randomly dying chickens

[puffychickens]

Ok i am a new chicken owner and have lost 3 chickens in2 weeks. the chickens are about 6 months old. they are white rocks and new hampshire reds. they sleep in a pile at night.

the first chicken was really sleepy for a few days before it died. other than the sleepiness there was no sign of illness. these two chickens we lost today seem to be the chickens that were sleeping on the bottom of the pile last night. they eat hilands natural non gmo feed and have unlimited access to fresh grass. HELP!!!!!

 

[leadwolf1]

My best advice would be to treat everyone for coccidiosis. Get Corid and treat everyone. That is the place that I would start.

 

[puffychickens]

what is coccidiosis?

 

[leadwolf1]

It is a protozoan that lives in soil. In times of high heat and/or humidity, they multiply and can cause the symptoms you are describing. It is easy to treat but is fatal if not caught in time. This year has been extremely bad for Coccidia infections.

 

[puffychickens]

are there natural ways to treat it? Can my dog or kids get it?

 

[leadwolf1]

People don't normally get Coccidiosis. Dogs do but it is normally seen in puppies, adult dogs have usually gained immunity through exposure. It is naturally occuring and is found in soil. Rabbits, rodents, squirrels and wild birds are a few of the other animals that can/do carry and shed coccidia oocysts into the soil.

I would not mess around with natural treatments. There are a few that can be found on this forum if you prefer to try them. Keep in mind, if they do not work and your chickens have Coccidiosis, they will die.

 

[puffychickens]

there is no blood in their poop. is that a big sign of it???

 

[leadwolf1]

That can be a sign but, it doesn't have to ever be seen. Coccidiosis can be fatal way before blood is ever seen in droppings. In a way, I wish they would strike that from the list of symptoms...people don't see blood so, they don't think that they need to treat. Many chicks are lost this way.

 

[4-H chicken mom]

Hi and from Ohio. So glad to have you aboard. Chickens can have coccidiosis without having blood in their stools. But at 6 months old they should be sleeping on a roost, not piling on the floor. Do you have something for them to roost on? If you do, you might want to physically put them on it at night so they get the idea. Good luck.

 

[puffychickens]

they have a roost in the coop. they are not quite 6 months yet they'll be 6 months at end of november. I've lost three chickens and only have three left. we have only had them for 2 weeks