Maran chickens dying in a day

[Peafowlssssssss]

There were no marans chickens in my country so i imported some eggs, 4 chicks hatched and I ended with two pairs, when they were 4 months old one cock lost an eye in a fight with another rooster and he became useless as he isn’t active like a normal rooster, anyway everything was fine with the rest and they started laying and i hatched some eggs from them but 6 weeks after they started laying I found the rooster laying on the ground and he can’t move at all and died the same night, he was totally fine in the morning! His two ladies were fine that night, the next morning one of the hens was also laying on the ground and can’t move, an hour later she passed! I couldn’t feel any eggs inside her, later that day the second hen one of her eyes got blurry and some water is coming out of her eye, I don’t know if its just a sinus infection or if it’s something related to what is happening to the other birds, she looks healthy and her droppings looks normal, i’m treating for sinus infection now and will see what will happen.

So what goes wrong? They were in the same coop for at least 4 months when this happened, no predators got in their cage and no new birds have been arrived in the farm recently. I read about Mareks but some people said its likely isn’t Mareks, so any ideas? Does it sound like a Mareks? Or what?

I have their chicks now so if there is anything I could do to save these chicks later I would be happy to know it, most of them are less than a month old now.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Oh no! I'm so sorry for your loss! If I were you I would have a necropsy done to find out cause of death so you know exactly how to treat it.
I would also make sure they didn't get into rat poison or something similar.
I hope it's nothing seriously contagious to the rest of your birds.

 

[dawg53]

I dont believe it's Marek'e either. I dont know of any respiratory diseases that can kill a bird that quick unless they have already had a weak immune system. Survivors of respiratory diseases are carriers for life and will spread whatever disease it is to other birds.
I'm wondering if they were bitten by a poisonous snake, or spider, or scorpion?
It would be best to get a necropsy performed on a dead bird to find out exactly what you're dealing with. I'm sorry this is happening to you and your birds.

 

[Peafowlssssssss]

Thanks guys, no we didn’t use any poison near them at all, i have been searching for a snake or scorpions for 2 days but can’t find any, we rarely see them here though. The two that died didn’t show any signs of sinus infections symptoms just the one hen remaining is showing it, i still have them in my freezer but can’t find a place that will do necropsy with providing the results, one vet told me that he could open them up but he can’t guarantee he will know what happened, I could opened them too lol.

 

[Peafowlssssssss]

By the way the next coop has many Phoenix chickens and they are fine, these came from my birds eggs.

 

[Kiki]

Is there Newcastle disease in your area?

 

[Eggcessive]

Have you checked with a local vet or a poultry specialist about any common diseases they are seeing in your area? Mareks sounds like a possibility with the sudden lameness and deaths, but deaths usually do not occur that frequently (3 deaths in 2 days.) Newcastles or avian influenza could do that, but I would think that you would see other breeds dying as well. I would look at your feed for mold, or for any dead animals or fish that might have exposed them to botulism. Moldy feed can happen overnight if there is any moisture or condensation, and it smells off and has a blue green color. Sorry for your losses, and I hope that you can find out what is happening.

 

[Peafowlssssssss]

No Newcastle disease in my area, i have seen Newcastle before it was taking few days until deaths occur, the feed doesn’t look moldy or bad at any case, i buy new feed bags every 2 weeks so its not that old either, there are more than 20 Phoenix and brahma chickens near them they are fine and only the wire is separating them.

 

[Peafowlssssssss]

So should i raise their chicks normally like i do with my other chicks? I thought if there is a vaccine I should vaccinate them so I don’t lose them again, thanks guys for the help I appreciate it

 

[Eggcessive]

I would also look at coccidiosis as a possibility. That can cause weakness, lethargy, runny poops—sometimes with blood, and not eating or drinking. The treatment is with amprollium (Coxoid, Amprol) or with sulfa antibiotics (sulfadimethoxine, sulfamethazine, others.)