fishy eggs

[mr darcy]

Right, I think as a precaution I'm going to get some antibiotics, because although yes they are not now free range,and I do feed oyster shell (fishy?),and it's poss that the layers has something fishy in it...BUT it's only Scarlet's eggs that taste like this, she's looking grotty, although behaves normally and today I saw that some droppings look like they have pinky red snot in them (sorry if you are eating something) some of the droppings look have a generally pinky hue to the white bit, even orangey, is this normal or significant? Should I give them all the antibiotic and should I worm again? worried now!

[RichmondHens]

The pink hue to the white droppings is normal (proper term is coral coloured urates). The pink snot you describe MAY be just some intestinal shedding which is normal in small amounts and for some reason seems to be more obvious in some breeds than others. However if the snot turns bloody and/or the droppings very runny then she may have coccidiosis, so you would need to treat all birds with Baycox (avail from vet).

In any event it would be a good idea to worm all the birds and also give Scarlet antibiotics to cover any other infection.

The oyster shell would not impart any fishy flavour to the egg.

[mr darcy]

cheers richmond! that seems less scarey! will do as you advise!
what causes cocciodisis?

[Bramble-Poultry]

cocciodisis is carried by wild birds, air bourne and can even be carried on the soles of your shoes. Its actually very commonly occurring.

It is generally thought that all birds are exposed to it, but that their immune system effectivly deals with it. it can howver come to the forefront when a particular bird is stressed or the birds are living in a poor hygiene condition.

Turkeys quite often catch it as they are usually crammed intogether tightly in rearing sheds for the 16 weeks they are alive and therefore succumb to it more easily.

If you have wild birds feeding from your poultry feeders that is one route of infection, rats can carry it from one pen to another and if you go to a livestock auction and tread in some litter that contains it, you can bring the infection home.

it is highly communicable between birds and you should treat the entire flock, not just the individual. Last year one of our bronze turkey pens caught it due to the relentless flooding and cold. we treated the whole unit (140+ birds) with antibiotics - Tylan - as recommended by the Poultry Club of Great Britain vet, as the stuff the local vet gave us wasnt shifting it. within 5 days all cleared up. Tylan is also safe for use in birds destined for meat, whereas some antibiotics arent.

If your birds show signs of listlessness, fluffed up, and ochre coloured runny droppings then suspect coccio. if the above holds true but they have large swellings around the eyes and bubbles in the eyes then you are looking at mycoplasmosis. defo a vet job then.

as a precaution most chick crumb comes with an anti-coccidiostat in it to help fight it off as the chicks wont have developed their immune systems enough to deal with it

[mr darcy]

thanks for that bramble! there are a few runny droppings here and there, light brown, no eye swellings no listlessness, wild birds (lots) in run,but run quite clean i think, praps need to sweep out everyday? will see about treatment today!

[sazza]

Howdy
I wondered if there was any outcome to your antibiotics?
I'm interested in this thread because i recently reentered the world of chicken, build a bug new run and install 6 warrens.
I've had them a week and yesterday i had the first 2 eggs. i laid outside and one in the house, still warm.
we decided to have them with salad for tea and boiled them, the second i tasted i knew something was not right. they just tasted really odd. put me right off.

i have heard the rapeseed can cause tainting of eggs and wonder if anyone can offer any thoughts? the land my run is on (8m x 4m) has covered ground, but uses topsoil from a field that used to gorw rapeseed (last year i had to pull a load).

i don't think there is an infection in the birds as they were two different eggs on the same day.

the chickens came from my neighbour so are unlikely stressed by the move, they are a mix of free range on the lawn and shut in the run when i'm not there, fed layer, corn and scraps (veg, pasta).

Any thought would be gratefully appreciated.

Sx