What am I doing wrong?! Very discouraged with sick chickens.

[Tonyroo]

I've never had any disease related issues with my birds for 4 1/2 years that I had them. They were from a breeder that I hatched and started a flock. Plus I bought a different breed from another breeder with no disease related issues.

So I'm guessing it might be the way you care for them. There's daily maintenance involved keeping them healthy and making sure they don't get exposed to potential hazards in the backyard.

 

[Nicgirl208]

I've never had any disease related issues with my birds for 4 1/2 years that I had them. They were from a breeder that I hatched and started a flock. Plus I bought a different breed from another breeder with no disease related issues.

So I'm guessing it might be the way you care for them. There's daily maintenance involved keeping them healthy and making sure they don't get exposed to potential hazards in the backyard.

That is very hard for me to believe but maybe I'm missing something? I'm out there almost daily cleaning up their poo with a scooper. I wash their waters with soap every 4 to 5 days. Their hen house gets cleaned with new pine shavings every two weeks, while scooping out the major spots every couple of days.
Is there something that maybe I'm missing? How often are you cleaning out your hen house and the feeders?

 

[StinkyAcres]

And then I got some from hatcheries that could've been carrying a disease and affecting my unvaxed ones???

I suppose this is possible. Were the chicks from the hatchery vaccinated for Marek's? The vaccine doesn't prevent the spread of the disease.

That is very hard for me to believe but maybe I'm missing something? I'm out there almost daily cleaning up their poo with a scooper. I wash their waters with soap every 4 to 5 days. Their hen house gets cleaned with new pine shavings every two weeks, while scooping out the major spots every couple of days.
Is there something that maybe I'm missing? How often are you cleaning out your hen house and the feeders?

I doubt you aren't cleaning enough. Have you checked them over for fowl mites, lice, and scaly leg mites? Are they free fed the chicken feed and are they eating it? How much space and ventilation do they have in the coop (NOT including the run)?

 

[Nicgirl208]

I suppose this is possible. Were the chicks from the hatchery vaccinated for Marek's? The vaccine doesn't prevent the spread of the disease.


I doubt you aren't cleaning enough. Have you checked them over for fowl mites, lice, and scaly leg mites? Are they free fed the chicken feed and are they eating it? How much space and ventilation do they have in the coop (NOT including the run)?

Yes, the chicks from the hatchery were vaccinated.
So about 6 weeks ago I found little mites on my silkie. Okay, backstory -- My hen house is used. It's an OverEz Large hen house. Ventilation is the windows and some areas near the roof. I cleaned it before putting my chickens in there. However - I noticed little mites on the wood at night because I'd go out there with a flashlight and make sure all the chickens got inside their house at night. When I checked out my silkie, I noticed litttle mites around her. I did a bunch of research and apparently these mites go dormant for 8 months, can survive throughout winter and come out in the spring. The lady I bought the hen house from didnt have any hens in the house for about 6 months (winter time) and by the time I bought the hen house from her, it was spring time.When I noticed the mites, I did a thorough deep clean of my hen house. It was an all day event! And then I used DermaEarth food grade in the hen house and rubbed it in each of the chickens wings. I haven't noticed any mites since then and I still check on the chickens nightly with a flashlight.....
Regarding the chicken feed, I have an OverEz chicken feeder 50 lbs.

 

[BDutch]

I'm very discouraged and feeling like I've made some mistakes by hatching some of my own, who turned out to be mostly boys, but the one that was not a boy, died on us. And then I got some from hatcheries that could've been carrying a disease and affecting my unvaxed ones??? I'm at a loss right now.... any advice or feedback would be really appreciated right now.

I’m sorry you have these troubles with your chicks/pullets.

It sounds like the older chicks may have gotten marek, but Im not sure. It is possible vaccinated chicks can infect non vaccinated chicks.
@EggSighted4Life gave a few good hints.

You should not give layer feed to any chicken that doesn’t lay eggs because it contains too much calcium. But this is probably not the reason they died so very young.

I was thinking perhaps something in the environment is wrong. Like did you use herbicides of pesticides in your garden? Just trying to eliminate.

If another chicks dies it’s certainly worth a try to send it in for as autopsy.

Maybe one of the experts can give you more directions.
@Eggcessive @azygous ?

 

[aart]

My hen house is used.

Mareks as well as Mites may have been brought in with the coop.

 

[Michael Propst]

Oh okay. I didn't think of something coming from the farm.
I am feeding them a mix of crumble and laying pellets from Naturewise.
I think I should look into getting a Necropsy done at this point....

I completely agree with getting a necropsy done. I have gotten necropsy done on every chicken I have lost. It has been very educational to me and in some cases assisted me in changing things like diet. Without a necropsy you just always guess what went wrong. I have had necropsy expose cancer, fatty liver, and reproductive disorders.

 

[Nicgirl208]

I completely agree with getting a necropsy done. I have gotten necropsy done on every chicken I have lost. It has been very educational to me and in some cases assisted me in changing things like diet. Without a necropsy you just always guess what went wrong. I have had necropsy expose cancer, fatty liver, and reproductive disorders.

Really?! Good to know... I need to find a vet who does that in my area.

 

[Nicgirl208]

I’m sorry you have these troubles with your chicks/pullets.

It sounds like the older chicks may have gotten marek, but Im not sure. It is possible vaccinated chicks can infect non vaccinated chicks.
@EggSighted4Life gave a few good hints.

You should not give layer feed to any chicken that doesn’t lay eggs because it contains too much calcium. But this is probably not the reason they died so very young.

I was thinking perhaps something in the environment is wrong. Like did you use herbicides of pesticides in your garden? Just trying to eliminate.

If another chicks dies it’s certainly worth a try to send it in for as autopsy.

Maybe one of the experts can give you more directions.
@Eggcessive @azygous ?

Thank you!

 

[Eggcessive]

I agree it could be Mareks, but the mites have not helped. Get a necropsy on the next one or two if you lose more. Ask about Mareks testing if it looks like a possibility. That will give you answers. Mareks causes decreased white blood cells and poor immunity to common illnesses that most healthy chickens may fight off. The problems with lameness do fit Mareks, along with the ages. Sorry for your loss. The Metzer link in post 4 has a list of state vets including yours in Boise.