Cornish Cross Dying

[Sportsman94]

Yes they are drinking it. About 5 gallons made fresh each day. It’s the only water in the tractor. I’ll get some pics and videos on a few minutes.

 

[Sportsman94]

 

[Sportsman94]

When I went out to take pics the bird that was showing symptoms was not laying there anymore. I still suspect he will be gone by this afternoon.

This is the food we have used every time we’ve raised meat birds. We give a chick starter/grower for the first couple weeks and then finish out on the game bird 22%. Right, wrong, or indifferent, it’s what we’ve done and it hasn’t caused us issues in the past.

 

[Sportsman94]

They Are also moved to fresh grass every morning. We have not received any rain since the chickens have arrived until this past Thursday so it’s been very dry with nothing wet in the tractor

 

[Kiki]

When I went out to take pics the bird that was showing symptoms was not laying there anymore. I still suspect he will be gone by this afternoon.

This is the food we have used every time we’ve raised meat birds. We give a chick starter/grower for the first couple weeks and then finish out on the game bird 22%. Right, wrong, or indifferent, it’s what we’ve done and it hasn’t caused us issues in the past.

What state are you in? I can give you a direct link to your lab. If it's close you can drive there tomorrow. If not close you can over night a body.

Most state labs will necropsy a bird for cheap.
Some as cheap as 20 bucks.

 

[Kiki]

They Are also moved to fresh grass every morning. We have not received any rain since the chickens have arrived until this past Thursday so it’s been very dry with nothing wet in the tractor

It doesn't appear that you are doing anything 'wrong'
So it's a guessing game as to why they are dying.
Coccidiosis is the first, easiest to fix, guess.

State lab is where I'd go next.
https://vet.uga.edu/diagnostic-service-labs/veterinary-diagnostic-laboratory/

 

[Sportsman94]

Thanks again Kiki! In the past we have taken them to 7-8 weeks, but I think we’re going to butcher on Saturday just to minimize any more losses. Hopefully the corid will prove to be the fix and yesterdays loss was just a fluke. I’ll update this thread with the results of how many we do or don’t lose the rest of the week! I’ll look into the necropsy if they continue!

 

[Sportsman94]

Here is the pre death position each bird has gotten in to. They will stay like this for hours with minimal response to talking, poking, prodding, etc. I’m guessing this is the same one from this AM and expect it to be gone tonight

 

[wolfwalker]

Are any of these birds underweight? Can you feel their breastbone easily? What is yoru elevation?

The easiest thing to do is to look at the organs of one of the ones who have died to see if there is anything off.

 

[Sportsman94]

Not underweight. The last one (yesterday) actually looked ready to butcher in both development and weight. I haven’t looked at the organs of any of them yet. Anything in particular you would suggest looking for?