3 Chickens dying from unknown causes. Help!

[Daniel03]

Hi all,

I'm panicking currently as ive lost three chickens now in just over 2 weeks. I dont know whats causing it.
First time i found my 20-25week old silkie pullet dead, hunched over in the top of her nesting/sleeping area all by herself in the corner. She was stiff and there didnt seem to be any sign of predators as it was the middle of the day.

Second instance happened only 2 days later with my polish pullet whom is probably around 30-35 weeks old. We found her struggling to walk, and very thin and wasted away almost. We brang her inside in a small pen with fresh feed/water. I mixed in some general antibiotics (Triple C), but she died later that night.

Now today is the day my third chicken has passed away. He grew up alongside the silkie pullet that died at first. I found him two days ago not being able to stand on his own. He would get bullied or would get startled by something and fall to his side and struggle to get up. Ive had him seperated since then with apple cider vinegar mixed in with his water as well as antibiotics on the first day. (not mixed at the same time). When he died today he was hunched over and he was as thin as a twig. even though he had been constantly eating the food i gave him.

Any advice for stopping this from happening again, or tips for future sick chickens and how i should treat them, please let me know.

Thank,
Daniel.

 

[Pork Pie]

Pending advice from the experts, I'd worm your flock. It may not be a solution, but it may go some way to helping them.

 

[Isaac 0]

Can you take a picture of there poop?
How does there breast bone feel?Skinny/Sharp?
Do you feel anything in there crop?
If you still have a sample of there stool it would be wise to send it to your local avian vet for a fecal floation which would check for Worms/Cocci ect.

 

[Kiki]

X2 on the worming.
Can you bring some fresh collect poop to the nearest vets office for a fecal exam?

 

[rebrascora]

Almost certainly Marek's Disease. Just typed out an extremely lengthy response and somehow lost it. Haven't got time to recompose, but suggest you do some research on it and I'll get back to you if you have any questions when I have more time.

Strongly urge you to refrigerate the most recently deceased bird and get a necropsy done.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Almost certainly Marek's Disease. Just typed out an extremely lengthy response and somehow lost it. Haven't got time to recompose, but suggest you do some research on it and I'll get back to you if you have any questions when I have more time.

Strongly urge you to refrigerate the most recently deceased bird and get a necropsy done.

@Daniel03 I'm very sorry to hear about your losses.

I agree with @rebrascora It does sound like Marek's.
Unfortuneatly, there is not much you can do to prevent Marek's. There is a vaccine, but it's not perfect. It can prevent the growth of tumors, but won't stop a bird from becoming ill from the virus.

Putting your location in your profile is helpful when we give suggestions. If you are in the US, sending a bird for necropsy will give you the best information.

Here is more information about Marek's and a list of State labs:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq
https://poultrykeeper.com/blog/diseases-common-to-silkies/
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/nahln/downloads/all_nahln_lab_list.pdf

 

[Priscilla's mom]

Can I ask what the necropsy would accomplish? Why is it essential to know? I have a sick girl as well. Of course I don't know for sure its Mareks, but she has lost the use of her legs and hold her wing in a strange position. I am having a hard time putting this chicken down, I have her in the house. but I also want to protect my flock. What is the consequences to the flock is she survives and goes back to the coop if it is Mareks? It has been 4 days and the others seem to be fine.

I am so sorry that you are going through this!

 

[Priscilla's mom]

Can I ask what the necropsy would accomplish? Why is it essential to know? I have a sick girl as well. Of course I don't know for sure its Mareks, but she has lost the use of her legs and hold her wing in a strange position. I am having a hard time putting this chicken down, I have her in the house. but I also want to protect my flock. What is the consequences to the flock is she survives and goes back to the coop if it is Mareks? It has been 4 days and the others seem to be fine.

I am so sorry that you are going through this!

 

[rebrascora]

The Marek's virus is a Herpes Virus and is similar to the common cold sore in humans(but much more deadly) in that when it is dormant, you don't know which individuals have it, but when they have an outbreak, they shed the virus to others. The Marek's virus is so easily contacted.... means of transmission is via danger dust which is inhaled by other birds. It can be carried on clothes and shoes and stay dormant in the coop or on the ground for many months before being stirred up and inhaled. The dander dust can be carried on your hair, skin, clothes and shoes, so if you have the disease in your flock, you need to take precautions not to pass it on to other flocks by selling/giving away birds (even healthy looking ones) visiting friend's flocks, or breeders, or having them visit you, without taking suitable precautions. Even possibly just going to the feed store after you have handled your birds or been in the coop with the same clothes on. Some of your flock will be resistant to it, just like not everyone gets the cold sore virus, but you can't tell which ones they as not all will get sick at the same time. Outbreaks are often triggered by stress, but what stresses one bird may not stress another.
I don't put my Marek's birds down until they stop eating and drinking....in my experience they do downhill quickly then and it usually indicates they have a secondary infection. I've had some make pretty miraculous recoveries after a couple of days of pretty serious paralysis or even a week and others that took months of supportive care and others that just keep deteriorating and some that die without any apparent symptoms at all. It's a bit of a lottery. Most that recover have secondary outbreaks, weeks, months or even a year later.

I take the view that my flock has already been exposed to the virus and so I keep sick chickens within the flock as much as possible. That said, I sem to have one of the milder strains.....some people lose the majority of their juvenile birds to it, whereas I just lose a small proportion.

Identifying what is causing the problem, when you have multiple birds die is important in order to make educated and informed decisions about how best to manage/treat your remaining birds and prevent/limit the spread of any diseases to other flocks.

Regards

Barbara

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Can I ask what the necropsy would accomplish? Why is it essential to know? I have a sick girl as well. Of course I don't know for sure its Mareks, but she has lost the use of her legs and hold her wing in a strange position. I am having a hard time putting this chicken down, I have her in the house. but I also want to protect my flock. What is the consequences to the flock is she survives and goes back to the coop if it is Mareks? It has been 4 days and the others seem to be fine.I am so sorry that you are going through this!

Hi @Priscilla's mom There are quite a few illnesses and conditions that have very similar symptoms, so a necropsy will is your best bet in getting answers to what is ailing your flock.