Third bird to become weak!

[wildflower]

A month ago one of my Polish 6 month olds got weak and lathargic. We were sure she was going to die, but made a recovery with electrolites and eggyolk. We thought she was probably just dehyderated, not the smartest bird. Now our white leghorn Pearl has been down for four days, Friday morning when I went to let the flock out, she was already out, so clearly she didn't make it in the night before, and I hadn't noticed when I was closing up the coop. This means something is seriously wrong with her. I was thinking maybe she just got cold, or was freaked out, but she was barely standing after a few hours. She stayed inside in a laundry basket all weekend, we did the same with yolk and medicated electrolites, she is back outside, but still hanging her head and generally looks sick. This morning our Partraige cochin was still roosting at 10:00, now she is in the same shape. Head down, eyes shut, wobbly they will both take the egg yolk mixture, but nothing seems to be helping. Pearl was in worse shape a few days ago, but still not good. Their tails are down, nothing stuck, whats wrong?

 

[dlhunicorn]

When was the last time they were wormed?
What is the weather like in your area...?
How old is the feed you give them (not meaning to imply you might not take care of your feed but you would be surprised at how fast feed can go bad dependent on pre-existing conditions of storage and weather conditions)
Is there a source of water they might be drinking from that might be a problem (in dry conditions when pnds or such dry up the water bacterial levels will rise or algae will cause problems or there will be a high sodium content)
Perhaps they have come into contact with some forgotten or overlooked grains or such that contain mycotoxins?
It could be so many things....
A good poultry supplement mised in with their feed and (if they are drinking insufficiently) electr/vit in their waterer would be a good idea...

 

[wildflower]

I haven't wormed them at all. They are 7 months old. Should I? I avoid medicines as much as possible, but it they need it I am game. I have food that is two months old, organic layer mash from Modesto milling. It is kept in tight lidded storage toats like Rubbermaid. I have seen some little weavels in the current mix figured chickens like bugs. Is this bad? I had added organic flax and oats, almost finished with the oats. It is about 65 at night now and up to 80 during the day, some days a bit cooler, or hotter. San Diego is very mild. The coop has good ventelation and is kept hosed down. The only water source is from their waterer. I did have a few trashcan lids with water out when it was hot, but haven't in the last few weeks. I just put both birds in the inclosed outer yard, to isolate them. The other birds have a larger area surrounded with chickenwire. I am about out of the Amtyl and Ronivet solution I have been feeding them with the egg yolk, but it doesn't seem to be helping anyway. Should I dump the grain and start with a fresh bag? What to do? What type of suplement would be good? They get tons of veggie scraps, no meat. I am chef so they have lots of onion skins and peels. Should I lay off the scraps? Oh, the other thing is as of today, both chickens have little scabby spots on their combs. Very small.

 

[dlhunicorn]

onions are toxic to birds...
too much of a good thing (scraps) is a bad thing... it "dilutes" the nutrition in their feed.

I have food that is two months old, organic layer mash from Modesto milling. It is kept in tight lidded storage toats like Rubbermaid. I have seen some little weavels in the current mix figured chickens like bugs. Is this bad? I had added organic flax and oats, almost finished with the oats.

do not give "buggy " feed... the nutritional quality of the feed is compromised and mycotoxin is a greater risk with feed that has bugs and the bugs can potentially serve as vectors for worms and disease... so yes, get a new bag and wash out the containers.
On the flax... you have to be careful with flax (I urge you to stop supplementing :
http://animalscience.ucdavis.edu/Avian/pfs21.htm
"...Flaxseed may be processed by mechanical expellers or solvent extraction and the residual linseed meal is available as an animal feed ingredient. Linseed meal is an important feedstuff for cattle but its use in poultry feeds is limited.

Flaxseed contains a cyanide containing glucoside, linamarin, which releases hydrogen cyanide under acidic, moist conditions in the presence of an enzyme, linase. Under normal processing conditions involving high temperature treatment, linase is destroyed so that the subsequent release of hydrogen cyanide is not a problem."

Just give them their basic feed (freeranging will provide fresh greens) and a good poultry supplement ... I recommend AviaCharge 2000 as it is one of the few complete poultry supplements I know of with all the micro and macro nutrients in the correct ratio to each other which is very important.and is also suitable for organic certified (you can purchase online at McMurry or Strombergs)

Yes birds can get worms at that age... take an ample sample (all the birds) in for a faecal if the problem does not resolve with the dietary changes and supplement (or if they get worse) so you know what you are dealing with... this can also diagnose cocci (if you did not have your birds on a medicated starter this may also be involved) and then you will know for sure which med you need to treat.​

 

[wildflower]

O.k. my husband just called you the Chicken wisperer.........Thank you so much, your information just totally helped. We get crazy advice from everywhere, but your's is very clear and makes sense to me. The guy at the feed store told me today, all feed has bugs, chickens love them. When you are new at this it is all a great guessing game with a bunch of adorable animals that we are trying to keep happy and healthy. Thank you, so much, makes me want to cook for you!

 

[dlhunicorn]

....The guy at the feed store told me today, all feed has bugs, chickens love them.....

...is there another feedstore you can buy from?

 

[Queen of the Lilliputians]

The feedstore guy told you WHAT?

I have never seen a bug in any of my chicken's feed. YUCKY! I can't believe he slung you that line!

Meghan

 

[wildflower]

It doesn't help that I am gullable......I am new at this and chickens do eat bugs........so sounded sensible. I actually don't buy grain from him......just nesting straw. My girls are now on a simple diet.........no onions, weavles or wierd stuff........layer mash, grass and bread crumbs......ok a little carrot peels won't hurt right?

 

[dlhunicorn]

when giving vegetables (that you have bought from the store) it is well to remember that the preservatives used are contained in the outer layer and these often do not wash off (and are not good for us or your birds)

 

[wildflower]

I only use organic and I know not to feed potato peels. I do have a big veggie garden and yard, so they get all grass and weed trimmings as well.
Thanks again!