dying chickens

[renarae]

I've lost 4 silky chickens out of 12. The symptoms sound like Marek's but they are less than one month old i.e. seem slow, then sleepy, eyes close, wing edges tattered, then die. They are with their hen, but separate from the 'flock'. Can you give me an idea of what it might be/treatment or do I need to take a corpse to the vet? Thanks for your help (I hope).

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Your best bet is to send one to your state poultry lab for a necropsy. Some states are free. Otherwise they are worth the cost for peace of mind.

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/nahln/downloads/all_nahln_lab_list.pdf

Out of a hundred things that could be wrong, there is no treatment prescribed without a diagnosis.
In that regard, chickens are no different than humans. If several members of a household died, no one would offer a treatment based on that.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Have they been on dirt? If so, it could be coccidiosis.

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC and sorry for your loss. Cociddiosis is very common at that age, and the symptoms are lethargy, weakness, poor appetite or refusal to eat, diarrhea or blood in stools, and a hunched or puffed up appearance. Corid or amprollium added to the water for 5 days is the best treatment. Dosage is 2 tsp of the Corid liquid, or 1.5 tsp of the powder, per gallon of water changed daily. Chicks must drink normally to get the medicine, so give some with a dropper if they are not drinking. If the symptoms were not like this, then I would get a necropsy by your state vet done on any that die. Here is a link for the state vets: http://www.usaha.org/Portals/6/StateAnimalHealthOfficials.pdf