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Not even sure what to ask.

Discussion in 'Emergencies / Diseases / Injuries and Cures' started by shalla, Mar 21, 2017.

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  1. Mar 21, 2017 #1
    shalla

    shalla In the Brooder

    24
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    May 28, 2016
    I have a mixed flock, mostly orpingtons.
    My question is this. Since the fall I have lost all 3 of my colored egg layers. We had a 30 degree temp change overnight when I lost my easter egger.

    We culled my amerucana last month, she had one ailment after another. She had a respiratory issue that i don't think ever went away and then she slipped a tendon jumping from the roosting bar and we just couldn't fix it.

    This morning I went to the coop to find my olive egger pullet dead. She was fine last night when I locked everyone up. I will say that we have had insane weather here and she did get sluggish everytime there was a drastic cool down, but then would perk right back up.

    I bought the amerucana and olive egger in September along with a chocolate and a lavender orpington, both of whom have had no issues.

    My buff orpingtons that we bought in may have no issues.

    I guess my question is this.. are the others less likely to handle bad weather than my orpingtons?
     

  4. Mar 21, 2017 #2
    Eggcessive

    Eggcessive Free Ranging Premium Member

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    Apr 3, 2011
    southern Ohio
    Sorry for your loss. Since easter eggers and some ameraucanas are of mixed breeds, I find that mine are much healthier than some of the purebred rarer breeds. The problem may be from what diseases you're dealing with. Respiratory diseases are not good, but if your one chicken who had several ailments might have had an immunity problem common with some diseases like leukosis or Mareks, then it could affect many. Whenever you lose a bird, it helps to get a necropsy done by a poultry lab or the state vet to look for what killed the chicken. The one with the slipped tendon possibly could have had Mareks (or not.) When we get birds from different sources, there is always a chance of bringing in a carrier who shows no symptoms of illness. Weather changing from cold to hot and back can be a stress on chickens, so hopefully it is just that and a couple of birds with poor immunity. Sometimes I do a necropsy myself at home to look at internal organs for crop or gizzard blockage, worms, or egg yolk peritonitis. Here is some info on contacting poultry labs or state vets if you need to in the future:
    http://www.usaha.org/Portals/6/StateAnimalHealthOfficials.pdf
    http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm
    https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/799747/how-to-send-a-bird-for-a-necropsy-pictures
     
    Last edited: Mar 21, 2017
    1 person likes this.

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