Should I just give up

stencorp69 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 01, 2011 5:36 pm

Bought some young chickens from a place in Herne Hill WA about 3 weeks ago, not knowing much about poultry issues I assumed the breeder would only sell clean animals - well I was wrong. When I got them home I noticed wart like growths on their legs and after doing some research discovered this to be Scaley leg - I've given them moxi for the last 3 weeks to try and get rid of it but there doen't seem to be much improvement. Last week I dipped them in David Grey's solution but I'm not sure that has helped either. On top of that they have also had sneezing issues which wont go away and am wondering if I should just cull them and start from scratch again? I've spent more on medication than the 3 birds were worth and wonder if it is worth perservering?

Stephen

Sebducks · **Joined:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 3:41 pm **Posts:** 812

What age are they Stephen? Scaley leg is caused by the scaley leg mite which burrows under the skin causing the bumps and lumps to get rid of them you need to suffocate the mites. There are available remidies from pet shops and feed barns which will do the job, others smother with olive oil, all you are trying to do is kill the mite under the scabs. Moisturiser is a good one too, sorboline cream will work too if smothered on well.

The other issue of the sneezing is a common problem at present with alot of people, do they have any other symptoms other than the sneeze? Do they have runny noses, watery or bubbly eyes? If they are eating and getting around well then I would suggest this will pass. Chickens get the common cold (not the human strain) if they have other symptoms then you will need antibiotics but if not then keep them confined in their run and warm at night with plenty of straw and they should be fine.

stencorp69 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 01, 2011 6:46 pm

Sebducks wrote:

What age are they Stephen? Scaley leg is caused by the scaley leg mite which burrows under the skin causing the bumps and lumps to get rid of them you need to suffocate the mites. There are available remidies from pet shops and feed barns which will do the job, others smother with olive oil, all you are trying to do is kill the mite under the scabs. Moisturiser is a good one too, sorboline cream will work too if smothered on well.

The other issue of the sneezing is a common problem at present with alot of people, do they have any other symptoms other than the sneeze? Do they have runny noses, watery or bubbly eyes? If they are eating and getting around well then I would suggest this will pass. Chickens get the common cold (not the human strain) if they have other symptoms then you will need antibiotics but if not then keep them confined in their run and warm at night with plenty of straw and they should be fine.

They are about 14 weeks old now. I'll try the olive oil as well. They are sneezing, have watery eyes and runny noses. I'm getting a few dozen eggs from soozorps at some stage and am wondering if I should cut my losses, give the pen a chance to break the parasite breeding cycle before introducing new animals. Incidently after dunking them in David Grey's they have started to put on weight this week but are preen themselves a lot.

Sebducks · **Joined:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 3:41 pm **Posts:** 812

I don't think you need to cut your losses. I know its hard I have a chicken here I have been trying to get well for a few weeks now, he has "bubbly eye" which is a respiratory disease, it can be controlled with antibiotics or just keeping them confined and warm. It sounds, without proper vet advice, that you have a respiratory disease ie common cold with the flock of 3 this will pass. Its not going to be in the ground or your pen, most of these are air borne, stress related and common among young fowls all of which you have ie young, just moved fowls. There are common antibiotics available OxyMavB is available from pet shops and will help a bit, otherwise you can consult a vet which is costly and it sounds as though you are "over" the costs, or you can keep them confined and warm as previously stated and they will work through the cold in a period of time. I would not introduce any more chicks, or hens to the flock until these are well. Feel free of course to take Sooz's eggs, they will be a fantastic addition to any flock and by the time you have hatched them I would think that the existing fowls would be well and truely on the mend. You are not going to want to put the babies with the older birds for some time anyway.

stencorp69 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 01, 2011 6:59 pm

thanks for the response I'll give it another couple of weeks and see how it goes. I'll try the olive oil tomorrow

purefeather · **Joined:** Wed Sep 29, 2010 6:36 pm **Posts:** 736

G'day Stencorp69, Sebducks has given you very good advice, you could also try looking at a couple of previous posts in this section (Broody Hen, June 20. Shenook, June 08 ) I'm sure there are other posts relating to your problem.
When your chickens hatch out you can add some Oxymav to their water as a preventative (Check with your vet first or read the data sheet).

dadsbill · **Posted:** Wed Jul 13, 2011 2:23 pm

We had a good outcome using vaseline on a old chook that had legs that looked like bad porridge. She lived on for many years after that.Poor old fang died of old age!!

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