Looking for opinions on cause of death of 10 month old hen.

[casportpony]

Marek's would not be my first suspicion. More common diseases like Coccidiosis require preventative medication. The first 9 months of development are when birds are most susceptible. Coccidiosis protozoa damage the intestinal tract, enteritis sets in, crops don't empty, bird stops eating/drinking, and bird dies of dehydration. Intestinal worms can cause similar symptoms.

Very true.

-Kathy

 

[Michael Apple]

I've been doing so much research that I think my brain is going to explode! I highly doubt that it was Marek's. The only symptom even close to Marek's that she'd shown was not being able to walk without falling over. She was able to stand still, on both legs, perfectly fine. But if she went to walk it was like watching someone that just drank one too many shots at the bar. Before Saturday she was able to peck the ground, eat, & drink perfectly fine, even though since she was a chick she always would perch with her head tucked in more than anyone else - she looked like she didn't have a neck, though she did. Since she had sour crop she never was nearly excited as the others about waking up in the morning, going outside, & eating treats. When I first got the original 15 they were only a day old & I started them on medicated chick starter. When they were exactly 2 months old I bought 2 roosters that were about the same age, & 1 hen that was about a month younger from a breeder. Since then, they were all kept together, I didn't get anyone new, & we don't visit any other flocks. They're kept in a 10 x 10 horse stall at night (now there's 15 hens & the 2 roosters), and free range during the day (with more than enough land, as long as they share nicely with the horses!). I think that she had sour crop when she was about 4 months old, my memory isn't the greatest, but it was shortly after Olive had an impacted crop.

I've read some people having similar issues due to lack of protein &/or lack of vitamin B. Could this have been the problem? Everyone when thru a heavy molt & are just now starting to lay again. I feel horrible thinking that if I had paid a little more attention I could have given her some dried cat food &/or added vitamins to their water. I've used Poultry Protector on them twice, and have used an equine fly spray (Ultra Shield EX) in their stall twice. I also have put down DE, which they have enjoyed as a dust bath. Around November I have them Rooster Booster triple de-wormer.

In horse stalls, they are usually wooden planked or dirt. One that has been used for many years could be harboring some nasty microorganisms. Since soil cannot be disinfected very well, many antagonistic microorganisms can survive for a long time in soil. The environment of the horse stall could have been the culprit for a type of germ known as Clostridium, the germs which cause botulism (commonly referred to as limberneck). Excess of E. Coli germs could also cause similar symptoms of nervousness, ruffled feathers, distended neck, weakness, difficulty swallowing similar to Coccidiosis at first. Eventually birds can show symptoms of paralysis of wings, neck, or feet which some folks confuse with Marek's disease. The thing is these germs are present to some degree everywhere. It is when a chicken or other animal ingests too much that it overwhelms their immune system. That's why preventative measures work best because both are hard to overcome once they start damaging the body.

Some people have used lime to treat soil or, like some people are familiar with, a disinfectant known as Virkon S is effective on porous materials. Spading up soil, sprinkling lime, then lightly watering it so it gets in the soil helps. Important to keep birds off lime until it gets in soil though since it can burn their feet.

Preventative measures for bird's environment, in addition to building a good immune system with proper diet, supplementation of vitamins, minerals, and probiotics will decrease the likelihood of these problems. Clean drinkers and feed troughs are also an important part of this.

I will always persist with the importance of preventative measures for coccidiosis used for growing birds up to 9 months of age. Very often I read about people having a high mortality rate within the first 9 months and find out they never used preventative treatment beyond 4.5 months of age.

 

[darkbrahmamama]

The stalls are rubber mats on top of stone on stop of dirt. We've only had horses there since 2006. After what you mentioned I do wonder if she picked something up from outside? The horses spend almost all their time outside, the stalls only get used rarely & usually for optional shelter during nasty weather. I usually bleach the stalls every few years, but was going to do it yearly with the chickens. I feel bad thinking it's something I could have prevented. I usually give them organic plain yogurt once a month & about 4 tablespoons for NOW 17 chickens, should I increase that? I've read about always having a vitamin/electrolyte in their water during winter, is that recommended? What about ACV in their water? These are my first chickens ever, & is hard to loose one after having been so lucky the past 10 months.

 

[Michael Apple]

The stalls are rubber mats on top of stone on stop of dirt. We've only had horses there since 2006. After what you mentioned I do wonder if she picked something up from outside? The horses spend almost all their time outside, the stalls only get used rarely & usually for optional shelter during nasty weather. I usually bleach the stalls every few years, but was going to do it yearly with the chickens. I feel bad thinking it's something I could have prevented. I usually give them organic plain yogurt once a month & about 4 tablespoons for NOW 17 chickens, should I increase that? I've read about always having a vitamin/electrolyte in their water during winter, is that recommended? What about ACV in their water? These are my first chickens ever, & is hard to loose one after having been so lucky the past 10 months.

Bleach is not a very effective premise disinfectant and is slow acting. I would suggest Oxine AH for common sanitizing and Virkon S for an intensive disinfectant. Every time I get ready for Spring chicks, I pull my brooder out of storage, dust off all components, and disinfect them. I brood in house for about the first 5 weeks. I also have a grow-off pen built out at my barn. It is a secure penned area on a concrete slab attached to a coop with a wood floor. I vacuum out and disinfect this area in addition to some permethrin so it is inhospitable to mites, lice, etc. I always make sure I do this a day or two in advance before introducing pullets to their new home.

Dispersible powder probiotics are easily digested making them more easily absorbed. Probios is one I favor because of this: http://www.probios.com/powdersgranules1.html

Vitamin-mineral-electrolyte supplements in water can be used during moult, weather extremes, growing birds, breeding season, etc. I do it 3 days a week most of the time whether I'm raising chicks or supplementing older birds. Avian super Pack is a good quality one I prefer: http://www.asp-inc.com/products/documents/prodinfo/a/aviansp.pdf

Apple cider vinegar has been a popularized tonic assumed to cure just about everything. It is useless in my opinion since proper diet maintains a healthy digestive system. Some antibacterial qualities are valuable, but so are antibacterial qualities of citric acid. Not something a bird needs in it's diet on a regular basis. It dissolves calcium too, so it wouldn't benefit a bird with a diet deficient in calcium or vitamin D. Probiotics are much more essential for digestive health as well as reproductive health:
http://ps.fass.org/content/79/1/7.full.pdf

Do not feel bad about not being able to prevent deaths. Much is learned from mistakes, and we've all made them. Once preventative measures are realized and put into practice, in addition to nutrition, your birds will live many years if you want them to. I have a healthy 9 year old flock in addition to my 10 month old flock, and have had birds that lived longer. So have many other people.