What am I dealing with?? I've lost 5 birds in 2 months

[DSJMHenDen]

Could you just mix the 22% and 16% for 19% overall? Would actually be cheaper too. My local mill mixes their grower with another one of their feeds to make an 18%. It was mash and my ladies just made a mess of it, but maybe if your feeds are the same pellet/crumble/ect that they are used to it could work?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I agree, I'd get a necropsy if possible.

The rooster, are/were there any lesions inside the beak? Canker comes to mind or perhaps cancer. Hard to know without testing.

Call your lab, I think GA has 6-7labs, ask if you can send some photos if it's not possible to take/send a body in. If you lose another one, often the body can be shipped, the lab will send you a label (email) that you can print. Sometimes shipping is even cover by the lab, depending on state/services. Refrigerate, don't freeze the body (double wrapped in plastic). The link below shows lab locations. The other shows how to ship.

https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry...8pk4ZnUd9ozqxlQgSIfYpsmYMuH7wqT63ljrKePSHsFLH

Thread 'How to Send a Bird for a Necropsy - Pictures'

Jul 1, 2013

How to Send a Bird for a Necropsy​

They need the whole bird, refrigerated, not frozen. If you live in CA, there are four labs that do necropsies on poultry (chickens, turkeys, waterfowl) for $20. I know that they do out of state necropsies, but I think they charge for those. You could call them and ask what they charge for out of state "backyard poultry". The lab I use is the one in Tulare, CA. If you are in CA, call them and ask for their FedEx account number, it will save a bunch on shipping charges.

CAHFS
18830 Road 112
Tulare, CA 93274-9042
(559) 688-7543...

• casportpony
• Replies: 41
• Forum: Emergencies / Diseases / Injuries and Cures

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[EMS83]

Final update. I did switch to 16%, though that did not seem to make a different. They're all molting, too.

I took two to the lab. The first died of hepatitis. The second died of lymphoma, and the report said I should consider my entire flock as exposed to Marek's ad to vaccinate all incoming birds. I lost another bird in that time, too. So I'm down from 33 to 24 in a couple of months.

Any suggestions on good year-round hatcheries that vaccinate? And the most hardy heritage breeds? No hybrids. Over the years, I've had Buff Orpingtons, Barred Rocks, New Hampshire Reds, Americaunas, Black Australorps, and Golden Comets.

I think I liked the Barred Rocks, reds, and Orpingtons the best. Any other breed suggestions, though?