Losing birds! Any advice?

ChickenTender1988

In the Brooder
Mar 6, 2018
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Hi!
So for the last month or so, I've lost about one chicken every couple weeks. I'll notice one in the pen just being weird. Laying down or on its side. No energy, or wobbly. The next day it's dead.
I just found another like this this morning.
These are birds that are just getting to that "mature" age and should start laying anytime now.
Water is clean, coop is cool but not freezing (I'm in manitoba).
Any advice?
 
Very sorry for your losses! :(

Is Manitoba in the US? Some reason I'm thinking maybe Florida.

You need to refrigerate and send your next bird for necropsy that passes... sounds like it *could* be Marek's. :barnieLinks to help...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-send-a-bird-for-a-necropsy-pictures.799747/

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/nahln/downloads/all_nahln_lab_list.pdf

Egg binding COULD be another possibility, but it isn't something I would expect to see in multiple birds.

Please, you say they are near laying... How many birds in how much space? How long have YOU had them? What is their daily feed including treats and supplements? Can you post a pic or short video using vimeo or youtube? What have you tried when you find them?

:fl

ETA: I would never worm an already ill bird without first verifying that WAS the issue... could be treating for what you don't have. Not treating what you do and just push them over the edge faster by adding poison to their systems... fecal float with species and load count would be recommended before treatment. But parasites is a great suggestion.
 
Very sorry for your losses! :(

Is Manitoba in the US? Some reason I'm thinking maybe Florida.

You need to refrigerate and send your next bird for necropsy that passes... sounds like it *could* be Marek's. :barnieLinks to help...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-send-a-bird-for-a-necropsy-pictures.799747/

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/nahln/downloads/all_nahln_lab_list.pdf

Egg binding COULD be another possibility, but it isn't something I would expect to see in multiple birds.

Please, you say they are near laying... How many birds in how much space? How long have YOU had them? What is their daily feed including treats and supplements? Can you post a pic or short video using vimeo or youtube? What have you tried when you find them?

:fl

ETA: I would never worm an already ill bird without first verifying that WAS the issue... could be treating for what you don't have. Not treating what you do and just push them over the edge faster by adding poison to their systems... fecal float with species and load count would be recommended before treatment. But parasites is a great suggestion.

Manitoba is in Canada.
I have about 30 chickens/rooster and 12 ducks in a large pen (I dont remember the measurements now but when I first got them it worked out that could fit way more birds in the area if I wanted to, as per the space requirements I found on these sites), they also have a large outdoor run. I've had these younger ones since they were chicks. Hadn't lost any until this started. They are all on layer feed because half of the birds are mature and laying already. They get the odd scraps from the kitchen, mostly fruit and stuff my kids don't finish from their plates.
I brought the last one in and tried to give it electrolytes but it was too far gone by that time.
 

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It might not but there is a thread on here about drakes mounting chickens, it should not happen.
I'm not being rude but drakes have a penis and cockerels don't, the drakes could kill a chicken hen if it takes place.
I'm not an expert just repeating what I read on here, someone will come in a give better details.
 

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