Plymouth Rocks all dying- eyes closed, droopy head, very sick

[Judexxwhite]

Can any one help. All of our plymouth rocks are either sick or dead. One day they were fine, and the next they didnt come out of the coop, were hunched over with their eyes closed and dying rapidly. All the other chooks seem completely fine and show no symptoms, but all the plymouths have dropped off. This morning I found my last plymouth in the same condition.
I have eye droppered here some home made elecloytes and even a sprinkle of anti-biotic- but have no idea what the problem is or why it is only affecting the plymouths.
Any ideas, cures.
thanks Jude

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

Any changes in set up? Heat lamps? what do you think is happening?

Gary

 

[ClucksAndCombs]

Weird that it's just the Plymouth rocks. Are they all from the same hatch, or place? It would make me think that they/the Plymouth rocks weren't vaccinated for a certain illness which the rest are "immune" too.

 

[coach723]

How old are these birds? Any other symptoms? What do droppings look like?

 

[Judexxwhite]

I bred all my chickens and havent vacinated any of them.
The birds are a year old and I bred them all along with my entire flock. They have been with all the other hens and rooster since birth. I have never had any problems before.
All the other chickens seem really healthy showing no signs of anything. Its weird- only the plymouth rocks are sick.
No discharge- closed puffy eyes- and breathing fast. Lethagic. Staying in the chicken house and not coming out- though of course I took them out and seperated them from the others. A couple of days ago, out of the blue, I found one dead plymouth in the pen and my 2 other hiding in the house. All other chooks acting as normal. It was a really hot day so I thought they had heat stroke so brought them inside and cooled and hydrated them. But they went down hill fast , head got drooier and then they sprawled out on the floor and eventually died. Now my last plymouth rocks has gone down. I have seperated her, and given her some penicillin, amoxycillin- and soaked oats, and electrolytes. Im so sad as I loved them. I have never had anything like this ever happen before.
And yes I recently wormed the flock. They free range every day. I havent cleaned their house for a while so maybe that is it? But why only the plymouths? And do I need to take all chooks out of the pen and find them another home until I can sterilise it?

 

[micstrachan]

I’m so sorry. I’m stumped. Has ANYTHING been different with the Plymouths? Where they hang out and scratch around? Where they roost? Are they your heaviest birds and how hot is it?

 

[ClucksAndCombs]

And yes I recently wormed the flock. They free range every day. I havent cleaned their house for a while so maybe that is it? But why only the plymouths? And do I need to take all chooks out of the pen and find them another home until I can sterilise it?

I would recommend that. Until we know what it is, it could somehow transfer to the other birds.

 

[rebrascora]

head got drooier and then they sprawled out on the floor

I assume you mean their head got droopier... like wry neck perhaps?? and what do you mean by "sprawled out on the floor". Do you have photos? Were legs and/or wings spread out in odd directions perhaps? Were they floundering on their side unable to get up? Do you have any photos? Did the birds show any neurological symptoms? Perhaps some lameness or a dropped wing or stumbling/unbalanced etc?
I'm thinking possibly Marek's Disease but why the Plymouth Rocks would be more susceptible than other birds, I am not sure. Perhaps they were being exposed to more stress for some reason.... do you have adolescent cockerels in the group? Are the other birds that age mixed breed with more diverse genetic make up? Were they the only birds of that adolescent age in the flock?

 

[rebrascora]

I should also have added how very sorry I am for your losses. I know how heart breaking it is, particularly to lose young birds, because I have Marek's in my flock.

 

[Eggcessive]

Since you say it is very hot and you suspected heat was a problem, and since they all went downhill all at once, I would think it might be heatstroke or some toxin they got into. Can you do some research today on where people in your area get livestock tested for diseases, and send one or two refrigerated bodies in for a necropsy. If they had been having diarrhea or blood in droppings, it might have been coccidiosis, but it is hard to know for sure without a necropsy when they die so quickly.