Sick Bird/Birds. lost 5 so far.

[Framac]

My coop is split into two sections (older birds now 18 weeks.) younger birds now 12 weeks.

1)About 2 months ago I lost one. 10 weeks old. No really symptoms, a little week one day, dead the next.

2)Fast forward a month. Found a 8 week old dead. I little small, in with 10 other birds. no symptoms.

3)2 weeks forwards, One bird looks week. I feed it, give it electrolytes, keeps getting weaker and weaker, until I put in down after 4 days. i would find it laying on it's side swimming with it's back legs, opening it's mouth like it was hot out (not hot)

4)At the same time, the bottom rooster in the older chicken pen is dead one morning I go in.not weak, small(as he always was) but not skin and bones, muscle on him.

5)I go on vacation, and the woman looking after my birds had one show the same symptoms. Weak, she would feed it 3 times daily, full crop, lots of water, by itself (She is an animal re-habber) and it continued to get weaker. Same Symptoms as Number 3. she gave it antibiotics and electrolytes to no avail. I had to put it down on my return from Vaca.

When I say no symptoms, I mean I noticed nothing. I go into my pens and examine my chickens daily for 10-15 minutes. I have not noticed any blood, nor did the neighbor. New chicken house, only chickens.

Any ideas are very welcome.

Christopher

 

[suzannaski]

I'm not sure how much help I will be, but here's my impression:
The one that died with no symptoms may have had symptoms but the time between the onset of the illness and death may have been so short that you did not see it.
You don't mention if you've had your flock inspected. If not, then maybe you should have it done. If you have had inspections and are NPIP, then I would suggest taking it to the Farm Extension or whoever in your area works with livestock and have them do testing. I wouldn't bring any new birds into the flock until you can determine that it is not a contagious disease. Hence the suggestion to have the inspector come out- they do it for free, and they might even be able to tell you what's going on.

 

[<3ChickenForever]

That is not good. Have you notice any runny/bloody poop? Paleness in any chicken's wattles/comb?

 

[Framac]

No Bloddy poop, but yes to pale.

 

[TinyBirds]

I don't know, but try not to panic yet. I have had a few drop dead in the past too without symptoms, making me wonder if it was a poisonous plant or something. We have tons of native milkweed and other things, so unless you see symptoms I don't think I would worry much. Young birds die more often than grown birds, so once they get to 5 months on all of them, then let us know if the losses continue.

 

[dawg53]

I recommend that you pick them up and visually inspect them closely for lice/mites, especially around the vent area and at the base of their tail feathers.