Help? ANOTHER one died!

[AuburnChickenNewbies]

I don't really understand this. So another one of our 3-year old girls died last night.

I've been watching her for a bit as she's just seemed sort of 'ungroomed' with random feathers sort of poking out. But she still seemed friendly, was eating well and socializing.

Last night I went out to the coop and she was just laying on the floor of the coop by the waterer. Very pale. So I put her in our isolation pen in the garage. This morning she was dead.

They've been wormed recently. They eat a Purina Omega 3 pellet diet plus an organic scratch with sunflower seeds added. They regularly get kitchen scraps, which lately has been a lot of melon and plain yogurt (which they love).

What are we doing wrong here?

 

[ten chicks]

I don't really understand this. So another one of our 3-year old girls died last night.

I've been watching her for a bit as she's just seemed sort of 'ungroomed' with random feathers sort of poking out. But she still seemed friendly, was eating well and socializing.

Last night I went out to the coop and she was just laying on the floor of the coop by the waterer. Very pale. So I put her in our isolation pen in the garage. This morning she was dead.

They've been wormed recently. They eat a Purina Omega 3 pellet diet plus an organic scratch with sunflower seeds added. They regularly get kitchen scraps, which lately has been a lot of melon and plain yogurt (which they love).

What are we doing wrong here?

How hot has it been? Heat can kill chickens.

 

[Reurra]

It could be any number of things. From botulism to Mereks. It sounds like she may have ingested something that poisoned her or perhaps she is having a cocci problem Not all cocci is obvious with bloody poop. If she is pale, that could indicate a circulation issue. There are some illnesses that can cause pale combs.

I would get with your nearest agricultural office and have a word with them. Sometimes they can test the bird for about $25. Its better to nip this fast before you lose the whole flock.

Until then, clean out the coop really well, clean the water dishes really well too. Make sure there is no moldy food or dingy watering cans that they may have access to. I would get some vitamin boosters, they may be stressed if they are battling an unknown illness.

Heat can be a problem too. There are lots of ways to keep them cool in summer.

Sometimes wormers dont work when the worms become resistant to the medication. Try switching up to a different brand with a different medicine in it.

Check them too for mites. It could be she was infested. Its east to miss it and Ive heard it can really mess a bird up if it gets bad enough. Permethrin powder should help clear it up. A little in the bedding, nest boxes and on the roost should do the trick. Dust the bird too, but not too much. Food Grade Diatomatious Earth is considered useful in preventing infestations, but I do not swear by it and its dangerous to breath.

 

[AuburnChickenNewbies]

How hot has it been? Heat can kill chickens.

Not too bad here actually. I'm in the Pacific NW and our high has been in the mid 80's. They have plenty of shade and water, so I would think that'd be okay?

 

[AuburnChickenNewbies]

It could be any number of things. From botulism to Mereks. It sounds like she may have ingested something that poisoned her or perhaps she is having a cocci problem Not all cocci is obvious with bloody poop. If she is pale, that could indicate a circulation issue. There are some illnesses that can cause pale combs.

I would get with your nearest agricultural office and have a word with them. Sometimes they can test the bird for about $25. Its better to nip this fast before you lose the whole flock.

Until then, clean out the coop really well, clean the water dishes really well too. Make sure there is no moldy food or dingy watering cans that they may have access to. I would get some vitamin boosters, they may be stressed if they are battling an unknown illness.

Heat can be a problem too. There are lots of ways to keep them cool in summer.

Sometimes wormers dont work when the worms become resistant to the medication. Try switching up to a different brand with a different medicine in it.

Check them too for mites. It could be she was infested. Its east to miss it and Ive heard it can really mess a bird up if it gets bad enough. Permethrin powder should help clear it up. A little in the bedding, nest boxes and on the roost should do the trick. Dust the bird too, but not too much. Food Grade Diatomatious Earth is considered useful in preventing infestations, but I do not swear by it and its dangerous to breath.

These are all really good ideas. I'll see if I can figure out about the agricultural testing. That's exactly what I've been trying to figure out because we sure don't want to lose the whole flock!

I'll clean out the coop and water dishes again. I don't think there's any problems with food & water, but you never know.

The base of the coop is sand and the original stuff, although it gets raked out daily. Do you think we should toss it and replace the sand?

No mites. We do watch for that. There is Diatomatious Earth in the nesting boxes and a couple times a year I distribute it around the pen as well. They scratch it in, although the rain does seem to take care of most of it.

Thinking through this ... I did replace the straw in the nesting boxes with fresh stuff. Could it be something in the straw? Are diseases spread that way through the nesting boxes?

 

[ten chicks]

Not too bad here actually. I'm in the Pacific NW and our high has been in the mid 80's. They have plenty of shade and water, so I would think that'd be okay?

Look at info for Coccidiosis. It is possible for older hens to have an overload of cocci. Some symptoms are runny/watery poop(may or may not contain blood,depends on which of the 9 strains it is)fluffed feathers,weight loss,not eating/drinking properly. Cocci is a parasitic infection of the intestinal tract,most birds have some cocci in their sml intestines,only a problem if it becomes an overload. A strain that your girls have no immunity to,may have entered your area,can be spread by birds,bringing new chickens into your flock,carrying it into your area on clothes/shoes,etc. Cocci is then spread from chicken to chicken by droppings,which get into feed/water via droppings. If you feel symptoms match,purchase Corid(amprolium)dose for Corid 20% powder is 1/2 tsp per gallon of water,dose for Corid 9.6% liquid is 2 tsp per gallon of water. Treat ALL chickens for 5 days,do not give vitamins during treatment(interferes with medication)give vitamins after treatment is complete. Also check for mites/lice look under wings,base of tail feathers,around vent area.

 

[AuburnChickenNewbies]

Look at info for Coccidiosis. It is possible for older hens to have an overload of cocci. Some symptoms are runny/watery poop(may or may not contain blood,depends on which of the 9 strains it is)fluffed feathers,weight loss,not eating/drinking properly. Cocci is a parasitic infection of the intestinal tract,most birds have some cocci in their sml intestines,only a problem if it becomes an overload. A strain that your girls have no immunity to,may have entered your area,can be spread by birds,bringing new chickens into your flock,carrying it into your area on clothes/shoes,etc. Cocci is then spread from chicken to chicken by droppings,which get into feed/water via droppings. If you feel symptoms match,purchase Corid(amprolium)dose for Corid 20% powder is 1/2 tsp per gallon of water,dose for Corid 9.6% liquid is 2 tsp per gallon of water. Treat ALL chickens for 5 days,do not give vitamins during treatment(interferes with medication)give vitamins after treatment is complete. Also check for mites/lice look under wings,base of tail feathers,around vent area.

Hmmm, this could be right. If I treat for Cocci and it's not though, am I doing them any harm?

 

[ten chicks]

Hmmm, this could be right. If I treat for Cocci and it's not though, am I doing them any harm?

Treating chickens for Cocci,will not harm them. Cocci can kill very fast,if that is what they have.

 

[Reurra]

New straw or hay? There is a shrub here called a lupin that drops a small bean, if it gets caught up in a haying machine and baled, the animal that receives it can be poisoned. Its a long shot, but you never know.

I would for sure add new material to the old. that should be done once a year on dirt floored coops. Dig out a bit of the old and toss in some new! Cant hurt!

 

[dawg53]

I don't really understand this. So another one of our 3-year old girls died last night.

I've been watching her for a bit as she's just seemed sort of 'ungroomed' with random feathers sort of poking out. But she still seemed friendly, was eating well and socializing.

Last night I went out to the coop and she was just laying on the floor of the coop by the waterer. Very pale. So I put her in our isolation pen in the garage. This morning she was dead.

They've been wormed recently. They eat a Purina Omega 3 pellet diet plus an organic scratch with sunflower seeds added. They regularly get kitchen scraps, which lately has been a lot of melon and plain yogurt (which they love).

What are we doing wrong here?

What wormer did you use?