Help! Skinny chicks/adults keep dying

[smith2]

The all stock pellets definitely are not good for chickens. The other thing is to find out exactly what is causing them to lose weight. I don't know about FL but in TN, a flock cannot be put down without necropsy and without a "transmissible" disease that would be considered a public health threat (avian flu) in birds. My state vet will come to the property and get a sick bird to evaluate. He is very nice and understanding. It might be worth your time to find out. The gurgling one sounds like pneumonia. Once a chicken gets down with anything it is easy for them to get pneumonia. It is hard to cure in a chicken. Sorry you are having all this trouble. I know I would be beside myself, too.

 

[crystalchik]

When you say 4oz of Flagyl, are you talking dry? What is the dosage in tsp/tbsps per gallon. 4oz is like 1/2 cup...

 

[mypicklebird]

The weight loss may be directly related to the food & protein deficiency. Are you feeding the cattle allstock pellet? allstock cattle type pellets- 10-12% protein, layer pellet around 16%, chick start around 18%. The different ages should be given free choice of the appropriate food. There should be no reason to double rations ect- the hopper should always be full, especially let them fill up their crops before bedtime. The different ages have different protein, mineral, vitamin, fat/carbo, needs- the hens need extra calcium, the chicks are growing and need lots of extra protein (crumble form so they can eat it). Without free ranging & fresh greens- they need the vitamins in the chicken food. They may be simply wasting away due to poor nutrition/malnutrition (starvation, despite eating).

Fix up everyone a nice plate of scrambled eggs for a protein boost. Consider feeding a few days of game bird start which has a higher protein % (for pheasants, guineas ect)

If fixing the poor nutrition does not fix the problem, definitely call in your local poultry extension person for help.




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[dlhunicorn]

The only real chance you have of proper diagnostics to figure out why they are dying is a necropsy.

 

[Guinea Goonie]

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Oh my gosh!! I had NO idea, everyone said it would be fine b/c we were trying to cut down on feed costs. Sheez, I will take them off imediately! Thankyou!!

I would also have the birds examined for any type of leukemias. The leukemias are transmitted via wild birds, and can even transmit to cats.

How would I examine for leukemias?? We have a lot of birds and cats around here.

When you examine your birds, are there any breathing difficulties or other symptoms?

I have one hen that seems kind of "gurgly", but I think she is coming down with pox...Now that I think of it, she was one of the first to show symptoms, including weight loss, glassy & runny eyes, "gurgly" sound when breathing, a pox-looking thing in the roof of her beak, and her face stunk and she looked like she had this yellow substance caked in her nostrils.​

You mentioned in your reply that the bird had something in the roof of one of the chickens mouth. You also revealed that on had a gurgly sound (rattle) in their breathing. You also revealed that one bird has a yellow substance caked in the nostrils.

I would start to think you have CRD or maybe worse Coryza becuase you also said the face stunk.
Chickens can smell pretty nastly, especially caged chickens, but if it smells like bacteria/puss, you need to look a bit further.

Any chicken have an eye problem ? Have you seen one of the chickens poop ? Please advise and continue with the previous posts treatments.​

 

[crystalchik]

rimshoes wrote:
Any chicken have an eye problem ? Have you seen one of the chickens poop ?

Yes, my chickens are just starting to come down with swollen, runny eyes... 3 so far? This was just yesterday eve. The stool seems to be fine, it is formed.
What are you thinking??
Thank you!
Crystalchik​

 

[nnbreeder]

Here is some info on canker, it is about pigeons but can affect chickens the same way. It can manifest itself in the nostrils, mouth, sinuses or deep in the throat.
http://fowlfacts.proboards40.com/index.cgi?board=afflictiondiseaseff&action=display&thread=1220

 

[nnbreeder]

The easiest way would be to get some Fish Zole, 250mg tablets. Disolve 4 tablets per gallon of water and treat for 6-10 days. It is used to treat fish and can be purchased at any pet store or Wal Mart in the pets section.

 

[crystalchik]

Hello peeps!
I just want to thank everyone on this thread so much for all your help, information, and comments! My birds are all starting to gain weight and are improving so much! I dont know what I would have done without you all; I would have lost so many more birds! I had no idea what this disease was and also that the allstock could have such an effect on them! I am grateful beyond words; I had already lost 8 birds prior to your help! YOU SAVED MY FLOCK!!!
Thank you agian and God bless all of you!

Sincerely, Crystalchik

 

[Haley Jo]

I personally am having this same problem. I worm, I medicate nothing does nothing. Eating feed 17% correct feed. No contamination. I've even been giving rolled oats to help put weight and nothing does nothing.
They get skinny, they die.
I have about 50 birds. Ducks, chickens, peafowl, even emu's.
Poops come out solid for each individual type of bird. I have had this problem going on years now and I throw my hands up