Let us know how they go. Cheers, Wendy
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keall
New Member
Posts: 48
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Post by keall on Oct 22, 2009 13:06:55 GMT 8
thankx for the info as all is gratefully received.
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Post by ashley on Nov 10, 2009 19:58:27 GMT 8
Hi Keall Sorry about your loss. It's horrible loosing a girl for the first time, but remember it is a learning curve. Boo died after 3 weeks of worry, treatment, reading books and many many posts on this forum but I learnt alot about poultry care in the process. I also bought my girls at auction, in future I don't think I'd buy from an auction again. It's a very stressfull process for the birds, it certinly isn't the only reason Boo and Queenie died, but I don't think it helped them get off to a good start. If your after some reading material I found Backyard Poultry Naturally by Alanna Moore really helpful. God luck with the rest of your flock. Ashley
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