OMG, please help :(

[ReeseTheChick]

Aw I am sorry about your chickens. I cried when I lost my 2 bantams and I am a adult. So I understand your boys crying. It'll be ok though! Just keep an eye on the rest of them.

 

[hd_darcy]

Another question - is there anything I can do for the survivors. They are still hanging in there, but not looking 100%.. I think there are 4 in there that are alive, 6 were dead. Should I give them some regular chicken food. I don't have their food in the run, just in the coop. Also, if they hang in there.. I"m guessing it's fine that they are around the hens? There is no way they would make the hens sick???

Thank you. My boys seem to be doing a bit better. But I know my oldest will be crying himself to sleep for the next several nights..ugh.. They love their chickens

 

[3goodeggs]

I know nothing of these gnats that she speaks of, but you may want to check the dead birds nostrils and see if they suffocate.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=517549

 

[Jarvxs]

Are you 100% sure they are dead? Sweet peas can cause paralysis in chickens

 

[pinkwindsong]

Im so sorry that your boys are learning life lessons so quickly.. but tell them that with their loss others have also learned valuable lessons.. I now have the list of toxic plants that would hurt my chicks too.. I am very thankful to Anianna, for posting the list and feel for your heartach...
blessings to all
)O(Pink

 

[pinkwindsong]

i wonder is the Sweet pea that is mentioned.. the flower sweet pea or the vegetable sweet peas. that you get frozen or in cans.. and fresh of course.. im just wondering if its not the flower and seeds for sweet pea vines..

)O(
Pink

 

[chickengal30]

So sorry for your alful situation

, I also have fed peas (frozen and then thawed) and watermelon with no side effects, all I can think of is what others have sudgested. I think its just coincidence you feeding them the peas and watermelon and that isnt what caused there deaths, being so sudden I too think they may of found something whilst free ranging thats effected them.
Sure hope your remaining ones get better.

Oh and someone said something like too much fresh stuff will make them ill, youve got me worried now, I feed my four girls who are eleven weeks old fresh stuff every day, but not so much that they dont eat there "chicken food", (maybe a corn on the cob one day, quarter of a watermelon the next, kale the next) how much is too much?

 

[hd_darcy]

Wow, wow, wow on the gnats. You know all of a sudden these past few days the gnats have been horrible out there lately too. BUT, would it be a slow death? There was one out there that was hanging on, but is not any longer

And also what about head shaking? My son brought in one of the survivors who seems to be doing 'okay', but he keeps shaking his head. Any possible correlation???

Again, thank you all tons again. It's truly appreciated.

 

[fifenashia]

I feel confused, like I missed a whole page of posts...

You have hens and roosters as well as chicks. The roos were out free ranging when you fed them peas and watermelon. 2 hours later they were dead, now you have more that are dying? Symptoms include head shaking?

Is this right?

Okay, so we need a bit more information: How many birds are now ill? What are all the symptoms? (lethargy, not eating/drinking, poop look ok, drainage from eyes or nose). What do you use at the bottom of the coop? Any flowers or plants in the run that could be a problem? What does your feed/waterer look like? Has the food gotten wet lately and clumped (ergot grows in wet food as it molds and some feed containers have "hard to reach" places that it can fester in), also check your bag of feed it might have gone "bad"

Death in chickens like this is hard to determine because there are so many factors: impaction, poison, illness.

If more hens die then it is likely spreading and not necessarily pea related.

My advice would be to stop feeding all treats for the time being, quarantine the ones who look sick, bring them inside where you can monitor them. Clean out the feeders and waterers with a gallon of hot water and 2 tbsp of bleach (non-chlorine) let them air dry and then refill. Smell your feed before refilling, I have heard stories of mistakes by the store with the feed that caused death in flocks. I might err on the side of caution and buy a new bag anyway just to be safe.

Then keep a close watch on the survivors and let us know if any additional symptoms present.

Finally; if you have an agriculture office in your area, sometimes you can get an autopsy done to determine the COD, this would help if they continue to get sick. Knowing what it is will help you determine how to proceed with survivors or even if you have to start disinfecting the coop.

Hope something here helps!

 

[hd_darcy]

Yes, you have it pretty-much right. I have three hens in the coop shut in with 10 babies. One hen is broody (2 are mothering the babies). I have shut the roosters out of the coop the past couple of days to leave the babies alone and let them either A) free range or B) stay shut in the run. Today I let one hen out there too in the run w/ the roosters (I had only 4 hens). I fed them (11 chickens) about a cup full of peas and maybe 4 leftover watermelon rinds that had been sitting out. It was not that much food at all for 11 chickens. The watermelon looked totally fine (I thought), the peas were getting slimy. About an hour or two later my son found them. He found like 4 dead, and since then 2 more have gone. So, I now have 5 that are left but not looking very well. Head-shaking and very lethargic...two seem better than the others.

Their regular chicken food is in the coop..with the hens...who are not affected, so I'm pretty certain that's not the case. I think I have it narrowed down to the food (peas or watermelon), or buffalo gnats?

One of the roosters who is dead today wasn't acting like he normally does though last night.. (which makes me think it wasn't the peas). He was lying in the corner in the run which he's never done before. I picked him up and put him in the coop and he did walk in fine. But, it was hot yesterday and maybe it was just "hot" behavior. They have had watermelon the past few days...

Please let me know if there are any other questions!!