URGENT! Think my chickens have some sort of deadly disease?

[KlinoClucks]

Hey there chicken lovers!
A few of my chickens have been unwell, and acting rather strange. Let me start at the beginning. So one morning when I went to feed them, one of my old silky hens didn't come running for her breakfast as usual. Actually, she hardly took any notice. Confused by her behaviour and thinking that she might have injured herself, i went over and examined her. I was alarmed to find that she was struggling to walk, and her wings kept falling forward when she bent down even only slightly. She still had a rather good appetite, so I thought it was only her old age and isolated her so that she wouldn't be bullied. She died that night.
The next day the same thing happened to my beautiful, healthy two year old rooster. I tried to give him some antibiotics but he would not take it at all. He seemed slightly better the next day, but his whole countenance is at its the lowest point. His tail is drooping really low and his comb and wattles are pail. He shows less interest in mealtimes and I'm not really sure if he drinks any water. Yesterday, the same thing happened to one of my 16 week old chicks, who is in the same flock. Now this has me a little worried. Any ideas as what this might be? A dangerous disease perhaps that I should be aware of? Thanks

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Any moldy feed about?

I see most of my loses in spring and fall during the seasonal changes. The changes in weather can stress them enough to push some over the edge. Most problems start out the same with lethargic birds. Chickens hide illness well, so you often don't notice anything until they are pretty far along with whatever they are dealing with.

Without a neocropsy it can be hard to guess what may have happened. If another bird passes under similar circumstances you may want to send it in somewhere for testing.

 

[KlinoClucks]

Thanks for the reply! No, there isn't any moldy feed about. They are freeranged on one acre which is just grassland. A few months back the grass was mown and just left, so the grass wasn't coming through very well. It was the same in the other paddock, and I had the chickens go through it and it is now thriving. So i was going to try with this paddock too. I usually put their feed right on the ground and never had any problem. Recently, due to the colder weather, I started giving them pollard. I put it on the ground too, because I wanted them all to get some (if i put it in a bowl, usually only some of them end up getting it). I noticed the other day that they are getting pretty big mouthfuls of the mown straw when they eat it. I didn't think it would be a problem, since it was just ''dried grass''. Ithought it over again today and came to the conclusion that chickens don't. eat. straw. I'm wondering if it could be part of the problem? I felt the sick chickens' crops, and they were rather hard. Not quite sure what to make of it.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It's possible they have some sort of impaction. Chickens do pick up all kinds of stuff ranging. Strings, nails, and things like that are more deadly than grass in my experiences. They all could have been unrelated flukes. Often I will lose 2-3 birds in a close amount of time, than that's it for a long time.

 

[Rachela]

Thanks for the reply! No, there isn't any moldy feed about. They are freeranged on one acre which is just grassland. A few months back the grass was mown and just left, so the grass wasn't coming through very well. It was the same in the other paddock, and I had the chickens go through it and it is now thriving. So i was going to try with this paddock too. I usually put their feed right on the ground and never had any problem. Recently, due to the colder weather, I started giving them pollard. I put it on the ground too, because I wanted them all to get some (if i put it in a bowl, usually only some of them end up getting it). I noticed the other day that they are getting pretty big mouthfuls of the mown straw when they eat it. I didn't think it would be a problem, since it was just ''dried grass''. Ithought it over again today and came to the conclusion that chickens don't. eat. straw. I'm wondering if it could be part of the problem? I felt the sick chickens' crops, and they were rather hard. Not quite sure what to make of it.

I’m sorry about your loss with the chicken. I’ve read many blogs and ran across this one and wondering if it’s similar with the crop?

https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/chicken-necropsy/

 

[KlinoClucks]

Thanks for all the advice! Turns out it was sour crop. We are nearly finished with treating them and they are looking great!