Paxo died...

[icornish]

Our paxo died recently, and we found she was egg bound, with an infection. She had been to the vets , to no avail. She was 2-3 yes old. Now, two other girls are showing the same symptoms. Is there an infection that might cause this?
I've quarantined the other girls just in case, but is it too late?

[Suechooks]

I'd be on my way to the vets pronto. Have you tried bathing them in warm water to try and relax sufficiently for the egg to be laid? They may be trying to lay soft shells which are more difficult. Are they hybrids or ex-batts or what? If ex-batts it does happen often but to have 2 at once must be unusual. They sound as if they need expert help though.

[RichmondHens]

I agree with Sue. Get them to the vet. It is unusual that you have had 3 with the same symptoms.

[petal]

Sounds ominous, deffo straight to the vet - although I will search my chicken health bible by gail damerow and see if I can come up with any ammunition for you incase your vet has a vacant expression when faced with a chicken like some do - a bit like a homebase worker when you ask if they stock nails........

[petal]

Looked in my magic book, no disease related to this problem so it looks like bad luck. Do they have free access to oyster shell? try lubricating area with ky to ease passing of egg?

[icornish]

The other two seem to have pulled through...

Hi all,

I bathed them last night in warm water. Also, we actually moved the coop last night, and found that underneath the coop was covered in our friend the little red mite....there was no other sign of them else where in the coop. However, a few hours later, and the coop was scrubbed, disinfected, biocided and cleaned (and is now being lined up for a new coat of creocote when I get a day off), and the other laydees seem a lot happier - coupled with 5 eggs this evening, I think the worst is over. Snowy even came to see me this evening when I went to talk to them...

[Suechooks]

Thats good. Hope things carry on improving for you. Red mite is a real b@%%$r. Maybe your girls would benefit from a bit of Poultry Spice or similar to give them a boost?

[petal]

Isn't it amazing how red mite can cause so many problems. must get some creocote.

[jessmorris]

Hello all, sorry just a quick query - where do you get your creocote? I looked in Focus and all they sell is cuprinol and ronseal and santoline?..

[Suechooks]

Hello all, sorry just a quick query - where do you get your creocote? I looked in Focus and all they sell is cuprinol and ronseal and santoline?..

Wickes,B&Q, Homebase

[jessmorris]

Thankyou. I just picked the wrong store then!

[petal]

Homebase does not sell creocote - I think travis perkins does?

[Suechooks]

Country Store I meant - sorry! I think most of the other agricultural places will have it too

[icornish]

During my creo-coting session, I found the blighters also hiding on the wooden slats in the compost heap (next to the back of the coop). Whilst not actual touching the coop, it seems they were (past tense) breeding there, and then annoying the laydees in the night, and returning to their hidey hole...
Coop and run have now been moved and creocoted, and the compost heap wood has also been creo-coted as well. I got mine from B&Q (and got my 2nd pot today from there as well).

Maybe it's the evil doctor in me, but don't ya just love it when you splash the creocote on them, and they just run a (relative) mile!

[jessmorris]

Thanks all for stockists and good luck IC (my surname is the same as yours!)