Chickens dying.... need help..

[tlcmurphy]

AI kills much more quickly than 2-3 weeks

 

[FrostRanger]

Got the 2 birds in the extra fridge in bags. Wrung the neck of #2 to just go ahead and get it over and save to send off. That way they have two to test.


I know there's no cross contamination either... no new birds

Keep us posted on the results

 

[sniper338]

I second a necropsy. This sounds like it could be Avian Leukosis Virus. It seems to be a bigger problem with Legbars than other breeds.

Birds who have ALV typically die at point of lay. The ones that die are usually infected vertically (from the mother hen), which is why the rest of the flock may seem unaffected. That does not mean that the others are not carriers, especially if they were raised with the Legbars as chicks (horizontal transmission happens more readily when they are chicks).

Did you notice any green diarrhea? That is one symptom of ALV.

I cant exactly rule the green poop out. If there was alittle, I chalked it up to the birds eating grass while free ranging everyday. If there was any it wasn't much because I didn't really take any notice.

Im straight south of Austin about an hour.. I habent heard about that though... I donno.

It does seem to be contained to just the legbars at this time though...


It just frustrates the crap out of me because they should have just about started laying. I wanted blue eggs!!!! And I have copper marans with them going for olive egger F1s...

Now im gonna be down blue eggers for my colorful basket and screwed for olive egger making.

I only have 1 more legbar hen left and the roo. Gosh I hope they live so I can hatch out more and dont loose my legbar line...

 

[McChooky]

I cant exactly rule the green poop out. If there was alittle, I chalked it up to the birds eating grass while free ranging everyday. If there was any it wasn't much because I didn't really take any notice.

Im straight south of Austin about an hour.. I habent heard about that though... I donno.

It does seem to be contained to just the legbars at this time though...


It just frustrates the crap out of me because they should have just about started laying. I wanted blue eggs!!!! And I have copper marans with them going for olive egger F1s...

Now im gonna be down blue eggers for my colorful basket and screwed for olive egger making.

I only have 1 more legbar hen left and the roo. Gosh I hope they live so I can hatch out more and dont loose my legbar line...

I hope this helps!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/avian-leukosis-virus-alv-clean-legbar-source.1498752/

 

[McChooky]

I purchased a couple cream legbar cockerels from Murray 3 yrs ago and both were frail upon arrival . I'm surprised they even survived but they pulled out of it in about 10 days. I decided I didn't want to raise any of these after getting them. I did end up keeping one in a flock of free range welsummers and brown leghorns.His offspring are very healthy .They've been free ranged since hatched and were raised in the flock. The one on the left is a leghorn x legbar cross pullet and the one on the right ia welsummer x legbar cross pullet.

 

[sniper338]

Birds were sent off to A&M poultry science center for the necropsy. Waiting to hear back on results. I have two more legbars going downhill.

Seems to still be legbar hens only. They hatched sept 2015... 4 month olds..

 

[sniper338]

Update******

 

[sniper338]

Im thinking about doing more testing. It doesnt quite answer as to whats wrong that I can tell... besides hit all my birds with ivermection again...

 

[coach723]

Personally I would do at least the PCR for MG, so you know if your flock is carrying it. Whether to do the rest is up to you and what cost you can manage. I personally would want to know since this has affected multiple birds, and that's the only answer to how to treat or manage whatever is going on. I don't think ivermectin is the answer. For the cecal worms either Safeguard (liquid goat wormer or horse paste) or Valbazen (albendazole) if you can find some online, would be better. For coccidiosis Corid (amprolium) is the most common treatment and that is usually available locally. If the birds are carrying MG, that can leave them more susceptible to other things. Since they found multiple issues, I would want to find out which is most likely the major issue. Sometimes some breeds are more susceptible to certain things, and sometimes the specific genetic line can make them more susceptible to certain things (no way to know that unless you are breeding yourself, keeping track, and seeing things show up from certain birds).
As a general question, how many feeders and waterers do you have for all your birds? If younger, lower ranking birds are being kept from feeding well because others are guarding feeders/waterers, they can become malnourished and weak as well. If that may be happening, then adding more feeders and waterers spread around can help make sure that everyone can have adequate access.

 

[sniper338]

Personally I would do at least the PCR for MG, so you know if your flock is carrying it. Whether to do the rest is up to you and what cost you can manage. I personally would want to know since this has affected multiple birds, and that's the only answer to how to treat or manage whatever is going on. I don't think ivermectin is the answer. For the cecal worms either Safeguard (liquid goat wormer or horse paste) or Valbazen (albendazole) if you can find some online, would be better. For coccidiosis Corid (amprolium) is the most common treatment and that is usually available locally. If the birds are carrying MG, that can leave them more susceptible to other things. Since they found multiple issues, I would want to find out which is most likely the major issue. Sometimes some breeds are more susceptible to certain things, and sometimes the specific genetic line can make them more susceptible to certain things (no way to know that unless you are breeding yourself, keeping track, and seeing things show up from certain birds).
As a general question, how many feeders and waterers do you have for all your birds? If younger, lower ranking birds are being kept from feeding well because others are guarding feeders/waterers, they can become malnourished and weak as well. If that may be happening, then adding more feeders and waterers spread around can help make sure that everyone can have adequate access.

Its not a feed and water issue. They have plenty. These birds got sick and stopped eating and drinking on their own. I know that for a fact. I sat outside with em and watched almost everyday. I knew they weren't eating. They wouldn't move. The nutrition/feed is a symptom of whatever causing it 100%. I have the other legbars in a separate coop. Their eating is way down too.