Dying chickens

[Barredhen]

Its rather long winded, I'll put the questions in bold.

We bought 6 chicks fall 2018 and all but 1 remaining hen has died.
They all seem to fluff up and look quietly under the weather for a few days, still eat but lay low. Then some have developed a visible weakness or neurological type look (such as they go to preen and nearly fall over). Also could be just very weak? Some just seem to be under the weather one day and dead the next.
Once this spring came we had a reprieve from chickens dieing and the two survivors just survived, layed eggs and did chicken things SO we cleaned the coop and bought 4 chicks this spring to replace the 4 that had passed at that point.
We had 2 of the 6 from fall mentioned, plus the 4 spring chickens until about a month ago when it became cold again, one more fall chicken passed. She looked fluffed up and less active for a couple of days and then died. (I WOULD have tried a necropsy but when I found her they'd unfortunately already eaten most of her...) Now, a few days ago one of the 4 from spring has developed the same symptoms. Shes in a separate stall right now, but she is one exhibiting the neurological signs. Difficulty standing, she spends a lot of time plopped kind of on her butt. Though she can get up and walk... shes eating great but NOT drinking that I've seen. I've been supplementing with most foods, mashes etc...

Fall chicks did have coccidia as chicks and were treated. New chicks were treated as preventive. Now that everyone is an adult bird, its not likely that is it?
I hadn't de-wormed in quite some time because this spring a fecal was neg, but I did deworm a few days ago with this chicken started to show signs of not feeling well thinking maybe I should since it was just a couple weeks prior fall chicken #5 died. This chicken was fluffed up and under the weather but now after de-worming shes tipsy and worse. I did see 1 round worm expelled from the lot of them, but I don't think its worms.

I've tried all year to ensure built up immune systems with probiotics, acv, extra protein, pumpkin seeds (thats another thing, if they don't get feather fixer and meat they seem to puck their feathers out like they have a protein shortage?! Is there something that they could have that causes them to be a bit thin and need a lot of extra protein?)

I was suspicious of Mareks ? before and really am again. I'm not sure why they were all fine all summer but had a heck of a time last winter and this winter has already claimed one bird and this next one isn't looking so good.

Thoughts?
I need to figure out where to send this hen if she passes. We are actually in the process of moving and if they have something, which it seems they do, I'd rather not bring it to new property so I need to make a decision fast.

 

[21hens-incharge]

A few questions....

Where in the world are you located?

What breed(s) are your birds?

Are there a lot of migratory birds around?

Have you checked for mites/lice?

 

[AltonaAcres]

I always blame Mareks for my chicken deaths. It can come in many forms, and birds can have a variety of symptoms. It is also very contagious and common.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Not sure where you are located. As it often is, a general location in your signature can help or at least save me some typing.

If you are in the USA, call your county extension office tomorrow morning and ask them about getting a necropsy. My questions would be how much does it cost, where do I take it and when, and (very important) how do I prepare and preserve it? Usually refrigerated or in ice water but not frozen.

If you are somewhere else, try calling whatever your national ministry is that handles agriculture and talk to someone. Or call a veterinarian an see if they will help.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Its rather long winded, I'll put the questions in bold.

We bought 6 chicks fall 2018 and all but 1 remaining hen has died.
They all seem to fluff up and look quietly under the weather for a few days, still eat but lay low. Then some have developed a visible weakness or neurological type look (such as they go to preen and nearly fall over). Also could be just very weak? Some just seem to be under the weather one day and dead the next.
Once this spring came we had a reprieve from chickens dieing and the two survivors just survived, layed eggs and did chicken things SO we cleaned the coop and bought 4 chicks this spring to replace the 4 that had passed at that point.
We had 2 of the 6 from fall mentioned, plus the 4 spring chickens until about a month ago when it became cold again, one more fall chicken passed. She looked fluffed up and less active for a couple of days and then died. (I WOULD have tried a necropsy but when I found her they'd unfortunately already eaten most of her...) Now, a few days ago one of the 4 from spring has developed the same symptoms. Shes in a separate stall right now, but she is one exhibiting the neurological signs. Difficulty standing, she spends a lot of time plopped kind of on her butt. Though she can get up and walk... shes eating great but NOT drinking that I've seen. I've been supplementing with most foods, mashes etc...

Fall chicks did have coccidia as chicks and were treated. New chicks were treated as preventive. Now that everyone is an adult bird, its not likely that is it?
I hadn't de-wormed in quite some time because this spring a fecal was neg, but I did deworm a few days ago with this chicken started to show signs of not feeling well thinking maybe I should since it was just a couple weeks prior fall chicken #5 died. This chicken was fluffed up and under the weather but now after de-worming shes tipsy and worse. I did see 1 round worm expelled from the lot of them, but I don't think its worms.

I've tried all year to ensure built up immune systems with probiotics, acv, extra protein, pumpkin seeds (thats another thing, if they don't get feather fixer and meat they seem to puck their feathers out like they have a protein shortage?! Is there something that they could have that causes them to be a bit thin and need a lot of extra protein?)

I was suspicious of Mareks ? before and really am again. I'm not sure why they were all fine all summer but had a heck of a time last winter and this winter has already claimed one bird and this next one isn't looking so good.

Thoughts?
I need to figure out where to send this hen if she passes. We are actually in the process of moving and if they have something, which it seems they do, I'd rather not bring it to new property so I need to make a decision fast.

What are you feeding them for the main part of their diet? It almost sounds like they may have some sort of vitamin or dietary deficiency.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Thoughts?
I need to figure out where to send this hen if she passes.

Sorry for your losses!

Please add your general location to your profile so folks can make the best suggestions possible.

Links for necropsy if you are in the US... bookmark them if you like...
How to Send a Bird for a Necropsy

State poultry labs

Coccidia and worm load can both be tested for by a standard fecal float at the vet.

 

[Barredhen]

I live in Michigan. So less migrating birds, more the weather gets cold and then my chickens seem to be dropping like flies.
They do have plenty of clean dry indoor living space.

No lice or mites in the past, I can double check again now.

They had a fecal float early summer that was neg/very low. I've read though that they can be inaccurate in the chicken? I de-wormed with safeguard a few days ago and it made my ill chicken worse, she doesn't stand well at all now. Sits on her butt with her feet out and waits for food service.

They eat 50% Kalmbach layer crumbles and 50% Neutrena feather fixer. Also "approved" kitchen scraps, garden scraps, pumpkins, occasionally have a leftover pile of bones to pick through and some sunflower seeds.

I also give them a chicken water supplement with vitamins and probiotics. Started that this year to see if it helped. This has been a long time issue for me. The first few sets of "flocks" years ago were problem free. The last few have constantly plucked feathers and some deaths as described. (The feather picking is odd to me. Its NOT learned, we've gotten rid of a feather picking group of chickens, bought chicks who'd never met them and once they got to laying age they started to feather pick too.) My coop floor looks like they're never not molting and occasionally in past flocks I have bald butted birds. No vent gleet or obvious issues. It must be something nutrition wise to keep happening?!

So the signs are, feather plucking, seem like they need added protein to keep weight and laying, some (officially 5 of 10 dead, 1 now not looking good so 6 of 10) in 1 years time. They fluff up, hunker down, get listless. Usually eat well right up to dying. 3 have exhibited something neurological, I mean, it could be that they're very week and thus do not have good balance and "sit" unable to stand, but seems rather neuro.

Thankyou for the thoughts. And links on how to if she passes!

 

[Folly's place]

The best thing you can do is have birds necropsied! The Michigan State veterinary path lab is in East Lansing, and chilled (not frozen) carcasses can be either delivered or shipped there. Call for advice, 517-353-1683. Your local vet may be able to necropsy a bird, and send in tissue samples, if that's a better option for you.
There are tests that can be run on live birds; again, talk to MSU about it. Dr. Fulton is a national poultry expert, and he's there.
Mary

 

[EggSighted4Life]

My coop floor looks like they're never not molting and occasionally in past flocks I have bald butted birds.

Possible liver issues, most commonly seen in Orpington type birds. Otherwise maybe parasites. What breeds are you dealing with?

I suggest switching to Purina flock raiser with oyster shell on the side. It has 20% protein and higher in amino acids than layer feed. Works great for anyone going through molt and for bringing up juveniles as well. I don't like the excess calcium that's in feather fixer, personally.

So the signs are, feather plucking, seem like they need added protein to keep weight and laying,

Feathers are only 2% digestible protein according to my research and blamed too often on nutrition... more likely boredom, crowding, bullying... OR parasites... noting that some don't live on the birds and only come out to feed on them.

I also give them a chicken water supplement with vitamins and probiotics. Started that this year to see if it helped.

Is this full time or only on occasion? Can you share which ones?

Generally no supplement should be given more than 10 days in a row unless recommended by a vet.

They had a fecal float early summer that was neg/very low. I've read though that they can be inaccurate in the chicken? I de-wormed with safeguard a few days ago and it made my ill chicken worse, she doesn't stand well at all now. Sits on her butt with her feet out and waits for food service.

It's true that your load count can change seasonally and even immediately after you had a load count done. It's also true that a centrifuge spun float will be more accurate than a passive float.

Thank you for sharing that deworming actually made your already ill bird worse... many people don't realize that can happen. So sorry, it stinks when good intentions and doing your best don't have good outcomes.

Hang in there!

Please keep us updated so we can continue to support you, and also learn so we might be able to help others in the future.

 

[Barredhen]

I spoke with a veterinarian at State. My ill bird is still hanging in there. Vet seemed indifferent to a necropsy if just one bird at a time is dying. Though, since fall of 2018 I've purchased 16 birds, from 3 different locations and 6 have died, 1 is the subject of the OP (shes still not able to move much. Not so much paralyzed in the legs as horribly out of balance and prefers to just sit there on her butt so she doesn't tip over.) and 1 additional bird who is yet in my flock but has spent every other day the past week looking fluffed up & a little less active. So of 16 birds in 1 year 8 died/if you count these last two "dying"... Especially since I have no idea how to treat them so I'm basically just feeding one who cannot move and watching another until they die.
Mareks doesn't seem to be out of the question, though its not an exact match. Vet advocated for vaccinating all incoming chicks regardless.
Its hard to decide, because we are moving and I have the option to cull this flock and start fresh vrs "bring something" to the new place. But needlessly culling young layers isn't what I'm looking to do if there isn't something that I would "be bringing." I have wondered if it is something here. The last hen who died, died shortly after they sprayed the Christmas tree field right next door. Perhaps all of the ridiculous chemicals, paints, pesticides and fungicides involved in these dumb trees is whats behind it. We've wondered that for some time.

Thankyou for the Purina flock raiser with oyster suggestion. I think that I was looking at that yesterday when I picked up more feather fixer actually.

What breeds are you dealing with?

The breeds that were most problematic where heritage. Bought fall 2018. They were Javas, Barnvelders and Marans. The Barnvelders and Marans died as chicks. One Java, my favorite hen, is doing great. The other Java was also doing well but she is the hen who died the day after the field was sprayed about a month ago.
The 4 that replaced the Barnvelders and Marans are 2 Wyandottes, 1 Barred rock and 1 buff orpington. It is one of the Wyandottes that is having balance issues and the barred rock whos sitting around fluffed up now. These we purchased March of this year and have been GREAT until these two this week!!!
Then we have 6 chicks who came from a hatchery in July, all are doing completely fine... Doesn't make sense?! Seems like if there was some bird killing issue here the last 10 would have had at least 1 contract something as a chick!?

Is this full time or only on occasion? Can you share which ones?

It is occasional, but weekly. Rooster Booster. A b-vitamin/probiotic added to the water.

Thank you for sharing that deworming actually made your already ill bird worse... many people don't realize that can happen. So sorry, it stinks when good intentions and doing your best don't have good outcomes.

Yes, absolutely. She went from fluffed up off alone to trouble balancing.
I did give an accidental over dose (only 1/2 dose over what I was told to give) of Ivermectrin to a bird a while back who developed balance issues and blindness. After about a month she was back to normal and fine. For what its worth...