Bantams!

[Cottie]

I have no idea what breeds they are. But I got 10 and they were free!

The lady's kids show them at the fair, and these 10 didn't make the cut. They're in "quarantine" for a few days, until I'm sure the other birds won't try to kill them.

And, of course, Gunner inspecting them. I can't let T-Dog in there, as there'd be no more chickens...

I'm letting the garage air clear out from reorganizing - I HATE how you realize how dirty something is when you move things! - then I'm going to move the rabbits back out there.

 

[Marinea]

Chickens! Very cute.

 

[Rachel.And.Yue]

bantams lol gotta love em, they can be very amusing

we have many different types here

By the looks of it you got a small variety of bantams..maybe Old English Game, Cochin, Frizzle. The gold laced one is hard to tell what it could be from the photos. But the OEG looks like a rooster

 

[Cottie]

I think I'm done posting on BYC. The people there are...well, not helpful.

OK. Here's what I've got.

7 of the birds were outside in a small run. They all have mites. The other 3 were inside in cages. No mites, but other problems (like, excessively long claws!).

Here's "fluffy". Fluffy is missing the fluffy on about half his feathers AND he has bad mites.




And here's another. He also has bad mites and parts of his feet are...black? :shock:


I washed everyone's legs down in Dawn-y water, scrubbed with a toothbrush, then coated in Vaseline.

It's been suggested I dust with Seven BUT the chickens are in the same building as the rabbits.
a) Can these mites hurt the rabbits?
b) Is Seven safe for rabbits to breathe?

 

[OwnedByTheBuns]

I know rabbits can get mites. BUT, I don't think rabbits can get them from birds, vice-versa. I would say no to the Sevin question. I smother my birds with it but too dusty and too much chemical for rabbits. I know people have used 5% Sevin on rabbits but regular Sevin is what is going to help your birds.

Honestly I can see why they were free. Those birds are in very bad shape.

 

[Cottie]

Yeah, I'm chicken illiterate. I knew they were under the weather, but I figured some relaxation and TLC would fix them up.<br /><br />__________ Thu Jul 25, 2013 10:37 pm __________<br /><br />And by chicken illiterate I mean I just don't "get it". I actually have been reading up on them for YEARS because my mom and I had grand plans to raise them, but the species has just never "clicked", y'know? I look at a bird - even a really sick bird - and I think, "Oh, a chicken."

 

[Dood]

Scaley leg mites burry into the skin to hide so if you soak the legs and scrub off the scales then apply oil to get into the crevices, wipe it off and then apply vasoline you will better reach the ones burried under the scales.

You can try blending in ivermectin or pyrethrin to the vasoline as well.

I agree that it is unlikely rabbits will catch bird mites but I would not keep the chickens with your rabbits.

Chickens often have coccidia and if yours have mites as well, their poops are likely loaded with the parasite and your rabbits can catch it from them. The spores can float around on dust particles and chickens are notoriously dusty and like to kick up the bedding on the floor sending out more dust.

 

[Cottie]

What can I use to scrub? Right now I'm using a tooth brush. Some of them have pretty nasty scales, so I'm wondering if I can use something harsher. A few of the birds bled when the clumps/scales came off, which I'm honestly not too concerned with, just worried anything more abrasive would inflict major damage.

Are any of these things transmittable to pigs? I'm contemplating hedging my bets and moving these chickens into the pigs' building.

 

[Marinea]

I will second what Dood said, and add a suggestion for some DE.

A toothbrush is a great tool- it's small and easy to maneuver. I would stick with that.

Based on the pics, it's probably not going to be a quick "one and done" fix. I would go through a round of treatment, wait a bit, and go through another round.

I have no answer about the pig question.

*fingers crossed for the bantys*

 

[Cottie]

We're planning on scrubbing and rubbing the banties daily until three days after their legs look normal, then we'll do every 2 to 3 days for 2 weeks. I don't know if that's too much, but I can't see how it can hurt.

I'm also quite torn on free-ranging them. I'm a firm believer that chickens allowed to wander and act naturally will keep themselves healthy. The rest of my flock goes out in the morning and comes back to roost within twenty minutes of the sun going down. They seem to do well self-managing. So I feel that it's doing the banties' recovery a disservice by keeping them contained inside.

 

[Marinea]

My chickens free range during the day as well.

My only concern about freeing them now is getting them to come back for treatment. I would probably wait for two things before I let them range- first, get them used to the area where they will be spending the night so they know where to go. Second, I would probably wait until they are better so I don't have to chase them to treat them.

 

[Cottie]

My plan (hahaha! plans!) was to put them in a little makeshift coop outside. I've got a 4x8 frame with a double layer of field fencing, and some scraps of plywood and tin lying around. They'd be protected, and not inside with the rest. I'd let them out one by one in the morning, treating each as I let them out.

And if a predator did manage to get into the coop...well...c'est la vie.

 

[Marinea]

The coop outside is a great idea. I'd spread some DE around in it first.

If you think they'll come back to the coop at night, go for it. I would just be worried that they don't know the coop as "their" place yet. Been there, done that. Had chickens roosting on the ground and taken by coons. Now, I make sure and keep them cooped up for a couple of months before I let them out.

 

[Cottie]

Good point. I'll make a bigger make shift coop and leave them in there. Won't be as predator resistant, but it will be something.