Chickens just laying in a pile in the coop!

[afarmgirl]

Hello fellow chicken caregivers,

I’m hoping someone can help me with my chickens. I have six four month old Rhode Island Reds. In the last four days they have become sick. Two have died. I live in Arizona, so it is getting warm outside. The coop is in the shade, and all the other chickens are still fine. I have separated the sick ones out from the rest. The three that are left are just lying in the corner of the coop. They won't eat any food, haven't for the last three days. They will drink water, but a few have vomited. They were on a diet of Chicken Start & a bit of Laying Crumbles. Their feathers look kind of greasy or wet. They are listless and panting a little bit.They do not look like they are going to make it. I dusted some DE in case of mites a few weeks ago. The sick chickens have feces that are white and runny. I don’t know if that’s from the DE. I have owned chickens for 20 years and I’ve never seen this before! Thanks for any info.

 

[allmypeeps]

If they are not eating and only drinking then the watery feces can be from that. Were they on medicated chick starter? If not coccidiosis may be of concern.

Do they have any sneezing/discharges any other symptoms other than the panting and listlessness...?

You said its getting warmer out- how warm? You may want to keep a thermometer in the coop to monitor how hot it gets. Chicken can get over heated easily. If you think it is because they are hot try taking their temperature (normal chicken temp I think is around 105) putting them in a cooler area- even in the shade coops can get hot. Place large bottles of Ice around them.

If you think they are sick try electrolytes, vitamins, or antibiotics. If you fear coccidia or parasites you may wand to adress that.

WELCOME! and Good luck- hopefully others have some advice...

e

 

[Turtle]

Quote:
I agree with the above post. I would do it all ice, electrolytes,vitamins and antibiotics to cover all the bases. It wont hurt and can only help.