Scratching My Head ?

[SouthernFried21]

Well...I guess I have spoken too soon. Unexpectedly we have now lost one of our older chickens. She was doing well yesterday, but as we checked on them this morning, she didn't come out of the coop..upon inspection, we found her in the floor...again, her crop was full, no apparent injuries or trauma...I am truly confused.

 

[janinepeters]

Sounds to me like the chicks came in with some contagious disease, and it has spread to the older ones. No symptoms at all, in any of those that died?

 

[Wynette]

Feed was started with a basic organic Chick feed that we ordered thru our local feed store. We have just added layer's mash (also organic) 3 parts chick feed, 1 part mash in the past 2-3 weeks. As a precauion (which was given by our local farmers), we added electrolytes to their water when the mash was started. We have a large coop (laying boxes & house) are 20'x20' with a run 30'x15'x6' and a smaller coop for the younger chicks which is 3'x3' coop with a 10'x3' run. Each one is enclosed with small mesh wire, so I don't think a large predator could get to them, not sure if anything much larger than a mouse could actually get in. When we checked them, we found no obvious signs of trauma. We did note that their crops were a bit smaller than normal, so I'm wondering if they were sick with no obvious signs?

Grest post with lots of detail - this is most helpful, although I am just as perplexed as you are.

I know that this year, there have been many diseases that are much more "concentrated" than they usually are due to the odd weather we've had. Wild birds carry many diseases and it seems that may be the culprit. I don't feel it's likely you'll ever know what's going on unless you have a fresh dead one (sorry - not trying to be insensitive) necropried at your state vet, which is a really good idea to have done.

I don't believe it's a genetic issue brought in, if that was the case, they'd all be dying around the same age.

There are no genetic issues that I know of in Marans that could be causing this. The only thing I question in your post above is the use of electrolytes - they should never be used more than 3 days in a row, and should never be used as a "precaution" - this is only for stressed or ill chickens; to use electrolytes too long causes damage to the organs.

Most definitely, chickens can be ill long before we notice, and I suspect that's what is happening here. I would:

1) Get one necropsied (call your state vet and ask what you need to do - often they'll ask you to freeze it until you are able to bring it in)
2) remove ALL your chickens to another place if you are able - do you have a barn with stalls or some place such as that where you can put them for a few days? If so, I would spray the heck out of the coop, fencing, and even the dirt in the run - rototill the dirt, spray again (spray with Oxine solution or Virkon(s) if you are able to get that). These will kill most any organism that is common to N. America. Let the coop & run rest for a few days before returning them.

I don't know that #2 will help, as they have already been exposed to whatever it is that's killing them. But, it will definitely help. Make sure feed is never moldy - this is toxic. Make sure waterers aren't moldy, either. It sounds like they have a good amount of room, and that you're feeding really good quality feed, so I can't think it's feed related.

Wish I could be of more help!