We are slowly loosing our hens. Why?

[Dona Worry]

What kind of care do they get while you are on vacation? From whom? How long are you gone?

Sounds to me like a respiratory infection from too much dust or ammonia. . . Both of which are hygiene related issues.

 

[Jim Brown]

Need more info before guessing at the problem.
What exactly do you mean by "unkept"?
Out of feed and water or just excessive droppings not cleaned up?
What all and how exactly do you feed?
Is it hot where you live?(see below about location)

I'd isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so you can closely monitor their intake of food and water, crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed), and their poops. Feel their abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling.

Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.


Where in this world are you located?
Climate is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, then it's always there!
View attachment 1500000

Thanks for the reply:
-My location is updated to NW Arkansas which is hot and humid.
"unkept" involved no cleaning in the coop, under the roost, and waterers had water but had the slime in them from lack of cleaning. There was plenty of food.
-I feed nonGMO layers fee from Tractor Supply, yard weeds, and garden leftovers.
-I do have her isolated in a dog crate in the coop, and have started giving her electrolyte water because she isn't eating or drinking.

 

[GigiCH]

We've been on vacation several times this summer, and when we came back the coop has been "unkept." After each trip, a hen stopped eating or drinking, closed their eyes, tucked their head under their wing, and hid in a corner of the coop. Our third hen has now started the symptoms.

Here's what we did: Isolated them and treated for coccidiosis. The flock then got lice. That was taken care of with a good coop cleaning and dusting with pyrethrin for three weeks... rough summer.
Now, after this last vacation, another girl has the same symptoms and there is no lice/or mites in the coop. Plus, the girls are starting to molt.

I am attaching some pictures to see if anyone has an idea. After searching this site, I'm wondering if it is vent gleet due to repeated coop conditions. A couple of the girls do have the runs, and fluffy butt is fading.
Thanks for any ideas.

Have you tried antibiotic? One of our Leg Horns was acting sick so my husband added it to the water. After a few hours she was up and going.

 

[50-45-1]

I would like to see your coop and run setup.
Can you post a couple photos?
Also what is done for the chickens exactly while you are gone?

 

[aart]

and have started giving her electrolyte water because she isn't eating or drinking.

That's a good first thing to do...offer plain water too tho.
Then tonite you can check her crop and remove feed overnight,
check crop again in morning to ensure it's emptied before giving feed back,
and her overnight poops may give some clues.
Hot weather can produce loose poops as they drink more and it goes right thru them to shed heat from the body, so it's not necessarily a sign of illness.

ETA: might want to check the mfg date on bag of feed...and knowing the protein percentage is good too. Layer feed is meant to be sole ration, other foods will dilute that nutrition.

 

[Jim Brown]

I would like to see your coop and run setup.
Can you post a couple photos?
Also what is done for the chickens exactly while you are gone?

I'm not sure what is done. I think I'll ask the routine they followed. I do know that the coop wasn't cleaned for 2 weeks. The waterers were filled but not cleaned, and the food containers were completely full, which I never do. I give them a little more than a day's supply.
Thanks for you time in looking at the coop, and the pics show today before I've cleaned it out.

 

[Kiki]

Thanks for the pictures. I'm not seeing anything that looks bad.

How much Safeguard did you use and did you re dose them after 10 days?
Do they get kitchen scraps daily?
How much scratch is a little?

 

[Jim Brown]

Thanks for the pictures. I'm not seeing anything that looks bad.

How much Safeguard did you use and did you re dose them after 10 days?
Do they get kitchen scraps daily?
How much scratch is a little?

-I don't remember the amount per gallon, but it was the amount linked to frequently here on BYC. I'll see if I can find it. I did re dose after 10 days. Their poop has returned to normal looking.
-They seldom get kitchen scraps, maybe, once or twice a week. For 6 hens, they get a small handful every other day.

 

[Kiki]

-I don't remember the amount per gallon, but it was the amount linked to frequently here on BYC. I'll see if I can find it.
-They seldom get kitchen scraps, maybe, once or twice a week. For 6 hens, they get a small handful every other day.

You mixed the Safeguard with water?

Did you buy this or did you buy the Safeguard Aquasol? This one is not meant to be mixed with water and probably did not work.

Safe-guard Goats

• Kiki
• Apr 16, 2018

 

[rjohns39]

Hi and welcome to BYC We're so happy you've decided to join us

You're in good hands with the folks helping you so I'll just wish you the best.