Dying chickens

[ojum43]

Hi, I've had several birds die in the past few months, it appears as though they're each getting the same disease.
First an adult African goose, he showed symptoms like not being able to breathe or speak.
Then a gosling, (the first one's baby), that had the same symptoms.
Then a white Pekin duckling, which showed symptoms like not being able to stand up, walk, or speak.
Then a Rhode Island Red hen, who just acted a little slow and then died.
Now we have a Red Cochin young cockerel, who cannot stand or walk, but is trying very hard (and keeps flipping over onto his back), and he is eating, drinking, and breathing normally.
Just tonight I found my Golden Comet hen lying in a corner. I picked her up and her comb is flopped over (not normal for her) and she also cannot stand or walk.

I do not know what disease or illness they are catching, but it seems very contagious. Does anyone have any idea what is wrong with them, and how to treat it??

Thanks!

 

[boskelli1571]

Wow! Sorry for your losses. Need a little more info. are they all housed together? Do they access the same drinking water? Did the ducks swim in the water? How big is the area where you keep everyone? It sounds a bit suspicious for botulism, but more info is needed

 

[ojum43]

Wow! Sorry for your losses. Need a little more info. are they all housed together? Do they access the same drinking water? Did the ducks swim in the water? How big is the area where you keep everyone? It sounds a bit suspicious for botulism, but more info is needed

Standard-size chickens are housed together, bantam chickens housed together, geese housed together, ducks housed together, cochins housed together. Everyone free-ranges except the bantams and cochins. The ducks do swim in the water that chickens may drink out of. The geese swim in that water as well.

 

[drumstick diva]

Your best bet would be to bring a newly dead or dying bird to a vet for a necropsy to determine what they are dying from before, they are all dead. I am very sorry this is happening to you. Do your birds free range? Is it possible someone has put out poison for predators or sprayed their area with weed killer etc?

 

[boskelli1571]

Standard-size chickens are housed together, bantam chickens housed together, geese housed together, ducks housed together, cochins housed together. Everyone free-ranges except the bantams and cochins. The ducks do swim in the water that chickens may drink out of. The geese swim in that water as well.

My first thought is to clean out the water the ducks have been in - if that's not possible, keep all birds away from it. Clean up any duck poo[ from the communal area. Drumstick Diva made a great suggestion to get a necropsy done. My other thought is that their feed is moldy/damp.
I'm hoping that either Eggcessive or Casportpony will join this thread they are super knowledgeable on diseases.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[ojum43]

Your best bet would be to bring a newly dead or dying bird to a vet for a necropsy to determine what they are dying from before, they are all dead. I am very sorry this is happening to you. Do your birds free range? Is it possible someone has put out poison for predators or sprayed their area with weed killer etc?

Today we did take the cochin (last night it died) for an autopsy, we haven't gotten results yet.. how long does it take, on average? The birds do free range, but not outside of our yard. We don't spray weed killer or plant fertilizers or anything like that.

 

[ojum43]

My first thought is to clean out the water the ducks have been in - if that's not possible, keep all birds away from it. Clean up any duck poo[ from the communal area. Drumstick Diva made a great suggestion to get a necropsy done. My other thought is that their feed is moldy/damp.
I'm hoping that either Eggcessive or Casportpony will join this thread they are super knowledgeable on diseases.

Yes, we are working towards cleaning out all coops, feeders, and waterers soon. Thank you so much for your help!

 

[ojum43]

Another bantam cochin caught the same disease. We got the results back from the necropsy, it said the bird had red mites and a mild case of coccidia. Does anyone know how to treat and prevent these?

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

As for the mites, some areas of the country or world have high populations of mites, especially in areas that don't see heavy freezes. But even so, mites can occur anywhere.

You might strip down your coop and nest boxes, removing all bedding and use a poultry dust or spray in every crack and corner. Concentrate on the roost bar, underneath the bar and the nest boxes. These are areas these bugs like to hide and lay eggs. Especially underneath the roost bar. Not all these bugs live on the birds and will come out from the cracks of the bar at night to feed on the bird. Spray or dust your birds as well. You can also use Cattle Ivermectin Pour on on the back of the neck. You can order this on line. Depending on the size of the bird, anywhere from 2 to 5 drops on the back of the neck and this will kill mites on the birds. Once a month you might strip down the coop and clean up again as a preventative.

As for the Coccidiosis, it blows on the wind, it is in the soil and it is especially present in dirty conditions although it can occur in the cleanest of places as well. You need to keep some Corid or something with Amprolium in it on hand. You can get this at most feed stores. It is a medication that is put in the chickens water for 5 to 7 days. This will kill off the cocci. Birds that are suffering from cocci will stop eating and drinking, get very lethargic, stand in the corner uninterested in life and many times have bloody diarrhea.

So sorry you have lost birds. I hope you can get a hold of this soon.