Sick/dying chickens

[mmajw]

I have a flock of young chickens the oldest are only 1.5 years old and they are getting sick. It starts with their lower eyelids swelling up then they seclude themselves from the group and they have very greenish diaherrea. They tuck their necks in and just perch and dont move then some have been having neck twiches, almost like a muscle spasm. Within a few days of these symptoms they have been dying. I heard that UltraViolet lights can kill some chicken diseases, but not sure if I should buy a blacklight or a Plant light, neither lists that it is UV. Please help. Tell me if you have used the light or have had chickens with the same symptoms. Thank you!

 

[silkiechicken]

UV light isn't going to kill bacteria it cannot reach, matter of fact, research labs don't even use UV anymore as more effective means of killing bacteria are now used.

I am thinking choleara? Green poo indicates not eating. Have you taken a bird in to be necropsied? If it is spreading, take out the sick ones... although it may have already spread to the flock.

If you can figure out the disease that is spreading, if it is viral, not much you can do except start over... if it is bacterial, then you can treat with a FULL course of anitbiotics.

 

[patandchickens]

Other people here can do a much better job of figuring out what is wrong with your chickens (and you DO need to figure it out as best possible - different diseases have very different treatments etc!)

I just wanted to say that a) neither plant lights nor blacklights put out enough of either kind of UV light to kill *anything* (less than sunlight, in fact, I betcha), and b) even if they did it would do no good since the bacteria ot viruses making the chickens sick are *inside of* the chickens, and there's really no good way to light up the insides of a chicken <g>

Good luck, I am sure you will get some good help here with diagnosis and treatment,

Pat

 

[dlhunicorn]

There is too little info to even guess, and when there are multiple deaths like this in such a relatively short time you really need to get a necropsy to properly identify what the problem is .

 

[sammi]

could be several things..from respiratory illness, or viral disease (such as Newcastle)..
slight possibility of some form of botulism, or exposure to mold.

please give more details.
what all do you feed?
what do you use for bedding?
check feed for any musty or moldy smell..check coop area for spilled moldy feed.
check bedding for any mold or mildew.
check water for algae growth.

necropsy is best to really know what it is.
you could ask about a bacteria test.

 

[mmajw]

UPDATE..................................................

Sorry I never posted an update..

I had the State Vet come out and did a Neoscropy (spelling???) on one and he found that it was Salmonella from rat feces that they had eaten.

Even though I cleaned the coop often he said that once one gets it, it can be tricky to diagnose and to treat immediately or they will all die. The last one I lost was the one he tested and we have been great ever since.
He also said never to use shavings because they hold in bacteria and make bacterial grow more. I never knew.

Thanks for all your help.

 

[morelcabin]

So what did he suggest you use other than shavings? Just curious:>)

 

[mmajw]

He said that if we have to to use them on the floor but a very minimum amount. He suggested hay for the laying houses (which is what I was using). He said it is better to have them just have a bare floor and then clean it out once in a while but no shaving and no real disinfectants that those could get to be too much for their lungs.
I didnt use disinfectants but it was good to know.