New chicken owner needs advice-why are my chickens dying?

[cobblehillchix]

they have sand in the penned area and they get to run around the yard often and play in the garden so we were told it wasn't necessary to give them grit every day

 

[ten chicks]

Sand is grit,if they have access to sand daily,then they have enough grit.

 

[199787]

Doubtful on the water situation, I guess toxic algae or bacteria could develop, but it takes a longer than a day or two. If your water is visibly nasty or has colorful algea in it I might think of that as a possibility, but I see my chickens drinking out of all sorts of things on the farm and it hasn't killed them yet. ie.. stagnant rainwater, puddles, I saw some drink my dog's pee, YUCK! The rooster excitedly called the hens over. Lordy...whatever. I do physically clean each waterer at least once a week and I change coop water generally on a daily basis of course, but what I am trying to say is that changing water every other day is most likely not your problem. It is a lot more likely they had/have something...likely cocci as mentioned above.

Lisa

 

[Eggcessive]

I agree with starting treatment for coccidia with Amprol (Corid). They also would not have died from not having their water changed daily. However if they ran out of water that could do some damage.

 

[Wyandottes7]

I agree with starting treatment for coccidia with Amprol (Corid). They also would not have died from not having their water changed daily. However if they ran out of water that could do some damage.

X2. It does sound like it could be Coccidiosis.

The dosage for Corid liquid is two teaspoons per gallon of water, and the dosage for the powder is about 1 teaspoon per gallon. Give Corid for five days.