What's wrong?

[Michigan Transplant]

I have had two hens in the past three weeks get weak and just squat on the floor. They let me pick them up and NO they are not egg bound. I thought it was the heat but after bringing them in and cooling them off, within a few minutes them both had the same symptoms. Both started gagging and acting like they couldn't breathe and flopped around the cage till they died. When I picked them up to take them out to dispose them they both leaked liquid out their beaks. Any suggestions? Are they getting into something they shouldn't or is there something else it is that is serious and I should watch them all? I now am down to 22 RIR's. Started with 25 but sent the male to chicken heaven when he started attacking me. PLEASE HELP!!! THANKS!

 

[chkn]

You need to start them on a worming and delousing program! You may also want to treat them with some water soluable antibiotic from the feed store.

That business with the flopping around in the cage is what they all do when they die. Every once in awhile you get one that goes out with a whisper but not very often.

 

[chkn]

BTW, when you notice one on the ground alot check the vent and under the wings for maggots. It's really bad this time of year. That requires a totally different (but emergency) treatment.

 

[Michigan Transplant]

Thanks for the information. Had one a few weeks ago who I thought was egg bound and brought her in and did the warm bath and she seemed to love it. Then held her is a towel for a few hours, put her in a cage for the night and she was dead in the morning. She was not egg bound. I have gone through that before. I just don't want them to start dropping like flies and not know what is causing it. I will start them all on what you mentioned later today after I go to the feed store. THANK YOU so much! No maggots either.