Weird flock issues, is something wrong with my yard?

[MysteryChicken]

Yes, they use chemicals. I try and always but the girls up when they are using them. So far the 2 larger girls have been fine. The chicks are in the garage so they aren’t affected.

The fine mist covers a wide range, so I don't think there's much you can do to prevent this from happening. It's gonna be in your lawn constantly.

 

[newchickenlady7]

Totally agree! Animals make great and somewhat free(well apart from what you put in the lol) insecticide and herbicides can defiantly be a worry . However i can help feeling something else may be the root. Eg something growing in the area plant or fungal that they are eating or maybe even drinking. Do you know if something has been discarded on the land in the past? Its a definite mystery and by the sounds of it the care you give should mean that they thrive.

You would guess, they have a palace at my place. We’ve considered testing our soil thinking it may be the issues but we are stumped as to what’s going on. Their run attached is all dirt. They are only let out in the grass using a chicken tractor (we have too many large birds and coyotes due to the number of deer in the area) so I don’t believe a plant could be the issue.

 

[newchickenlady7]

The fine mist covers a wide range, so I don't think there's much you can do to prevent this from happening. It's gonna be in your lawn constantly.

I think I’ve seen them use fertilizer maybe twice earlier this year, but maybe washing things down afterwards will help.

 

[MysteryChicken]

You would guess, they have a palace at my place. We’ve considered testing our soil thinking it may be the issues but we are stumped as to what’s going on. Their run attached is all dirt. They are only let out in the grass using a chicken tractor (we too many large birds and coyotes due to the number of deer in the area) so I don’t believe a plant could be the issue.

Testing your soil would be a good idea, it should tell you about harmful chemicals, from the Crop Dusting.

It may also tell you about other potentially toxic substances in your soil.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I think I’ve seen them use fertilizer maybe twice earlier this year, but maybe washing things down afterwards will help.

I don't know a whole lot about that. But, I know wetting chemicals creates runoff.

Maybe some here may have an idea how to lessen the exposure?

 

[LostBoi73]

You would guess, they have a palace at my place. We’ve considered testing our soil thinking it may be the issues but we are stumped as to what’s going on. Their run attached is all dirt. They are only let out in the grass using a chicken tractor (we too many large birds and coyotes due to the number of deer in the area) so I don’t believe a plant could be the issue.

You see im very fortunate in the way that we have owned the ,anc for 40 years anc all the construction has been done by our selfs. We were a livery yard for many years but now we just have our chickens and geriatric horses ( 37 and 30) oh and some of my nephews sheep. We have areas that have been semi manacured including a decent pond. But much is given over to allowing things to grow that help or attract wildlife. We dont realy have anything toxic. And very few preditors . Infact the only issue is the odd chick taken by a rat of all things. Oh and the cold n wet conditions for autumn through to mid spring . Sometimes all year lol . I live in the peak district in the uk my friends from out of county call it the bleak District. But i love it here

 

[aart]

The only way to know what killed your birds is to have a few necropsied with labs done.
Everything else is gross speculation.

 

[newchickenlady7]

I don't know a whole lot about that. But, I know wetting chemicals creates runoff.

Maybe some here may have an idea how to lessen the exposure?

Good point I hadn’t thought of that.

Their coop/run is right next to the field which is why I assumed maybe water could rinse the chemicals off. Their no way to prevent the chemicals from coming in the run being it’s chicken wire and not closed off like the coop.

 

[newchickenlady7]

Testing your soil would be a good idea, it should tell you about harmful chemicals, from the Crop Dusting.

It may also tell you about other potentially toxic substances in your soil.

I think I will try the dirt in the run and see what comes up.

Would it be worth it to test the dirt the grass grows in as well?

 

[MysteryChicken]

I think I will try the dirt in the run and see what comes up.

Would it be worth it to test the dirt the grass grows in as well?

Yep, both.