Please, please.... I need some help!!!!!!!!! Really!

[Spring]

Ok.... first off we got two silkies last July. Full grown. They both got sick with something that made their necks limp. Someone said botulisms or something. The coop is under a lemon tree, so maybe something from the citrus? It was weird. My mom was able to help me revive them. Then they both got it again. The rooster was a fighter... but he would have these awful seizures... it was the saddest thing watching him. We tried so hard to save him!

My dad came over and put him out, because it went on for a week or more and he didn't get better.

Then in Oct. we got a batch of 6 chicks. One of the chicks after a few months got the same thing. We tried with her. No sezures, but she had the same other symptoms just didn't hang on as long. Then two other chicks died, but it seemed different (they were grown though, and egg laying etc..) she was just sitting and then we just found her dead.

In March we got 6 more chicks. One of them started to not be able to stand. Just completely lost it and would lay on her side. She ate and drank but the next morning was dead. Then the hen (one we got in July) got that same seizure sickness... it was awful. She didn't fight as long as the rooster though.

Now, I've got a rooster (from the first batch of chicks we got in Oct/Nov) and he just can't stand up at all. Shakes, and just can't stand!! We'll hold him and he'll eat and drink. But just lies on his side. He doesn’t have a limp neck or the seizures, so I think it’s a different sickness than what they had. I just recently went to the feed store and they had penicillin shots we could give, so we gave him one of those. but I see no change. Oh, and he's still crowing!!! Poor little guy! I just feel awful.

What is going on with my chickens??? We just don't get why they are dying off!! What are the sicknesses they keep getting and how can I prevent this?? Anything I can do for the rooster I have now. He's a pretty white silkie one.

HELP!!!!! PLEASE

 

[WriterofWords]

I wish I could help you but I honestly don't know what could be happening. I do hope that someone will read this and help you out though. My prayers are with your little guy and the rest of your flock.
K

 

[Run-A-Muck Ranch]

Sorry to hear of all the troubles you are going through... :aww

I really don't have any medical knowledge or even animal knowledge to help you out....But you mentioned you coop is under a lemon tree....Have you moved the coop?? Maybe there is something there...Or what about the feed....Are you using the same bag of feed as the original set of birds?? Or maybe the same brand?? Maybe it's something with the feed?? Or maybe the bedding?? Sorry for all the questions. I am sure you have went over all this already....But maybe something will spark an idea that might have been missed...Kind of out of sight out of mind type of thing....

I hope someone else can help you out a little better than I did.....

 

[sammi]

Botulism is poisoning...from eating or drinking something with the bacteria that causes botulism.
could be rotted fruit, or most any rotted food..and sometimes maggots feeding on rotted food or dead animals (such as mice)..can also cause it if the chickens eat them.
a form of poisoning, similar to botulism, can come from eating moldy feed..

as for the chicks:
describe the housing they are in, what temperature they are being kept at.
what all do you feed them?
describe their droppings..color and consistency.

please answer the same questions about the other chickens.

Botulism can cause the limp neck..called "limber neck"..and other neuroligical symptoms, such as seizures.
but there are a few disorders that can cause similar symptoms..

 

[Spring]

We are in the process of putting boards down and covering with hay so they won't peck at the dirt. Maybe spores in the ground. We deep cleaned it all. The food is fine. Seems like several different sicknesses too

 

[Spring]

Well the chicks that died were already feathered out and weren't kept under a light. they were already old enough to be out with the others.

Right now the rooster (Linus) poop isn't runny. Its white/ green I guess.. seems normal.

The coop is outside. They have nests to go in and roosts. I'm in Ca. so its not freezing or anything! The feed is lay mash, and I give them scratch too.

 

[lovethechickens]

Ok, this might sound mean, but dont take it wrong. Dont get anymore chickens. Its really really mean to put birds through that over and over again. You need to get to the bottom of the problem FIRST. Here in California, there are LOADS of avian veterinarians who could find out with simple bloodwork what is wrong with your birds. If they find a disease then you can find out what you need to do to get rid of it. Sadly it may mean you need to cull all of your birds and start over, or keep the ones who lived, and not EVER get another chicken, until the survivors have passed on their own. Its not fair to otherwise happy healthy birds to bring them into an environment that is less that sustaining. Also, if you do have chickens with a serious illness and you go to the feed store, you run the risk of cross contamination. It isnt right to put other peoples birds at risk either. Instead of spending money on more chicks, spend money on taking a couple of the surviving birds in for blood work. It may be a little expensive, but it will save the lives of other chickens, and save you alot of heart ache. I really hope that you will get a chicken tested and update us. Very sad story, but you have to be selfless in this situation, and step up to the plate of animal ownership.

 

[sammi]

do you feed the chicks the same feed as the adults?
chicks should get chick feed..and no scratch..


how old were the chicks?


with the rooster..
can you give a little more information about his symptoms?
when they started..anything you can think of..
it sounds like he is weak..
need to figure out why he is weak..
and the green droppings could be from not eating enough and green from undiluted bile..
do you have any poultry vitamins or electrolytes?
you say he eats if you hold him up?

if you don't have poultry vitamins or electrolytes..you can use Poly-vi-sol liquid baby vitamins (Enfamil brand..no iron)..3 drops in the beak once a day for a week, then taper off..and try and get some poultry vitamins at the feed store.
for electrolytes you can give a little Pediolyte..
but commercial electrolytes are better,..Durvet brand if you can get them.
you can get the Poly-vi-sol at any pharmacy..even at some grocery stores.
can you make him a scrambled egg?
can you try giving him a little canned cat food? (beef flavored)..or dry kitten cat or kitten feed?
can you get him some plain yogurt?
do you have any oatmeal?

when his droppings were runny..what color were they?
he might have coccidiosis..
he might have worms..
is his comb pale?

 

[Spring]

The one chick that died with the limp neck thing was probably 3 months.

The rooster...
He just can't stand up at all. He shakes. Still crows. Never had runny poop. I will try the vitamins. thanks. and maybe some of the other things you list. Thank you. Comb looks fine and bright. No worms that we can see at all.

 

[sammi]

try and make him a little hammock...to keep him upright..it isn't good for them to lay on their sides, if that's what he's doing..

do check the bottoms of his feet, and between the toes..look for any sores or scabs..(called Bumblefoot)

check his leg scales and see if they look raised, or crusty..