Virus Running rampant through coop! HELP!!

[EliseKelley]

Today, I went out to the coop and found two dead chickens inside. Later, I found two more chickens dead and two are very sick. They all have distended breastbones, are twitching furiously and have diarrhea around the vent. PLEASE help): I can't afford to lose many more chickens. All the dead ones are around 10-12 weeks old. This is so horrible to watch and it seems like its such a painful way to die. How do I save them? They're all pets.

 

[groundpecker]

First of all, you need to research what disease it might be. Then you can apply medicine that will treat the symptoms.
Warning: Chickens will still be infected with many treatable diseases, even after the effects are gone and will pass the disease to other birds and chicks.

The very best way to find out what they have is to have them tested by a lab. I think it is call a necoscopy or something like that.
I hope your birds get well soon.

 

[leesbunny]

You need to find a vet lab that will do a necropsy. They usually have one cost for mulitple birds. I would take at least a few. You must put them in a plastic bag and put them in a cooler NOT a freezer. I just had one completed and they were very helpful.

If I were you, I would definitely put some antibiotics in the water. It may not help, but that is what I would try until you find out what is going on.