white droppings dripping from vent

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alandbailey

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I would appreciate any thoughts on this please.
Tonight I noticed that my Maran, who has had a bare bum and breast for weeks, did a large dump of grey-brown then a dessertspoonful (estimated - not measured) of white urates (?) with the consistency of thick runny custard. In the coop she was facing away from me and I noticed she was still oozing a thread of thick custard, which, like a man's dewdrop, eventually parted, leaving a thinner trailing thread dangling. She has also been pecked around her bare vent as I can clearly see globules of blood.
My girls get layers pellets, mixed corn, bread, ACV and garlic granules - also cooked potatoes, bacon rinds and any of my leftover food. Although I found 2 hens and 2 batams dead in the run over the past 4 weeks, the other hens seem to be OK, although egg production is down to 2 or 3 a day from 16 hens. The dead goldcrest hens were OK in the morning but dead by mid afternoon, with blueish combs (heart attack?) - the 2 bantams had become loners and very quiet and passed over after several days. None of them showed any sign of any physical attack.
Has anybody any thoughts on this please?
Should I quarantine the Maran? The poultry range in a large part of my garden which they have made like the Glastonbury Pop Festival.
I have never seen any signs of worms - perhaps due to ACV and garlic granules? :-)19 :shock:
 
Hi, I'm no expert but definitely seperate the maran- any blood can cause other chickens to peck so remove her from the others as a first measure.

If the maran was acting normally I wouldn't worry too much about the droppings- hens do various types of droppings- I think there's a post on it somewhere on here! She may be losing feathers due to moulting but it sounds as if she may be ill as you have already lost some birds.

Egg production would be dropping away anyway at this time of year but to lose 4 hens in 4 weeks seems odd- if the maran dies it might be worth getting a vet to do a PM so that you know what you are dealing with. If it were me I'd also take her to a vet if she is alive but not right in the morning.
 
Have your birds been wormed with Flubenvet, if not would receommend doing as the first course of treatment. A large worm infestation will kill birds.
 
Thanks for the suggestions. I have examined her more closely and she has a prolapse. (Just like the pics that somebody posted on another forum).
I have cleaned it, smeared honey on it and pushed it back in yesterday afternoon then put her in the coop with food and water and closed the pophole. This morning she is back to square one with the prolapse sticking out and dripping white urates (the custard). BUT she is more lively than when I saw her yesterday, so will keep a watch on her, being prepared to cull her if she appears stressed.
 
She has become very quiet and her comb has darkened a lot. I just did what I had been dreading and culled her. RIP Oggie!
I have ordered Flubenvet and will worm the other hens. What time of year is best ?
Thanks for all your advice.

Alan :cry:
 
Hi Alan,

Arrived a bit late I know, so firstly I'm sorry you had to cull her. Prolapse is difficult at the best of times because it usually happens again when they lay again and if you are not around, often, the first thing you will know about it is when she is dead or in severe pain with her back end pecked out by the others. It sounds like you made the right decision to me.

Now is a good time to worm. Most people worm every 6 months in the autumn and again in spring but if they have alot of worms or are kept on the same bit of ground, you may need to repeat worming or worm more frequently.

If you are looking for the 60g packs for around 20 chickens, there's an ad for it bottom right that takes you to Amazon where more often than not it is the best price and also supports the forum ;) (I know .. shameless plug!) :oops:

Good Luck,
Tim
 
Sorry you had to cull the hen, it is not nice at the best of times but you put her out of her misery so don't feel too sad.
 
Thanks for your support - I really appreciate it. I believe that Oggie knew it was right as she was acquiescent when I did the culling.
Tim - I now have the Flubenvet. How do I mix the appropriate amount with the layer pellets? If I add olive oil to the pellets, then add the powder, it will not be evenly distributed. I can keep separate the medicated pellets from the ducks - or should they be wormed also?
For the past 21 months that I have kept poultry, I have relied on Apple Cider Vinegar added to the water, and garlic granules added to their treats at least once per week. I have never used any form of worming.
Any advice will be welcome.
Alan
 
Hi Alan,

There's an easy way - have a quick look at the Poultrykeeper Autumn Newsletter - this has photos and step by step on how to do it. You basically mix the flubenvet with the Olive Oil before adding it to the pellets and mixing well but it's easier to see in photos...

Yes, the ducks will need worming too. I use Flubenvet for my ducks too- but make sure they have no other feed available so they get the right amount. What I do is give my ducks wheat and pellets mixed with the flubenvet in the same way. I feed this dry (normally they get their wheat fed in water to stop the chickens from eating it).

I hope this helps,

Tim
 
Hi Tim,

Thanks for the advice. I am now mixing Flubenvet with the layer pellets but have noticed that the local starlings are gorging themselves on it.
How much medicated pellets does each hen need daily. I have 16 ducks, 12 hens and 4 bantams. I will try to restrict access to their frrd hopper.
I don't mind the starlings having ordinary pellets, but Flubenvet is expensive!
I have just ordered a 20kg sack of Marriages layer pellets with added Flubenvet. it is slightly cheaper than mixing my own and also get it delivered for £17.50 per 20kg sack. I hope my poutry will eat it!!!!
 
Hi Alan,

An average large fowl eats 110g per day - but it does vary... ducks eat a bit more. You can often find figures on the back of the sacks as feeding guidelines.

I would think about putting the feed inside to stop the starlings - or it will start to cost you a lot in feed, let alone wormer.

If you have a reasonable number of birds like you have, it might be better for you to buy the 2.5% 240g flubenvet tub. This will mix up 20 x 20Kg sacks of medicated feed and should last a few years. It costs around £22 - £24 and there are only a few places you can get it from - Bowden and Knights is who I use.

Tim.
 
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