[Zyg]

I have two hens and two cockerels (If anyone wants a Buff Orp cockerel let me know!) and they are drinking about 2 litres of water a day. Any idea as to why?  I have wormed them.
 

[ANHBUC]

Hi Zyg, some drinkers will empty out slowly if they are on a bit of a slope so it could be what is happening. 

It would be odd if they were all thirsty due to a health issue.  Have you noticed one that is constantly at the drinker or one doing watery poos?  Could they be eating something that is causing the thirst?

If you are wanting to try and swap your cockerel or give it away to good home you can post it on the Poultry Swap Shop HERE, there is no buying or selling allowed on the site though.   

[Zyg]

Thank you

I have checked that the water isn't on a slope before as that was a possibility.  The cockerels seem to drink quite a lot and their poo seems to be quite soft and looks like soggy layers pellets, which they have ad lib.
I am quite happy for my cockerel to go to a good home so I will check out the swap shop.  Thanks

[ANHBUC]

Have a look at our famous poo picture thread which tells you a lot about your poultry's health LINK

If the food is not looking digested there could be a problem in that area.  Do they have access to poultry grit at all times?  They need it to grind the food in their gizzard to digest it.  You say they have been wormed recently, if that was with anything other than flubenvet it won't work.  If they had a large worm burden and they have been treated with flubenvet it is best to re-treat them after a few weeks.

It could also be a kidney problem.  Best to keep a close eye on all the birds, checking them over for any signs of ill health, weight loss etc.  You can also check their temperature by feeling under the wings and compare it with your other birds.  Check for mites and lice, including scaly leg mites as they are more prone to deterioration on the longer nights.  Check the coop or where they roost for red mites which can be killers if undetected.

I hope you find the cause soon.   

[Zyg]

I put grit in yesterday but I hadn't done before as they are practically free range and I thought they would get grit from the soil....maybe that is the problem
I worm them with Panacur?  I haven't used Flubenvet.  Their droppings do not have any visible signs of worms.  I had a look at the poo pictures and nothing seems to match the cockerels. 
Thank you

[Sassy]

Panacur is not licensed for poultry so there would be a withdrawal period for eggs etc. I am assuming from the thread above that your water container is not hung? If it is, when the wind catches it the water will empty out, it was for this reason that I stopped hanging their water. Do you have a slow leak in the container, they can get brittle and you may have a crack in it? Try using a small bucket or a cut down plastic milk carton which you can tie to the hen hut/run so that it doesn't tip over and see if the same thing happens. Do you have a chook with duck tendencies that is splashing the water, and therefore, emptying it? Otherwise if you look at ANHBUC's suggestions I don't know what else to suggest.

[Zyg]

Thank you
The water container is up on a stand so that they can't scratch dirt into it.  They are not laying at the moment but I usually stop taking the eggs for two weeks after I have treated them.  Is flubenvet ok to use whilst taking eggs?  I will look into getting them some.
They have no mites or bugs.  I dust the house regularly with diatomic earth and checked their skin two weeks ago.  They seem to be in great shape other than the water consumption and poo.  I am wondering if it was a lack of grit.  I will see if things improve now that I have added some in.

[8doubles]

Does any other wildlife use the drinker ? A family of blackbirds and 2 dozen sparrows shared my hens free food and drink buffet !

[ANHBUC]

Yes, it is safe to eat the eggs when you are treating with flubenvet. 

[traacyken]

hi  ive used panacur for years on my dogs and horses but wouldnt like to say or know what the long term effects would be in chickens or poultry esp with them laying eggs we humans eat. ive signed my horses passports as not to be used for human consumption and not to go for meat but god forbid its been going on for ages as we all know. ive not heard much lately silence speaks volumes if they have been prosecuted for this i doubt it . i would never give it to chickens if not made for them x

[Zyg]

Hi Traaacyken. Thank you for your advice.
It was my vet that told me to, and I asked if it was safe and he said not to eat eggs for two weeks. As they are off lay now for probably a month, I thought it should be ok. I have ordered some flubenvet though for next time.  I didn't just blindly use panacur, I thought the vet should know.
 

[Zyg]

I don't think it is any other wildlife using the water. Having watched them, I think the elder cockerel is drinking a lot. I wonder if he eats so many pellets that he has to drink to process them. The cockerels do seem to eat a lot. Is it ok to give them ad lib pellets, or being boys, do they just gorge themselves?!

[ANHBUC]

Hi Traaacyken. Thank you for your advice.
It was my vet that told me to, and I asked if it was safe and he said not to eat eggs for two weeks. As they are off lay now for probably a month, I thought it should be ok. I have ordered some flubenvet though for next time.  I didn't just blindly use panacur, I thought the vet should know.
 

The fault lays with the vet on this one then.  I can not understand him advising using something that is not licensed when there is a licenced product available that works really well.

I don't think it is any other wildlife using the water. Having watched them, I think the elder cockerel is drinking a lot. I wonder if he eats so many pellets that he has to drink to process them. The cockerels do seem to eat a lot. Is it ok to give them ad lib pellets, or being boys, do they just gorge themselves?!

If your cockerel is elderly it could be kidney problems, try not to give extras that are high in protein as this can be bad for kidney function.  Stick to the pellets ad lib and see if he improves.

[traacyken]

yes def the vets fault, wonder where he got that from v naughty. xx :blink:

[Zyg]

Flubenvet has arrived.  Animed is very quick on delivery.  When I took the chickens to the vet, I especially asked for one that knew chickens.  Very strange. I shall come here next time!  Thanks all for your advice....incidentally, what do you use for lice / mite control?  I have been using diatomic earth and they seem to be clear.