The Poultry Keeper

Duncan · Joined: 02 Jan 2006 Posts: 3 Location: Chobham

Hi
I'm new to keeping chickens and bought 4 6 week old Calder Valley Rangers in October (from a reputable source I believe).

Sadly 3 of the four have died!

The first to die (in November) had been isolated and hunched for a couple of days. I took her to a neighbour, with years experience of keeping chickens, and they agreed she was not developing like the other 3 and appeared to be blind, so dispatched her, in case she had an infection which could be passed on.

All the remaining birds looked perfectly health and active. I have a new lenham 505 coop and a very large area, fenced with 50m of electric fence to protect the birds.

A few weeks later when my partner went to shut the chickens up for the evening she found one dead in the coop. I'd let them out in the morning and they'd all been active, and normal (as far as I can tell).

Earlier this week I went to let the remaining 2 out in the morning and one was dead in the coop! I did recall that one was hunched in the coop the previous evening, so it may have been starting to go down hill then.

I've one left!

I'm feeding them a chick crumb mix, which has an antibiotic in it, which my neighbour gave me. They've plenty of fresh water. I strip and clean the coop every week.

I intend to get some more birds soon, but will get them at point of lay to increase the chance that they're strong and healthy.

I'm really surprised by my experience. From all that I've read, and taking advice from my neighbours I do not believe I'm making any fundamental mistakes with their care.

Their area is an area of pasture with a few trees in it. Are there any poisonous weeds, fungi I need to look out for?

I'd be very grateful if anyone does have any words of wisdom, or whether this does happen from time to time in a batch.

thanks

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7424 Location: isle of lewis

you've been really unlucky ,i carn't really help ,i'm just sorry ,somebody will be along in a while ,who can
suz

thewinkingtiger · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 936 Location: East Yorkshire, UK

Hi Duncan
Welcome to PK and sorry to hear about your difficult start to poultry keeping.
I too had a very rough start and out of the original 4 chooks I got in the summer I only have 1 left. So it could be that it's just one of those things!

I think their diet may not be appropriate for their age. I believe chick crumb is for the first few weeks of life and then they go on to growers pellets approx 6 weeks to 16 weeks and then onto layers pellets. Do you give them titbits or corn or any other supplements?

I too wondered if we had anything poisonous in our garden and found this website really useful.
http://www.kippengrabbelton.be/engels/index.htm Click on 'Plants' in the pink menu.
English is obviously not the authors first language - but you should be able to check against the plants you have in your garden.

I will say that I now have 18 chooks even after my initial disaster - so keep at it - and read as much as you can and ask as many questions as you have.

Debs

jaydee67 · Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 10:26 pm Post subject:

As Debs said, for plants check out that site, Johan is Belgian and has some very good advice on his site. I can't help you with the reasons for your high mortality. I have been keeping chickens for nearly 4 years, with occasional unexplained deaths along the way. My worst bout was with maran chicks last year , I hatched 8 and over weeks all 8 died, I treated them the same as other chicks I have hatched and all but one of the other chicks we hatched last year survived. No one could explain it then, but please don't let this start put you off keeping chickens, they are worth it!

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

sorry to hear of your losses ~ like Debs said you should be feeding them growers by now. I don't know if the antibiotic in the chick crumb would have anything to do with it. Not suggesting it has, just trying to help if I can.
If you do plan to get some more girls try to get them about the same size as the one you have, and maybe don't introduce more than a couple at a time. If you were to get say another 4 and they had been together for any length of time, they just might not make life too easy for your original girl, where as with 2 girls it might be easier. Might evenbe easier for your remaining girl if you sourced them from different places, that way all of them would be newbies to the house and she would still hold onto her place.
Let us know what you decide to get.
Good luck

CP · Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 1:41 am Post subject:

Sorry to hear about your losses. Sad

They should be on growers by now as has already been said.

Can you give any more info regarding your birds. Were there any other symptoms - sneezing, runny eyes, swellings anywhere, what colour/consistency was their poo? When were they last wormed, treated for mites etc. Anything else that may help with a diagnosis.

jooles · Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 10:31 am Post subject:

Sorry to hear about your difficult start to keeping chickens. I'm new to it too so I'm afraid I'm not experienced enough to be of much help, except that when one of my hens was poorly recently I brought her inside and kept her in a box in my office where I could watch over her and encourage her to eat and drink. Fortunately for me she picked up and is now back out with the others.

I hope you have some better luck when you get some more girls.

nigel · Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 12:26 pm Post subject:

Chick Crumb often has a coccidiostat in, do you know if your neighbour think they have coccidiosis?

Duncan · Joined: 02 Jan 2006 Posts: 3 Location: Chobham

Hi
Thanks all of you for you feedback, and words of encouragement.

With regard to their feed I had actually started them on a layers mash, after I'd used the chick crumbs I bought with them, which they'd been used to.

After my second loss my neighbour gave the spare bag of the chick crumb he had, which he indicated contained some antibiotic.

Sounds like this Chick Crumb is not suitable for the remaining girl. Can I put her back on the layers mash? The store where I get my feed (which is a large supplier) didn't have any growers feed and I was told the layers mash would be ok.

In terms of their condition after the first loss I've watched them closely for any signs of problems. Their droppings were fine, apart from the occasional runny dropping. No respiratory issues I could detect. Eating and drinking fine.

I did start off by giving them scrap bread in the morning but after the first sudden death I wondered if she had gorged on the bread and come to harm that way so I don't give them any scraps anymore.

I was told they'd been wormed and had whatever necessary jabs when I got them so I've not done anything else. With regard to mites I've not seen any evidence.
The only thing which has puzzled me is they appear to have bald patched on what I'll describe as the lower cheek area of the head. I did some research on this and didn't come up with anything.

thanks again.

thewinkingtiger · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 936 Location: East Yorkshire, UK

Hi again Duncan
If my calculations are correct - your remaining girl must be coming up to at least 16 weeks - so yes it would be appropriate to put her back on to layers mash or pellets.
Scraps and extras are fine in moderation. My older girls manage dry bread fine with no probs but you could try soaking some for your girl. Any leftover veggies is good for them (make sure potatoes are cooked though.) I regularly cook up potato and carrot peelings etc and make them a mash that way that they love. They also go wild for salad and fruit.

Mixed corn (approx 1 oz per bird) just before bedtime will help keep them nice and warm for the nighttime.

When you pick your chook up - how does her breastbone feel?? Does she have noticeable fillets on either side - or would you describe it as razor sharp?? Again it could indicate whether a feed imbalance is the problem or else it is something else.

Live yoghurt is good - helps with all sorts of digestive problems and helps keeps it nice and balanced. Also Apple Cider Vinegar in the water 1 week in 4. I should start this as soon as you can so you can give your remaining girl any extra boost she might need. (Mix at a 2% ratio to the water.)

Not sure about the bald patches - does your remaining girl have the same? Is it something you could take a picture of???

It may be worth re-worming - you can get something from the vet or else order it online. But I would say your main priority is to start her on a high boost diet as described above so she can have any fighting chance if there is something more 'nasty' going on.

Good luck
Debs

Duncan · Joined: 02 Jan 2006 Posts: 3 Location: Chobham

Thanks Debs

I'll focus on the diet as you suggest, thanks.

This girl does have the bald bit, I'll see if I can get a photo at the weekend.

Thanks for all your help again.
Duncan

thewinkingtiger · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 936 Location: East Yorkshire, UK

You're welcome!

Keep us informed ok? And Good luck

Debs

Aussie Chick · Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2006 9:57 pm Post subject:

Hows it going now? Any progress?