sick chickens

[henpecktoo]

Hello Everyone,

I am new to this so I hope this in the right place.
I live in south cental WI,and have a mixed flock of RIR,productoin whites and a few mix breeds
that I don't know what they are.
Any way starting this summer one would get dopey and go off feed and then she would get
a blueish purple comb and die.
They are all different ages.
I feed corn, wheat,and layer ration in between.
Sawdust and straw for bedding.
Their poop all looks fine as far as I can tell.
They free range when possible.
Haven't had any new birds enter the flock.

Does any one have any one have any ideas as to what is going on?
I have search through many forums and none of them seem to match the symtoms.
Thank to you all who shared I have enjoied reading them and learning.
Thank you for any suggestions on this dilemma I have.
Please let me know if I am doing this right.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Have you checked the girls over for lice and/or mites? Have they been wormed? When they get dopey do you isolate them? If so what have you tried treating them with?

Sorry I do not have answers for you.

 

[robin416]

From the wording it looks like their main diet is corn and wheat? And that the layer is just a treat? That could also be the problem. Or the corn could be contaminated.

You did not describe your setup and whether or not there is feed or corn on the ground.

 

[henpecktoo]

Quote:
Yes, they do get wheat mainly and layer once a week or so.The is organic so I don't think it is bad.
The have a coop with a run. And they do get to free range when possible.
Oh, the corn is mainly fed in the winter for protien to keep warm.
Thanks for the help.

 

[henpecktoo]

Quote:
No I haven't ckeck them for mites/lice.
I haven't wormed them yet but I will be.
No ido not isolate them.
And don't know what to treat them with because I can't seem to figure uot what I am dealing with.
I really appreciate your input.

 

[robin416]

You have to fix their diet, wheat is not providing them with the vitamins and minerals they need to live. Corn is a carbohydrate, it is not protein. More than likely if you make layer their prime source of food you will fix the problem.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Their main diet should be a layer feed (16% protein) or a flock raiser feed (20% protein). I personally prefer to feed the 20% protein. I mix my scratch and use – black oil sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, whole wheat, crimped oats. Oyster shells are available free choice at all times. I do not add corn to my scratch – corn is very low in protein. Contrary to popular myth – corn does not raise the body temperature of chickens (heat them) – it provides carbohydrates for quick extra energy which can be used immediately or stored as fat (if not needed).

From what I have read/researched on this site, blue tinged combs are a sign of heart/circulatory problems – body fluid buildup, sometimes caused by internal laying.

If you isolate your next ill bird, you will be able to better monitor her condition – feed intake, excitement or lack of - over treats (scrambled or hardboiled eggs, warm oatmeal, yogurt), water intake, how her crop is functioning and monitor her poop. The best is if you can bring her into the house – dog kennel works well. Many times when they are ill, an additional heat source can be helpful – be sure she can get away from the heat if she gets too warm.

I do not know if you have tried it yet, but the blue bar at the top of the page has a “search” link, takes you to a nice comprehensive search. There you can type in symptoms like – blue comb – and have the sight search for “blue comb” in either the post topic, message body, both or either.

 

[mypicklebird]

As others have said- the problem is likely diet related. Neither wheat nor corn is a good food source by itself. These should be treats only. Your birds are likely protein/vitamin/mineral starved, and might be obese (fat). They will live longer, lay better and be happier/healthier provided with layer mash/crumble/pellet at all times, with a handful of scratch corn as a treat. A corn/wheat diet is a potato chip diet- carbs, not much else. The discolored comb is not specific for a disease- it just means the hen is very ill and has poor circulation. Heart failure, other organ failure, internal infection/sepsis ect.






Quote:
Yes, they do get wheat mainly and layer once a week or so.The is organic so I don't think it is bad.
The have a coop with a run. And they do get to free range when possible.
Oh, the corn is mainly fed in the winter for protien to keep warm.
Thanks for the help.

 

[henpecktoo]

Thank you everyone for all the information
and help. I appreciate it.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

How are they? Any more doing poorly?


Hoping all is well with them.