Chickens laying too soon; 2 dead already - Please Help

[dlhunicorn]

Quote:
I posted previously:

... when I found them, just still with their head tucked under their wing. They would open their eyes if you moved them, but would not do anything but sit their in that same position until they died about six hours later...

and

...She just stood there as I picked he up and brought her in the house. She stayed in the box, moving very little but more alert in the eyes and breathing better than the others that passed. She died about 10 hours after I found her...

Research online lead me to this:
"The symptoms of limber neck or botulism are as follows: The birds become dull, inactive, refuse to eat, remain quiet; their feathers are ruffled, and the bird gradually becomes weaker. This is maifested in the legs, wings and finally in the neck, so that the bird is unable to stand, drops the wings; the muscles of the neck are out of use and the neck is limber the bird is sitting on its breast with its beak on the floor and finally complete prostrarion results and the bird lies listless on its side and in a state of coma or unconsciousness dies. Death usually occurs in less than twenty-four hours after taking in the poisionous feed."

So I was wondering if anyone had anymore information.​

If you click that little thumbnail photo in the MERCK link I sent you it will bring up a much bigger image... This is what I would expect to see in a case of botulism bad enough to kill the bird.
The symptoms as you wrote them are present with , well to be honest most all illnesses.
If you notice that the bird is unable to control neck and head and is limp in addition to that then you can suspect a botulism as it specifically affects the neck muscles casuing a flacid (limp) paralysis .​

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Mold can get into food long before you purchase it, so not only would I purchase a different brand, I would also purchase from a different feed store. As Diana said, many illnesses have similar symptoms to what you have described--which really translates into the birds do not feel well. Botulism shows first as leg paralysis; neck paralysis comes later. It is a flacid paralysis as compared with one where the muscles are stiff. The head would not likely be tucked under a wing, which takes some neck control--it would be hanging forward or twisted upside down. Have you listened to their chests? Do their lungs sound at all rattle-y? Any labored breathing?

Several times you have mentioned that they have adequate space acccording to your research, but you have not stated what that amount of space actually is. Different resources suggest different amounts of space. Also, the age and size of the birds makes a difference. I could easily keep several times as many serama in space adequate for a pair of large-fowl brahmas. In general, small bantams need about 3 sq ft per bird, medium sized birds need 7 and large birds need 10. Depending on whether they are cages/cooped full time or only at night/occasionally, they can make do with less space or may require more.

Many states provide free or low-cost necropsy; call your state vet and ask about testing. If you are sending in a dead bird for necropsy, refrigerate it, but do NOT freeze it. Call your vet and ask for further evaluation. You would not have this many losses from early laying--and your birds are not really early layers.

 

[spud1035]

If you have a moldy feed problem, you shouldn't be the only one having a problem. Go on craigslist and post your problem there, maybe others will come forward if it is a cotaminated feed problem at the store level. Have you gone to the store where you bought the feed?