The Poultry Keeper

si · Joined: 06 Apr 2008 Posts: 7 Location: bedfordshire

I have a 8ft shed and a 30ft run which was situated at the bottom of my garden all under a corrigated roof(car port) the ground was really dusty as no rain or sun for 10 years (previous owner was a car mech) any way, we bought 3 hens 6 months ago and after 6 wks they all died (a crackly breathing sound and real messy round the vent) was told that where we bought them was a poor quality, and bad reputation!. We virconed disinfecred the whole area waited 2 wks and bought 3 more, only for 2 to later die of the same symptoms! the remaining one became a very tame house pet (orp x buff) he looked well ragged but seemed happy and ate well. I built a small house 5ft, and a 9x3 static run on my lawn (to be safe) and bought 3 more, all happy for 8 wks although a orp buff we bought started sneezing a bit and i noticed blocked nostrils? we removed the tin roof from the origional set up, dug over the dusty ground, added 5 bags multi compost and bark and turf and dug it all in, I transfered my hens 2 days ago, and cannot believe they are a bit croaky and starting to get messy!!!??? I cant keep hens baring the cross orp longer than 8wks?? thanks for patients in reading this and i so need some help

kated · Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Posts: 1846 Location: norfolk

Hi there. It really looks like you have a problem in that area doesn't it? Have you had any of the chickens looked at by a vet to determne what it is? That would be my first advice before getting new hens. It might sound an expensive option but must be cheaper than losing your new hens each time. Many people on here swear by putting a little cider vinegar in their chickens' drinking water to help them build immunity and get over a change of housing/area.

Edited to add: bark as used as a garden mulch is not recommended for chickens as it can harbour a fungus which causes a disease called aspergilliosis (sp?) which is characterised but coughing and sneezing......

si · Joined: 06 Apr 2008 Posts: 7 Location: bedfordshire

I was wondering if our hen who has lasted throughout might be passing something on to the new friends i buy for her?? I will remove the bark(thanks for the tip) yet the new area i built on the lawn was on bark, to which there was no signs of problems?? I bred african grey parrots and macaws for 15 yrs and owned a pet care centre for 8 so i am reasonably confident about husbandry and conditions ( I sure my hens are spoilt to say the least) but hens are totally new to me! although was sure that they would be less work and more hardy than parrots!!
I am gutted, as we love them to death, the previous house owner assures me the area is not contaminated where we keep them, as he only parked cars their waiting to be serviced. is their a general medicine i could give them orally? I have also left the shed door open last few days for added ventilation?? hope that was ok. is their a fungal or powder remidy i could rake into the area if that was a problem??

si · Joined: 06 Apr 2008 Posts: 7 Location: bedfordshire

could you tell me how to attach photos to give more of an idea of setup?? thank u

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3239 Location: Monmouthshire

See that the shed is really well ventilated both day and night. Remove any window glass and replace with weld mesh or wire netting. If they are adult birds, they'll be fine; draughts are only bad for youngsters. If their scratching area is too dry, water it down. A dust bath is one thing, but a constant dusty area will do their lungs no good. Check the 'sell by' date on their food. Possibly give them dampened layers mash rather than pellets. Put a clove of garlic in their water container as a general gut tonic.

si · Joined: 06 Apr 2008 Posts: 7 Location: bedfordshire

taking all this on board....so much appreciated thanks

crazypianolady · Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 729 Location: Nottinghamshire

Or combine the ACV and garlic by using Gar-rich in their water, it's cider vinegar combined with macerated garlic. It doesn't taint the eggs with garlic, by the way!

http://www.homefarmfowls.co.uk/health.html

Smile

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3239 Location: Monmouthshire

Garlic in their water doesn't taint their eggs either. Mine won't drink water with vinegar in it. Do remember that metal & vinegar don't mix.

flock · Joined: 12 May 2008 Posts: 11 Location: Normandie

I would really check this area over well. I suspect poisoning due to motor oil. Motor oil is leathal to poultry.

If the area is dry and dusty they will be dust bathing. If a mechanic lived there before the area could have been prone to oil spills.

Smell the area, can you detect anything? Look for greasy patches, it doesn't matter how long ago the area was contaminated. Check the walls, any fixings to ground, dark patches, hardened areas of ground.

It soaks in, your birds could be uncovering it someplace.

Hope this helps, let us know how you get on.

Best wishes.

si · Joined: 06 Apr 2008 Posts: 7 Location: bedfordshire

many thanks flock!
to be honest that was my first thoughts, we have dug various holes and literally smelt handfulls of the stuff and really dosnt have any smell relating to petrol or oil.
my thoughts are that it may be due to the bark (mold) yet lots of other sites or various keepers use wood bark? I am thinking that Mrs Messyburk!! the remaining hen from the previous fatalities, although she is doin absolutly fine and megga friendly....she may be a carrier of some illness? all 4 hens are eating well and all run to greet us! there is one that does not has its tail feathers raised like the others and makes this choking cough sound instead of a cluck?? also 3 eggs a day instead of 4. the other thing is they all more or less dont cluck now??
have cleared away all the bark alough odd bits around and dug in, and i have raked in "Harkers pigeon loft powder which is used to rid of mould and bacterior caused by damp. I am almost certain that the hen who coughs and is a bit loose definatly started showing these signs before we moved them back to this area (the 3 we bought were not kept in that area but a make-shift run)

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7170 Location: isle of lewis

2 days is quite quick it does sound as if something is in the soil i wonder if it would be worth getting a soil test done ,here it costs 15 pounds to be done
maybe the local agri collage would do it for you

si · Joined: 06 Apr 2008 Posts: 7 Location: bedfordshire

Good idea! will do that.
Im off on hols tomoro so will get onto that when im back.
many thanks