A few things have been happening in my flock lately and I'm trying to sort out exactly what is going on, so this may be a bit long... first off, we have seen egg production drop dramatically in the last few weeks. We had our typically freeranging flock locked up in the run for about a week due to adding 2 new hens. We also changed their food around this time, as well as got rid of 2 roosters. During this time I found one of our hens dead in the coop, though never noticed her being sick at all. I have one other hen that I have been concerned about but she is still kicking and they are now free ranging looking ok. I think shes one of the older ones. Right now one of the roosters is off, still roaming but for several days definitely depressed, thin, etc. Yesterday when cleaning out the coop I noticed some blood on the floor but then also that the other rooster had a cut. I just treated the sickly rooster with corid ( he also has a poopy vent) and set out some corid water for the flock. As i was messing with him I came across a creepy lice crawling off him, so now im wondering if his funk is parasite related. The 2 new hens appear in perfect health, though I have to admit, no quarantine was done. We also have a batch of young pullets and a Turkey poult in an adjacent pen for several weeks that have just been ranging a bit with them. Anyway, looking for ideas as to whether the low egg production and one or 2sickly looking chickens could be meaning. Does it seem like coccidia is happening here? A big problem? Springtime Coincidence? Thanks
