sick chicken

[bsanan]

I am new to this website and new to chickens in general. We started with 5 Buff Orpingtons and 1 Auracana in April. They have been happy, healthy birds up until last week. I went to collect the eggs last Thursday and I noticed one of my buffs was very dirty and missing quite a few feathers on her breast. Unfortunately, I didn't do anything about it. I thought she was just in need of a dust bath. The next morning, I found her in the run area and the other birds were eating her...alive!!!! I separated her from the group, but she died a few hours later. I've been checking the other birds daily, and came upon another of my Buffs with some feathers missing on her breast. She isn't dirty but there are some runny poops in the coop. I isolated her and she did lay an egg today. I am so worried that my flock has a disease and I am going to lose them all. The rest of the birds all look healthy, although one has some black spots on her comb. I live in New England and the weather has recently gotten very cold, is this frostbite or are my birds sick. Please help!! Thanks in advance.

 

[Beth G.]

Quote:
Can you do the following so others may be of more help?

Give us the following information. The more you tell us, the better we will be able to help you.

1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use

sorry to hear of your loss and lets hope someone will be able to chime in and help