Chickens keep getting sick and dying

[Moemybaby327]

This is my second post regarding my chickens. I have done EVERYTHING to try to save them. We have 34 chickens, various breeds, various ages from 2days old-2.5 years. About every two weeks or so one of the chickens gets sick. This has been happening for months. We’ve lost five now. The last one died this morning. The symptoms are standing still, eventually just laying down and not moving, green diarrhea, not eating or drinking, gasping for air, death. The chicken before the one that died this morning, I took and had her put to sleep and they did a necropsy. She was negative for everything except she had an ovarian tumor and the vet said that’s what killed her. She had the exact same symptoms as everyone else who has died. I don’t understand. Do they all have cancer?? How is that even possible. Can they be poisoned somehow? We have a big oak tree over their yard and there’s tons of acorns but I’ve read that’s ok. Idk I’m just grasping at straws at this point. I’ve tried all the natural remedies, taken some of them to the vet, they were given antibiotics, I treated the whole flock with corid, had stool testing, and a necropsy. I don’t know what else to do or what is wrong. Does anyone have any advice??

 

[coach723]

It is not uncommon to lose birds to multiple different things, it's very hard to know without necropsy. In any hen over the age of two, reproductive problems, including cancer, are not uncommon. There are so many things, it's impossible to know. Who did your necropsy? Was it a vet? Did they send anything off for labs to be done, or did they just look for obvious abnormalities in organs?
You can contact your nearest state poultry lab, if that isn't who did this one, and have the next done there. Sometimes it's actually less expensive than a vet, and they will do testing for virus and bacterial causes, as well as look at obvious organ abnormalities. There are many virus's that can affect chickens, and can weaken their immune systems leaving them vulnerable to other things.
I would do that with the next one if possible.
List of state labs, you can call your nearest one for particulars on shipping or delivery if you are close enough, and costs:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry-labs.html

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/all_nahln_lab_list.pdf

 

[Moemybaby327]

It is not uncommon to lose birds to multiple different things, it's very hard to know without necropsy. In any hen over the age of two, reproductive problems, including cancer, are not uncommon. There are so many things, it's impossible to know. Who did your necropsy? Was it a vet? Did they send anything off for labs to be done, or did they just look for obvious abnormalities in organs?
You can contact your nearest state poultry lab, if that isn't who did this one, and have the next done there. Sometimes it's actually less expensive than a vet, and they will do testing for virus and bacterial causes, as well as look at obvious organ abnormalities. There are many virus's that can affect chickens, and can weaken their immune systems leaving them vulnerable to other things.
I would do that with the next one if possible.
List of state labs, you can call your nearest one for particulars on shipping or delivery if you are close enough, and costs:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry-labs.html

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/all_nahln_lab_list.pdf

I went through the state lab. And they sent out testing for a ton of stuff and it was all negative. I know chickens can get a ton of different things. What I don’t understand is why this is happening one at a time and they all have the same symptoms. We went 2 years with no disease. And it’s young ones that are dying too. It just doesn’t make sense.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. With different ages dying and multiple losses, I would think that something else is affecting them. If you lose another one or two birds, get another necropsy and testing. What state are you in? Some state vets are very good, but there may be one or two that are not that thorough. Have you tried treating for coccidiosis with Corid for the young ones? Is there any plants, moldy feed, or a compost bed that could be making them sick? Do any neighbors dislike your chickens? Did they test for Mareks? Could chickens be kept from eating and drinking by bullies? Hopefully, you can get some help to figure out what is going on.

 

[Moemybaby327]

Sorry for your loss. With different ages dying and multiple losses, I would think that something else is affecting them. If you lose another one or two birds, get another necropsy and testing. What state are you in? Some state vets are very good, but there may be one or two that are not that thorough. Have you tried treating for coccidiosis with Corid for the young ones? Is there any plants, moldy feed, or a compost bed that could be making them sick? Do any neighbors dislike your chickens? Did they test for Mareks? Could chickens be kept from eating and drinking by bullies? Hopefully, you can get some help to figure out what is going on.

I live in NC. WNC and our state lab is currently closed because of the hurricane that ruined everything here. I treated everyone for coccidiosis. Can I treat again or will it hurt them? There are lots of plants around and they free range a lot. I give them all plenty of food and I haven’t noticed bullying. We keep any compost inaccessible to the chickens. We don’t really have neighbors close by to not like the chickens. Yes, they tested for mareks. Thanks for your help. If another one dies I’ll try to get them to the lab. Hopefully it opens soon.

 

[coach723]

I'm so sorry, especially for all that has happened in your part of the state. We were very close to the eye wall here as it passed through, and we had wind damage, but the rain waited to hit inland this time. Prayers for everyone impacted.
There are so many variables, I hope you can get some answers. Maybe something growing that they are finding this year, maybe a bacteria or toxin in the environment. Not everything is covered in a standard lab panel, they look for the 'usual' things. Maybe a conversation with them ahead of time, explain all that is going on, all the losses, maybe they can look a little deeper. I do hope you can figure it out.

 

[Moemybaby327]

I'm so sorry, especially for all that has happened in your part of the state. We were very close to the eye wall here as it passed through, and we had wind damage, but the rain waited to hit inland this time. Prayers for everyone impacted.
There are so many variables, I hope you can get some answers. Maybe something growing that they are finding this year, maybe a bacteria or toxin in the environment. Not everything is covered in a standard lab panel, they look for the 'usual' things. Maybe a conversation with them ahead of time, explain all that is going on, all the losses, maybe they can look a little deeper. I do hope you can figure it out.

Thank you! Yes, I will definitely give a thorough history the next time and ask for further testing. Thanks for your help!