***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[bardies]

Typically an e coli yolk infection will cause death at under 1 week old. However, I was losing ALL my Isbar chicks at 3-4 weeks old, for months on end. Everything was super clean, scrubbed and disinfected regularly, moved the pen weekly, etc. Did a round of Tetracycline which helped for about 2 weeks then I went back to 95-100% losses. There was nothing else I could think of to try. Sent some chicks in for testing and it was confirmed to be a specific strain of e coli being passed from the hens to the eggs. This strain is not one you find environmentally, the vet said in his opinion it came from someone I bought hatching eggs from to start my Isbar flock. Based on the results from the OSU lab he prescribed Bactrim to treat my flock. They have not been laying so I have been unable to confirm yet if that has fixed the infection but it should have. The lab will give you a list of antibiotics they tested the bacteria sample in and tell you which antibiotics that strain is more susceptible to. Totally worth the testing fees. I think it was around $100 to dissect the 3 chicks and culture the bacteria. FYI if you are near Tulsa I can pass on the name of the ONLY vet I have found to see chickens.... and believe me I called EVERYWHERE!

Thanks Rinda! That is terrible, what happened to you.
I do have a vet nearby that will see chickens. Thank goodness...

If I follow correctly - the infected hen infected her egg, which hatched, and then you had a carrier chick that infected the entire clutch?

 

[Kassaundra]

For the ducks, it could be something picked up from wild bird droppings. Wouldn't it be safer to startthem on an antibiotic regimen just in case? That's assuming I read that right and only the drakes are dying and you have them separated from the girls. If you have them in the same pen and only the drakes are dying, that would seem like something genetic, but genetic issues don't usually wait several months then strike multiple birds at once. If you're feeding and watering them all the same and a single pen is dying you should be able to narrow that down to the environment, which would suggest a potentially communicable illness or foreign contaminant.

Kass, thanks so much for all your info. The more I read about wry neck, the farther I move away from that specific diagnosis, but I'm becoming more convinced that it is similar, a neurological disorder possibly caused by nutritional deficiencies. I didn't see a single seizure last night. They may have been out of my hearing or they may have been mild enough to not bring me running, but I'm thankful either way.

Bardies, talk to Rinda about e coli, just in case.

It was not me that posted all that info, I didn't go back and look at who it was though.

 

[Ksane]

It probably took 4 to 5 days before they really started to eat. I am feeding dry. Maybe a mash like yours would be a better start for them. That way they are getting hydrated at the same time. Taht would go to the 'failure to thrive' issues that a few of them seem to have had. The container that they are in has been used before - and the waterer/feeder. I did not sterilize them. But the bedding is all new.
How can you tell that the feathers are normal already? Mine just have the little primary feathers out

Mine have primaries out and the straight/normal ones have their secondary feathers out. There's a couple light feathered ones with normal feathers, too. I think it's the Game bird starter making the difference because the Brahmas feathered out on it super fast, too. Silkie are so tiny when they're little I figured they could use the extra calories and protein.
Diseases passed thru the egg aren't uncommon but keep in mind Silkies have their own set of problems. Polish seem to have a lot of problems, too.

 

[Kyzmette]

Kass, I was just going to correct my error on that! I typed the original thanks before I even got out of bed this morning, so I wasn't thinking yet.

@artsyrobin was the one who posted the info, and I am thankful for it. I am also thankful for everybody else who always helps on this thread. Oklahoma chicken people are pretty fab.

 

[BetsyOK]

You might want to do a little research on feeding your chicks that high protein content. I've read somewhere, or maybe several places, that protein that high can damage, I think, the kidneys. It would probably take awhile for anything to show up.

 

[hotcurltr]

Thanks, for the response. It is only drakes that are dying, My breeding drake who is sorely missed, he was such a pet and good daddy. I do keep the girls with the boys, they can free range and are put up at night , although they aren't like the chickens and geese, who range all over, the ducks stay pretty much is the garden spot or yard. All except Donald, the other three have been 3 month old drakes. Praise God, so far today they all seem fine(as they have) and were all alive this morning. I tried to do a lot of research last night, but whatever is hitting them, seems to have the symptoms fast with instant death since I haven't seen anything out of the normal. The only thing different is I have been feeding whole pears to the geese. Not a lot but maybe, they drop the seeds. I know about apple seeds and always core the apples. Last night I read pear seeds could be toxic and another article that said small amounts wouldn't hurt. them. I won't take anymore chances and I'll core the pears too. I harvest most of the trees except way high up, and when pears do fall, the goats. horses or donkey eat them . I have thought about giving them antibiotics, but the vet at the Ag dept. thought I should wait in case more have to be tested? It's really scary to me not knowing. As I said before I hope the test results are fast. Anyway, thanks for responding. It always helps to talk to someone else, even though, you don't have any answers it is comforting. Them chickens and geese are doing fine and they all run together during the day, although the chickens have their little cliques.

 

[lonnyandrinda]

Thanks Rinda! That is terrible, what happened to you.
I do have a vet nearby that will see chickens. Thank goodness...

If I follow correctly - the infected hen infected her egg, which hatched, and then you had a carrier chick that infected the entire clutch?

No. Even brooded with other breeds no-one died but the Isbars. Each and every Isbar egg was getting the e coli from their mom- I only had two hens, both hatched in the same batch from the same source so they must both have carried the infection. My regimen and brooding area was kept very very clean there was no chance for them to pass it on to other chicks. I tried brooding Isbars separate as well with no better results.

You might want to do a little research on feeding your chicks that high protein content. I've read somewhere, or maybe several places, that protein that high can damage, I think, the kidneys. It would probably take awhile for anything to show up.

X2. I think you could do it for 2-3 weeks and then you would need to back off for a month or so to a regular chick starter diet. Even adult chickens will "burn out" if you keep them on 22-23% protein constantly. Yes you will make them lay good, but they will burn out quicker. Better to use the high protein feed to boost production periodically and then go back to a 16-18% protein.

 

[NanaKat]

I have had muscovy ducks for about a year now and my hens have hatched out over 100 eggs. All have been healthy. I joined NPIP last May and had by brood stock inspected. Everything has been going fine. I've sold or butchered most of the young. I have about twenty 3 month olds, which I'm trying to sell and butcher some.
Anyway I haven't changed anything and the day after Thanksgiving I found my breeding drake dead. He seemed fine the day before. Healthy appetite and all. There wasn't a mark on him and hubby thought he had a heart attack. We checked all the other ducks, geese and chickens and they all seemed fine. Nothing acting funny or sick. Yesterday(Sunday) when I went out to do morning chores I found one of the young 3 month old drakes dead, the same no marks. Then as I was changing the water in one of the kiddie pools, another young drake went into a spasm and died right in front of me. I called the poultry inspector to come pick them up to be tested, he said he couldn't because everyone was out until Monday because of the holiday. Hubby bagged the one up for the inspector to pick up today. This morning another young drake was dead. They are eating, playing in the kiddie pools and running around. I followed a few of them around to see if they were breathing funny, but didn't hear anything. I only have three breeding hens and they seem fine too. I do have some young 3 month hens but none of them have died. Help I don't know when I'll get the results back on the one the inspector picked up today. He said he had to take it to Little Rock and from there it is expressed to Texas A and M. I thought maybe botulism, but they are all walking fine. I cleaned everything today, but am scared to death, it might be something my geese could get. They are my pets. I do have a muddy spot they all noodle around. It's been there for a year where I dump the big kiddie pool. I was going to try to dry it up but someone told me that the ducks and geese love to noodle around in those kind of spots so I've kept it there, and they seem to love it, but maybe there is something in it that is poisoning them. Although the geese noodle around there too and sometimes the chickens will drink from it, even though they have clean water twice a day. I was hoping I could have some suggestions before the results come back on the one. I'm dreading morning chores.Since 3 out of 4 days I've had dead ducks. There is not an avian vet any where around here, so taking blood and getting a quick look isn't an option. Since I'm so new at this, does anyone have any suggestions while I'm waiting who know how long for the results. Hopefully they will be pretty fast.

I was told to add crushed brewer's yeast tablets to the feed for my geese. You might check the duck and goose threads under other backyard poultry in the breed section too. There are some great duck and goose people there who will offer help.

 

[NanaKat]

Got back from Choctaw with a load of cow/calf pairs a bit ago.
Why is that the only chickens free-ranging in the front yard were the ones that are still molting and the ugliest of the birds right now? One hen even has a huge bare spot on her back covered with pin feathers and three feathers left in her tail! She was closest to the road. Healthy but UGLY right now. Go figure...if the ASPCA or PETA shows up.

Sorry to hear about all the chick losses and sickness in flocks....

no big issues here.
In the breed pens, I cull rather than medicate because I'm trying to make the flock more vigorous. That may seem heartless, but when you have 100 chicks, weak chicks won't be aggressive enough for feed and water even with numerous feeders.

I'm prepping for the snow coming...going to fluff the floors in the pens and add extra hay, dump and clean all waterers and refill with water. I have my ice breakers handy at each pen. Will move as many of the younger birds and bantams into the barn in floor pens where it is warmer.
The outdoor coops will get a ceramic warmer on an extension cord if it really gets cold.
We are doubling up on hay in the feeders and have pulled the net off about 30 bales that will be available to feed out...sure is hard to get the hay strings and nets off when the hay has a layer of ice.

 

[Ksane]

You might want to do a little research on feeding your chicks that high protein content. I've read somewhere, or maybe several places, that protein that high can damage, I think, the kidneys. It would probably take awhile for anything to show up.

X2. I think you could do it for 2-3 weeks and then you would need to back off for a month or so to a regular chick starter diet. Even adult chickens will "burn out" if you keep them on 22-23% protein constantly. Yes you will make them lay good, but they will burn out quicker. Better to use the high protein feed to boost production periodically and then go back to a 16-18% protein.

I've looked it up, it seems to be one of those things that people can't seem to agree on. These chicks are less than 2 wks old, the older ones have fermented scratch mixed with their's so that should pull the protein down a lot.