One of my chickens died and I am worried about the others

[beck's chicks]

One of my chickens was dead this morning when we let them out of the coop. We seem to have noticed some distancing behavior by this chicken for a few days. She was laying around the yard and not as social as usual. The poop does seem runnier than normal from more than one chicken. I may be a hypochondriac but it seems that their is at least one other chicken who has this weaker behavior. I have only had my chickens for a few weeks so I am not really familiar with their behavior to give a good description. I noticed some poop tonight that was very runny with undigested pellets in it. What might be happening and what should I do?
My hens are from 9 months to 18 months old.
Thanks!

 

[sammi]

what all do you feed?(list everything in detail)

are the chickens from mixed sources?

are they showing any other symptoms?

are the droppings watery and clear? or watery with white?
(both with undigested food?)
has it been hot where you are?
what bedding are you using?
do they have a coop and pen? or free range?

you're not being a hypochondric..these droppings aren't normal..
these hens are sick.

do they have access to a compost pile, or anything bad?

here is a link to a med source..click Sulfadimethoxine..
it might be what you need.

http://www.firststatevetsupply.com/store/index.php?cPath=21_29

it's possible liquid Sulmet 12.5% might help..available at farm/feed stores.

will wait for your reply to questions ...

are you able to take a fecal sample to a vet for testing to make sure?

 

[sammi]

here is a link to pictures of droppings..scroll down and you will see runny with undigested food..

http://happyhenhouse.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=poop&action=display&thread=7588

 

[beck's chicks]

We got four chickens at a feed store about one month ago who are 9 months old (rhode island reds). We then added 6 more chickens from a household two weeks later who are a year and a half old (two types-maybe more r.i. red and buffingtons???). One of the later R.I red is the one that died. They are much bigger and more robust so we were surprised when it died.

We feed them laying pellets and oyster shells. They are in a coop with a fenced in yard. We have also fed them fresh vegetables but nothing rotten. (strawberry tops, cabbage, cauliflower stalk, carrot greens, loquats, bread, bird seed, sunflower seeds is what I can think of)

It has actually been quite cool four the past week but this is some concern for the future. We live near San Diego and it can get quite hot here, but this is definitely not the issue at the moment. I do have some concern that we haven't vented the coop enough.

I remember the droppings being liquidy and brownish-orange diarrhea to clear liquidy with undigested food. Someone else remembers seeing some white in the poop. I will investigate further in the morning.

We are using bermuda hay for bedding.

I will look into the vet route.

Thanks for your help!

 

[sammi]

change the bedding to commercial packaged pine shavings.
NOT cedar.

Since the chickens are from mixed sources, and started out with brownish-orange droppings I'd treat them for cocci.

Corid, Amprol, or liquid Sulmet 12.5%..
available at farm/feed stores..

http://www.firststatevetsupply.com/store/index.php?cPath=21_29

 

[beck's chicks]

Thanks! I'll give it a try!