Mystery Disease affecting my flock

[chicknmania]

Also (sorry to be overwhelming here...) if the whitish diarrhea sticks to the feathers, and there's a lot of it, it could be Avian Tuberculosis. This is another thing that is everywhere, and either they develop an immunity, or they don't. It has a number of symptoms which can vary, but they do include lameness, lethargy, and sometimes respiratory symptoms. It is terminal.

Don't beat yourself up either. Most of us here have learned through unfortunate mistakes at one point or another. Our flock had ILT, and later ATB, several years ago and it went through our flock..it was a nightmare...but we did recover, learned, and went on. We still have some of those birds today, though we lost a lot.

 

[MsChickenMomma]

Welcome to BYC. I am so sorry about your chickens. I wish there was some advice that I could give you, but I unfamiliar with what is happening to your chickens. I hope you are able to save them.

 

[drumstick diva]

There are some very detailed threads regarding Marek's on BYC - from what I have read about your chickens, it doesn't seem like Mareks. but I am not authority and many problems can be just as devastating. I hope you will find answers soon and whatever medication and treatment that is needed.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

http://www.nda.agric.za/docs/gut/default.htm
gut conditions in chickens

http://www2.ca.uky.edu/poultryprofi...natomy_and_Physiology/Chapter3_digestive.html
droppings info at the bottom of link

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044
diagnosis charts at bottom

I hope you can find out what the problem is. I am sorry for your losses.

If you would like to send one for necropsy (after one dies) to get a diagnosis, you can contact your state vet or county extension agent. I have read the body needs to be refrigerated, so it is best to contact them beforehand.

 

[HerFlock]

Thank you for your kind, encouraging words. My little girl passed away and I am pretty sad. I have learned many things since I decided to become a chicken lover, the main one is that there is a certain level of love I can have for them. Care for them enough to give them a good life, but not too much to where you get heart broken when they are taken/fall sick.

I am still at odds as to what could have caused her demise. She was getting better, then diminished quickly. I honestly think that it may not have been only one thing that affected her. I was looking at her body after she passed, and I found lice? They looked like mites but I thought chicken mites were smaller? Either way, I think she just had a very depressed immune system which allowed for whatever is affecting the flock to get the better of her.

I dont think I will cull the flock, but I also wont be introducing any new chicks/chickens for a while. Hopefully the ones I have will build immunity and I wont lose too many more.

I will look up the ATB and see what symptoms are matching mine. This is so frustrating! If I knew what it was I would do anything to resolve it....

Thanks again for your concern and suggestions, I really do appreciate it!! )

 

[sourland]

Hopefully the survivors will develop immunity - good luck.

 

[fried green eggs]

I am so sorry for your lose

You should inspect the rest of your birds to see if they also have lice or mites and treat if needed. It is hard not to get attached to them when some just seem to have such neat personalities.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Sorry about the loss of your girl, it is hard to lose a pet you've become attached to. Mites and Lice can be really hard on chickens, like you said, there could be more than one thing going on, and lice/mites could certainly be making any problems worse. There are different kinds of them and here are the links from the BYC Learning Center on them about id and treatment options.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/mites-lice-treatment-and-prevention
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/mites-chicken-pests-how-to-protect-your-chickens-from-mites
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/lice-chicken-pests-how-to-protect-your-chickens-from-lice

 

[All Henned Up]

Welcome
I hope you find a cure soon.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I am sorry for your loss.