Help My flock is sick, lost two chickens

[bakleiber]

Symptoms are weakness, loss of muscle tone and inability to walk. Diarrhea and vomiting. This just started two weeks ago, but now the second chicken has same symptoms. My main questions is who treats chickens? A vet, or should I go to the local feed store? I haven't used dust for a while, some of them had mites. I used wood ash in there dusting area and that took care of the problem, or so I thought. They are all about four years old and I have had them since hatching. They have not been exposed to other birds, except I have noticed an increase in crows? Is it too late or is there something that can be done. I still have six chickens left. Thank you!

 

[Eggcessive]

Feed store advice is not the place I would trust--they may be well informed, but many will give the wrong info. Some vets are willing to see chickens while others don't. You would need to call around and ask if they routinely see chickens. Coccidiosis, an intestinal infection, can cause diarrhea, sometimes with blood, extreme weakness leading to lameness, puffed up or hunched appearance, and refusal to eat. Mareks disease may cause lameness, or a real lack of immunity to common illnesses. The only way to get a diagnosis is to get some droppings checked for worms or coccidiosis, or to get a necropsy done by your state vet or a college poultry lab. If you had mites before, they can kill, so I would check them closely, even overnight when a certain mite comes out, and treat with permethrin, a safe dust or spray to use on chickens. Apply at 7-10 days intervals so that mites and newly hatched larvae will be killed. Here is a link for vet contacts: http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

 

[bakleiber]

Thank you!

 

[bakleiber]

Is there anything I can do to save the remainder of the flock? Or should I start over after cleaning out the coop?