We are having a potentially serious issue and need urgent guidance. We have 18 grown chickens and added 15 Rhode Island reds in September. They grew fine with no losses and were healthy.They live in a barn, and have not been going outside for the last month due to predator attacks and the onset of cold weather. They grew fine with no losses and were healthy. About four weeks ago we moved our ducks and geese in the barn for winter, but they went to the other end of the barn and there is no contact between them.
About week ago, I found one RIR dead... didn't think much of it, body was mangled and feeder had gotten stuck, thought it must have gotten cold and been attacked by its fellows. It is a very cold start to the winter here, so I was not surprised. In the last 48 hours now, disaster! 5 more are dead. We just find them dead, gunky eyes, watery liquid coming out their beaks. There is a whole lot of sneezing going on in the coop including my older birds and I'm suddenly in a real panic, looking at potentially having to call the vet and the chicken farmers association to look at getting my place inspected / potentially quarantined and my flock destroyed. Thoughts or ideas? Other symptoms include watery stools, rasping (darth Vador breathing) , but only in the Young's. The older ones all seem fine save for the sneezing.
Other info, cold snap came in quite hard... went from nights at +2 to nights at minus 15. They're still laying well for time of year. Coop is sand, raked weekly for poop, no heat, water all the time, lay mash, 14 hours of light. Today I added a heat lamp and bedding cuz I thought the cold was the issue, but that was before we found 4 more dead.
I don't mind dispatching them... done it before , we grow our own meaties... but somewhat scared .for their and my family's health. Thoughts?
About week ago, I found one RIR dead... didn't think much of it, body was mangled and feeder had gotten stuck, thought it must have gotten cold and been attacked by its fellows. It is a very cold start to the winter here, so I was not surprised. In the last 48 hours now, disaster! 5 more are dead. We just find them dead, gunky eyes, watery liquid coming out their beaks. There is a whole lot of sneezing going on in the coop including my older birds and I'm suddenly in a real panic, looking at potentially having to call the vet and the chicken farmers association to look at getting my place inspected / potentially quarantined and my flock destroyed. Thoughts or ideas? Other symptoms include watery stools, rasping (darth Vador breathing) , but only in the Young's. The older ones all seem fine save for the sneezing.
Other info, cold snap came in quite hard... went from nights at +2 to nights at minus 15. They're still laying well for time of year. Coop is sand, raked weekly for poop, no heat, water all the time, lay mash, 14 hours of light. Today I added a heat lamp and bedding cuz I thought the cold was the issue, but that was before we found 4 more dead.
I don't mind dispatching them... done it before , we grow our own meaties... but somewhat scared .for their and my family's health. Thoughts?
