URGENT HELP PLEASE!!!

[Shiloh Rhoda]

HI Everyone,

I am a chicken farmer from South Africa. Been farming Broiler chickens for 3 years.
For the first 2 years and 8 months I had a less than 5% mortality per batch.
My last 4 batches in the last 4 months have been a complete disaster. Nothing has changed, every supplier of mine has remained the same.
If anything, I have increased my biosecurity in the last few months, and extended my house resting period, so things should be better, not so much worse. I have lost about 30% of each batch.
Everything goes 100% up until the 5th week, and then all of a sudden the birds start dropping dead, some are perfect, not a scratch, not a lump or bump, absolutely perfect, but dead the following morning. And something I have noticed is that by week 6 the chickens have started to peck at each others thighs and backs, and have massive lesions on their backs, similar to what you get when there isn't sufficient food, and the birds would fight, but - there is always more than enough feed, more than enough feeding containers, drinkers etc and they have never ever fought. So there should not be 1 scratch on these chickens.
I give vaccinations which are Newcastle/IB vaccines at day 10, day 16 is Gumbro and day 21 Newcastle/IB.
I have sent the chickens in for testing, and no issue or disease has come back. The tests come back with no disease or issues whatsoever.
I have noticed the birds behavior changes from when I move from Grower, to finisher feed.
The shavings are always fresh, never wet. there is sufficient air, and no extended lighting.
I am absolutely dumbstruck at what the issue can be. Please can someone let me know if you have experienced this, or similar. Your help, advice or theories are appreciated.

please find attached pics of the birds

your help will be greatly appreciated

 

[Wyorp Rock]

And something I have noticed is that by week 6 the chickens have started to peck at each others thighs and backs, and have massive lesions on their backs, similar to what you get when there isn't sufficient food, and the birds would fight,

I have noticed the birds behavior changes from when I move from Grower, to finisher feed.

I'm sorry for your losses.

I wonder if someone like @Pork Pie may have an idea of what's going on?

You notice the behavior changes once you switch from grower to finisher feed, have you checked with the manufacturer or feed mill to see if they have made any changes to their feed? Just a thought there.

Do you have mosquitoes this time of year? I don't know what's wrong, hopefully others like @Eggcessive @dawg53 @coach723 and @casportpony will chime in with their thoughts as well.
One thing I found "similar" to those lesions is a cutaneous form of Dry Fowl Pox but I'm not seeing it on the face of your chicks, it rarely affects the skin (it's mostly found on the comb, wattles/face though, but it's something to look into. Fowl Pox is a virus transmitted by insects, mostly mosquitoes.

I'm sorry this is happening, I hope you find some answers, it will be interesting to see what others think.

Image Source gross lesions 11

 

[Pork Pie]

I have kept broilers (but only a dozen at a time) in Kenya but never had this experience. I could only think about stocking density or finding an alternative source of chicks in the future . I’m sorry that i cannot help further.

 

[Eggcessive]

So sorry that you are having such problems. How much room for how many chickens at a time do you have? Do you keep the lights on in the coop for more than 12 hours a day. To me it looks like possible cannibalism from feather loss and pecking. Could there be rats or mice getting to them at night? I think I would look at the amount of romm they have, make sure they can get outside to roam to ease boredom, and increase the protein in the food by keeping them on grower or on an all flock feed. Once they are laying age, they will need access to extra calcium in crushed oyster shell.

 

[coach723]

My first reaction was the same, something in the feed has changed. You say that nothing has changed, have you looked at every single factor? Lighting, schedule of when things happen during the day, temperature, etc? If the feed is not changed, and nothing else has, then I think I would also try a different source for your birds. Even though the suppliers are the same, the breeding line may have changed. I'm so sorry, I'm sure it's frustrating as heck.
https://extension.psu.edu/poultry-cannibalism-prevention-and-treatment

 

[Mrs. K]

Do you have access to a camera where you can see what is happening at night? I am wondering if it is a rodent problem?

Do you see pecking during the day?

 

[Folly's place]

So sorry! If necropsies aren't showing what's wrong, what about the feed? Has it changed in any way? Age of feed, % proteins, ingredients, anything?
New 'improved' genetics in your chicks, even from the same supplier?
Parasites, biting insects, weather? Excessive heat?
Have you consulted with your regional or national poultry experts?
All the best,
Mary

 

[dawg53]

Perhaps the vaccinations may contain contaminants. It might be best to have them inspected for impurities/contaminants. Overcrowding can be an issue as well.

 

[Shiloh Rhoda]

stocking density is 10 birds per square meter, we are at the end of winter so there is no flies and no mosquitoes, flies are controlled by bait bags and checked regularly, feed is not older than 6 months, I have spoken to the mill where I get my feed and they assured me that nothing has changed, flock sizes are still moderate 300 and I am afraid if it is some sort of bacteria that my detergents are not getting rid of by some chance, it would spread if I let them roam in the pastures.

However I have sent my borehole water to be tested and analyzed for any contaminants, my feed in to see if the required nutrients levels are met and for contaminants and shavings to see if they are sterile when I receive them.

In the meantime I will keep them on the grower, add a PH balancer and mineral neutralizer in the water to ensure vaccines are not rendered ineffective and a filtration system on my water for the houses, I will add hay bails and ladders and perches to keep the chickens happy and limit boredom and take it from there.

Hoping for the best will let everyone know how it goes

thanks

 

[Folly's place]

I forgot about the lighting, so yes, that too.
Mary