What is wrong with my chickens?!

[Mr.Universe]

if they will eat it straight up crush or mince it and mix it with food. offer no foods at night and offer foods with the garlic first thing and wait till they have eaten it for 2 hours before giving non garlic food to ensure atleast some garlic has been consumed, otherwise you could heat chopped cloves in water and simmer for 30 minutes and strain and just offer garlic enfused water instead of food

 

[lifetimechicklover]

if they will eat it straight up crush or mince it and mix it with food. offer no foods at night and offer foods with the garlic first thing and wait till they have eaten it for 2 hours before giving non garlic food to ensure atleast some garlic has been consumed, otherwise you could heat chopped cloves in water and simmer for 30 minutes and strain and just offer garlic enfused water instead of food[/QU
Thank you! That sounds like a winner!!!

 

[azygous]

It sounds like a crop issue. Here's an article telling how to diagnose crop disorders and how to treat them. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

Have these chickens been eating long stemmed grass by some chance? If so, I would expect they both are suffering from impacted crops.

 

[Mr.Universe]

my chickens have been eating long blades and not having a problem. it might be the type of grass imparticular that isnt agreeing with them as well

 

[Wyorp Rock]

About 3 days ago I noticed they weren't drinking or eating much.

lethargic; ie. sitting with humped back, sleeping......then the combs turned a death yellow.

one of the pullet's crop was very large.

I felt the crop & was astounded that it filled up my hand!

I agree with @azygous it does sound like impacted crops. Do you have a source of grit for these birds?

The combs turning yellow is concerning.
Do what you can to get them hydrated. Electrolytes, poultry Nutri-Drench would be good to add to the water.

 

[sassfras]

I'm aware of the ACV, but how to give garlic?; fresh, dried, canned? What about probiotic yogurt? I saw that mentioned in one of the threads.

When I give my girls garlic I take a clove, smash it, and put it directly into their water (one clove per gallon maybe?) Make sure you change the water after a day or so. Probiotic yogurt certainly can’t hurt, just make sure it’s plain, or at least without added sweetener. I’ve heard some people sprinkle garlic powder onto their chickens food as well.

 

[Mr.Universe]

Probiotic yogurt certainly can’t hurt, just make sure it’s plain, or at least without added sweetener. I’ve heard some people sprinkle garlic powder onto their chickens food as well.

i was told plain greek yogurt, try to stay away from "probiotic" labeled gurts. just plain greek is more then sufficient. might be worth trying to add garlic to yogurt in the mornings and remove food and offer only that to see if they take to it. its worth a shot

 

[lifetimechicklover]

Many thanks to everyone who gave advice, but I am ashamed to say that I have figured the probable cause of this sickness whereby the food is not digesting, and their breastbones are just covered with skin.............I had used some old window screens to separate them away from the door so I could get to another flock of chickens and they started pecking on the screens. When I finished with the other flock the screens had large holes in them! They were EATING screen wire. No wonder their food hasn't digested! So far, I've actually lost only 2, but most of the others are still sick. I hope I don't lose all. Oh, well, a costly lesson learned! Never use screen wire where chickens have access to it!!

 

[RodNTN]

So sorry Hope you can treat them all successfully

 

[Mr.Universe]

olive oil and coconut oil will be your best friends in this matter to aid in passing through thr crop.

you can try to massage the crops to gt them to puke up the contents of the crop.

coconut oil wont hurt them in large quantities, might make them have a little squirts like cecal poops more often but its a whole lot better then loosing more of your girls. i hope this helps