[Carolf]

Our new cockrel, Boris, is acting a bit strange.  He tends to stand with his head hanging down then shaking it a bit.  He also 'hits' the ground with his foot while he is standing head down.  This morning he looked a bit bedraggled - his feathers don't look very clean at all. I also notice that his comb is a bit off colour around the edges - not all red as I assume it should be.  He is eating his food and drinking ok.  His bottom area doesn't look too clean either and I think I am going to have to stress him out a tad by trying to catch him (he is just starting to get used to me coming into the enclosure) to see that it is not lice or something else - or if he just has a dirty bottom.  He does quite a bit of scratching - especially head area. 

I started worming them on Monday and can't help wondering if it is having an adverse affect on him.

The 2 girls appear to be in fine fettle.  Well groomed and acting normally.

I haven't seen any unusual looking poo or anything else untoward.

Any help or advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance

[joyfull]

check him for mites, as well as signs for scaley leg mite can affect other parts besides their legs.
Do you have any frontline spray or kitten strength drops? Although not licensed for poultry my vet prescribes this for my chickens (I do have to sign a disclaimer for this).

[Carolf]

check him for mites, as well as signs for scaley leg mite can affect other parts besides their legs.
Do you have any frontline spray or kitten strength drops? Although not licensed for poultry my vet prescribes this for my chickens (I do have to sign a disclaimer for this).

Joyfull, I have been scouring the net all morning and it does seem, as you say, that it could be mites.  I don't have frontline but I will get some asap and check them all over, and give them each a drop including my 2 fat ladies who have been nowhere near them but rather safe than sorry.   

After seeing their living conditions from where we got them it comes as no surprise that they may have lice, mites and heaven knows what else.  I am just grateful to this forum with all the help as I probably would have just popped them in with my 2 fat ladies    Then I would be well and truly up the proverbial  :blink:

Boris is looking decidedly dejected now so time to get on the rubber gloves and go have a peek.

I have slurried the whole coop but with this turn of events I think it would be a good idea to clean out the bedding and get the poultry shield into action .  On the bright side, it is a lovely sunny day so it should dry out pretty fast 

[Carolf]

Ended up taking Boris to the vets and of course it is mites 

They gave us ivermectin drops which needs to be put on once a week for 3 weeks on all of them and that should (fingers crossed) clear them up.  I will put the vaseline on tomorrow as I think Boris has been traumatised enough for one day, poor soul, and give the coop another going over. 
While we had him in the pet carrier I was able to get a closer look at his legs and they are in a horrible state.  I should have noticed earlier but not having had a cockrel before I didn't know what to expect. 

So, a good lesson learnt today and hopefully the 3 of them will be happy and healthy again at the end of treatment. 

[joyfull]

glad that things are being sorted out 
This winter has been so mild that mites and red-mites are still very active. Keep a regular check on your birds and coops as I think we are going to be in for a bad summer with them