Several deaths...stumped

[wberry85]

I have lost several chickens over the past couple weeks, and one daily for the past 3 days. They are around 12 weeks. I have them outside in the coop with the big birds who are doing fine. The ones that have died all came from a local feed store, and the batch 3 weeks ahead of them from Tractor Supply are all doing fine. When I find them they are dead in the coop. One had a slight pool of blood next to her but other than that all chickens are fully intact. I know we have rats and snakes in the coop occasionally but there is no sign of them being attacked. I do have them on layer feed, which I know isnt good for them, but I have done it from 10+ weeks in the past and never had an issue for the past 50 chickens or so.

The first chick that died was very thin, would not eat or drink that I can tell. The other babies seem weak. I am worried the big girls are not letting them eat or drink. I let everyone free range starting today so the little ones will get a chance while the others are out ranging. I really cant pinpoint what is killing them. Any ideas? Sick? None of them have ever been very active. I cant figure it out. Veterinary care is not really an option. No vets around here will work on chickens. The only thing that the younger chicks have in common is where I got them, but 12 weeks is a long time to wait to die.

 

[wberry85]

Well bad news...Tonight I was putting them up in the coop and one's leg wouldnt work and she would just fall over on her side. Her wing on the same side was drooping also. Scared it could be Mareks at this point, however I have read that it could be a vitamin deficiency?

"Eventually birds become emaciated and weak with ruffled feathers." - http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/pou..._poultry/vitamin_deficiencies_in_poultry.html

That is exactly the symptoms of my birds. I may add a vitamin supplement to their water tomorrow.

Help please!

 

[wberry85]

Another one dead. My wife gave her a dropper of vitamins this afternoon and we added trivisol to their water.

No ideas?

 

[Eggcessive]

I'm sorry no one has responded to this thread in 2 days. Your chicks may have coccidiosis. Cocci is very common when there are chickens of different ages. You need to buy some Corid liquid or powder from the feed store, cattle dept. 2 tsp of liquid in 1 gallon of water for 5 days, and treat all birds. After Corid is finished, resume the vitamins, and give them some buttermilk or yogurt, or probiotics to help their gut bacteria. Worming them afterward may also help. I can't say if they may have Mareks because cocci can cause so much weakness and poor appetites. Here is a link to read: http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/12/coccidiosis-what-backyard-chicken.html

 

[Eggcessive]

When I have mixed aged chickens, I usually feed Flock Raiser or All Flock feed which has 20% protein, and is basically the same as un-medicated chick feed. Then I place a pan of crushed oyster shell out for the layers to eat since they need the extra calcium. Extra calcium for chicks that are not laying, or roosters, can cause gout later on. Your 12 week olds are not getting as much protein as they should be since layer is usually 16% protein.

 

[wberry85]

Thanks again for the response.

I have treated their water with Corid. All of the ones that appeared sick have died so hopefully the rest are strong enough to make it.

 

[seminolewind]

You should treat them for coccidiosis now. And I would also treat with an antibiotic because the small pool of blood sounds like necrotic enteritis.

 

[Nambroth]

If you continue to experience losses, can you consider having a bird sent for testing / Necropsy? You have one of the country's very best Poultry Sciences very close to you in Athens, GA at the University of GA...

You may qualify for free or inexpensive testing:
http://www.poultry.uga.edu/

Department Head
Michael P. Lacy
Email: [email protected]
215 Poultry Science Bldg
Athens, GA 30602-6772
Phone: 706/542-1337
Fax: 706/542-1827

It won't hurt to ask! Losing so many birds is not normal and if you wish to continue keeping chickens, I strongly recommend finding out exactly what is going on.

 

[wberry85]

The strong seemed to have survived. I did treat with corid to be safe for the past 10 gallons of water. Whatever it was seemed to have wiped out the most vulnerable as the ones that survived never acted sick in the first place so I am not 100% sure it was the corid that did it.

How long do I have to wait before exposing new birds to the coop? I am planning on running a batch of meat birds who will be sharing coop space but I do NOT want to risk this again.

 

[seminolewind]

Cocci is all over in the ground. Generally, if they get thru the first few months, they get enough immunity not to get it.
General quarantine is 30 days when adding new chickens.