Too much death....will present as a case study, need help

[EggSighted4Life]

Worming is taxing on the birds system. Worming an already ill bird if that isn't their problem can actually cause death.

What is the protein % on your feed? Do you feed treats or supplements in addition?

 

[Ravin25]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

Sorry for your loss. I'm on the CA/OR coast and you are right the smoke is taking it's toll on many.

Your first death actually sounds like Marek's was a possibility.

Beyond that... with all the prolapsing sounds like you got some bad genetics possibly.

Is it possible your most recent girl was egg bound? Any chance you can refrigerate her and send her for necropsy?

We have fought lice and mites this season. Some mites are microscopic. The permethrin spray is very effective, safe, and affordable. I would buy it and treat if you haven't previously treated seems impossible to avoid parasites all together when you live with such a bounty of wildlife.

Also, have you ever treated for worms? A fecal float is about $15 at the vet to make sure you treat for the right species if you even need to.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-send-a-bird-for-a-necropsy-pictures.799747/
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/nahln/downloads/all_nahln_lab_list.pdf

Your hen very well could have been brought down by the perfect storm combination of things. Only real way to know is necropsy.

Thank you for the reply.
I don't think I'm going to go the necropsy route yet, considering I freaked and already disposed of her body....but it wouldve been a good idea.
what brand of permethrin spray do you recommend?

 

[Ravin25]

You can BUT treating a sick bird is not a good idea, unless that is what they are sick from...
If that makes sense.

yes that makes sense. As a nurse especially i know this. I am gong to inspect for mites/lice and send a fecal sample for worms and go from there.
Wise words.

 

[Ravin25]

Worming is taxing on the birds system. Worming an already ill bird if that isn't their problem can actually cause death.

What is the protein % on your feed? Do you feed treats or supplements in addition?

i will check on the protein %. Yes I supplement with fruit, seeds, oyster shells, meal worms and grubs....berries, etc etc.

 

[Kiki]

Just food for thought:
http://articles.extension.org/pages/69065/feeding-chickens-for-egg-production

 

[Akrnaf2]

Additionally to your questions......
I feed them Organic Naturewise Natural Poultry Pellets.
I have a mixed flock....1 Easter Egger (the other one died today), 1 Delaware, 3 sexlinks, 1 Leghorn.
Thanx

Can you please check the protein % in your feed?

 

[Sara Ranch]

*hugs*

Instead of thinking that you failed your flock, think of it as learning more now to help the existing flock and the future additions. (Not easy, I know. I lost almost all of my baby flock of turkeys. I learned a lot in the process. I couldn't have saved them - it was bad genetics. Sometimes that happens. You get a bird, or some birds, that have been too closely bred and have health issues that you can't see or know about.)

The air quality is probably affecting your birds too. Do you have an air filter that you can plug in for their coop to filter some of the bad stuff out?

Is their coop well ventilated? Would you post pictures of the coop?

Have you considered adding Nutri-drench to their water for a few days? Or some other vitamin to help boost their immune system?

When chickens molt, some stop laying eggs for several months. Some go through their "time of year" easily and you'd never know they were molting. Others PMS so dang badly, you might think "crock pot." Each chicken is different.

Do you keep a journal or a notebook with information on each chicken? Sometimes we forget from year to year how they looked or what happened or when it happened. Pictures that you can compare this year to last year with?

Are any of your chicken neighbors - er, neighbors that have chickens - experiencing any problems or noting any differences or stress with their chickens?

Sometimes we do our very, very best and the chickens still die. We learn from it, sometimes share the experience with others, and do better next time.

The increased rodent activity may have brought in something that is making your chickens sick. How do you deal with the rodents? Traps? Poison? Destroying their existing nests?

Are the rodents getting the majority of the food, leaving your chickens hungry?

Would you post pics of the remaining chickens? Someone may notice something that will help you.

 

[Kiki]

A pocket calendar type thing....notebook size..where you can look at the whole month at a glance is GREAT for keeping chicken notes.

I love it. Something like this: