Need some help here on My backyard chickens. They are free range have clean coop and get the normal egg layer pellets from the feed store and fresh water. Most of them are showing pale sometimes almost white waddles and ear lobes This condition does not comes and goes. Their combs are sometimes pale and they have some diarrhea. Thanks Gloria

-- Gloria Popolizio (Madamor4@aol.com), April 19, 2002

Answers

I put my layers on pellets,, what a mistake, they got all sickly,, pale combs, no eggs, ect. Took them off the pellets, back on mash, 2 days later they perked right back up. COuld be a sickness though

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), April 19, 2002.

What breed are your chickens? I don't mean to imply you don't know your chickens but usually the color of the ears is the color of the eggs. Just a thought! I didn't know chickens could get diarrhea.

-- Susan in MN (nanaboo@paulbunyan.net), April 19, 2002.

I learn something new everyday. I didn't know chickens had ears. I have heard of a growing disease in the south anyway and it is called chicken influenza. I have no idea of the symptoms but Virginia is under quaranteen. No chickens allowed in or out of our state and all livestock shows cancelled until further notice.

-- Joel Rosen (JoelnBecky@webtv.net), April 19, 2002.

You didn't say whether or not they are laying. Have they always been on pellets or did you change their food lately. How long have they been having these symptoms?

-- kim in CO (kimk61252@hotmail.com), April 20, 2002.

There's a few diseases that chickens get that'll give them a pale comb. A common reason is coccidiosis it also causes bloody diarrhea. Tuberculosis can also cause a pale or blusish comb and persistent diarrhea. Inlfuenza causes a darker comb and wattles.

-- SM Steve (unreal@msn.com), April 20, 2002.

I'm not glad for your chickens but am glad mine aren't alone. I have two separate coops, in each a chicken with diarrhea... Great layers in one coop, solid white chicken with a very drippy bottom! HELP!!! I was told to give them vitamins or use teramycin. I'm hoping any of you can offer some help.

-- Tina L. Wiseman (tinalwise@aol.com), February 11, 2003.

Teramycin is an antibiotic but I don't believe it will treat cocidiosis when used alone . I don't think it's considered an anticoccidial .

Although you should use that , you also need to use one of the Anticoccidials . Sulfadimethoxine ,Sulfamethazine or Amprolium are anticoccidials and either one can be used.

Amprolium causes vitamin deficiency , after using amprolium , you should use the vitamins. Don't give the vitamins at the same time as the amprolium because one of the way it works on coccidia is by vitamin depravation. Since coccidiosis increases a chickens susceptibility to bacterial infections using a antibiotic ( Teramycin ) along with amprolium will improve the rate of recovery.

If you have questains about this feel free to ask.

-- Steve (unreal@home.com), February 11, 2003.