New to the game

[chicken00bie]

Hello everyone. I'm new to the chicken world and our family just purchased 4 pullets to start our flock. Sadly, it hasn't been a positive first experience. All the girls are sick, and we lost one this morning. Even more sadly, it looks as though we may lose them all, despite our best efforts to save them. We're worming them, and the feed we're giving is FRM 15% grower crumbles. The sickness is respiratory in nature, with coughing and labored breathing and rattling/gurgling on exhalation. We're not going to be swayed from our vision of a healthy flock and delicious eggs! Unfortunately, we may be forced to start from scratch...no pun intended.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Hello everyone. I'm new to the chicken world and our family just purchased 4 pullets to start our flock. Sadly, it hasn't been a positive first experience. All the girls are sick, and we lost one this morning. Even more sadly, it looks as though we may lose them all, despite our best efforts to save them. We're worming them, and the feed we're giving is FRM 15% grower crumbles. The sickness is respiratory in nature, with coughing and labored breathing and rattling/gurgling on exhalation. We're not going to be swayed from our vision of a healthy flock and delicious eggs! Unfortunately, we may be forced to start from scratch...no pun intended.

Welcome to BYC.
How old are these birds and how long have you had them? If the illness is respiratory, worming the birds will do nothing to aid in recovery - what treatment have you used for the respiratory sypmtoms? Is there any odor to their breath? Is there discharge from their eyes, nares or beak and, if so, what is that discharge like?

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[drumstick diva]

Some respiratory ills are very contagious, and survivors will be carriers. Were your birds showing illness at time you purchased them?

 

[trailrider330]

Welcome to the BYC flock! We are glad you joined us, though I wish it were under better circumstances!

Hope you are able to figure out what is going on with your pullets and I hope they are able to make a full recovery.

 

[chicken00bie]

Welcome to BYC.
How old are these birds and how long have you had them?  If the illness is respiratory, worming the birds will do nothing to aid in recovery - what treatment have you used for the respiratory sypmtoms?  Is there any odor to their breath?  Is there discharge from their eyes, nares or beak and, if so, what is that discharge like? 

We gave them a course of oxytetracycline in their drinking water. It had no effect. They have all died. A sad first experience, but we learned a lot about what NOT to do. We'll start again in the spring.