Urgent please help

[Munch]

The Sebrights are starving hungry, they raced to their food which it great, but I have noticed they are really struggling to swallow, they are on pellets have been for over 6 weeks, but I cant say I have ever noticed this before. The first time I saw it was yesterday just before I bought them in with shock.

I have given them the option of chick crumb but they are sticking with the pellets.

Is this normal behaviour for such a small bird on pellets or could it still be the after affects of the shock?

[RichmondHens]

Forgot to ask earlier, but are these Sebrights ones you hatched yourself from eggs from the same parent birds? If they are related then they shouldn't be sold as a breeding pair, nor should you contemplate keeping them for yourself for the same purpose. It just occurred to me, as I have seen countless adverts from private sellers for "breeding" pairs and trios, which I suspect are just pairs and trios of siblings and are being advertised as trios etc to get rid of the excess cocks.

Re the swallowing thing, were they just gobbling and got too much in at once? Very hungry (or greedy) birds can do this and then semi choke themselves - mine do it on grain occasionally, stupid things.

[Munch]

Hi Richmondhens.

Yes they are from the same hatch, they are being sold as a pair as you are not allowed to sell cocks on their own. However in my write up on the box at the auction it will clearly state their age and that they were hatched together and will not read breeding pair at all. I would not want anyone else to have to go through difficulties with an already delicate and difficult breed.

We were only planning on keeping them then hatching more next year to create a breeding pair.

Yes they were gobbling as the were being greedy but it was strange to watch as they were shaking their neck sideways and clearly moving the food to their crops. Reminded me of that really bazaar man on BGT that swallowed things and coughed them back up again!

[Nicos]

Gosh Munch- you're really coping well yourself with all this stress- *big hug coming over to you

I couldn't add more than the others have already said- but I'm following this awful experience closely as I'm sure the sh1t fairy is due to visit me sometime soon

Do please keep us updated xx

[RichmondHens]

How are they today? If they gobbled their food then they must have got a "backlog" which they tried to shake down. Sometimes chickens just do weird things. Never saw the man you refer to but it sounds gross!

[Munch]

Thank Nicos and yes Richmondhens it was pretty gross!

Anyway the sebrights are doing well, they are still in the house (my house, not a coop house!) and they still have to option of the heat lamp, when I picked them up yesterday morning they still felt a little cold.

Although they warmed up a bit last night and came out for a play with lil' Munch. They still seem a little quiet, they are not really doing much and are sleeping quite a bit too.

But I suppose we have to bare in mind not only were they in the brink of death themselves after hearing the fox attack but they witnessed the deterioration and death of two brothers, so I guess they may be sad too

[Munch]

This must be the effects of shock too.

I (now ) have 12 laying hens, in the last 2 days I have only had eggs and3 of them have had soft/mis-shapen shells!

[RichmondHens]

Yes, soft shells are a common sign of recent shock. You may find it takes them a little while to get back to normal.

[Munch]

Bless them, it must have been horrific for them

[Nicos]

We had a few soft shells after the neighbour's wedding in our field ( next to the coop)..and sadly one dead chook the morning after the wedding

Do I feel guilty???...yup

[Munch]

Oh no.... it just goes to show, they may act like bolshie Little wotsits on the outside but really they are lil' scardey cats on the inside

No more weddings then Nicos?

[Munch]

Ok.... my concerns over my sebrights have increased.

They have both started shaking their head constantly, every few seconds or so.

They are eating and drinking and pooing normally from what I can make out.

Whats going on..... could it be shock still? or something bought on by the shock?

[its hilly]

Only causes I know of for headshaking are ear infection or lice. Not saying there aren't others, just that I know those two. I'd dust them as a precaution, especially as redmited or lousy birds tend to get cold easy (although that is more likely to be shock and delicate birds).
They can pick up lice from wild birds and the warmth of coming indoors would encourage a population explosion.
Yeauch..
Poor Munch, you are having such hassles.

[VirginVegGrower]

Oh Munch those two little things are going through a right time, as are you by the sounds. Have you had time to write their daily blog? I very much doubt it.

[Munch]

Oh Munch those two little things are going through a right time, as are you by the sounds. Have you had time to write their daily blog? I very much doubt it.

Its a great idea to write their daily blog, however I barely have time to write my shopping lists lol!

They seem ok today, I think it maybe lice as they do look itchy Am I right in think that redmite powder is not the same stuff to treat lice?