Head shaking, pale eyes, sleepy - help!!

smythie

Hi,

We have 3 RIR's (layers), 1 light sussex pullet and 1 Ardenner pullet. We have them about 4 weeks now. They free range and we are feeding them layers pellets (crushed up for the pullets) and mixed fruit (apples + melon) as well as bread with olive oil on top.

One of the RIR's and the little ardenner started shaking their head, eyes became very pale, were quite letargic and had to be coaxed to eat. Droppings were very runny. We contacted our vet who have us some xeno 450 which we applied to the neck of each hen (made sure dose was right). We also separated out the little ardenner at the vets suggestion as she was harder hit than the other hen. She was given antibiotics because of a wattery discharge from her mouth. Both had started to show some improvement however today the RIR seems to have become tired again, the head shaking is as bad as every and poop still runny but now the other hens are starting to show same symptoms. The ardenner is still separated and is recovering well. I've check the web and there are so many illnesses that seem to have some of these characteristics but none that seem to have all. For info the 3 RIR's are still laying but we are not using the eggs because of thewithdrawal for xeno 450.

Regarding the coop and run - I clean both out every day removing all droppings and disinfected the coop after they were wormed also. The run has a cement base and I am washing this out every night so I don't think hygiene is the issue. Their water is changed every day and they get fresh pellets every morning.

Has anyone come acrosst his problem before and if so what is the solution.

cath

hi ya.. i know its frustrating when you do everything right and they still die...i just got two 4 weeks old chicks today,,,, took me ages to source them.. carried them home and one was dead in three hours. grrrrrrrrrrr.. shed been sleepy on the way home and never really became alert.. this is the third chick of that breed to just die...weak.. weaker then gaspin.. then dead!!!!!!!!!!!!

ammcg

For a start, only hens that are actually laying should be getting layers pellets. They need the extra calcium - too much calcium for a young pullet can damage their kidneys. Young pullets need growers pellets until they come into lay. That's not your problem though. Does your vet normally treat poultry? If not, you need a vet who does. If there isn't one near you, try phoning one - I don't know where you are, but there are several vets around the country that do poultry. It may be coccidiosis, although it doesn't sound typical. It could also be the start of Mareks, although again, it doesn't sound typical. You don't have anything like slug pellets around do you?

cath

hi smythie,, what was the outcome with the sick pullets.. did you find out what it was??? maybe a lot of good can be learned by a follow through note...