To all those who replied, a big thank you first and foremost.
The Isa Brown is about five weeks old. I am pretty sure it isn't a bullying issue. This is my first coop and I did read about having adequate food sources. I have 6 feeders. 2 inside the coop, and four outside undercover. They also get daily veggies from the garden that I scatter around (rocket, mixed lettuce leaves, beetroot, nasturtians, finely sliced carrots, chickweed, pineapple sage and wormwood.)
Here's my brief three month experience with poultry so far. Had twenty four eggs in the incubator. My 4 year old nephew rolled the
Brinsea 20 on about day 16. I was putting scrambled eggs in my pocket so he wouldn't worry. Of the 24 eggs, one Belgian d'uccle was born with splayed legs. I took him to an avian vet who put her in skis. She died in my hands 3 days later.
Got 6 beautiful bantam Pekins from a dealer. All healthy but the 4 roosters had to go because they were starting to spar.
Got 3 Isa browns, three Australorps, 3 buff orpington chicks and 2 belgian d'uccles from a breeder. Good birds in the main. One Buff died the first night. Found chick dead under the
Brinsea 50 heatpad. It looked only a day or so old and possibly a bit to young to survive the 2 hour travel. 2 of the Australorps were battling for dominance in a makeshift pen I had. I watched all day and literally thought they were going to kill each other or the Isas'. Both rehomed at a friend's farm and they are living happily free ranging.
My problems began when I went to another breeder. He fed live chicks to his dog! The place was filthy. I itched all the way home. This is where I think I made my BIG mistake. I didn't isolate from the rest of the young ones because he was a show winning chicken person type.
The 3 salmon faverolles, 2 Houdans (Fonze and little Fonze) and 6 d'uccles I got were malnourished with breastbones that looked like knife blades. I Isolated them in a cage with heat lamp when they started pooping blood. Used three different coccidiosis medications until I got it under control. Sulphur 3 for caged birds first, only because it was a long weekend and the only medication I could get. They were so lethargic I thought they would die. One Fav did die over the weekend. Switched to Amporium, much better alternative when the d'uccles got the same symptoms. Bloody poop everywhere. Now I use Bay Cox. Expensive but I'm not taking anymore risks.
Supplied supplements to water and gave each bird a dust bath to get rid of lice and mites before I put them in the main coop. I was so happy when I got the 2 Favs back to health. I massaged one of their crops when I suspected it might be impacted crop. Just their new muff feathers and my paranoia!
When Fonze died, then Little Fonze, just a couple of weeks old, did a face plant and got lethargic. I called the vet who came straight over. Said bedding and setup was clean and the fact I had administered electrolytes, resumed treatment for worms and coccidiosis was a good thing and I couldn't do anymore. Little Fonze died the next day.
Finally realized something was amiss with the Isa because she had been sitting still for a few days. I picked her up, she was half the weight of the others. She has those wobbly legs and curled toes that could be symptoms of Marek's. Vet's coming in next few days so I'll take some photos and keep you posted.
So that's why I am calling myself the worst poultry farmer. Incubated chicks 0/24. I've buried Tuna the salmon faverolles, Ruby, Fonze, Little Fonze, and Xxxx gold. For non-Australians that's a beer that looked the same colour as the buff orpington. I had to swallow a few the day I said goodbye to my favourite fav rooster. I was holding back tears.
Potentially I could have had as many as 50 chickens. I'm down to 12 with 0 eggs in sight. If the Isa Brown has Marek's, I'm seriously worried the rest of the flock is going to be infected too.
Then all I'll have is a collection of heat pads, sick bay cages, a large portable dog cage I used for the makeshift coop, several hundreds of dollars in medications, and a silly chicken swing that not one of the birds has used!
Thanks for all your help any way. Much appreciated. Fingers crossed this gets easier.
