Why are my birds starving, while surrounded with FOOD!! Help!

[twentynine]

never mind sorry

 

[wyliefarms]

I would check the protein level in the feed. Especially since these birds are not game birds, but pullets and laying hens. The young ones should not get feed with alot of calcuim in it. (we did that once, it kills their liver since they don't need alot til they start laying)

Worming is easy, but it is time comsuming with that many birds.



Quote:
I have begun to be suspicious of the food, I have to admit. I feed the Blue seal Game bird starter crumble, cause it is the only non medicated starter that they sell. I didnt want to over do, with a medicated feed, and medicated water. And my birds dont like the pellets.

Unfortunately, there is not another type of grain store around, unless I drive almost 35 minutes in a direction I dont usually go. But then I realized that my turkeys were having the same problem, too thin, full crops, and they are in a seperate pen, with the correct food for thier age, so I am right back to square one. I dont think they have worms, but I will test them too.

 

[honeydoll]

Boy, I really feel for you. I know this must be frustrating to say the least. You seem to go above and beyond for your birds, hope they get well soon and you figure out what's going on. If you do, let us know so we can all learn from this. Good luck!

 

[chickenpiedpiper]

Quote:
I checked the feed analysis on what I am feeding, and it is called 'Chick and game gird grower crumbles' and is formulated for chickens and game birds. It is simply an unmedicated version. It states on the bag and website that it is for chicks of egg laying breeds, so I cant imagine it would have too much calcium.

But Thank you for the heads up, I was suspicious of that as well, so I went to thier website, and read up on the different foods, and it says I am using the right kind.

 

[speckledhen]

I feed game bird grower crumble to youngsters and the protein level is 20%, I think or maybe 19%, definitely not too high. If all of them are that thin and dying, I'd say coccidiosis or worms. You wont always see worms in the poop, even if they have them. First of all, I'd change feeds and see if that helps. Never fed Blue Seal-they don't have it in my area. There are wormers you can put in the water, I believe, so everyone doesn't have to be wormed individually.

 

[dsedler]

Quote:
Oh, yes, they have an oyster shell dispenser in each coop, I forgot about that, and I get really strong egg shells.

Free range birds dont tend to need too much supplemental grit do they?

But like someone else said, oyster shell is not grit. Oyster shell should be given as a supplemental source of calcium only to laying hens. Grit is something completely different. This could be your excess source of calcium.

 

[Akane]

Game bird starter is fine for young birds. I use 22% game bird feed for all of mine from chick through adult. If you are feeding non medicated feed you have to keep in mind that you now are not protecting against cocci. You are relying on their natural immune system to protect against cocci and while most of the time that results in healthier birds under some circumstances it may fail. The younger birds in the 3-6week old range would be most susceptible and get ill first and strongest. As you get to the older birds they would have built up resistence and your adults should not get sick at all unless it gets extreme.

I would deworm, switch to medicated feed, and make sure the antibiotic in the water treats cocci well.

 

[cybercat]

On those birds that died did you check their crops? I mean cut them open to see what is in them. They could be picking up something that is blocking them to pass threw. It sounds like sour or block crop to me since crops are so full but birds are thin.

 

[Big C]

Do you mix any DE in to the feed or coops?

 

[ChooksChick]

I agree with the age in question it's crucial that you must think about coccidiosis.

You might start on Corid right away to stop the damage. Antibiotics won't stop coccidiosis and Corid won't hurt the chicks- as a Thiamin blocker it stops the parasite without hurting the bird.

It can affect birds of any age, but is usually seen in under 14 weeks.

I hope you find the answer!