Al have died except one!

[first time farmer]

Over the past month I have lost all of my chickens except for one. They have had food and water avalable(sp). I only cut one open to see if any thing was wrong and what I saw was normal the stomach was full of feed and grasses no impacted crop. I looked all over for mites/lice and couldnt find any thing. I am thinking it is a disease, the thing is I do not know what it is or how I can prevent it from spredding to the new flock(getting 25 new chicks that will live in the same coop) I all day yesterday cleaning it. I am going to use bleach and water on the coop walls/floors/nesting boxes/ etc.

Is there anything else I should do

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

How old were they? That does seem like something is spreading in your coop. All you can do is what you did, Clean it out very well and on wood bleach wouldn't help anyhow. Just be sure it's nice and dry before adding the new crew. Be sure to also put some DE down to help keep it dry.

 

[Burbs]

Call your local ag extension office. They may be able to help diagnose or point you to someone that can. I would hesitate getting new birds until you figure out what is going on.

 

[first time farmer]

Quote:
Where can i get DE would tractor supply have it? Would lime do the same thing, that is what i use in my horse stalls.

They were all between 11 months to 3 years

 

[chicknmania]

Does the one remaining have any symptoms at all?? A necropsy will help you if that one dies. Get it within twenty four hours of death. In a lot of states it's free or a small cost. You might want to wait a bit before re-stocking. A few things you can do....get some lime, and rototil it well into the soil. The chickens can't walk in it, but it will kill bad things in the soil that might be infecting your flock. I have not tried this, but I know it works. Also, bleach is good but Oxine is soooo much better. You don't have the smell of bleach and it is about ten times more powerful. You can mix it with water, you don't have to use a fogger. Mix it with water and put it in a spray bottle. It's more expensive than bleach but well worth it. You can get it at www.firststatevetsupply.com and the directions (proportions) to mix come with it.

Just saw you do have lime. I don't know how much you are supposed to use to mix into the soil, though. I would try lime AND Oxine.

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

You can order it here: http://www.custommilling.com/DiatomaceousEarth.html

I would not trust the pet stores because they may give you the wrong stuff. It should be PURE white and safe for even human consumption
I paid 53.00 for a 50 lb bag but that was two years ago and I STILL have some left and I put some down every time I clean my coops. It's worth it...you can use for MANY things too. It's also used on organic farms as well. Very safe.

 

[chicknmania]

I have also found cheap DE at www.hoeggergoatsupply.com. It's the cheapest place I've found to get it. WE don't use much.

 

[first time farmer]

Thank you very much I will order some. I am getting the new chicks in march and they will be in the garage for 6-8 weeks. so by the time they are in the coop it will be late april or early may so i think it will be enough time for cleaning and such.

 

[cpgracefulhorse]

do you have a bush with red berrys on it???

 

[first time farmer]

Nope they have been locked/run for the winter