Mysterious EE problem

[chixrus]

Three of our EE hens have died in the past few weeks and i don't know why. all seem to have peck marks, but i don't know if that's how they died or if that happened after. we're leaving on vacation on friday and i don't want our friend to have to worry about dead chickens. has anyone else had this problem?

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

The only way to know for sure is to do a necropsy. It might be too late for the ones you already lost. But if anymore die, you should get them in somewhere. Many times your State Vet can refer you to a local university which may provide free testing. You can find your state vet through your State Dept of Agriculture.

 

[Glenda L Heywood]

possibly pecked to death
if that is the case here is some things to do
the bad birds who peck to stop the pecking
also may I suggest these things to do for the hens

1. feed whole horse oats and granite grit in a self feeder, as well as feeding the commercial protein feed

2. hang a head of cabbage dark leaves and all wrapped in a piece of chicken wire, hANG TILL IT IS 1 FT FROM FLOOR FROM CEILING

3. HANG A PIECE OF BALED ALFALFA WRAPPED IN CHICKEN WIRE FROM CEILING TO DT FROM FLOOR
WHEN BOTH 2 AND 3 ARE EMPTY IN TOTAL VOLUME REFILL THE CHICKEN WIRE HOLDERS WITH MORE CABBAGE AND ALFALFA HAY

all this is good for feather growth and chickens to lay and ot be bored
email any questions

 

[babsbag]

Glenda,

I am a newbie to raising chickens and have been haning out on BYC quite a bit lately. I want to ask you about the alfalfa. I see many posts where owners have found hay, straw, or grass in an impacted crop. I was getting worried because mine roam with our goats, so obviously hay is abundant. How dangerous is it for them to have access to this? In your opinion do I need to be overly worried?

Thanks

 

[chixrus]

The thing is, I don't think that they were pecked to death. There were very few wounds on the chickens and they weren't very extensive, only drawing a little blood.

 

[Glenda Heywoodo]

well as you can't control what they eat here is my answer BESURE and have a generous supply of grit and oystershell
FOR THEM WHEN THEY COME BACK TO THE CHICKEN HOUSE
AS THESE TWO ITEMS WILL GIVE THE CROP SOMETHING TO "CHCH"EW UP THE CONTENTS OF THE GIZZA.
Generally the ones that get impacted crop are only getting imited grit and or oyster shell. THE GRIT IN THE COOP IS IMPORTANT even if they are foraging out side. and very important to the chickens kept pened up. Also take he dead chickens to a vet for observation if needed
I would advise you not to feed grassy hay as It does cause packed crop when chickens are in the chicken house24-7
Glenda Heywood Cassville, Missouri

 

[Glenda Heywoodo]

Glenda,

I am a newbie to raising chickens and have been haning out on BYC quite a bit lately. I want to ask you about the alfalfa. I see many posts where owners have found hay, straw, or grass in an impacted crop. I was getting worried because mine roam with our goats, so obviously hay is abundant. How dangerous is it for them to have access to this? In your opinion do I need to be overly worried?

Thanks

Well Alfalfa Hay is different than hay made of grass.
Also you need to use granite grit 1 feeder with granite grit and oyster shell in the other feeder.
YOU STILL HAVE TO T GRANIT GRIT IN A FEEDER
TO HELP THE HENS GRIND THE GRASS THEY PICK WHILE FOAGING.
they will not find enough stones while forging around to grind the grass
As for alfalfa hay that is okay and they still need granite grit also.