Sick and dying chickens

[Bird biz]

Help! My backyard flock of chickens has had two deaths. Sadly I am losing the third, a 4 month old Banti, now in the last stages of life. The sysmptoms are similar, first lethargy, then weakness followed by not eating or drinnking them sleeping a lot or semi-consciousness. The other birds are healthy and active. You help is so appreciated.

 

[earlybird10842]

I'm bumping this post back up to the top. Welcome to Backyard Chickens!

 

[welasharon]

The three things that seem to kill most young chickens are cocci, worms or mites/lice. Have they just recently changed locations, or switched feed?

 

[lilchick]

Might be cocci. If they huddle and fluff the feathers up as if cold. Lack of interest in food or water. Not always do they show the bloody poop. Corid works quickly and if you do us it treat them all just in case.

 

[Bird biz]

​

The bantam pecked at her feathers constantly which always looked a little matted. I had bought mite repellent. The others dont have mites. She was small enough to sleep under her favorite friend a red star. It was a pretty dirty place to sleep so I separated her last weekend, but whatever was making her sick got the best of her last night.

 

[Bird biz]

I will remember that if it happens again. This is something you get at the feed store?

 

[tiki244]

If this is what has been killing your chicks, the rest should be treated ASAP.

 

[Red Barn Farms]

It's been 'our' experience in raising chickens the top contributors to the ill health leading to death to be, Coccidiosis, Sour Crop, Mite Infestations, Worm Infestations.

Can you post any more symptoms you've observed in your flock? If it possibly is mites you should be able to notice them at night checking the vent area of the chickens using a flashlight. Also check around their combs and wattles. Another sign is if your chicken looks pale around the face area.

Have you observed any signs of red blood in their feces? If so this is most likely cocci. We supplied you a list of common diseases and cures in the New Member Introduction section. Hope you don't lose anymore chickens.

The main thing you can also do is keep observing the others and if you see anymore which looks sick isolate that chicken.

 

[manfromnc]

I have Delaware hen that has the following symptoms:
1. Comb and wattles that are usually bright red and large. They are now shrunken looking and dark pink.
2. She's very lethargic, and just wants to lie around.
3. she has lost quite a bit of weight even though she seems to be eating normally.
4. she has a lump about the size of an egg on her breast.

Does anyone have an idea as to what's going on with her?

We thought she may have had worms (before we discovered the lump) and bought some Wazine and put it in the chickens water. We also gave her a tiny bit with a syringe.

Thanx...Michael

 

[tiki244]

manfromnc it sounds like sour crop. Search sour crop for treatment