Disease that takes out part of the Flock every year: Opinions Needed!!

[Yazzo]

For the past few years now, our chickens have gotten some kind of disease or virus almost every spring that usually wipes out one or two of the seemingly weaker ones. In the past, it didn't seem too bad, as it would often give then diarrhea-like symptoms, but usually not kill them. In the past week however, I've found TWO dead hens, which, apart from being troubling, is heart-wrenching as well. I hate to lose any chickens and don't want to lose any more, so I'm hoping someone out there will be able to offer some helpful suggestions as to what this is and how to prevent it.

Typically, the symptoms are diarrhea, followed by the chicken becoming increasingly sluggish, then either getting over it (usually with a little help), or getting worse. They will have messy behinds for a while, but that's about it. Now, these are the symptoms exhibited most years, but just today, and seemingly healthy hen died with little warning at all. She was acting quite normal yesterday, but I just found her dead a little while ago.

Her back was pecked up and raw flesh exposed (sorry for grossing anyone out) which usually doesn't happen. She didn't have any back sores or anything, and I think her back being pecked up, while disgusting, wasn't actually related to the disease/parasite/virus or the symptoms. Other than that, she was a pretty heavy hen, but she's always had sort of a purple comb and wattles, which may indicate she was one of the 'weaker ones' in some way, and she had just a bit of white stuff on her backside which could've been diarrhea. It was pretty cold yesterday, but I don't know if that has anything to do with it. I've heard of seemingly healthy chickens dieing suddenly, sometimes from the cold, but I'd really like to know what the regular diarrhea disease/virus/whatever that comes almost every year is.

I'm not sure if what she was killed by was related in any way to the bug they get every spring, but any information or insight would be highly appreciated! I really don't want this to happen again, but I haven't been able to pinpoint exactly what it is, or seen any really good way or preventing it.

Thanks for any input!

 

[Andora]

What color is their diarrhea? Is it foamy and yellow/orange like mustard? Then it could be worms. If it's bloody it could be cocci.

Where do you live? Is there an animal diagnostic lab near you? We have one here (university of Kentucky) and it's only $10 to get your dead chicken a full necropsy exam. That will tell you what's wrong for sure!

 

[mercedes]

Are they doing any free ranging or are they able to reach any vegetation which may be poisonous to them?

 

[Yazzo]

Andora: No, it's not worms, and it's not bloody either. It's usually just white or greenish sometimes. I was thinking it could be cocci, but they never nave bloody droppings and I don't think they can pick up cocci from goats, can they (our goats had it before)? We live in southern Colorado, and temps around this time of year can get pretty extreme (freezing cold then hot the next day), and I don't know if that has anything to do with it. Where we used to live there was a diagnostic lab very nearby, but I'm not sure about here. I don't think there's any nearby. Thanks for the input!

mercedes: Yes, they all free range, but they don't have access to any poisonous plants that I know of, and they have never shown signs of poisoning.

 

[Yazzo]

Sorry about the double post, but I've been thinking of feeding them garlic to improve their immune systems. Does anyone know a good way to give them raw (or possibly powdered) garlic?

 

[ChooksChick]

If there's not a diagnostic lab near you, I think you could send your birds to the Kansas State University Veterinary Medicine lab. I'm not sure what the link is.

There may be info there to determine whether they can handle out of state birds- they are very communicative if you ask them to call you before completing the necropsy so you can choose to go farther with the testing than just the gross necropsy. I had them do a girl a long time back who died from an internally broken egg and thus peritonitis. It didn't even cost me a $7 disposal fee. You need to refrigerate the bird lower than 40* but above freezing, and you need to package it well in a plastic bag and lots of cooler packs when you send it- send it USPS Express.

Good luck. Have you any sort of fungi or mushrooms that they might be getting this time of year?

 

[seminolewind]

Some strains of cocci (coccidiosis) do not cause bloody stool. But with your temperatures, I doubt it's cocci. The green diarrhea means not eating. Sorry. I can't figure out why any of mine die.

 

[KlaHaYa Gardens]

You have some options:

1) You could take the bird to a vet (then report back and share with us all what you learned);

2) You could take a stool sample to the vet (then report back and share with us all what you learned);

3) You could call your state department of agriculture; they may provide free or low cost testing;

4) You could consult the Merck Veterinary Manual, available on line and "guess" at what it might be;

5) You can google the symptoms and compare them to various charts and make a "guess";

6) You could let us guess -- some of us really enjoy that

;

7) You could twiddle your thumbs, be a worry wart, run up and down the street like a chicken with your head cut off proclaiming the sky is falling;

OR,

8) Make chocolate chip cookies and share with all of the forum members.

9) None of the above.

(My preferences are for options 1, 2, 3, and 8.)

 

[crtrlovr]

It is very likely coccidiosis. It does not always present with bloody feces. I've had several losses to coccidiosis (apparently right here we have some particularly nasty and persistent strains) and mine have NEVER exhibited bloody stool. The cocci multiply and live quite well in damp, cool to warm conditions -- like the rainy Spring season. Even if it's still fairly cool, the cocci oocysts The conditions are idea for cocci to flourish, and the incidence of cocci losses are highest in the spring, early summer, and fall. I used Corid multiple times, and on the advice of the vet, kept everyone on medicated chick starter as their routine feed. It did not help, and did not prevent addtional losses. When I used the Sulmet, it cleared up. My next goal is, when it FINALLY STOPS RAINING in W. KY, to have some gravel and sand hauled in to keep it drier in their run.

 

[crtrlovr]

Quote:
The oocysts from coccidia can live in the soil for a very, VERY long time (months or even years). Yes, your chickens could get coccidia from the soil if the oocysts are there at all.