Update post 18-further problems-Hens dying

[PaulaJoAnne]

Quote:
Weird is right.
I do know I need to treat all of them for ear mites, but I would doubt that is causing an issue.

I'd check those waterers. I'd also check for a musty smell in the feed just in case...I dunno...I'm assuming here, but I know you take good care of the birds...but it just doesn't make sense. Bedding is not heavily ammonia-fied I assume...sheesh sister, I don't very well know!! Maybe something tiny is being overlooked. We get comfortable in daily routine when flocks are going strong and I have overlooked a couple serious no-no's before like not changing bedding on time and a bit of algae in waterers and such. MUST be a slight oversight somewhere. I wouldn't think it could possibly be anything else. I really really really hope you don't lose anymore!! Just a thought...any exposure to wild birds?

What the hay?!!??!

We do deep litter in winter, and there is next to no smell in the coop.
Food is all local and fresh, plus, this morning they just got their first feeding of our own mix of newly harvested Barley, BOSS and fishmeal.

Looks like when my nephews and neice come thsi afternoon, they will be helping me strip the coop and dust and medicate.

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Quote:
I'd check those waterers. I'd also check for a musty smell in the feed just in case...I dunno...I'm assuming here, but I know you take good care of the birds...but it just doesn't make sense. Bedding is not heavily ammonia-fied I assume...sheesh sister, I don't very well know!! Maybe something tiny is being overlooked. We get comfortable in daily routine when flocks are going strong and I have overlooked a couple serious no-no's before like not changing bedding on time and a bit of algae in waterers and such. MUST be a slight oversight somewhere. I wouldn't think it could possibly be anything else. I really really really hope you don't lose anymore!! Just a thought...any exposure to wild birds?

What the hay?!!??!

We do deep litter in winter, and there is next to no smell in the coop.
Food is all local and fresh, plus, this morning they just got their first feeding of our own mix of newly harvested Barley, BOSS and fishmeal.

Looks like when my nephews and neice come thsi afternoon, they will be helping me strip the coop and dust and medicate.

See I knew that...

Maybe parasitic like someone else said.

 

[speckledhen]

Purple comb is also a sign of just something in the body that is affecting all the systems. Internal layers also develop purple combs--just euthanized Maxie this morning and found several eggs, with shells, that dropped into her abdomen. She was just bones and feathers with a very purple comb. It means the system is under attack by something that affects heart sufficiency. Have you opened them up, Paula? Even if you felt nothing in the abdomen, they can still be internal layers. It's actually quite common, especially with hatchery stock.

 

[PaulaJoAnne]

Quote:
Have not opened anyone up.

Thats dhs department, and at this moment he is 150 miles from here hunting for moose on horseback

I just checked poos, and no eggs or worms to be seen.
I picked up one of the other two that are affected, and she sounds like she has the croup! No cough, just the bubbling in the lungs.

 

[PaulaJoAnne]

Before I run to town to do errands, I am going to dose both these hens with fclo (fermented cod liver oil)
Figure it will not hurt anything.
I also have a homeopathic airways blend I could give them as well.
A tiny pinch in the oil maybe.

I figure I may as well experiment.

 

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

Paula, any updates? I just heard from someone else in the area that's having problems, and the DEC says it's not the feed. I'm waiting to find out what the symptoms are. (Other than death, obviously.)

 

[PaulaJoAnne]

Quote:
My issue is not related. These hens have had some sort of issue for months now, just that they never seemed all that bad.

I did dose the two with high vitamin cod liver oil, along with a bit of my herbal respitory stuff.
They started improving right away.
I will be doseing them again either today or tomorrow.
One of them I gave as much clo as I usually take, because she was so bad.

 

[PaulaJoAnne]

Found another hen that was seemingly fine last week, and she is purple in the comb, emaciated (only upon picking her up can you find this) and lethargic.
DH is opening her up in a few minutes.

We cannot find any external problems.
No worms in poo.

The other two that I treated with clo are doing fine. Perky, etc.

 

[PaulaJoAnne]

Sour crop with big old nasty worms.

 

[PaulaJoAnne]

Worms in gizzard and veryyyyyyy badly eggbound

Still cannot find worms in the coop though.
Worming all regardless.
And we are going to cull the two that we are trying to treat.