Sneezing pekins - antibiotics?

I have noticed that they peck at the coop floor a lot but have inspected many times and cannot see any red mite, but then I have never seen them as far as I know. I use diatom quite liberally so I am assuming that this is what they are eating, but as you say, they wouldn't stay in there if there was red mite. I sprayed the whole coop with some horrible stuff for cocci after treating them all the first time, but it's getting difficult to spray now with the weather being so damp - it just doesn't dry and smells awful. Will give it a go the next fine day though.
 
Try Stalosan F elmdene, will kill any bugs plus is harmless to the birds and does help keep the coop dry.

http://www.flytesofancy.co.uk/chickenhouses/Stalosan-F-Disinfectant.html
 
Very sorry about Sybil Elmdene. You certainly did everything you could for her and more. It could have been something genetic that made here pre-disposed to infection so she wasn't necessarily infected with any contagious virus. We have had several die in our arms with fits after a long bout of illness. We never understood why and still don't.

Best to buy birds a year old to withstand Basil's affection. You may need a saddle as well. We've just fitted one to a hen (Minnie) because Chester the cockerel is going nuts in his run. He needs to be out ranging and we are hopefully completing the new enclosure this week which will distract him and give Minnie a rest. I thought they quietened down this time of year?
 
Thanks - I will order the Stalosan F. I usually use Total Mite Kill spray every week when I clean them out properly (they are poo-picked daily though) unless it's really damp, and I puff Diatom liberally about. However this is only for mite so the Stalosan is obviously better for the oocysts etc. and is dry. So many products!!
The Beryl's Friendly Bacteria arrived today - can anyone advise on whether it's best to administer it in a syringe or mixed with the food, bearing in mind mine are a bit fussy. I swear Sybil could tell if there was medicine in anything. I just don't like force feeding them if possible.
Basil seems to have quietened down a bit for the winter - he can be a huge embarrassment on a summer's evening if we have guests! The only thing about getting older girls is that they won't be so tame I suppose. I'll give it a few weeks though to get over Sybil and make sure Basil and Myrtle are well. Does anyone know of a good source of healthy pekins in the West Oxfordshire area?
 
We gave our Beryl's by syringe to make sure they all had the required dose Elmdene.

As you say older birds won't be as tame but can be tamed with regular handling. Handling chicks doesn't guarantee them tame in my experience because if you stop for any length of time they revert to their natural wariness.
 
Yes I administered it by syringe and after the initial fuss they didn't think it tasted so bad after all. Just a shame they don't do it in smaller doses as I had to throw two thirds of it away, it being enough for 6 chickens.
Back in August I gave some of our fertilised eggs to the people who I rehomed my other little chicken family with. One of their girls (Sybil's daughter actually) had gone broody but with no eggs. The one chick that hatched must have been Sybil's as it was black. Apparently it is now incredibly tame and likes sitting on the little (human) boy's shoulder and preening his hair! So sweet and lovely to know that Sybil's offspring are still around and giving lots of pleasure.
Chris - I would love to know more about Bottom. Does he really live indoors? Is he housetrained? Are the others jealous? Maybe you have already done so, but it would be very interesting to find out more about him on the General Chickens forum and maybe some photos?
 
Search the forum for the word bottom and you will find a wonderful and extraordinary story. Bottom lives in all our hearts and keeps us all smiling whenever he is mentioned..... :D
 
Luckily this didn't have the unsavoury repercussions it might have had outside of this forum, but there are 104 references to bottoms (even Bottoms) - can you be more specific please?!
 
Hi Elmdene. Bottom does indeed live indoors and he is asleep on his bed next to me as I type. I wrote a 'day in the life of' a few years ago (one of several contributors), when we lived in Staffordshire (and Daffodil was in a cage in the dining room with swollen feet). Unfortunately you can't housetrain a chicken but you can fit a 'nappy' -American idea! So you need tiled floors and cleaning equipment to hand. Now he is better again his routine is similar to what it was. But no TV. He sees the house as his coop and defends it accordingly. He doesn't like other chickens in it. He gets very jealous if we pick another chicken up and runs over for attention. He taps on your leg if he wants a cuddle, which is usually every time either of us sits down. So it gives us a needed break when he goes down to the enclosure with his girls every morning. I'll see if I can download the old picture of him standing at the back door watching the canal boats -without doubt the most photographed chicken ever (Japanese family were funny)! Got some of him on holiday in Tenby as well (took him everywhere in a basket), which we rediscovered yesterday. He's a wonderful pet.
 
Very amusing! Would love to see a photo of Bottom too. Is he learning to speak french?
 
Bottom had a mad moment today and rushed out of the kitchen and snatched the fish off my plate. Had to put him to bed before I could finish my dinner. My French is unrepeatable! His French isn't as good as mine fortunately.
 
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