My Chickens are dying! Please Help!

[Bigg Red]

I need help, for some reason my chickens are dying and I don't know why? In the last 2 months I believe I have lost 5 chickens when I didn't lose any for the 1st 8 months i started raising chickens?? Could it be because the colder weather? They are all almost 1 yr old, there are 2 heat lamps inside, its been cold but the house stays dry and warm. They have been eating and drinking normal at least so I think. The one thing I have seen in the dead birds is it appears their chests are swollen alomst to the size of basballs. Does this sound familiar to anyone? Any advice anyone please. Thanks

 

[chickenjim64]

Are they getting enough grit in there diet? thats why they could be swelled up in the chest the food is not being ground down and just building up..

 

[Bigg Red]

I believe so, I put down crushed shells every other week or so, and they are primarily free range so I figured they would have gotten what they need from the dirt and rocks and such.

 

[chickenlittle32]

To completely understand what is going on...go to the sticky on top of the emergency section..and answer those questions...there are many ppl here to help you out but its so much easier to know the background first...

 

[chickenjim64]

I let mine free range i have oyster shell that they seem to turn there nose up at, but someone told me if there out all the time FR they don't need grit i wasn't sure if you let your girls out or not maybe someone with more knoledge will help you this is my first year thank god my girls are very healthy, but im alway's on the look out for problem's good luck..

 

[Bigg Red]

Hope this information helps.
1. Several different breeds; RIR, BLK Sex, Giants, Buffs Orphs, Barred Rock, Americana, Welsummer. I think that covers it (27 burds total). The majority will be 1 yr in feb, but a handful are a little older. I have never weighed my birds but they look average if that helps.

2. Their behavior appears normal. They are fine one day and they next they are sick and die. I have noticed in a few that hey appear to have trouble breathing son before they die.

3. sickness seems to only last a day or two before they die.

4. No bleeding, no truama. Just the swollen chests.

5. Even when the are sick they seem to eat and drink normal. They eat store bought crushes layer food and have been on the same diet since they began laying.

7. Poop, and little runny but nothing that has ever worried me to much.

8. Treatment, I have given them tetracycline hydrochloride in their water becuase I was told they may have cocsilliosus(????).

9.My intention. stop them from dying and prevent them from speading diseases.

10. The coop is a 10 x 10 house with several roosts, 10 nest boxes, 1 window, opening in the top for ventilation. and heat lamps. The nexts are full of cedar shavings.

 

[Bigg Red]

Chickenjim64, my chickens do the same. The grit is there but they do not seem to want it. I have been told the same thing about free ranging and getting the grit they needed so I didn't think this was the problem. Mine were fine and healthy for the first 8 months, but for some reason the just started dying. This was the same time the weather changed, but that doesn't seem to make sense either. Hopefully someone can help.

 

[chickenlittle32]

8. Treatment, I have given them tetracycline hydrochloride in their water becuase I was told they may have cocsilliosus(????).






Do you mean coccidiosis? Tetracycline hydrochloride will not cure this...are they having bloody poops?

 

[Bigg Red]

Yes, I just can't spell. No bloody poops. I was told it was a respitory disease and the tetracycline would/could help.

 

[hcammack]

Quote:
I would suggest changing from cedar shavings to pine shavings I have heard cedar shavings cause respretory problems.