Juliet512
In the Brooder
Hello! I bought my first chickens last month on May 16th. They were all between 1-4 weeks old when I got them: two Sapphire Gems, two Easter Eggers, one Olive Egger and three Black Copper Marans.
Prior to this, I have participated in a chicken co-op at my community gardens where once a week I have "chicken duty", where I clean the coop, waterers, feeders, and refill them-- let the hens out for exercise in the run, etc. I also get to collect any eggs that day. I have been doing that for about 8 years but, apparently, this experience gave me a false sense of security/reality about raising my own chickens. Or.... maybe I just bought them from a bad breeder? I don't know? But, I have had some terrible luck so far. Of the 8 chicks, I have lost two (one Easter Egger and the Olive Egger) in the last six weeks and two others are sick (the other Easter Egger and a Black Copper Maran).
After the last one died, I took her body to the Texas A&M Poultry Diagnostic Lab for a necropsy. The results were aspergillus and trichomonosis with the former being the most likely thing to have killed her. The other two that are sick are still exhibiting symptoms. The frustrating thing is that they will all seem to get better and be fine for a few days or even a week and then they will suddenly begin showing symptoms again.
I have been giving them a holistic remedy I made with oil of oregano and finely crushed/chopped garlic in some plain greek yogurt. I have been reading about using acidified copper sulphate and other things but, it seems aspergillus is really hard to treat.
I don't even know where these chicks were exposed--- whether it was something in my yard? Or from the breeder? I have been using pine shavings and changing them out 2x a week or more. Anytime I see them get wet, I immediately dispose of the wet ones. So, I don't think it was the shavings. I have been letting them free range in my garden when I watch them and, I hope it's not something in there? But, I'm beginning to wonder. The two sick chicks have been in my makeshift "chick infirmary" in a dog crate on my front porch. After the necropsy, I have been letting them free range with the others because it's my understanding that what they have isn't contagious (aspergillus not contagious and trichomonisis only contagious if they drink out of the same waterer, which I haven't allowed.)
At any rate, as soon as I can afford it, I will have a couple loads of river sand delivered to put in their coop and run. This should eliminate any potential problem with the pine shavings. But, I'm wondering if there is something else in my garden or yard that could be making them sick?
Prior to this, I have participated in a chicken co-op at my community gardens where once a week I have "chicken duty", where I clean the coop, waterers, feeders, and refill them-- let the hens out for exercise in the run, etc. I also get to collect any eggs that day. I have been doing that for about 8 years but, apparently, this experience gave me a false sense of security/reality about raising my own chickens. Or.... maybe I just bought them from a bad breeder? I don't know? But, I have had some terrible luck so far. Of the 8 chicks, I have lost two (one Easter Egger and the Olive Egger) in the last six weeks and two others are sick (the other Easter Egger and a Black Copper Maran).
After the last one died, I took her body to the Texas A&M Poultry Diagnostic Lab for a necropsy. The results were aspergillus and trichomonosis with the former being the most likely thing to have killed her. The other two that are sick are still exhibiting symptoms. The frustrating thing is that they will all seem to get better and be fine for a few days or even a week and then they will suddenly begin showing symptoms again.
I have been giving them a holistic remedy I made with oil of oregano and finely crushed/chopped garlic in some plain greek yogurt. I have been reading about using acidified copper sulphate and other things but, it seems aspergillus is really hard to treat.
I don't even know where these chicks were exposed--- whether it was something in my yard? Or from the breeder? I have been using pine shavings and changing them out 2x a week or more. Anytime I see them get wet, I immediately dispose of the wet ones. So, I don't think it was the shavings. I have been letting them free range in my garden when I watch them and, I hope it's not something in there? But, I'm beginning to wonder. The two sick chicks have been in my makeshift "chick infirmary" in a dog crate on my front porch. After the necropsy, I have been letting them free range with the others because it's my understanding that what they have isn't contagious (aspergillus not contagious and trichomonisis only contagious if they drink out of the same waterer, which I haven't allowed.)
At any rate, as soon as I can afford it, I will have a couple loads of river sand delivered to put in their coop and run. This should eliminate any potential problem with the pine shavings. But, I'm wondering if there is something else in my garden or yard that could be making them sick?
