Feeling Better

Please forgive the long time between posts, there is a lot going on around here. The last time we posted the girls were very ill. We ended up losing 5 chickens and now we have 19. There is a definite change in the flock with the loss of those who died. The 19 we have left are doing much better now. Their feathers are getting that shine back, their combs are full of color and slowly but surely they are gaining some of their weight back. At the time the illness started we were getting about 20-22 eggs a day, then we had none, now we are consistently getting an egg a day.

First we had to get the Cocci under control. To do that we used Corid, the main ingredient being Amprolium. It is off label for chickens but we were going on the advice of the vet because Sulmet, which is usually used, is not supposed to be used for layers. I found a recipe for home-made electrolyte water and mixed the corid in with it. Once the cocci was slowing down, we realized we had a secondary problem, worms. The vet suggested Wazine and so we added it to the water as well. The Corid really has no withdrawal time, according to the vet, but the Wazine does. The vet says 5 days but I have read where people follow a 14-21 day withdrawal time after the final dosing.

It is very disheartening to say the least when it comes to treating poultry for anything. The FDA approves Wazine for poultry but says not to use it in layers. If you do the research, nothing can be used in layers where the eggs will be used for human consumption. You know why? Because apparently it is not important enough for them to do the studies, therefore they stay on the cautious side and just say no. Studies have been done on some meds as to how long it takes to leave the meat of a bird but not the eggs. The meds you treat your birds with are usually a form of the meds your doctor will give to you only at much less amounts. The problem would be that if the meds did find their way into the egg and a human was allergic to that particular med, there could be a health issue arise. So what do you do? How do people who are certified organic do it?

Certified Organic is a hard title to come by. What it really boils down to in terms of meds is that if a chicken gets sick they just have to cull it. That is not an option for people who love their chickens and keep a flock more like pets. There are some natural ways to go about worming and the like, ways that were used back in the day before modern medicine. It all comes down to personal preference. It would just be nice to have definitive answers from the people who are supposed to know.

Thankfully Zelda survived all of it, she seems to be the healthiest one in the flock. Some good lessons came from all of this as well. Not only did we learn a lot about meds and illness in poultry, we also learned that when you turn the dirt in the run the chickens love you. You must be careful if you are doing it with a shovel, they will get right under you so they can be the first to grab the hidden treat. I am glad to say not one bird lost a beak or a toe, but they did come close. We also learned that if you put a tarp down in the coop before the litter, you can cut your cleaning time by a huge amount. It also allows you to disinfect better.

The girls are currently re-determining the pecking order but they still understand who the head chick is. =) We pick clover and other soft grasses for them every day since they can not get out to them. When my husband brings them treats they act like he is a rock star, when the kids bring them treats it is the same thing, but when I bring them treats they yell at me and give me those looks. You know those looks, the ones that say, "Is that it? We want more!" It is nice to have them back to their former sassy selves.