MULTIPLE ISSUES!!

[azygous]

If your flock carries an avian virus, it's deep in the cells of their bodies. There is virus shed that is constantly occurring in chickens carrying a virus, but cleaning and disinfecting will do nothing to get rid of the virus living in the chickens.

 

[Kmcschoolee]

If your flock carries an avian virus, it's deep in the cells of their bodies. There is virus shed that is constantly occurring in chickens carrying a virus, but cleaning and disinfecting will do nothing to get rid of the virus living in the chickens.

So basically not much I can do

 

[Eggcessive]

I second the idea of getting a professional necropsy done on a chicken that dies. That is the best way to get a diagnosis of some of the common problems and infections. The state vet is the best way, and be sure to ask for a necropsy on a backyard chicken, since it costs less. If you keep the body cold, not frozen, and take it in to the lab M-F it will be less. Each state has different costs but you can call and talk to them. This list has most state vet labs:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry-labs.html

Always put out grit and oyster shell in separate containers than the feed—they will take what they need.

 

[azygous]

The only way out of an avian virus is to start over with new chickens, preferably baby chicks obtained from a certified hatchery, and disinfecting the premises and waiting an interval between the cleaning and getting new chicks. With Marek's, the recommended "rest" is one year minimum, even with disinfection. With lymphoid leucosis, it's about a month after disinfection.

This is one reason it's important to know if you are dealing with a virus and which one. Marek's lasts much, much longer in the environment, while leucosis lasts just weeks.

 

[Kmcschoolee]

The only way out of an avian virus is to start over with new chickens, preferably baby chicks obtained from a certified hatchery, and disinfecting the premises and waiting an interval between the cleaning and getting new chicks. With Marek's, the recommended "rest" is one year minimum, even with disinfection. With lymphoid leucosis, it's about a month after disinfection.

This is one reason it's important to know if you are dealing with a virus and which one. Marek's lasts much, much longer in the environment, while leucosis lasts just weeks.

ok thank you for your help

 

[Kmcschoolee]

I am starting to suspect egg yolk peritinitis in my leghorn and possibly in another leghorn I have. Neither have layed in quite a while and they are both swollen in the abdomen. the one I was giving antibiotics to is acting quite a bit better and her comb is normal color again. Will this resolve and her start to lay eggs again? Or is this something that will continue to happen?

 

[azygous]

EYP, if your guess is correct, is nearly impossible to reverse. But the fact that your hen is improving is encouraging. Continue with the antibiotic.

 

[Kmcschoolee]

EYP, if your guess is correct, is nearly impossible to reverse. But the fact that your hen is improving is encouraging. Continue with the antibiotic.

I have 3 leg horns and I was getting 3 eggs A-day and I started only seeing about 1A dabout one A-day and I would notice 1 sitting in there and they would leave without laying an egg. They were losing the feathers on the top of their heads so I assumed they were starting to molt but never really had a molt.. Then I started to suspect that maybe they were laying somewhere else but couldn't find anything. Then she started getting sick. She is acting much better and her belly is less swollen. Her comb is back to normal color. She's not eating a lot yet. If I'm successful will they start to lay again?

 

[azygous]

That's anyone's guess as to laying. If this is a serious reproductive infection, probably she won't lay again. It's also molt time and that will affect laying along with shortening days. You may need to wait until February to see if she will lay again or not.