7 month old hens dying from unknown cause?

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Chickmunk

Chickmunk

Chirping
7 Years
Aug 20, 2015
66
0
82
Oklahoma
So I have, or should say had, twenty 7 month old hens.
Recently, I noticed they weren't acting right.
It's been almost a week since I've noticed this, and I've lost almost half of the hens, and what I thought was roundworms doesn't seem right.
They have had every symptom of roundworms: Weight loss, shallow breathing, lethargy, and finally, being unable to even stand.
I've treated them with Ivermax, Apple Cider Vinegar, and Oregano Oil, but they keep on dying, leaving me more confused with each death.
So my question is: What do they have, and how can I stop it?
 
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Were they vaccinated for Mareks disease? Could they have eaten moldy feed, eaten part of a dead animal carcass infected with botulism, become poisoned from a chemical or lead in the environment? Look at you feed with a light, and smell of it for any odd odors. I just recently got a single bag of molded feed that I accidentally feed to my chickens until I noticed the mold and odor. Coccidiosis is something that affects younger hens usually, but that could also be a possibility. What part of the country or world do you live? I would contact your state vet today, and if you lose another chicken, refrigerate the body in a plastic bag (DON'T FREEZE) and send or take it to your state vet or local veterinary college for a necrospy. Here is some info on botulism: http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/19/botulism/
 
Eggcessive said:
Were they vaccinated for Mareks disease? Could they have eaten moldy feed, eaten part of a dead animal carcass infected with botulism, become poisoned from a chemical or lead in the environment? Look at you feed with a light, and smell of it for any odd odors. I just recently got a single bag of molded feed that I accidentally feed to my chickens until I noticed the mold and odor. Coccidiosis is something that affects younger hens usually, but that could also be a possibility. What part of the country or world do you live? I would contact your state vet today, and if you lose another chicken, refrigerate the body in a plastic bag (DON'T FREEZE) and send or take it to your state vet or local veterinary college for a necrospy. Here is some info on botulism: http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/19/botulism/
Click to expand...

They have been vaccinated for both Mareks and Coccidiosis. I've checked their feed and it looks and smells like it usually does. They're all free range and are kept from chemicals and lead, and they don't go too far into the trees behind my house and I haven't noticed any dead animals around except for themselves. Would it cost anything for a necrospy?
 
They were vaccinated for both Mareks and Coccidiosis. Their feed looks and smells normal, and they don't go too far into the trees behind my house, so the only dead things around have been themselves. I keep them away from my garage where any kind of chemical has been stored and there isn't any lead sources around them to get to. They're also free range hens. I've been raising and caring for poultry for four years and I haven't ever come across anything like this.
 
How hot is it where you are? I know we've had some blistering heat down here, and all my chickens act SO hot during the day... Could they possibly be getting dehydrated? :/

How are their poops? Seeing any bubbly eyes or runny noses?

MrsB
 
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Thank you for the advice, Eggcessive!

@MrsBrooke , It's currently 79 degrees, so not hot enough for them to get dehydrated quickly. They've been drinking and eating up until the last day, when, by then, they're close to death and can't stand. Their poop is white/yellow and stringy, no evidence of worms, which confused me when I was positive it was worms. They sit around hunched up with their eyes closed and eventually fall over and don't get back up.
 
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White and yellow poop? Do you have a picture of this, by chance?

Also, did I miss where it was determined *not* to be worms? What did you use to worm your flock? "Ivermax, Apple Cider Vinegar, and Oregano Oil?"

MrsB
 
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