Hi All!
I have 2 flocks right now, only a fence separates them (they are able to touch each other). One of them is 8 of my old laying hens, 10 (now 9) pullets that I hatched 22-30 weeks, and two 3+ year old roosters, mixed flock. The other is now 27 18-22 week mixed pullets that I hatched, and one 30ish week old BCM rooster that we bought 5 weeks ago, who is the only one who's vaccinated.
The first death after they were out of the garage was in the middle of the summer, when we still had the cockerels, one 13 week old Cream Legbar cockerel had a sudden death, no symptoms, no nothing. Then 6ish weeks ago another CL cockerel was seen lethargic, so I separated him, but in 3 days he gave up. The rest of the cockerels were culled at 16 weeks, as planned, no symptoms outside or inside at all.
A month ago some of them started to sneeze/caugh, so both the flocks received parasite-medicine, then probiotics, then it didn't improve so they got antibiotics and another type of probiotics again. Some poops became runny, yellow-greenish, but in general they seemed good, most of them still do. Until some Cream Legbar pullets started to act lethargic, one had her eyes swollen so I separated her. The next day a leghorn pullet couldn't stand, but she had appetite, and otherwise was active. Still separated her also. She didn't improve in 3 days, so we helped her to the other side, not to let her suffer (I can't feed and make her drink every couple of hours with two small children, one being just one year old a day ago). Then an older (22 week old) Cream Legbar pullet from a completely different hatch suddenly was dead in the other flock (the only one from that flock). 2 days later the swollen eyes one also died, though it seemed she improved, she was more active, had seen her eat and drink alone for days. This was last week.
Now I have an olive egger that's neck is in a position of sleeping, but she stayed like that for 2 days so I also separated her. She only drinks if I put drops on her beak, and she refuses to eat even scrambled eggs.
My hens are laying, obviously not a lot because it's autumn and moulting season, but a stable 4 eggs from 8 hens are coming. Also two 22 week old Silverudds started to lay. But my 30 week old marans pullets did not.
Their appetite certainly grew the last couple of weeks, and most of the sick ones or sudden dead ones were in good weight, and had their comb red.
FYI we are also struggling with mice under the coops, trying out best to eliminate them.
I have no freaking clue at this point of what am I dealing with. Can it be Marek's? But only 2 of the 6 is showing paralysis symptoms. Or am I dealing with different things at once? If this pullet dies I definitely bring her to an autopsy, to be sure if it is Marek's or not. Any ideas from anyone?
I can disinfect the feeders, drinkers, the coops, but I see no chance for disinfection os the run. 2500 sqft of dirt...
Thanks in advance.
I have 2 flocks right now, only a fence separates them (they are able to touch each other). One of them is 8 of my old laying hens, 10 (now 9) pullets that I hatched 22-30 weeks, and two 3+ year old roosters, mixed flock. The other is now 27 18-22 week mixed pullets that I hatched, and one 30ish week old BCM rooster that we bought 5 weeks ago, who is the only one who's vaccinated.
The first death after they were out of the garage was in the middle of the summer, when we still had the cockerels, one 13 week old Cream Legbar cockerel had a sudden death, no symptoms, no nothing. Then 6ish weeks ago another CL cockerel was seen lethargic, so I separated him, but in 3 days he gave up. The rest of the cockerels were culled at 16 weeks, as planned, no symptoms outside or inside at all.
A month ago some of them started to sneeze/caugh, so both the flocks received parasite-medicine, then probiotics, then it didn't improve so they got antibiotics and another type of probiotics again. Some poops became runny, yellow-greenish, but in general they seemed good, most of them still do. Until some Cream Legbar pullets started to act lethargic, one had her eyes swollen so I separated her. The next day a leghorn pullet couldn't stand, but she had appetite, and otherwise was active. Still separated her also. She didn't improve in 3 days, so we helped her to the other side, not to let her suffer (I can't feed and make her drink every couple of hours with two small children, one being just one year old a day ago). Then an older (22 week old) Cream Legbar pullet from a completely different hatch suddenly was dead in the other flock (the only one from that flock). 2 days later the swollen eyes one also died, though it seemed she improved, she was more active, had seen her eat and drink alone for days. This was last week.
Now I have an olive egger that's neck is in a position of sleeping, but she stayed like that for 2 days so I also separated her. She only drinks if I put drops on her beak, and she refuses to eat even scrambled eggs.
My hens are laying, obviously not a lot because it's autumn and moulting season, but a stable 4 eggs from 8 hens are coming. Also two 22 week old Silverudds started to lay. But my 30 week old marans pullets did not.
Their appetite certainly grew the last couple of weeks, and most of the sick ones or sudden dead ones were in good weight, and had their comb red.
FYI we are also struggling with mice under the coops, trying out best to eliminate them.
I have no freaking clue at this point of what am I dealing with. Can it be Marek's? But only 2 of the 6 is showing paralysis symptoms. Or am I dealing with different things at once? If this pullet dies I definitely bring her to an autopsy, to be sure if it is Marek's or not. Any ideas from anyone?
I can disinfect the feeders, drinkers, the coops, but I see no chance for disinfection os the run. 2500 sqft of dirt...
Thanks in advance.
