- Jun 23, 2013
- 3
- 0
- 7
We are happy to find such a valuable resource on the web and we look forward to learning much more. For now though, we have a little emergency that we're hoping to get some help with from the experts.
Our mixed flock of 9 hens is about a year old. They've been healthy and laying just fine, with the exception of one hen. About 6 weeks ago, she died one night from unknown causes. She had been sneezing a bit since we got her, about 6 months.
One of the hens went broody, we don't have a rooster, so we tried giving her a dozen fertile eggs from a friend's hens, (healthy as far as we know). For some reason, none of the eggs hatched. We decided to pick up some 24 hour old chicks from a local supplier, who gets their chicks from Ideal. Our hen adopted the 12 chicks, this was 3 weeks ago.
By the end of week 1, one of the chicks got sick. The symptoms that we observed included droopy wings, very thirsty, diarrhea, and loss of feathers on the tummy, which seemed hot and swollen. The chick died within 24 hours.
The next day another died the same way.
Our chick supplier suggested we put everyone on Duramicyn antibiotic. A third chick died the next day. Two others are sick, but seem to be recovering.
This is the sixth day of the recommended 7 day treatment.
Now last night, another adult hen has died with the same symptoms as the chicks.
I know this doesn't sound like a lot to go on, but we're hoping somebody can help.
We're sorry our introduction is one of distress.
Our mixed flock of 9 hens is about a year old. They've been healthy and laying just fine, with the exception of one hen. About 6 weeks ago, she died one night from unknown causes. She had been sneezing a bit since we got her, about 6 months.
One of the hens went broody, we don't have a rooster, so we tried giving her a dozen fertile eggs from a friend's hens, (healthy as far as we know). For some reason, none of the eggs hatched. We decided to pick up some 24 hour old chicks from a local supplier, who gets their chicks from Ideal. Our hen adopted the 12 chicks, this was 3 weeks ago.
By the end of week 1, one of the chicks got sick. The symptoms that we observed included droopy wings, very thirsty, diarrhea, and loss of feathers on the tummy, which seemed hot and swollen. The chick died within 24 hours.
The next day another died the same way.
Our chick supplier suggested we put everyone on Duramicyn antibiotic. A third chick died the next day. Two others are sick, but seem to be recovering.
This is the sixth day of the recommended 7 day treatment.
Now last night, another adult hen has died with the same symptoms as the chicks.
I know this doesn't sound like a lot to go on, but we're hoping somebody can help.
We're sorry our introduction is one of distress.
I dont have an answer for your questions but please post this in the Emergencies section. There are a group of experts there that will no doubt be able to help you very quickly. Just click on the brown Forum tab at the top then Raising Backyard Chickens then Emergencies, Diseases, Injuries.
