Chickens sick and dieing..help?

[Shaf9]

I have a acre of land and I'm keeping some chickens there in a cage. It's not near where I live so I usually have to see them every other day. My chickens have twisted feet and are limping. I have had some die too. I'm not sure if it's some bacteria from not changing the water everyday or some bacterial microbe from excretions. Really need some help on what to do.

 

[Shaf9]

Anyone?

 

[BeachMomma]

What kind of cage and how many chickens?
If they're limping then my first assumption would be they've hurt themselves and need to be checked for broken bones,sores such as bumblefoot,etc. Injured animals, especially chickens,have to be cared for and checked on multiple times a day. If injury isn't the case and it is 'twisted feet' could mean vitamin deficiency and can be treated with drops and I believe sometimes splints can be made.
Are you able to bring them to your home? If not,you'll need to take daily trips to care for them.

 

[duckets]

 

[Toddrick]

So you just have some chickens in a cage out in the middle of some property? Hopefully they are under a shade tree. Do they have a way to get out of the cage where they can scratch on the ground? Do they have an enclosed area to protect them from rain?

 

[Shaf9]

About 50+ chickens in a 10 feet x 10 feet cage. It's on a cement floor. The chickens are about 2 months old. I bought them from a hatchery as one day old chick's. I have some black sex link and barred rock. I have a little area with some dirt to scratch and it's shaded under a tree and some wooden boards. I took out the sick chickens which had limp legs and watery eyes. Had one eye that was shut or covered with something bacterial.
Edit - it seems chick's that are sick are the barred sick. Haven't seen any black sex links sick or die.

 

[Toddrick]

50 chickens in a 10x10 sounds tight if you plan on them growing up there. Or are you building a coop still? Do you have pictures of the cage? I would think that 8 week old chicks would need more protection from the elements than it sounds like they have.

 

[BeachMomma]

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/m/#publication?id=PS044 This link has a few diseases that can affect chickens. Watery eyes can mean respiratory issues,especially if there's gunk and will need to be treated with antibiotics depending on any other symptoms. The limp legs could either be a symptom of the sickness or be a result of not having them on shavings or softer material than concrete.
If you've had them since days old,did you have them in a brooder with heat lamps to acclimate them to the weather?
Are they sneezing or coughing too?
How often is the cage cleaned out?
Is their food and water put where they can't step in it?
Do they have an enclosure that they can all go into at night?
If you've separated the sick ones,did you cull them or are they in another cage?

 

[Shaf9]

Had them in a brooder for a month or so with heat lamps. One of the chicks was sneezing and coughing. The cage is cleaned out every 2 days or so. Have the water on a concrete block and the food is near the ground in a dispenser. Don't have a enclosure for night time.

Put the sick ones in a separate cage from the rest. Releasing the birds to be more free range. Have a little house with some perches and dirt on the ground. I won't be able to be there everyday so i'm not sure if i should be worried about raccoon or rats eating them because the door to coop will be open.

 

[BeachMomma]

Sick ones need antibiotics,the link I posted should help with figuring out what's needed unless some of the veterans post with suggestions. Even though one breed is showing sickness,they were altogether so it could be a matter if time before others show symptoms.

The chickens need a coop big enough for all of them to keep out of the elements and for safety at night. Hardcloth needs to be dug into the ground around the cage to keep predators from digging into the area. Do not let chickens free range if you're not at the property. You will not have a flock left.

Chickens have to be checked on more than every other day or every few days, especially younger ones and a flock of 50+. If you're not able to, do you have a family member or friend that can go on the days you can't?