5 deaths-cause unknown

[rebeccamariemiller]

Ok, so I went out to feed my chickens last Thursday and there was a bunch of feed still in the feeder. I thought maybe I had put more in Wednesday night sometime and forgot. Friday there was still some in there and I added fresh. Then Saturday morning I went out and one of my hens were dead. I didn't have time to examine it before I left, so I left and when I caame back 3 hrs later another one was dead. I removed the dead ones snd moved the others to separate cages away from the coop. That evening another one died, and Sunday afternoon another two died. Out of six hens and one rooster there is one hen and the rooster left. The hen seems fine and is scratching around and talking and eating like normal. The rooster is eating and drinking like normal but has onlt crowed once since this all started. I think he's sad. Dunno. The only thing I noticed about the ones that died is that they quit eating and drinking and were lethargic. They would stand up if I made them but not otherwise. There was no other symptoms. I hope the remaining two survive. I kept them out pf the coop and am in the process of cleaning it thoroughly. I bleached their feed and water dishes. I thought it might be the feed but I am still feeding it to my chickens in other cages and they are fine. Any ideas of what it could've been? I was thinking it might be worms but the only thing different about their poop is that it was only slightly more runny than normal.

 

[ten chicks]

Ok, so I went out to feed my chickens last Thursday and there was a bunch of feed still in the feeder. I thought maybe I had put more in Wednesday night sometime and forgot. Friday there was still some in there and I added fresh. Then Saturday morning I went out and one of my hens were dead. I didn't have time to examine it before I left, so I left and when I caame back 3 hrs later another one was dead. I removed the dead ones snd moved the others to separate cages away from the coop. That evening another one died, and Sunday afternoon another two died. Out of six hens and one rooster there is one hen and the rooster left. The hen seems fine and is scratching around and talking and eating like normal. The rooster is eating and drinking like normal but has onlt crowed once since this all started. I think he's sad. Dunno. The only thing I noticed about the ones that died is that they quit eating and drinking and were lethargic. They would stand up if I made them but not otherwise. There was no other symptoms. I hope the remaining two survive. I kept them out pf the coop and am in the process of cleaning it thoroughly. I bleached their feed and water dishes. I thought it might be the feed but I am still feeding it to my chickens in other cages and they are fine. Any ideas of what it could've been? I was thinking it might be worms but the only thing different about their poop is that it was only slightly more runny than normal.

How old are they? Strange,my first guess would be cocci,but i'm guessing they are older,but still a possibility. Botulism,but your other chickens are fine.

 

[rebeccamariemiller]

They are 14 months, the last hen and rooster out of the same pen are still ok so far, amd all my other pens of chickens are fine also.

 

[casportpony]

If they were mine, I would treat all of them for internal and external parasites and spray or dust their coop/perches, too.

-Kathy

 

[rebeccamariemiller]

I am feeding Diatomacous earth and I am in the process of bleaching the coop. My other pens are rabbit cages where most everything falls through the wire. I wish I knew what it was that killed them, I gave the ones that died that dia. earth but they had already stopped eating.

 

[casportpony]

I am feeding Diatomacous earth and I am in the process of bleaching the coop. My other pens are rabbit cages where most everything falls through the wire. I wish I knew what it was that killed them, I gave the ones that died that dia. earth but they had already stopped eating.

You need to worm them with something like fenbendazole 10% (Safeguard or Panacur, liquid or paste) 50mg/kg by mouth and repeat in ten days. DE will not work on worms, mites or lice.

You'll find it in the horse, cattle or goat section of most feedstores.


-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

While you're there, get some poultry dust, too.

-Kathy