Advice needed

[GranWin]

Hello all. We are going in to our second year of owning chickens and need some advice on what may be going on with our birds. Over the winter we lost a rooster. There were no real signs that we would. We just went to close up the coop one night and he was very larthargic. We had to place him in the coop ourselves. The next morning, we lost him. Now the same thing is happening with one if our hens. No signs before now. She is extremely lethargic and we don't think she will make it till morning. Any idea what this may be that is causing this sudden onset? It's like they just shut down out of no where and the next morning they are gone.

 

[Kiki]

I am so sorry.

Have you checked them over for lice and or mites real well?
Have you ever dewormed them?

Any new birds recently?

 

[micstrachan]

You may be able to save your hen. Bring her inside to a warm, quiet location. Do you have poultry vitamins or even infant vitamins (without iron). She could benefit from some straight (undiluted) nutridrench. Will she drink on her own? Do you know whether she’s been eating/drinking/pooping/laying normally? As far as sudden onset of symptoms, is there any toxin they could be getting into?

 

[Kiki]

I noticed a few months back you had a lice problem. Did you get rid of the lice back then? If not...they can suck the life right out of a bird.
Permethrin will get rid of them.

Martin's PERMETHRIN spray

• Kiki
• Mar 22, 2018
• 6
• flies lice mites permethrin

 

[micstrachan]

If you do bring her inside check her crop now and again in the morning. It should be full before bed and empty in the morning. Also feel if her breast muscle has been wasting away and if she is bloated with fluid in her belly. How is her poop and how does her vent look?