Dried up Comb

[Fear na gcearc]

Hello,

I bought a pair of OEG bantams around two months ago at auction - they seemed ok but very cheap - £10.

Took them home and both seemed well but Cockeral started losing condition after about a week - comb shriveled a bit.

On inspection he had a mite infestation and a pasty butt.

I think I have eradicated the mite and pasty butt.

He is vigorous but the comb has not recovered - nor he is crowing (he is a few feat away from a young vigorous ancona cockerel - maybe he is intimidated?

He does seem to have dry flakey skin but.

He have been wormed, given supplements, vitamins, sprayed, dusted and given cider vinegar.

Will his good looks and crow return is he useless?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Marigold]

It sounds as if he's still recovering from whatever mismanagement had led to his loss of condition before you bought him. You've obviously been doing the right things, and I think he's a lucky boy, to have found a sensible and caring home. What sort of mite was he infested with, and did you treat the hen at the same time, with the various remedies you used? Were you able to worm them with Flubenvet? Is the hen laying, or did she lay before Autumn set in, after you got them? How old do you think they are?
Unfortunately, when one buys cheap birds at auction, there are always going to be many uncertainties, and you do run the risk of importing health problems to your existing flock. You will have no idea of how they've been kept, and no comeback from the breeder if there are problems. Add to this the trauma of the noisy auction itself, the possibility of picking up infection or infestation from other birds or from dirty cages, and of travel to a new home afterwards, and the stress may in itself trigger health problems because it lowers the birds' immune systems. Breeders will always send their less valuable stock to auction, keeping the best for breeding or sale from their own premises.
I do hope they both turn the corner, with good feeding and proper care, and shall be interested to hear how they get on. You might try Vaseline on his dry comb, it may relieve the dryness even if it doesn't cure whatever is the underlying cause. I think you may be right about the effect of the young Ancona cockerel nearby. Maybe you just have to let them get through the winter now, and see how things go when Spring and the light days return. Two little bantams won't take up much room, or eat a lot, so I hope you can give them a chance to shine!

 

[Fear na gcearc]

Thanks for that.

It was northern fowl mite unfortunately - the hen is not infected - but treated.

But when I check him yesterday I did notice some staining so I sprayed him - I think the spray is harsh on them but northern fowl mite is serious.

Ultimately I will see what spring brings as you say - not worth a cull as they eat very little.

Never bird seems to dust bath so I am making effort to encourage it.

I never bought at auction before - not my style -and I doubt if I will again!

 

[chrismahon]

Northern Fowl Mite is very difficult to spot, so perhaps the seller didn't realise? It usually affects cockerels, I think because they preen less thoroughly- we've been caught out on several occasions. Worth adding a small amount of potash (wood fire ash) to the soil bath as it seems to help with the control of mites and lice.

 

[Fear na gcearc]

Yip - but that is why I inspect the vent etc of every fowl I purchase.

But this was a show-auction so I couldn't.

Auctioneer and show organizers show either facilitate inspection or inspect themselves.