Help needed with pen(?)

[lostinadance]

I have had the worst year with baby birds. I feel silly asking if there could be some kind of disease in our pen??

Here is what happened. Almost exactly a year ago, we had 13 guinea keets. We've been raising guineas for 4 years on our farmette. One flock each spring that we get as babies, never had an issue. Then last year happened where my son was hospitalized and my husband was to care for the birds. Within 4 days they all died in the pen (regular chicken coop from tractor supply). There was some in the upper nesting box are and then alot in the open air part. It was devastating! My husband swore he fed and watered then regularly and I was even checking in to make sure he did. With being ADD, I kept secretly thinking he had done it wrong or not enough.

Then this year we were raising ducklings like we had other times. We left for vacation and moved them into the pen. We were paying a caretaker to watch over the animals. She was also coming twice a day (confirmed by photos and texts). Our ducklings all died while we were away. Again, devasted right now. I feel awful. They were perfect when I left but still indoors and about 7 weeks old so it was time for them to move to the pen.

So the saving grace that gave me a tiny bit of happiness was one of the eggs that one of my mommy ducks was sitting on hatched 4 days ago! They are in the pen and left out during the day. But closed up at night because we have plenty of predators around. So yesterday this little guy was running and and happy as anything and this morning he is weak and not walking. He was no longer under the mother, he was huddled in the corner of the pen. He doesn't look good at all. I am going to Tractor Supply for chick saver to try.

Is it possible something is wrong with our pen, like a disease in the dirt? I can't think of anything else. They have access to warmer and cooler areas of the pen if it is too warm or cold. They have fresh water and chick starter food. Not to mention, we've been raising for 4 years without and issue and now it just seems nobody can be moved to the pen without dying

Feeling like the worst mom here. Any advice would help. Thanks.

 

[Lilokieescorter]

I have a ? & not trying to sound like a meanie, do you think it could be in where you keep your feed, or anyone spary a weed killer (power line co.) Or put out any tick granules that could have accidentally found it's way, via bottom of shoes or anything like that? Prayers for you & your family!

 

[lostinadance]

Have you been disinfecting the pen and ground? It is possible you have a disease in there, that would mean all your birds have it, but the chicks are dying from being exposed to it for the first time. Just speculation. Have you ever treated for coccidiosis? That would be my first thing to look for. All soil has it but chickens can sometimes become ill when exposed to a different strain. It’s most common in chicks, they act listless, usually bloody poop and weight loss.

Though I’m not an expert on poultry deaths so I hope someone far more knowledgeable can be of better help. I do hope you get to the bottom of this. All the luck

I have actually never disinfected the pen I always just scoop the droppings and add straw or more recently I've been using pine shaving flakes. The top section I always used the regular garden hose to clean it out but not chemicals. Maybe that is where I went wrong. Do you use bleach or vinegar when you disinfect? Do you think there is a treatment I should get the older ducks in case they are carriers like you said? We've had those ones for 3 years. I am going to research coccidiosis next...I am not familiar with that. Clearly, a newbie. Thank you for your help! I am about to go disinfect now!

 

[lostinadance]

I have a ? & not trying to sound like a meanie, do you think it could be in where you keep your feed, or anyone spary a weed killer (power line co.) Or put out any tick granules that could have accidentally found it's way, via bottom of shoes or anything like that? Prayers for you & your family!

You don't sound mean at all! I need any help no matter how blunt! I don't think it's the food as we keep that in a sealed aluminum can and they seem to do fine with the food and water until they get moved to the pen. We don't spray here r do pesticides here either. Last year I did put some diatamaceuos earth around the pen because we had some chiggers in the yard.