Hi all, this is my first post so hope its OK!
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About a month ago I got x3 12 week old chooks, x2 light sx hybrids and x1 warren hybrid. They all came from the same place and had been together since hatching I believe. All was well until 2 days ago when I popped out for an hour and came home to find Maud (warren) sitting down looking unhappy, and she is still not right. She sometimes gets up and has a stretch, but definitely isn't her normal self - she isn't pecking or scratching much, just spends a lot of time sitting down (most of the day) which isn't like her. In the morning she doesn't come straight out of the coop anymore, she only comes out to eat and drink when the 2 others have gone into the garden. I have checked and can't see anything obvious wrong. Could this be a sign of the others bullying her? The other 2 are bigger and much bossier, they spend a lot of time ruffling feathers at each other and am guessing they are getting towards laying age, could it be hormones (don't laugh)! Could it be that Maud is just feeling the urge to nest?
Or could she need worming? The farm where I got them said they hadn't been wormed as he has never had a problem. He was a really lovely guy and I don't think je was saying/doing this to save money. I don't want to give them pesticides if they aren't necessary. I have read conflicting advice about worming - some say routinely every 6 months and some say if healthy not to bother.
A friend also suggested that Maud might just need a friend and that 3 is always a crowd? I am totally new to this so I have no idea if this could be true?
Any advice would be very much appreciated thank you.
It's now a few hours after this post, and Maud seems a lot better, up and about and pecking again. However I have now found some droppings with some blood in. Does this indicate coccidiosis? Or could it be worms? Not sure how I tell which out of the two it is, as blood in poo seems to be a symptom for both. I don't really want to have to shell out on 2 treatments if only one or none are necessary. Will Verm X treat coccidiosis or is it more just a worm preventative rather than a cure? So many questions, thanks and sorry!