| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| rschaaf |
Posted - Jul 14 2010 : 7:49:57 PM
Today was the second chicken death in my flock. On June 26 the first death was to one of my black australorps. She showed no signs of illness when I shut them in for the night. When I came out in the morning, she was very lethargic, moved slow and just stood or set and slept. I checked to see if she had a retained egg or something, but I found nothing, but she was REALLY warm. I put her in a pen by herself and tried to force feed her water. She wouldn't eat. She was dead by afternoon. Today, my silkie bantam (Cotton, she was a pet for my nephew) was exhibiting the same signs. Again, she was dead by afternoon. Whatever has affected them, hits hard and fast. I sent her to the vet for a necropsy so I know what I'm dealing with and how to treat it: also for closure or if something bigger is going on. Also, another weird coincidence is that I've been finding alot of dead birds around my house. They all seem to be the same kind of bird too. I'm not sure if this is related or not. Has anyone had the same thing happen to them? I read in my chicken book and the only symptoms that matched anything was Fowl Cholera, but the timespan doesn't jive. If it were that, I would have thought more birds would have been sick by now... Any thoughts?
"There is beauty, there is grace, in my peaceful country place!"
See what I'm up to at: http://www.lifeonctfarm.blogspot.com |
| 13 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| msdoolittle |
Posted - Jul 18 2010 : 6:42:23 PM
Just a thought....so much of the feed is corn based. The only reason for this is that corn is cheap in this country and it fattens up animals quickly. It is NOT put into food just because 'it's good for them'. I'd feed them a more varied diet, and I'd probably switch foods. Chicken feed is created mainly for industrial agricultural usage..that is, it isn't made for chickens that are going to be around for a long time, it is made for those industrial broilers and layers whose lives are only a matter of months, so their longetivity is not in the game plan.
Mine have free access to orchard grass, and I do have them on the Layena pellet and occasionally the FlockRaiser pellet by Purina. I have had no problems yet, but this is an ongoing experiment! I would not feed any more cracked corn/sunflower seeds if you are already doing so. I'd look for a good pellet that contains NO animal by-products.
:0)
FarmGirl #1390
www.mylittlecountry.wordpress.com |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Jul 18 2010 : 05:42:29 AM
Well, at least it was not WNV. I bet you are relieved. Do you have yours penned up? Mine free range so they don't need as much feed. I only throw a few handsfull in the morning and evening. That way I can count them. But they really don't even need that much feed because they are eating greens and bugs and even mice. So if they are penned you should throw in grass clippings so they can have green stuff. Just a thought. And I am so glad you found out the problem. What kind are they anyway?
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| rschaaf |
Posted - Jul 16 2010 : 8:33:34 PM
I got an answer today from the vet via department of ag. Extreme fatty liver. Her liver literally split in half and she bled out inside. I'm not sure if the other one was the same or not. But, the problem is diet related. I told the vet how much I was feeding and she didn't think that was too much. So, I'm going to double check my scale to see if it is accurate. If it is, then I will back off on the food. I may have the food tested if anymore die on me. She was also negative for coccidiosis. They were certain that the liver was in fact the cause of death and weren't going to proceed with any other testing. I'm relieved that it wasn't anything contagious. This didn't happen overnight. Now I just have to do some figuring and double checking. I'm sure my vet and I will be in touch for a little bit yet to make sure this doesn't happen anymore.
"There is beauty, there is grace, in my peaceful country place!"
See what I'm up to at: http://www.lifeonctfarm.blogspot.com |
| 1badmamawolf |
Posted - Jul 16 2010 : 5:38:06 PM
Renee, have you found out anything yet regarding your chickens and the wild birds...I sure hope its nothing real bad.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
| CascadeFootHillsFarmgirl |
Posted - Jul 15 2010 : 09:45:50 AM
I am so sorry for your loss and I can feel your fear to walk out and see what today brings.
I second the west nile. Def. report the dead wild birds. Counties here in Wa. stopped catching mosquitos and testing them due to budget cuts and are relying on people to report dead wild birds so they know if there is an outbreak of WN.
I was told to put orange oil around my bunnies to keep the mosquitos from hanging out there by their water. It helped a lot. I don't know if scents are safe for chickens. I have heard that burning scented candles can kill indoor birds. Can someone advise us on that? Can we put orange oil around the coop area to discourage the mosquitos...just to be pro active?
"A cabin with plenty of food is better than a hungry castle." Irish Quote |
| 1badmamawolf |
Posted - Jul 15 2010 : 09:04:00 AM
It sounds like west nile virus to me, it is highly contagous, and humans can contract it also, it is spread by mosquitos. Call fish and game, or your county health dept, Good luck
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
| rschaaf |
Posted - Jul 15 2010 : 07:34:31 AM
I read up on NewCastle Disease, and they aren't showing the weird paralysis associated with it, so I'm thinking it's not that. I am giving fresh water everyday and I even have a box fan in the coop to keep air moving and they can get outside as well and some part of their pen has shade all day. I did tell the vet about the dead birds. By the time I find them, they've laid out in the heat and are starting to decompose quickly, so not much to save. I'll see if our county has a game warden and call them. This is just eating at me. I'm scared to go out and see what I might find today.
"There is beauty, there is grace, in my peaceful country place!"
See what I'm up to at: http://www.lifeonctfarm.blogspot.com |
| Alee |
Posted - Jul 15 2010 : 06:25:12 AM
I wonder if something was sprayed in your area recently? Like maybe by a crop duster plane?
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
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| Noreen |
Posted - Jul 15 2010 : 06:08:51 AM
I would call fish and wildlife and tell them about the dead wild birds and your chickens. They might send somebody out. Can you carefully, without touching a wild bird, save it in something?
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23:1 |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Jul 15 2010 : 05:18:05 AM
Did you tell the vet about all the dead birds? That's wierd. I hope someone knows what this is. I am very curious now. I am so sorry this is happening to your flock. How many do you have? And are they older birds? And the heat might have alot to do with it alos. I have heard lots of people talking about loosing them to the heat. I know you are doing this, but make sure they have plenty of fresh cold water to drink and lots of shade.
You might also want to get some electrlytes in their water. They just may need a boost. It couldn't hurt anyway.
Please let us know what the vet comes up with. I really hope it's nothing serious.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| vegetarian farmer |
Posted - Jul 15 2010 : 05:15:07 AM
Possibly New Castle disease? Very deadly and very quick moving. Lets hope not because they will make you put your whole flock down. It can wipe out commercial chicken farms in days. Keep us posted.
Jane
http://hardworkhomestead.blogspot.com/ |
| karla |
Posted - Jul 15 2010 : 04:42:51 AM
Could it be heat? Or soemthing respiratory?
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
http://rua2j-grammysheirlooms.blogspot.com/ |
| sherrye |
Posted - Jul 14 2010 : 9:37:12 PM
well golly renee i sure do not know what is wrong. i will be interested in what your vet finds for sure sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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