My chooks are dying - help!!

[Miss Chook]

I live on an island off Australia. We have no vet or shops. Some of my chooks have come from the mainland and were vaccinated as day old chicks. The rest of my chooks were bred here and therefore not vaccinated.
Over the last 6 months, they have reduced in number from 13 to 7. Some of them looked like they had Mericks disease as they had droopy wings and paralysis before dying. One Rhodhesian Red just started sitting in her own poo and not moving and died 2 days later.
Our lovely lovely little chook, Tinkerbell, died this afternoon. Four days ago she was just the healthiest looking chook running around and suddenly paralysed legs and dead.
We have a LOT of native birds living in burrows all around their coop.
They roam around the garden from midday on.
I'm pretty sure they have the scaly leg mite happening but I'm loathe to put derris dust in their dust baths - just not into too much chemical stuff with small kids around.
There are rats on the island but there are absolutely no other predators.
If the Rhodesian Red hadnt died (she was from the mainland and vaccinated)I would have put the problem down to Mericks disease but it cant be just that!!! And what do I do for Mericks disease anyway?? I could ring a vet shop and buy something that someone suggested or get something online.
Can anyone help?
RIP Tinkerbell, Peter Pan, Monte, Minea, Monte, Larry and Little Brown.

 

[dlhunicorn]

You do not say for what the (original) birds were vaccinated for ... I assume perhaps a combo Newcastle and Mareks but you really need to contact the source for those birds and get this information (including the specific vaccine(s) used)

As I understand it , generally speaking, once you have initiated vaccination you must always vaccinate (in other words the vaccinated birds will not "pass on" immunity to offspring etc but can make new (unvaccinated) birds sick).
Here is a good article :
http://www.oie.int/eng/publicat/rt/2601/PDF 26-1/MARANGON_19-265274.pdf

...read that (altho some of the info might not apply dependent on the specific vaccine etc.) and then contact the company or ppl you bought your orig birds from... until you have that info I can't offer you any more info than contained in the article above.

 

[jjthink]

I'm so sorry about your birds - very sad. RIP Tinkerbell, Peter Pan, Monte, Minea, Monte, Larry and Little Brown.

As to mites, you can coat the birds legs with something like Bagbalm (can order on line) and that should help with the mite problem and doesn't involve spreading chemicals around.

Some folks put FOOD GRADE DE in the dust bath areas to tackle external parasites.

Also, change out all 'bedding' completely, scour the living area, then add all new fresh pine shavings or whatever you've been using. All new feed too, just in case of mold or something wrong with the feed you have now.

You can also add supplements to their water as an overall boost to the immune system and health, not that this will overcome the serious problem you describe, but it's a good thing in any case. You can order products like Avia Charge 2000 on line.

I hope there are no further losses

JJ

 

[Miss Chook]

Out of my 7 chooks that are left, 2 of them are Rhode Island Reds that were bought as day old chicks over to the island by plane (they are the only ones vaccinated for Mericks disease). These 2 are about 4 years old. My other 5 chooks are: 2 old grannies who are about 12 years old and just enjoying retirement and nice food, 1 rooster bred by us from island chooks, and 2 island bred hens. All of the chicks we bred here in our backyard are dead (except the rooster who is extremely unhealthy looking and has survived about 3 bouts of paralysis)

 

[beautifulbirds]

FRESH WHEATGRASS JUICE given orally (straight down their throat) may help. Wheatgrass juice is not a medicine but a food and a disenfectant, it is natural - so completely harmless - will help and not hurt. I have saved my chooks and a wee chick. It's so good that I now give maintenance doses weekly to anyone with a mucky bum or purplish comb or anyone standing around looking sluggish and 'off'. One shot will last three days if kept in the fridge; give three squirts straight down their throat for three days and repeat if necessary. Need anymore info please email me, hope this helps.

 

[dlhunicorn]

If I am understanding you correctly, your post has mainly stemmed from the recent loss of fairly young chicks?
Well, it really could be due to many things and narrowing the possible candidate recquires of lot of detailed information (some of which you might not even think important enough to post)... so many symptoms are common with several different conditions....
Cocciddiosis is really common with young chicks (particularly if you do not use a medicated starter...)
Mereks most common recognizable symptom is one leg in front/one leg in back

 

[Miss Chook]

No Ive had all ages dying over the last few months. One 4 year old adult, 2 six month olds etc.
I'm dedicating tomorrow to a complete clean out of their coop and laying boxes and everything.
Its got to the stage that Ive really only got 4 chooks to worry about - nothing will kill the old grannies.
Wish Id realised earlier that something was wrong and saved the last two that died.

 

[beautifulbirds]

Fresh wheatgrass juice guys and you can also use it as a maintenance/preventative. It's really amazing stuff. Can't recommend it enough and cheap to buy.