2 Dead chickens in 2 months

[nreed]

I bought 8 chickens the end of July 2019, 4 RIR and 4 Australorp. They were 2-1/2 months old. Two months after getting them, one RIR started acting lethargic, chin tucked in and tail down, and a few days later, died. Two months later, an Australop showed signs of lethargy, I put ACV in their water and gave them some garlic and she perked up and looked fine for a couple of weeks, then did the same thing and died. We examined the first one that died and there were no signs of bites, skin irritation or external damage at all and her vent looked fine.

This is from the website of the location where I got the chickens:
All chicks are vaccinated with 48 hours of hatch for Marek's Disease
All chicks are vaccinated for coccidiosis at 4 to 7 days of age.
All chicks are vaccinated for Fowl Pox with Pigeon Pox and Avian Encephalomyelitis at 6 weeks of age.

I live in south Texas and bought them from a place that does all the vaccinations before they are sold.

The other six are looking great right now, but not sure why the other 2 died.

Any suggestions would be appreciated so I can keep my last six.

Thanks

 

[ValerieJ]

I think you should have a necropsy done on the next one you lose, unless the second to die was just today. You need to keep the bird refrigerated until it is shipped. You can find your state necropsy lab here.

Meantime, investigative questions. What do they eat? Is it fresh? Are they given fresh water daily? Do they free range? Is there anything they could get into that could make them sick?

 

[Eggcessive]

You can test them for coccidiosis by gathering some fresh common droppings in a freezer bag, and taking it to you local vet to test for coccidosis and worms. What are you feeding them? Do they have chicken grit to help digest grass and foods other than chick feed? If you lose another, I would send the refrigerated (not frozen) body in to your state poultry lab for a necropsy. Vaccinated means nothing if you don’t know which vaccines were given. Some vaccinate for Mareks disease or coccidiosis, and there are other vaccines that some might give for fowl pox or respiratory diseases. Here is a good list of state vets to contact with some info on how to keep the body:
https://tvmdl.tamu.edu/tests/necropsy-poultry/
https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm