Tuesday, April 26, 2011

What's next, flying locusts?

The technoflocks have fallen victim to a host of plagues, and they just won't go away! Everyone was fine all winter and now that the main flock is out free-ranging: MISERY!

-Mysterious viral and highly contagious respiratory disease, not responding to treatment, wet coughing with mucus, water in lungs. Lost some sweet girls and a baby chick :(

-Mysterious secondary upper respiratory infection causing swollen sinuses, bubbly eyes that swell shut with gunk. Affected hens respond to treatment but it's slow.

-Found some tiny lice on the silkies, must be transmitted by mice entering the barn - treated everyone with Ivermectin.

-Found roundworms in the main flock's poop, treated everyone with Piperazine - even the girls in quarantine who are on meds.

-Spring molt has started so there are feathers everywhere and egg production is dropping significantly.

I can't wait for all this crap to be over and done with... I want my pretty, happy and healthy hens back, please! I've lost 9 flock members since the beginning of the year, enough already!! :-(

5 comments:

Foothills Poultry said...

Sorry you are dealing with this mess. I hope you don't lose anymore.

~~Matt~~

Denise at Autumn Sky said...

I'm sorry you're going through this. It's good you have the medications and there's not much else to do except cross your fingers and hope they all turn the corner soon. I'd be sick if I lost my flock. Silly hens, I never knew I'd get so attached to them. Good Luck.

Hopeful said...

i am so sorry! that sounds really tough. it's so hard to see your birds sick and not really know what to do. dang.

Anke said...

I feel so bad for you and your chickies. Hopefully they'll all respond to the meds and all this will be behind you soon.

Debby@Just Breathe said...

I can't believe all that you are going through. My thoughts are with you and your flock.