Egg production down....I fear the worse. Need help from the pros!

[Hanamat Farms]

We have a mixed flock of BR’s, RSL’s, BSL’s, and one BO. There are 24 total and all are just under 1 year old and are of average weight for their age.

Up until 2 ½ weeks ago, everything was fine. The egg-laying had slowed down, but things were ok. Well, I felt bad for a buddy who lost his job and couldn’t take care of the 8 hens of the same mix that I had given him after brooding and raising for 5 months. I guess I should have known better than to introduce “new” hens right away. I figured, “hey, I raised them, I know they’re healthy, but that’s when the egg laying all but stopped. Also, some are coughing, sneezing, shaking their heads and even seem to have a bit of a rattle. I haven’t seen any discharge from their nostrils or eyes and they seem to be eating and drinking fine as I am constantly refilling each daily.

They have been “on strike” for about 2 ½ weeks.
Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
The cough started in 2 of the “new” birds and from observing them for a while this morning, my best guess is that about 8-10 are showing similar symptoms.
Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
The only thing that is questionable to me is that a few have some missing head feathers.

Introduced too quickly ??????? Due to the number of chickens, I reconfigured the roosts as well to accommodate the numbers.

The birds are on a steady layer ration and drinking fresh water daily.
How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
I’ve only seen a few fresh “blasts”. Other than that, things look pretty normal.

They are on the second day of Duramycin-10

I’d like to take care of this myself. I live in MA and there aren’t ANY vets that have a poultry prowess that I am aware of.

The housing is 8’x8’ with a 6’ ceiling and is wind protected with electricity. The lighting is on a timer as well as the coop door to the run. I use and change out the pine shavings every couple of weeks. Due to the snow in the 12’x12’ enclosed run, the chickens have been inside for the better part of a month. Even after shoveling it out on 2 different occasions, they opted not to come outside.


**** I’ve researched as much as I can on this forum. I’m afraid of MG and CRD, but know that it is a real possibility. Could it be any of the following:
- Stress
- Infectious Bronchitis
- Egg Bound
- Something worse…………!
I know eradication is the best practice and I guess I’m prepared to do so, but is this anti-biotic treatment effective enough where I can see a great improvement in egg production and overall health…………or are there too many variables at play by “re-introducing” the birds. I tend to think the worse, so I am open and grateful to any feedback. Have a great day and God bless.
- Hanamat Farm

 

[purpletree23]

Where do you live? What is the weather like? How does your coop differ from your buddies coop? What I mean is heated or unheated?

My BoBo I see you live in MA. I'm in NH so I am aware of your weather conditions.

Was your buddy feeding them the same brand and kind (pellet/crumble) feed you are feeding?

 

[Hanamat Farms]

No,
I had been using a product from a local grain mill and he was using a feed from a commercial line. The ingredients are extremely similar, but they are different. Both of our coops are not insulated and the only heat is that from a light bulb. However, they are in the sun and out of the harsh wind. Puzzling.

 

[purpletree23]

Check your PM

Try mixing the food you are feeding with the food your buddy was feeding. The ingredients might be the same but the chickens might be able to tell the difference and might not be eating enough. All chablis comes from grapes but all chablis does not taste the same.

You have 64 square feet of coop which means you really should only have 16 chickens so you are over crowded. Are they coughing because of an excessive amount of dust? Is there too much ammonia? Do you have windows you can open? One across from another to get cross ventilation? They might not be sick at all. I hope.

What is the temp and humidity in the coop?

We are having a few really (in context) warm days til Friday. Is there any way to clear the snow out of their covered run to give them more time and space away from each other? In the winter I cover my run with a tarp on 3 sides so when the weather is decent my chickens can get some fresh air. I feel it makes them healthier and happier. Less likely to snap at each other.

Not laying I think is due to stress. Introducing that many chickens is a big shock to both groups. It will take some time before they get used to each other and things will slowly return to normal. You might want to consider re-homing some or making a bigger coop.

 

[Hanamat Farms]

Thanks for your time. This is nice therapy. I do have windows that I can open for ventilation and I will do so. The litter is clean and the dust very minimal. In fact, I just cleaned and replaced it 3 days ago. There is no ammonia smell at all. My concern of re-homing them is the "what if" factor. I wouldn't want to give somebody sick chickens. The temp in the coop is not that bad during the day. I'm sure it gets to freezing at night, but the waterer is heated so aside from a wireless thermometer, I wouldn't know. They seem to be out in the run a lot more today. Perhaps is the "milder" temps or maybe the anti-biotics...........I don't know. What's your opinion on getting rid of some?

 

[chickengrl]

Honestly, it sounds like your hens have a respiratory infection with the head shaking, sneezing and such. Often another symptom is poor egg laying or even stopping. I am no expert, but am currently fighting an illness in my main coop and have had birds die from it. We are now waiting for testing on those birds to find out exactly what we are dealing with. I would not rehome them IMHO because they sound like they are indeed sick. You can try an antibiotic, but many of these diseases will leave them a carrier even after they get better. I think I would watch them for now. I don't go straight for an antibiotic too quick. Best of luck and hopefully another more experienced person will have more suggestions for you.

 

[Terri O]

They could just be reestablishing the pecking order too. That will stop the laying for a little while. Also, perhaps they are starting to go through a molt at their age?

 

[purpletree23]

Just a thought......what are you using for bedding? Anything with cedar? This will give them respiratory problems. I'm just trying to think everything through.

You can give some away if the person you are giving them to knows that they might be sick and is willing to take the risk.
Someone might want to take them who does not have a flock now but wants layers without the trouble of raising chicks. They still won't lay for a while because of the relocation stress.
A shelter might take them
Reality....someone might want them for dinner
Unless you know the person you are giving the chickens to make sure you tell the person you are 'selling' the chickens to a good home only. Make sure they are willing to make an investment in the animals. Free chickens can end up in some pretty bad situations like fighting, food for huge snakes or live bait.

 

[Duramaxgirl]

The respiratory I can't help on... but the egg laying can totally be related to food. I bought some all purpose fowl feed and suplemented oyster shell and grit in my layer pen... in my breeder pen I kept them on nutrena layer crumbles. The coop with the all purpose cheap food, they're laying stoped almost compleatly! As soon as I put them on a better layer crumble I'm back to 10-12 eggs a day.
So it could be your food? Maybe try changing to a better quality food. Just and idea
I hope they get better for you.

 

[Hanamat Farms]

I can't thank you all enough. My wife can't believe that there are so many passionate "chickeneers' out there! I'll convert her yet. It's interesting. I spent the day watching them off and on and they really do seem "fine". They are out in the run doing their thing and eating and drinking with no problems. There are definitely 3 with a cough/sneeze. Any thoughts on isolating them? Terri O...its funny you say about them re-estabishing the pecking order. Today was the first day that I saw my previous "matriarch" on the top roost in almost 3 weeks. In addition, there is a fair amount of squabbling and pecking going on from the "home" birds towards the new ones. I don't have a rooster and again, I am new to this....but without the male presence, will this potentially take longer if, in fact, it is a re-establishment of rank?