Chickens and Ducks dying!

[EmilyduckTrip]

I had 16 chickens and 4 ducks recently 9 of my chickens died and 3 of my ducks died. My chickens are around 3 years old my ducks are almost 1 all of them are from tractor supply. Around the 12 of December my duck started falling over and couldn't eat so i took him inside and after about 2 hours of holding him by the heater and died, which is unusual because they are Khaki campbells and they are made for cold weather. A few weeks later my chickens started to die, their combs would turn wight and they wouldn't be able to move one leg then they would fall over and die. One day I went to check on my 3 ducks and 2 of them were dead with their heads resting on each other and they had plenty of food(nonmedicated) and water. I don't know what this is from and to make it worse my goat that wasn't even one year old died it may be connected to their deaths I don't know. The chicken coops are one wall of the goats pen and the duck house is in the center of the goat pen I also have a pig in the goat pen. Does anyone know what I am doing wrong or what is wrong with my animals please help? Thanks ahead of time to anyone that reads this long paragraph and responds, anything you have to say could help!

 

[Welshies]

What is your coop like?

 

[EmilyduckTrip]

My chickens have two atatched coops they are both have elevated houses with indoor egg boxes they have big feed buckets and for their water they use PBC pipes with nipples

 

[Welshies]

My chickens have two atatched coops they are both have elevated houses with indoor egg boxes they have big feed buckets and for their water they use PBC pipes with nipples

Do they have ventilation?

 

[CapricornFarm]

Are you using a heat lamp that is shatter resistant?
Also, i want to welcome you to BYC. So sorry this is happening to you and your animals!

 

[Trifolium]

I would ask your local NPIP program for a necropsy just to make sure it's not something serious. We bring it to their lab and pay a small fee. They will test the bird dead or alive. If it's alive, they will put it down first. You don't even have to test all, just bring 1 or 2 to test for the peace of mind.

It doesn't have to be a disease or virus. They can tell you things like... frostbite, heart attack, shock, or injury etc.

 

[rebrascora]

I think you need to consider sending a fresh carcass off for necropsy after losing so many in such a short space of time. Most state labs or veterinary universities should offer the service at a reasonable rate. If you give your location (state) someone might be able to give you specific information on where to send it.

Do you use a heat lamp? There has been a thread recently about Teflon coated bulbs in heat lamps gassing chickens to death.

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC - sorry for the circumstances. Your best bet is to have a necropsy done on a sick or freshly dead duck and chicken as you may be dealing with several diseases. Do an on site search on 'mareks' and see if that sounds like what your chickens are dealing with. As to the ducks, I haven't a clue.

 

[EmilyduckTrip]

No I dont use a heat lamp I just use straw and beading. Thanks for the advice!

Do they have ventilation?

Yes they both have 2 vents we usually keep open unless it is too cold.

 

[EmilyduckTrip]

Are you using a heat lamp that is shatter resistant?
Also, i want to welcome you to BYC. So sorry this is happening to you and your animals!

No I dont use a heat lamp.