angeschooks
Hatching
In need of advice and a bit of moral support!
Last night all was well in chookland....when I went out this morning I found one of my 5 week old Vorwerk hens dead. Initially I thought shed been attacked, but on close inspection she was in great condition - just dead.
About an hour later I noticed one of her coop mates was starting to look rather poorly, sitting down, fluffed up and lethargic. I removed her (a 5 week old Lakenvelder hen) to an isolation pen, again in great body condition, but within half an hour she too was dead. I tried to tempt her to drink etc, but she was dying in my hands.
I'm obviously watching the others very carefully, but I'm clueless as to why they've died so quickly, especially in such apparent good health. The only symptom was a poo, white, fairly runny with bloody jelly type stuff in it.
We have other chickens, the three bantams who hatched them (& live with them still), 4 others in a separate run and the 3 hybrids.
Is it possible that the hybrids have made them ill? They're live vaccinated and do get to roam daily....or could it be something else?
The weather here in Norfolk(UK) has been pretty good recently!! They've got water, good quality feed and shade etc.
Any advice,ideas etc would be welcome......Thank you.
Last night all was well in chookland....when I went out this morning I found one of my 5 week old Vorwerk hens dead. Initially I thought shed been attacked, but on close inspection she was in great condition - just dead.
About an hour later I noticed one of her coop mates was starting to look rather poorly, sitting down, fluffed up and lethargic. I removed her (a 5 week old Lakenvelder hen) to an isolation pen, again in great body condition, but within half an hour she too was dead. I tried to tempt her to drink etc, but she was dying in my hands.
I'm obviously watching the others very carefully, but I'm clueless as to why they've died so quickly, especially in such apparent good health. The only symptom was a poo, white, fairly runny with bloody jelly type stuff in it.
We have other chickens, the three bantams who hatched them (& live with them still), 4 others in a separate run and the 3 hybrids.
Is it possible that the hybrids have made them ill? They're live vaccinated and do get to roam daily....or could it be something else?
The weather here in Norfolk(UK) has been pretty good recently!! They've got water, good quality feed and shade etc.
Any advice,ideas etc would be welcome......Thank you.
from Yorkshire UK
I too would be pointed towards coccidiosis. Here are a couple of articles for you to read through on symptoms etc ~ 
