EE hen unable to walk with runny yellow poo.

[kinnip]

There are a number of diseases that can run through a flock almost imperceptibly, killing only those who already have weaknesses. If this is the case, all you can do is watch and wait. If another dies, I'd take it for a necropsy. Separate any who look suspect.
Feed can be contaminated before it ever gets to you. Botulism is rare, but aflatoxins are not. They can sneak into the feed anywhere along the line, from harvest in the fields to storage at the feed store. The lack of eggs is probably just because their systems are stressed. Keep them hydrated and give the poly-vi-sol. I know feed's not cheap, but if you're nearing the end of a bag, I'd toss it and start a new one.
I seriously doubt the ducks had anything to do with it. They've been together too long for something new to crop up.

 

[rachel]

I spoke with the doctor/vet at the county for awhile. His thoughts were that although he's personally never seen any issues of chickens getting botulism from compost, it would be possible and it wouldn't hurt to move the compost bin out of the chicken pen. He also said that he had never seen a chicken (in our desert) that had a parasite problem that was a cause of death, that the climate out here really helps to prevent problems from worms etc. He didn't suspect bad feed or the ducks either. He thought it was basically probably just an issue of weak birds getting heat stress and getting sick. He did agree that the pale yellow poop was indicating issues with egg laying, and couldn't say if it was the primary or secondary issue with them. I'm not relaying this here as intelligently as he did to me in our conversation. I feel very confident about what he said and am grateful he was willing to talk with me about it. I'll keep a close eye on the flock and cross my fingers that they'll all be okay.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
You're fortunate to have had such a conversation; so many of us really have no resource but BYC/the web and common sense. I agree, sounds very sensible, and so glad you had this opportunity.

Good luck!

 

[rachel]

Just wanted to update that sick hen #1 is now back to normal as best as I can tell. No laying of course, but she's otherwise acting like a regular chicken. I'm continuing to give her cherry tomatoes stuffed with vitamin e and liquid calcium. All other birds seem normal *knock on wood*