My kids and I went on a road trip Tuesday and left at 4 am in the morning and we figured we be gone most of the day, so my DH fed and watered animals that morning. He called me and said that 2 of my 9 laying hens was dead. They all looked good the night before when I fed. We got home from our raod trip about 5pm and I went out to look them over and 2 other hens didnt look like they felt well and by the next morning 1 was dead and the other was on the ground and couldnt stand, beak to the ground. When she tried to move around she couldnt even lift her head from the ground. My husband took care of here because I didnt want her to continue to suffer. I started researching the night I got home and the closed I can figure is Cossidiosis. Went to the feed store and got Corid and have been treating them since yesterday morning. One of the other hens started not feeling well and I tried to make sure she stayed hydrated with the medicated water and some electrolytes but by this morning she was gone. I have sat out by the pen to try to watch for any signs to help me figure out what is going on. As of this morning after checking over my remainder 4 laying hens on looks a little fluffed up and I also noticed she keeps opening her mouth(kind of looks like our gag reflex)
Ive have raised chickens for a while and this is the first time Ive ever experience a catastophy.They have always been easy keepers and except maybe needing to dust them for lice/mites Ive never had anything really bad happen. I am a mom who is raising 3 teen age kids and always seem to be on the run with my kids and all the stuff they have going on in their lives, so Im guilty of not worming and things like that as often as I should. But I love my chickens and this is a huge eye opener for me with some of the things that can kill them so quickly.
I guess my question would be: Is there anything else I could reseach as to whats going on because I am sooooo beating my head up agianst a wall right now. Apparently its something contagious and my worst feel is loosing all of my chickens and not being able to raise anymore because of contagions being on the property???? Weather heas been mild here(70*) so they are not dying of heat.
Ive have raised chickens for a while and this is the first time Ive ever experience a catastophy.They have always been easy keepers and except maybe needing to dust them for lice/mites Ive never had anything really bad happen. I am a mom who is raising 3 teen age kids and always seem to be on the run with my kids and all the stuff they have going on in their lives, so Im guilty of not worming and things like that as often as I should. But I love my chickens and this is a huge eye opener for me with some of the things that can kill them so quickly.
I guess my question would be: Is there anything else I could reseach as to whats going on because I am sooooo beating my head up agianst a wall right now. Apparently its something contagious and my worst feel is loosing all of my chickens and not being able to raise anymore because of contagions being on the property???? Weather heas been mild here(70*) so they are not dying of heat.