- May 8, 2013
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Hi, We have 2 older Buff's about 2 yrs old. They lay every day. We had 4. 2 died shortly after we bought them at 1.5 yrs of age. Just stopped eating and died. We called friends we bought them from and they told us it couldve been stress from move that did them in. They didn't have any flu symptoms. Just died right after they looked sick.
In April we bought 7 chicks-2 Barrred Rocs, 2 bantys, 2 buff's and an Americana. A week ago one of the BR's started acting weird, fluffing her feathers and stopped eatring and drinking. we isolated her right away in a crate in the house where she could be warm and dry and fed her water with a syringe. She refused food. She dragged along for 5 days & wasn't getting any better and was losing weight. We don't like animals to suffer so we put her down.
We also scrubbed the entire coop, scrubbed the feed & water equipment. We just put all the hens together and they seem to be getting along fine tho the older hens stay on one side of coop and pullets on other side. Put down fresh straw, scrubbed nesting boxes etc.
My concern is what was wrong with my hen and what can I do if another comes down sick. We've got major incidences of Avian flu in Indiana. My hen didn't exhibit any gurgling, rasping, choking etc. She just fluffed up and sat and got weaker from not eating or drinking.
Can I put probiotics in their water? And can I put an electrolyte in water also? If so, how much and where do I purchase it? The chicks are almost 4 months old and have been on medicated chick feed and the hens are on layer feed. All are supplemented with fresh garden produce that's not been treated with pesticides etc and I also give them fresh fruits (we grow 14 varieities) as well as kitchen scraps.
Thanks in advance for your help. I'm looking for a poultry vet but so far no luck where I live. I am capable of taking temps, giving meds etc and done some small animal care with local vet years ago. Not afraid to do what needs to be done to care for them.
I've noticed some caramel colored diarreha on chicks roost but thought it was caecal droppings?
Thanks again.
Chris in Indiana
In April we bought 7 chicks-2 Barrred Rocs, 2 bantys, 2 buff's and an Americana. A week ago one of the BR's started acting weird, fluffing her feathers and stopped eatring and drinking. we isolated her right away in a crate in the house where she could be warm and dry and fed her water with a syringe. She refused food. She dragged along for 5 days & wasn't getting any better and was losing weight. We don't like animals to suffer so we put her down.
We also scrubbed the entire coop, scrubbed the feed & water equipment. We just put all the hens together and they seem to be getting along fine tho the older hens stay on one side of coop and pullets on other side. Put down fresh straw, scrubbed nesting boxes etc.
My concern is what was wrong with my hen and what can I do if another comes down sick. We've got major incidences of Avian flu in Indiana. My hen didn't exhibit any gurgling, rasping, choking etc. She just fluffed up and sat and got weaker from not eating or drinking.
Can I put probiotics in their water? And can I put an electrolyte in water also? If so, how much and where do I purchase it? The chicks are almost 4 months old and have been on medicated chick feed and the hens are on layer feed. All are supplemented with fresh garden produce that's not been treated with pesticides etc and I also give them fresh fruits (we grow 14 varieities) as well as kitchen scraps.
Thanks in advance for your help. I'm looking for a poultry vet but so far no luck where I live. I am capable of taking temps, giving meds etc and done some small animal care with local vet years ago. Not afraid to do what needs to be done to care for them.
I've noticed some caramel colored diarreha on chicks roost but thought it was caecal droppings?
Thanks again.
Chris in Indiana
