my chickens are dying.... :(

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You can not always see worms in their poop. My understanding if you do, than its really bad. Their feathers can look fine even having these bugs. You should treat them anyway. Rule it out.

Its great that you can send your bird of for necropsy. Let us know how the results turn out.

Have the birds been vaccinated against Merck's disease as a chicks?
 
Thank you for the info, no nasal discharge and I would imagine that they were vaccinated because these were bought at a pretty well know and recommended fuel and feed store in the bay area. But I can call them tomorrow and confirm. I'll definitely post preliminary results when I get them. And final results in a several weeks. Thank you.
 
I got a call from the vet today that took my hen on friday and said she'd be sent to a lab. His preliminary results are is that she didn't have any infections or respitory problems. Instead they found excessive fat in the liver. I was shocked, I'm not giving them bad food. Or I didn't think I was. They get or use to get: rice, sunflower seeds, corn, oatmeal. Not anymore. These were treats, sometimes they get more than expected. Kids over feeding them. But I didn't realize it was that bad. More results to follow.
 
sfcitygirl said:
I got a call from the vet today that took my hen on friday and said she'd be sent to a lab. His preliminary results are is that she didn't have any infections or respitory problems. Instead they found excessive fat in the liver. I was shocked, I'm not giving them bad food. Or I didn't think I was. They get or use to get: rice, sunflower seeds, corn, oatmeal. Not anymore. These were treats, sometimes they get more than expected. Kids over feeding them. But I didn't realize it was that bad. More results to follow.
Click to expand...
I have heard this happening, your hens are so young. They can get fat in the abdomen area which can cause egg issues as well. Liver can fix itself with the change in diet. What is your feed protein percentage?
 
I've been buying the layered crumbles from two stores. One store sells the brand called home grow (yellow and brown bag with good source of protein written on it) no %. The other store sell a red colored 50 lb bag w nutrena listed as the manufacturer. This one says 16% protein. Once I brought the home grown bag to the store that sells nutrena and I was told that all layer feed contains about 16% of protein. The only other thing I can think of is that I take the powdered feed that collects in the feed tray, and put in a bowl and add water. This turns into a liquid paste that the chickens like. Could that be a problem?
 
The feed I buy here is 16% and 18%. The higher the number, the more fat is put into the birds. Its the extra treats that is giving them higher calories that would cause the extra fat in combination with their food. Just omit the treats completely and feed the crumble. Giving them the powder from feed wouldn't cause this. Did the vet feel the liver is most likely cause of death? I feel it may be something else in combination to the liver. Did he find fat in other places as well?
 
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Fatty liver disease is what they call it, I think, but don't quote me on that, and I think they can get it from eating too much grain.

-Kathy
 
sfcitygirl said:
I've been buying the layered crumbles from two stores. One store sells the brand called home grow (yellow and brown bag with good source of protein written on it) no %. The other store sell a red colored 50 lb bag w nutrena listed as the manufacturer. This one says 16% protein. Once I brought the home grown bag to the store that sells nutrena and I was told that all layer feed contains about 16% of protein. The only other thing I can think of is that I take the powdered feed that collects in the feed tray, and put in a bowl and add water. This turns into a liquid paste that the chickens like. Could that be a problem?
Click to expand...
The protein and fat content should be listed somwhere on the bag.

-Kathy
 

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