Delisha, I am so sorry to hear about your flock!! I hope you can save them! Hugs to you
I haven't posted in a while but have been trying to keep up w/the thread. I posted photos about a month or so ago on the necropsy I did myself that prompted me to send the others to be done professionally since that bird just didn't look right. Some of you confirmed that thought! I received the results on my 3 birds that I sent to be necropsied.
I received the results on my 3 necropsied birds that I brought to the UMaine Animal Health Lab in Orono. The vet at the lab also called to discuss them. I have to say I'm disappointed...in myself. Bird 1 had mites. Bird 2 had extensive severe peritonitis. I think somone mentioned that in the necropsy photos I posted. Bird 3 had worms and coccidosis. All showed signs of malnutrition. I could have cried when I read that!! I ferment my feed, mix BOSS, flax seed & alfalfa pellets in with it. Let them free range when I can. They were getting leftover veggies from the local healthfood store and leftovers from our kitchen. I put ACV w/mother in their water. My husband constantly says those birds eat better than he does. I had treated everyone for mites & worms several weeks ago. Did 2 extensive coop clean outs. They said all 3 birds had undeveloped ovary and oviduct and would have probably never laid eggs. There were other things listed as rule outs which means they can't "rule out" that it could be something else.
They recommended:
1. test a fecal sample for parasites in the remaining birds
2. Check your feed for freshness. Don't ferment it; feed as instructed on the label. this is really important.
3. Add a vitamin mix to one of the waterers, follow label instructions.
4. Be sure to have enough feeder and waterer space and EXTRA so that low-ranking birds can all get feed and water simultaneous with the high-ranking ones.
5. Be sure your birds have grit/fine gravel so their gizzards can work.
6. Keep coops/housing clean, well-bedded and adequately ventilated in winter, so you don't notice an ammonia smell.
7. Get a copy of the Chicken health Handbook by Gail Damerow; useful info!
8. Weigh your birds, records results and send to the lab.
I have 2 waterers for 14 birds--1 in the pen & 1 in the coop. They said to add another one. I think I have enough feeder space with a small 2 cup dish, a 12 x 12 pan, and the 5’ gutter feeder in the pen for fermented feed. I wanted to make sure I had at least 3 feeding stations at different levels around the pen. I also have three 7 cup PVC pipe feeders in the coop for dry feed.
I feel like I'm doing my best for them but it's so disheartening to lose them then read those results!
I haven't posted in a while but have been trying to keep up w/the thread. I posted photos about a month or so ago on the necropsy I did myself that prompted me to send the others to be done professionally since that bird just didn't look right. Some of you confirmed that thought! I received the results on my 3 birds that I sent to be necropsied.
I received the results on my 3 necropsied birds that I brought to the UMaine Animal Health Lab in Orono. The vet at the lab also called to discuss them. I have to say I'm disappointed...in myself. Bird 1 had mites. Bird 2 had extensive severe peritonitis. I think somone mentioned that in the necropsy photos I posted. Bird 3 had worms and coccidosis. All showed signs of malnutrition. I could have cried when I read that!! I ferment my feed, mix BOSS, flax seed & alfalfa pellets in with it. Let them free range when I can. They were getting leftover veggies from the local healthfood store and leftovers from our kitchen. I put ACV w/mother in their water. My husband constantly says those birds eat better than he does. I had treated everyone for mites & worms several weeks ago. Did 2 extensive coop clean outs. They said all 3 birds had undeveloped ovary and oviduct and would have probably never laid eggs. There were other things listed as rule outs which means they can't "rule out" that it could be something else.
They recommended:
1. test a fecal sample for parasites in the remaining birds
2. Check your feed for freshness. Don't ferment it; feed as instructed on the label. this is really important.
3. Add a vitamin mix to one of the waterers, follow label instructions.
4. Be sure to have enough feeder and waterer space and EXTRA so that low-ranking birds can all get feed and water simultaneous with the high-ranking ones.
5. Be sure your birds have grit/fine gravel so their gizzards can work.
6. Keep coops/housing clean, well-bedded and adequately ventilated in winter, so you don't notice an ammonia smell.
7. Get a copy of the Chicken health Handbook by Gail Damerow; useful info!
8. Weigh your birds, records results and send to the lab.
I have 2 waterers for 14 birds--1 in the pen & 1 in the coop. They said to add another one. I think I have enough feeder space with a small 2 cup dish, a 12 x 12 pan, and the 5’ gutter feeder in the pen for fermented feed. I wanted to make sure I had at least 3 feeding stations at different levels around the pen. I also have three 7 cup PVC pipe feeders in the coop for dry feed.
I feel like I'm doing my best for them but it's so disheartening to lose them then read those results!
