Hi Doug,
In my lay-man's experience, sounds like the particular girl with a crappy
rear has coccidiosis. The longer you leave it the worst it gets and it can
infect others. I've cleared this up with homeopathics, herbal, and other
stuff.
I use a standard mix of the following (I use this on family members too,
especially for colds and flu. I call it "Gat skop" which is Afrikaans for
"Kick arse" - right out of bed and onto their feet! Works wonderfully -
maybe its the taste which gets them going, I don't know.):
- Rescue remedy - I believe it heals the aura and thus is a good general
first medication
- Echinacea / Echina Force - to help the immune system
- Garlic - general anti-biotic and all the other good things it does
- Honey - anti-biotic, and generally "good energy", especially if organic
or BD
- Biochemic Tissue salts - given symptomatically
Mixed as follows: 10 drops : 10 drops : 1 clove crushed : 1 tsp : 1 of
each, crushed, all into about 50 ml warm water, and given (syringe) to the
birds at a dose of 1 - 2 ml, 2 or 3 times a day, depending on size and
severity of illness.
I find that after a while the garlic smell in the faeces becomes so strong
that it makes me feel ill - that to me is a sign that the garlic has done
its work, and can be cut out of the mix.
I may add some additional things, all depending on my gut feel -
- Schweden Bitters - good all round tonic
- Schlehen Elixir - when the birds are really weak and looking at the "Big
Free Range in the Sky"
- Arnica or Traumel, depending on the affliction
- Good quality multivitamins
- Indigenous herbal remedies, my favourite being Sutherlandia, which has
adaptogens, which help the body fight infections - it has been used in the
treatment of HIV / AIDS and patients with pleasing results. Not necessarily
cured them, but helped with secondary illnesses. It is also used for
treating cancer.
The last aspects are:
- Fasting the bird, for about 24 hours
- Good quality water - filtered if necessary
- Warmth
- Quiet
Comfrey, dandelion, stinging nettle and calendula leaves in the diet all
seem to help for general good health.
The more experienced members may shudder at my shotgun approach - all I can
say is that it works. I have cured coccidiosis, fowl pox (Herpes virus),
almost dead birds caught in a massive hail storm, worms, birds weakened by
pecking (especially older birds pecking younger ones), and generally when
birds are "off colour".
Hope this helps.
Stephen Barrow
