Whole flock malaise/death, what is going on?

[soquellittlehat]

I had a flock of seven hens ranging from two to six years. A hen who had been quite dominant suddenly started getting so picked on that she wouldn't come in the coop at night to roost. So I separated her. She had completely stopped laying although she'd been a regular before. She had a dirty butt but otherwise ate, drank, and seemed fine. Within a couple weeks, the oldest hens also stopped laying although since they were already rather intermittent it took awhile to realize it. At that point I thought, well, they are done laying I guess, and gave them to a pet home that didn't mind non-layers. I also gave away the one I'd been isolating. This left me with the three youngest, who were all faithful layers, an Australorp cross, an Ancona, and an Americauna. About a week later the Americauna up and died. Just faded away and died. A few days after that, both the other hens stopped laying. The Australorp cross started up again for a week and stopped again. The Ancona, who was an egg a day girl, has laid a couple of nearly shell-less eggs right on the roost at night, they ended up on the floor below. She is clearly not herself either, although the Australorp looks about normal. Yes, they get adequate calcium.

Meanwhile I have acquired seven new young chickens that are cooped with them. Pullets and cockerels. I worry that they'll catch whatever is afflicting my flock, but I have no idea what that could be. Also, no easy way to completely isolate them although I guess I could if I put a lot of work into it.

Advice desperately needed here.

 

[ChicKat]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Your dilemma sounds really complex. Is there any chance that there is some type of poison, or chemical that could be affecting your flock? Is there any spraying that has gone on near by? It seems very strange.

Maybe I can give you a bump with this -- and some other BYC members will either put some ideas out for your consideration or ask some questions that could lead toward the answers.

So very sorry for your losses.

 

[dawg53]

I had a flock of seven hens ranging from two to six years. A hen who had been quite dominant suddenly started getting so picked on that she wouldn't come in the coop at night to roost. So I separated her. She had completely stopped laying although she'd been a regular before. She had a dirty butt but otherwise ate, drank, and seemed fine. Within a couple weeks, the oldest hens also stopped laying although since they were already rather intermittent it took awhile to realize it. At that point I thought, well, they are done laying I guess, and gave them to a pet home that didn't mind non-layers. I also gave away the one I'd been isolating. This left me with the three youngest, who were all faithful layers, an Australorp cross, an Ancona, and an Americauna. About a week later the Americauna up and died. Just faded away and died. A few days after that, both the other hens stopped laying. The Australorp cross started up again for a week and stopped again. The Ancona, who was an egg a day girl, has laid a couple of nearly shell-less eggs right on the roost at night, they ended up on the floor below. She is clearly not herself either, although the Australorp looks about normal. Yes, they get adequate calcium.

Meanwhile I have acquired seven new young chickens that are cooped with them. Pullets and cockerels. I worry that they'll catch whatever is afflicting my flock, but I have no idea what that could be. Also, no easy way to completely isolate them although I guess I could if I put a lot of work into it.

Advice desperately needed here.

Did you inspect them for lice/mites? Have you wormed your birds? Did you quarantine the newbies?