I know I wouldn't do it but...

[sheena]

We all know that chicken's are an amazing creature that will devour anything in their sight, however I think they might be taking it one step too far.

My friend's boy dog cocked he's leg up the fence of the run, splashing it all over the floor and the girl's came running to investigate and decided that they would try drinking it. Never mind that they had fresh water!

Anyway, my question is... Do you think that could of been what caused one of her chooks to die. I don't know how long the dog has been doing it for, I just noticed it when I was over there.

But she does have one that is looking a bit peeky, whilst the remaining 2 so far so good, still bright red combs, and growing new feathers.
The peeky one is still eating and drinking, but is exhibiting the same signs as the one who had previously passed. Sulking in corners, and just generally feeling sorry for itself and a very white comb.

Thoughts on a postcard!

[Hilary B]

White comb sounds like possibly anaemia, which is most likely cause by parasite infestation (internal or external). There are those who believe that drinking pee has health benefits; sounds weird to me, but if it CAN do any good, it just might be as an anti-parasite treatment..........

[bluemoon]

Well if it were me I'd be sitting in a corner, wasting away thinking OMG!!!! I DRANK dog pee!!!! I wouldn't think it would harm them unless they drank it exclusively though, after all even though urine is full of toxins they are toxins your body can get rid of easily, that's why they are in the pee..... if you see what I mean. This is just a logical train of thought though, someone will probably be along in a mo to tell us that dog pee is lethal to chooks.
In the latter stages of my dog's illness I had to collect a weekly 'sample' and very little of it went in the bowl I used for the purpose, though I frequently got a drenching, it was certainly itchy, but I think that was just psychological, the knowledge that I'd been soaked ...again, rather than any real allergenic qualities of the urine.

[di]

Having come scarily close to losing Marigold to mites,whilst she was sat on eggs,my first thoughts would belike Hilary,that she could have mites in the coop!Even though two seem fine,they could be sitting farthest from the end of the perch where the mites are congregating.
As they're nocturnal,it's not obvious if you have them,but if your friend were to wipe the roosting perches with a white tissue this evening & there's any red on it,then there's mites.
As chooks seem to have such a talent for knowing what they can & can't eat,I shouldn't think that the dog pee should do them much harm,although I'd probably be trying to convince the dog to be peeing somewhere else!

[Suechooks]

If they're ex-batts they sometimes die of stress. How long has she had them? My ex-batts had pale combs when they arrived. Otherwise I'd go along with everyone else and look for mites or lice.

[HayleyB]

My girls love to dink dirty water in the yard over and above clean in their hoppers.......

[sheena]

If they're ex-batts they sometimes die of stress. How long has she had them? My ex-batts had pale combs when they arrived. Otherwise I'd go along with everyone else and look for mites or lice.

Yep they were ex-batts, and white combed when they arrived.
This is week 5 of having them, so it could of been stress. It was the one that had a good go at me when we collected them, that had passed.

Do chicken's pine for their friend's when they go? Maybe she's upset about losing a friend? mmm

[frias]

My girls love to dink dirty water in the yard over and above clean in their hoppers.......

As soon as I empty the old water from the drinker they leap on it as if they were dying of thirst! Much tastier than their fresh clean water.

[Suechooks]

As soon as I empty the old water from the drinker they leap on it as if they were dying of thirst! Much tastier than their fresh clean water.

Bet you prefer mature wine don't you!!!

[dozey1]

My ex bat Betty likes to drink from the waterfall (don,t worry it isn't a deep pond) 2 have already fallen in and got out. Tell your friend to try poultry spice and Life guard tonic. All mine were really off coluor when i rescued them but now they are diffent birds. I do spoil them tho. They have proidge with chopped aup grapes and all their vits as well as some cod liver oil... So much fun i a behind on my house work now, just watching them free range every evening...