3 Chickens died in 2 days! Help!

[grammawamma]

We are so new to chickens and don't have any idea what is going on. We haven't seen any evidence of mites or lice. Three of our Rhode Island Reds have died in two days now. There is blood in the coop, but no sign of blood on the chickens. I even looked in the mouth and vent of one. No blood. We have seen some blood in some stools, but not enough to account for the blood in the coop. Any ideas of where to start looking/researching? We have cleaned out the coop today and used a weak bleach solution to disinfect and rinsed with vinegar.

 

[grammawamma]

Anyone?!!! And I would prefer an all natural solution, but may have to go with the chemicals to keep the flock alive!

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Did they all just drop dead with no symptoms? If that's the case, I would take them to an avian specialist or a university veterinary hospital for a necropsy.

 

[barbiegirl]

Blood in the poop, it might be cocci. I would look up cocci. I don't know. Maybe others can help better. Good luck!

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Here's an overview of poultry diseases to help you out. http://www.vdl.umn.edu/prod/groups/cvm/@pub/@cvm/@vdl/documents/asset/cvm_asset_350829.pdf

Also, here's the technical write-up on coccidiosis. Seems like some birds get blood in their ceca, so maybe that's what you're seeing around the coop? Treatment is pretty easy--put Corid in their water. You can buy Corid at Tractor Supply and other places like that. http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/poultry/coccidiosis/overview_of_coccidiosis_in_poultry.html

 

[grammawamma]

One was dead in the coop when we opened it up yesterday morning. The other two died this morning. They were not moving around. Just sitting still like they were nesting.

 

[grammawamma]

The only symptoms we see are bloody stools. Other than that they seem fine until they stop moving.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

One was dead in the coop when we opened it up yesterday morning. The other two died this morning. They were not moving around. Just sitting still like they were nesting.

I would definitely have them necropsied. You need to know what you have, so you know how to prevent it in the future.