shandy
Chirping
- Apr 26, 2016
- 99
- 28
- 96
I am such a rookie, but I'm panicking now because I've lost 2 hens in the last couple of months. I have a small flock (I had 11 but I'm down to 9 now). The chickens are 11 months old. Again, being a rookie, we bought them at a feed store and I could conclude that they were not vaccinated. They are fed layer feed and they also free range all day. We occasionally give them leftover human food. I live in Nebraska and have had cold weather late this winter. For the most part, they still go out and free range. The first hen I lost (about 1-2 months ago) started to be on her own and stayed in the coop while the others went out and free ranged and when I checked on her more closely, I realized her one leg was paralyzed, no apparent injuries. Over the course of a few days, she died. Now, a couple of days ago, another hen started staying in the coop, etc, and I checked her legs and she seemed fine. She even went out and free ranged for a day or so and then I came home yesterday and she was dying. She was almost completely flaccid. I didn't notice any paralysis until she was almost dead. I am freaking out thinking we've got Mareks. I was planning on hatching eggs in the next few weeks, but don't know whether I should consider this now. Any general thoughts would be appreciated, I hope I gave enough pertinent info. Thank you.