I think she meant roos.
There are viruses that can effect laying but you would probably see some other problem. The vet that told you to kill your birds was
stating what is taught to farm vets who serve poultry industry where they do all-in-all-out chicken keeping. That does not work with backyard chicken keeping because
we do not keep our birds in a 100% biosecure barn on cement that is cleaned in between flocks. That whole philosophy does not work with backyard chicken keepers.
The diseases that backyard chickens get come from wild animals and birds passing through your yard, and you cant prevent them from coming in contact with them.
Chickens over 2 years old will slow down a lot....and it can happen just like that....so that is a thought. I have many birds that are quite old and I dont have the heart to just dispose of them
when they stop laying. I bring in replacement birds because I run an egg business, but I have a geriatric section of my world...and its expensive!
I have had a very light year with laying...and had extra long molts due to the weather where I live (Northeast.)
It was super hot over the summer, and we have cold and then hot snaps. Ive had some trouble with MG, which is a mycoplasma that is everywhere, and that can slow laying....also some other cold type sicknesses, which slow laying. But those were diagnosed and treated (I use the University of connecticut lab to do necropsys) and you would see some eye swelling or something if that were your problem
I suggest getting a good probiotic, like Probios, and feed plain yogurt. also use some farmers helper hotcakes which have a probiotic in them (tractor supply carries them. they have a picture of game birds on them but are good for this.) I also use some kickin chicken oils, or fish oils, and organic kelp added to the feed.
You can add some ACV to the water...Also, it could be that your protein is a little on the high side .
That said, in the winter I add some farmer's helper kibble to my laying feed which is a kibble for chickens that tends to raise the protein.
I also give greens and scraps from the kitchen.
when you treated for cocci, did you use corrid? That is an organic approved treatment. still, I only use it if I see blood in droppings.
I also wouldn't suggest a wide spectrum antibiotic such as gentamycin, since you don't know whats wrong. If it is any problem with digestion, an antibiotic will make it worse, unless its an infection. If the chicken has an infection you will see it either in the droppings, discharge from vent, lungs, eyes or mouth; You can smell most infections. It is hardly possible that they all have internal laying, but you would surely see something come out of one of them. Still, google internal laying, so you can see what it looks like. Usually the internal laying is inside the body but sometimes some comes out, and its handy to know what it looks like.
also, chickens will have a soft poop at least once in 24 hours. there is a wide range of normal poops. you only want to worry about consistently soft or othewise strange poop, or something with blood or worms in it..
It sounds like you have covered most of the issues that are normal...and it could be a virus or deficiency...or just a very very long molt; That does happen....and it has been a slow year for me/your birds are old...
If you have a state vet extension nearby, they may do a necropsy for you on one or two of your older birds. Its worth it to have that done along with full labs to see if anything is wrong.
Our state lab at UConn does free pickups and will necropsy up to 5 birds for $90. They will often do them free if they are having some problem that they are investigating. Its worth it to be in touch with your vet extension to see what they do and how expensive it is. NY state uses Cornell and they are more expensive, and you have to send or bring your birds, but its still worth it. Check the deal at your local lab.
what is hardly ever worth it with chickens is going to a "chicken vet. "
I have rarely heard worse advice than you got from that vet....I would disregard that and not ask that person again. There are some avian vets that are OK but ask them if they keep backyeard chickens themselves...that is always a way to know if they have the hands on experience in chickens. The avian certification and any farming school will not give them much that can help us unless they have kept chickens for some years and gained experience.
Good luck and please let us know if you find anything out.
I hope the various things above will help.
There are viruses that can effect laying but you would probably see some other problem. The vet that told you to kill your birds was
stating what is taught to farm vets who serve poultry industry where they do all-in-all-out chicken keeping. That does not work with backyard chicken keeping because
we do not keep our birds in a 100% biosecure barn on cement that is cleaned in between flocks. That whole philosophy does not work with backyard chicken keepers.
The diseases that backyard chickens get come from wild animals and birds passing through your yard, and you cant prevent them from coming in contact with them.
Chickens over 2 years old will slow down a lot....and it can happen just like that....so that is a thought. I have many birds that are quite old and I dont have the heart to just dispose of them
when they stop laying. I bring in replacement birds because I run an egg business, but I have a geriatric section of my world...and its expensive!
I have had a very light year with laying...and had extra long molts due to the weather where I live (Northeast.)
It was super hot over the summer, and we have cold and then hot snaps. Ive had some trouble with MG, which is a mycoplasma that is everywhere, and that can slow laying....also some other cold type sicknesses, which slow laying. But those were diagnosed and treated (I use the University of connecticut lab to do necropsys) and you would see some eye swelling or something if that were your problem
I suggest getting a good probiotic, like Probios, and feed plain yogurt. also use some farmers helper hotcakes which have a probiotic in them (tractor supply carries them. they have a picture of game birds on them but are good for this.) I also use some kickin chicken oils, or fish oils, and organic kelp added to the feed.
You can add some ACV to the water...Also, it could be that your protein is a little on the high side .
That said, in the winter I add some farmer's helper kibble to my laying feed which is a kibble for chickens that tends to raise the protein.
I also give greens and scraps from the kitchen.
when you treated for cocci, did you use corrid? That is an organic approved treatment. still, I only use it if I see blood in droppings.
I also wouldn't suggest a wide spectrum antibiotic such as gentamycin, since you don't know whats wrong. If it is any problem with digestion, an antibiotic will make it worse, unless its an infection. If the chicken has an infection you will see it either in the droppings, discharge from vent, lungs, eyes or mouth; You can smell most infections. It is hardly possible that they all have internal laying, but you would surely see something come out of one of them. Still, google internal laying, so you can see what it looks like. Usually the internal laying is inside the body but sometimes some comes out, and its handy to know what it looks like.
also, chickens will have a soft poop at least once in 24 hours. there is a wide range of normal poops. you only want to worry about consistently soft or othewise strange poop, or something with blood or worms in it..
It sounds like you have covered most of the issues that are normal...and it could be a virus or deficiency...or just a very very long molt; That does happen....and it has been a slow year for me/your birds are old...
If you have a state vet extension nearby, they may do a necropsy for you on one or two of your older birds. Its worth it to have that done along with full labs to see if anything is wrong.
Our state lab at UConn does free pickups and will necropsy up to 5 birds for $90. They will often do them free if they are having some problem that they are investigating. Its worth it to be in touch with your vet extension to see what they do and how expensive it is. NY state uses Cornell and they are more expensive, and you have to send or bring your birds, but its still worth it. Check the deal at your local lab.
what is hardly ever worth it with chickens is going to a "chicken vet. "
I have rarely heard worse advice than you got from that vet....I would disregard that and not ask that person again. There are some avian vets that are OK but ask them if they keep backyeard chickens themselves...that is always a way to know if they have the hands on experience in chickens. The avian certification and any farming school will not give them much that can help us unless they have kept chickens for some years and gained experience.
Good luck and please let us know if you find anything out.
I hope the various things above will help.
