the daydream fund challenge thread

Davesnave

Well, we know what one problem with the new hens is.....lice! We'd been seeing this white stuff under the beak area, but due to the birds' age and our unfamiliarity with the breed, plus inexperience, we thought it was something to do with new feathers, especially as they were shedding a lot!

Anyway, I took a photo, then Googled, then examined, and sure enough we have both adult lice and what look like smaller immature specimens, the latter going to the eye and nostril area to feed, I'd guess. :eek:

More photos later, we have the evidence we need to convince the sellers that their birds were infested when we bought them. They have been communicating, but in every mail they keep insisting that there can be nothing wrong at their end. This, despite our first email going to them within 7 or 8 hours of purchase. :mad:

DW said to me when she returned that a set-up where they use old caravans as hen houses has to be a bit suspect.;) We know about this because a former local hen man tried the same thing.....:( It didn't last! Those vans must be full of great hidey-holes full of insulation; just the place for red mite and other nasties to breed.

We are treating the chooks. At least the one with the throaty breathing problems seems to have overcome those now.

alfie_1

oooeeerrrr!! lice ...yuk ! :shocked:

i couldnt understand once [years ago] why a pony suddenly went down hill [rapidly!] over a weekend until i saw the BIG b***ers !!:eek: thousands of lice! out came the "coopers" and sorted em... dont know how it got em and not seen anything like it since...

i de red mited and any other crawlies in the vicinity all our chook houses a few weeks ago...just incase !:)

i think all of us with bad backs are the result of HARD WORK !!!:D

i had my blood tests tuesday and for the 1st time ever i had to lie down after getting to be a woose in my old age !!:rotfl:

evry one looks well veggied at the mo... iv not done so much here ...well hardly any....infact Toms and toms really !:D
iv got loads going at my friends garden that i do but they have done most of it this year, i plant [by the moon!] they harvest...:)

i dont seem to have much news at the mo, im about as exciting as a slug !!:p

alfie_1

DAVESNAVE... surely there is a time cycle for lice ie from egg to adult that can prove said beasties were on chooks pre purchase ????

rhiwfield

alfie_1 wrote: »

i had my blood tests tuesday and for the 1st time ever i had to lie down after getting to be a woose in my old age !!:rotfl:

If I SEE a needle I have to lie down!

And Davesnave, while you're sorting out your hens, two of ours have bald vent areas, DS2 dusted them, doesnt seem to be aggressive pecking going on, ideas anyone? Lice or mites or something else?

And DW is back :j so I can stop pretending I've got everything under control, especially as the floor was covered with things I've dropped and couldnt pick up

Lir, was tempted to post on the thread about natural lawns, whats left of ours has chickens on it once a fortnight, so our grass paths look like a cross between Glastonbury and the Somme :eek:

Davesnave

rhiwfield wrote: »

And Davesnave, while you're sorting out your hens, two of ours have bald vent areas, DS2 dusted them, doesnt seem to be aggressive pecking going on, ideas anyone? Lice or mites or something else?

Gosh, don't ask me! I'm the least knowledgeable one here:o, though my DW seems to have the edge when it comes to buying duff hens.:rotfl:

Despite the de-louse, the Australorps went further downhill today, so the only thing we could do was go & see the chicken vet. She thinks they came to us with a virus, so the lice are a side issue really. They have had vitamin injections, antibiotic and Frontline (not approved for hen use.) Now we're feeding them high protein cat food. If they get through the next few days they should make a good recovery, but otherwise.....

Bald vent could be lice, moult or pecking, I think.:o If you can rule out lice, then it will likely be one of t'other two. If the hen is happy, it could be just heavy moult.

alfie_1

Davesnave wrote: »

Gosh, don't ask me! I'm the least knowledgeable one here:o, though my DW seems to have the edge when it comes to buying duff hens.:rotfl:

Despite the de-louse, the Australorps went further downhill today, so the only thing we could do was go & see the chicken vet. She thinks they came to us with a virus, so the lice are a side issue really. They have had vitamin injections, antibiotic and Frontline (not approved for hen use.) Now we're feeding them high protein cat food. If they get through the next few days they should make a good recovery, but otherwise.....

Bald vent could be lice, moult or pecking, I think.:o If you can rule out lice, then it will likely be one of t'other two. If the hen is happy, it could be just heavy moult.

good grief!! if the seller is still selling then theres gonna be a lot of sick chooks..... can you tell her your getting on to ??defra ?? or someone .....id ask for my money back at least and if she wants chooks back she has to cover vet bills then !! it makes me so angry that these people are just driven by wonga rather than welfare .....

Davesnave

The sellers have been in denial for a week, but after I sent them a few photos, they offered a refund.

These birds are going nowhere though; we want to keep them. If any of them dies, we'll take the body to a local autopsy centre, get the virus ID'd and take it from there.....;)

I think the sellers are genuine people, but not too experienced. Like you say, folks see what they think is an easy profit, but although we are pretty green ourselves, we know it's only so long before lack of vigilance catches people out, especially if they cut corners.

Had a right day of it yesterday, what with that and getting rid of the agent we'd chosen to negotiate for us on the old garden, who was also seeing £££ signs.....for himself.

On a lighter note, 'tis a lovely morning out there and the hay is drying nicely.:) Now I'll go and look at the weather forecast......

COOLTRIKERCHICK

Fingers crossed the birds will be ok Davesnave....

Well its only about 5 - 6 weeks ( 42 day ) to the Bulldog Bash..and i cant flipping wait to let my hair down, party like an animal....and have the hangover from hell:eek::rotfl:

This is my 'blow-out' weekend, i used to be like this every weekend, but now i have wised up? or just got older, one of the two...lol...

This year Status Quo are back there:beer:, so it should be a rockin good time...
http://www.bulldogbash.com/

As my runner beans where in the pots a bit too long, they are a bit yellow looking, so i want to give them a general feed, just to 'perk' them up a bit...was wondering which was the best one to give them?

or i have read i could do my own feed with nettles, but a load in a pillow case, tie the top, and leave to rot in a bucket of water.. then after about a week or so, just take some of the liquid, dilute it down and feed... but i am not to sure if it would be the right type of feed for my beans? what do you think?

I am feeling postively chirpy today ( for a change..lol...) so i should imagine something will come along today and change that:rotfl:

lostinrates

hurrah for chirpiness ctc.

Me too actually. I went out and hit the visa card yesterday and feel a bit ''ouch'' but realised its a long time since I bought anything girly. Apparently amoung my purchases the eyewateringly expensive potion I came with with give me long, thick lashes, unlike the others I've tried the space NK woman says this one WILL work. I got a big goody bag a nd so this morning I'm all dolled up: red nail polish (already chipped) and coral lipstick and a long strapless dress. I hope the weeds and the chooks appreciate it.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

lostinrates wrote: »

hurrah for chirpiness ctc.

Me too actually. I went out and hit the visa card yesterday and feel a bit ''ouch'' but realised its a long time since I bought anything girly. Apparently amoung my purchases the eyewateringly expensive potion I came with with give me long, thick lashes, unlike the others I've tried the space NK woman says this one WILL work. I got a big goody bag a nd so this morning I'm all dolled up: red nail polish (already chipped) and coral lipstick and a long strapless dress. I hope the weeds and the chooks appreciate it.

flip i cant remember when i bought myself some make-up last... or even had a bit of retail theorpy, ( not including food shopping of cause)

I expect i could splash out and get myself some new make up for the bulldog.... even though i dont normally wear it, i go for the natural look every time ( good way of saying haggered, drunk, and dont give a monkeys...lol....)

Maybe i should look for a nice long 'evening' dress today in work, and when i come home go out and do the garden in it...instead of my jeans and Iron maiden t.shirt.... flip the neighbours curtains would def be twitching then:rotfl:

Def going to treat myself to some new make up before hte bulldog though.... bring out the girlieness in me...