Hopefully they will get the rest of the results in soon.
It is good they been able to rule out all of those so far, but still heartbreaking that you have no answers either.
Let's go over what you have done (treatments), what you feed and they symptoms again.
Photos of housing may be helpful as well.
Think, could any feed have gotten moldy? Have you noticed any clumps in the feed?
Any chance they ate something toxic, maybe scratched around in dirt that had oil spilled, fertilizer, etc.?
Just brainstorming and trying to think of anything that may give a clue...
Yes exactly! My vet is not willing to prescribe any other treatments until the results come in.
Okay lets review the symptoms, of the 5 that have passed and 4 that are unwell some have had all symptoms others only had a few.
•wing drop, usually just 1 side
•change in ambulation; loss of balance, stumbling, non weight bearing-just sitting/laying
•lethargic
•loss of appetite (those who have passed stopped eating entirely about a day or so prior to death)
•sudden weight loss (my pullets generally average 4-5lbs some smaller and some larger but all who passed were about 2-3lbs) protruding keel bone.
•shrunken and pale combs and wattles
•frostbite on some due to lethargic and sitting out in the run before I realized showing symptoms
•runny green stool (++smelly)
•hunched posture
•less or no vocalizing (my girls usually chat with me)
•vet reported one of the deceased chickens had nasal discharge
•one chicken had a redenned featherless area above vent but below tail as noted in initial post
For treatments:
I would being the chicken into the garage if showing mild symptoms or into the house in the bathroom of suddenly more unwell and needing more attention. Puppy pads for bedding and clean water or sugar water provided if lethargic or dehydrated. Provided all flock feed, tried to offer treats to those not eating to tempt them didnt make much difference.
For the frostbite- soak feet in epsom salt water once a day, pat dry and spray with vetricyn 2x a day.
Entire flock was treated with a 3 week course of amprolium just incase, that has finished recently. They were also treated for lice+mites this winter successfully.
I have tried giving 2 of the sicks ones some st. Johns wort for a couple weeks now, initially it seemed to help but there has been no improvement since, both pullets will sit in one spot and move a couple times a day to a new spot, will eat and drink but not normal amount.
I have also tried to syringe fluids but it hasnt made much difference.
I can try and get some photos when I go out for chores next, just with my little ones right now. A general description of their coop is a 8x10 insulated shed type building, with two 8ft long roosts, droppings board and sand as litter, milk crate nesting boxes under the droppings board. 2 windows and a large door, also some gable vents. Their run is a 10x20ft covered run, it is open near the top on one end to let in sunlight but otherwise has round bales push up against it for further wind and snow protection. Food is hanging and free fed, stored in a metal garbage can to stay dryand pest free. water is in a heated nipple drinker, they have a dust bath container, some logs and plastic furtniture to perch on. The run is raked at least once a week as it is half concrete and half dirt, or as needed if snow blows in. I put empty feed bags down if there is water spilled near their waterer so its not slippery.
They dont get a lot of kitchen scraps maybe once or twice a week but its never rotten, just what i peel or cut off for dinner.
I should note 1 of my hens has started laying again for about a week now.
