lathargic pekin.

[MitchaRooster]

hi! I have a small flock of young birds all about 5months old but today i noticed that my pekin bantam boy is very quiet and lathargic witha slightly pink comb! He just sits alone all fluffed up next to a tree! Theres plenty of food and water so i don't think its anything to do with that! He is the smallest of the birds so i'm wondering if maybe he's just cold or going through a molt? I've checked him for lice and he is clear. Any ideas on whats wrong and how to fix him are very welcome! Thanks so much!

 

[podstable]

If it were me I'd consider and treat for red mite/external parasites and coccy straight away if no specific symptoms.General care--isolate,keep warm ,make sure he is drinking or syringe in fluids orally.Also need to consider respiratory/other infections and worms.If in doubt ? Vet as sounds quite unwell.This is all just what I'd do, I am sure someone will be along with more ideas.Hope he perks up,Ros.

 

[girlracer265]

I'd do the same as ros, chickens go downhill so rapidly, its best to treat for everything and keep them seperate so theres less chance of cross infection.

 

[MitchaRooster]

Thanks so much for the advice guys! Sadly my little boy passed away in the night. I had already seperated him from the rest of the group so i'd hoped the other birds would be ok but now two of my Araucana have got one of their eyes closed and when i open them they look sore and red. Recently my dad has been helping me chop down a few trees in my garden and i wondered if it could just be dust from the trees upsetting them or could it be conjunctivitis? If it is how do u treat a bird with conjunctivitis? All the birds are wormed and have been treated for mites etc and the coop has had a good clean and has been 'dusted' with the red mite stuff. Also i know its not particularly fair to keep pekins with bigger girds but the hatched out together and grew up together get along fine although i do now have a new run for the pekins away from the Araucana as they are getting bigger then the other youngsters now. Anyway, any help on the chooks with 'sticky eyes' would be a great help as i dont want to loose more of my newest arrivals. It never rains it poors hey! Also has anyone heard of DIATOMACEOUS EARTH being used as a red mite powder and a wormer? Saw some going cheap on ebay and wondered if it was a good buy? Sorry to be a pain! Thanks again.

 

[podstable]

Hi----sorry you lost your boy .If it were me and 2 were unwell and I doidnt know why ,having just lost one I would probably invest in a visit to a chicken vet. Sticky eyes when a simple bacterial infection should respond to bathing/cleaning and applying antibiotic oint or drops several times a day. You can buy antibiotic eye drops from chemist now--but only for human use of course (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!). If there are other symptoms or they don't respond then they need a professional opinion. I keep my chooks of assorted sizes together when not penned for breeding OK apart from one large cockerel and his girls as he is a lot bigger.I am sure Diatomaceous earth is a useful control measure for mite prevention if not for treating a significant infestation. As for worms I have no idea--I guess they would have to eat it--I would think the worms would be too large to be affected to any extent.Phew! Hope that's of some help-Ros

 

[dawn]

So sorry about your little boy, I have a soft spot for Pekin boys as I've had two lovely ones.

I use Diatom (bought from Flytes of Fancy) all the time in the coop to control red mite. I learnt about it the one and only time I had red mite. Once I'd pressure washed and disinfected the coop I put diatom down everywhere and have done so since then every time I change the bedding. They all throw the straw in the nest boxes around (including my remaining boy who always helps his girls lay !), so I think it helps with lice control too. Anyway there have been no red mite (or lice) since.

Interested to hear you have Aracaunas as I'm thinking of getting some, bantams though. I've heard they are very friendly, is that your experience ?