2nd Sick Chicken -- Coop too wet?

[ihatedarkroast]

I've never had any of my chickens get sick like this before. But, I lost a hen named Marie last week. She was a very sweet girl, my only girl who laid a nice dark brown egg, and my mama chicken who hatched and raised generations of chicks and ducklings for me. We had her for 4.5 years. I'm so sad!

Her symptoms were green diarrhea, straining, and lethargy. I tried a warm epsom bath soak, and massaging her in case she was egg bound. She died right after her bath. I think she was too weak to handle the stress of soaking all that poop off her. (And my super loud kids who were trying to help mommy and the chicken.)

A couple days later, one of my roosters started acting lethargic and panting. I've isolated him in a crate with food and water. I noticed his poop is chalky white, runny with a hint of green. I'm going to get some Corid from the farm store tomorrow, and see if it helps, in case the flock has coccidiosis.

The problem is, the chicken coop is built at the base of a hill, so a heavy rain will flood the coop from time to time. I put shavings in it. It didn't used to be so bad, but we cleared some trees and brush on the hillside. Apparently they were keeping the coop from flooding when it rained. Plus, the ducks have turned the yard into a mudpit where their baby pools are. The coop's yard also has been pretty soggy lately, as it's been an unusually cold an wet winter.

So I'm racking my brains trying to think what to do. Do I try a sandy floor? Do I tarp the run? Do we try to build a new coop in a drier location? Do I need to separate the chickens from the ducks and give each their own space? (they typically free-range)

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I've never had any of my chickens get sick like this before. But, I lost a hen named Marie last week. She was a very sweet girl, my only girl who laid a nice dark brown egg, and my mama chicken who hatched and raised generations of chicks and ducklings for me. We had her for 4.5 years. I'm so sad!

Her symptoms were green diarrhea, straining, and lethargy. I tried a warm epsom bath soak, and massaging her in case she was egg bound. She died right after her bath. I think she was too weak to handle the stress of soaking all that poop off her. (And my super loud kids who were trying to help mommy and the chicken.)

A couple days later, one of my roosters started acting lethargic and panting. I've isolated him in a crate with food and water. I noticed his poop is chalky white, runny with a hint of green. I'm going to get some Corid from the farm store tomorrow, and see if it helps, in case the flock has coccidiosis.

The problem is, the chicken coop is built at the base of a hill, so a heavy rain will flood the coop from time to time. I put shavings in it. It didn't used to be so bad, but we cleared some trees and brush on the hillside. Apparently they were keeping the coop from flooding when it rained. Plus, the ducks have turned the yard into a mudpit where their baby pools are. The coop's yard also has been pretty soggy lately, as it's been an unusually cold an wet winter.

So I'm racking my brains trying to think what to do. Do I try a sandy floor? Do I tarp the run? Do we try to build a new coop in a drier location? Do I need to separate the chickens from the ducks and give each their own space? (they typically free-range)

I'm sorry about your hen.

Can you get photos of the rooster and his poop?

Treating for Coccidiosis may be necessary if your coop is staying wet. The building (coop) is wet right?
Have you dewormed?

You may want to inspect food stations to make sure no feed is moldy if you are having a water issue.

Liquid Corid (Amprolium) dose is 2tsp or Powdered Corid Dose is 1 1/2tsp per gallon of water given for 5-7 days as the only source of drinking water.
Do not add any extra vitamins/electrolytes that contain B1(Thiamine) to food or water during the course of treatment.

Your questions about how to remedy a wet coop/run would probably be better suited for the coops forum, the folks over there have some great ideas. Be sure to post photos of the coop/run and any problem areas where water is getting in, etc. https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/coop-run-design-construction-maintenance.9/


If you do lose this rooster, it would be a good idea to get a necropsy, this will give you the most information as to what caused his symptoms. You can find your lab in the link below.
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry...sH1DCD5ewCSEVN1GBkp5O1TowTYPwXNQR9_Aynfm26rod

 

[ihatedarkroast]

Thank you for your response. All of that is really helpful information.

Alas, the rooster is gone. It looks like the closest lab is Lynchburg, VA. Unfortunately, I already sent the body with my husband to the dump. But his comb and wattles looked good. No warts, bumps, wounds, scales, blood. Just some watery poo attached to his feathers. And he had lost weight. I really hope this isn't a more serious disease than parasites of one type or another. So far no other birds are showing any symptoms at all. I had no incoming fowl for many months.

I got the Corid and made a mix. I did add electrolytes. I also sprinkled some poultry pyrethrin dust on him and his bedding.

The rooster was was panting and stumbling. He kept knocking his water over. So I got a medicine dropper and put him in my lap in a blanket and squirted some corid water in his beak.

Well, the stress was too much. His eyes rolled back in his head. He suddenly reared back with a half-crow, and had seizure and was dead within seconds--very similar to the way the hen suddenly stretched out and died.

We dumped the duck pools. I am giving Corid to the whole mixed flock. I also got some medicated chick feed. I got some diatomaceous earth. I'm going to shovel out the coop and yard and dust everything, then put in fresh shavings. Hubs is onboard to help with all the heavy labor.