my girls are dying one by one

[jotee]

Fresh coop, day old raised hens, only birds in the coop ever. They are one year old now. They laid eggs all winter with extra light....spring hits, egg production stops! Hens are slowly dying, just fading away. The first one died two days ago after a week and a half......When I picked her up to force feed her I did notice some bugs on her and some microscopic ones on me. I have not really noticed any infestation in the coop. I think they may have jumped on her because she was week, not sure??? I now have a second bird stating to display the same symptoms(behavior) as the dead one did. I purchased DE and some other stuff bit stronger to dust birds and coop but I feel I am clutching at straws.....I also purchased an additive for the water with some antibiotics in it. I went to the vet and got a feeding tube to try and feed the fading hen. We do not have a really good poultry vet in this area, so getting help that way is not an option.....I am getting really discouraged watching my beautiful seemingly healthy birds dropping one by one. Can anyone shed any light on this??

P.S. We use wood chips in coop ( pine only) and they free range during the day....Thanks!

 

[Angiebubs]

If you are seeing bugs then they probably have a large infestation. You can powdered them with Sevin dust. OR a natural way to help them would be ashes from a wood fireplace if you can get them. Put it out in a short sided tub to dust bath.

Another suggestion would be to use light wormer like Wazine and add vitamins to water (discard eggs for 2 weeks after using this), then in 2 weeks follow up wtih Ivomec EPrinex which will treat for mites and worms. I hesitate to tell you to use Eprinex right off for the bugs, in case they have a heavy work load.

Do they have access to a dust bath or dirt to roll around in?

I would also start adding vitamins to water as soon as possible to help their immune system. You can also add ACV with the "mother" sold at Walmart etc...as this helps their natural immune system (dont use this in metal waterers).

Good luck!!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I agree with Angiebubs in that they can be dying from the mites. Make sure to retreat at 7 days with the Poultry Dust for mites and 14 days for lice.

You may have to treat every 7 days until they are gone. Treat the coop too.

 

[jotee]

Thanks for your quick response. I'll start by cleaning out the coop and dusting it and also the chickens. I do put a vit. supplement in the water already. You would think if they are dying of mites they would lose feathers or scratch a bit????

Thanks again!

 

[jotee]

Thanks, I'll get the coop and the chickens dusted this weekend and then keep my fingers crossed. Are wood chips okay to use or do they attract the mites???

 

[Angiebubs]

I use pine shavings in my coop. And I also use the "Deep Litter Method" which makes it difficult to treat the entire coop....and haven't had any issues so far. (Crossing my fingers)

 

[jotee]

Deep litter? sorry new to this stuff .....

Have you ever tube fed a chicken with a crop tube? Easy? hard?....I think I may have to go that route

 

[Angiebubs]

I used to have a business when I lived in Cali, raising exotic birds (Had over 100) and I used to syringe feed. Never crop fed as its easy to get down the wrong side. Have you tried enticing her with scrambled eggs? Yogurt? I would also keep her warm if possible. And would start with dusting her as soon as possible. One suggestion I have heard is to find an old sock and fill it up, then use it as a"puff" to get under wings, under tail all over the body.

DLM: It is where you add a layer of bedding (and you can add some dirt as well). Then basically you regulary stir up or mix up the bedding and poop so that ie begins breaking down. Each week or so you add a little more bedding/pine shavings. Depending on the size of your coop, by fall/winter you will have accumulated a nice deep bedding that is composting so it will add warmth. And if done correctly, shouldnt have any smell. Thats the simple answer LOL. But if you search on BYC for deep litter method there are a lot more detailed explanations.

 

[jotee]

Wow, I love the DLM idea, thank you for that. I have done the yogurt but will definitely try the egg. I will also use the sock method.....great stuff!

 

[Judy]

If you have a lice/mite infestation you will need to treat aggressively with either Sevin or permethrin/pyrethrn. You will need to clean out and treat the coop, and repeat the whole treatment in 10 days. Sevin comes in a liquid which is convenient for painting places like the undersides of roosts and cracks in walls.

http://ohioline.osu.edu/vme-fact/0018.html