PoultryTalk.com

Hello Everyone,

I am new to the forum and need some advice. My partner is trying to raise a flock of Barnevelders and we are having a great deal of problems with chicks dying. We have bought around 10 chicks over the last year and they have all been around 8 to 10 weeks old. We seem to be able to bring them on to around 16 to 18 weeks and then we lose them. One day they are perfectly fine, the next they are hunched up and listless then they die shortly afterwards. One of the birds has had a post mortem by a vet and this was inconclusive. They have been wormed, had Baycox and fed on chick crumb and antibiotics. The symptoms are always the same, they also get diaorhea which is very clear almost water like.

When she started with these birds she originally got three double laced hens and a cockrel, the cockrel died mysteriously after two weeks so it was replaced with another one from the same breeder, this also died after two weeks. It was replaced by a bird from a different breeder and that is fine, The chicks that have died have nearly all come from different breeders and they have been a mix of double laced, blue laced and the most recent one to die, Saturday, was a blue splash.

Does anyone have any idea as to what could be the route cause of this problem as the vets can't help and we don't know what to do. The birds are meticulously cared for and cleaned out daily.

Hi
I do not know if i am stating the obvious but they are known to be susceptible to marek's disease, have they been vaccinated ?

It sounds as though your first birds were carrying something and its been passed on. It is always best not to mix birds (especially chicks who are more vulnerable) from different breeders without isolating them first.
With Mareks the chicks are vaccinated at a day old and kept isolated for 3 to 4 weeks. Mareks is a stress disease caused by a herpes virus and is spread by feather dust.
Isolate the birds that seem under the weather and keep an eye on the others. If it is Mareks it is difficult to diagnose without a post mortem. Its usually hens that are affected but even if they recover they will become carriers and lethal to young stock.
Try spraying the chicks and surroundings daily with a fine mist of Virkon S.

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your replies. I can't confirm whether they were vaccinated as day olds or not, I suspect not. It's not easy to isolate the birds that are under the weather and monitor them as when they show any signs of being under the weather they are dead within 12 hours. As we now don't have any chicks left at all, it is somewhat academic, however, I do not want to go through all this heartache again next spring. I will try the Virkon S and see if that helps next season. In the meantime, what are the symptoms of Marek's disease?

Best regards.

Variable, which is what makes it so difficult to diagnose. Two forms, classical will affects the legs and wings, and acute which affects internals organs such as liver, kidneys, lungs, spleen or heart. Birds dying between the ages of 6 weeks and 20 weeks, birds with legs stretched out in front, unable to walk or using a wing as a crutch or birds looking off colour and not growing, sometimes very hungry and very thin. If birds survive they will remain a carrier of the virus.
When you start again my advice would be to buy in chicks from one reputable breeder (preferably one who will confirm the chicks have been vaccinated) and not add more chicks of different ages from other breeders. Make sure your housing is disinfected thoroughly before you start again.
It's unfortunate that you have had to go through the misery of losing all your little flock, but don't give up, you've been very unlucky but you'll get there.

Hi Barney
may I suggest you obtain a book called ( The Chicken Health Handbook By Gail Damerow) It has a lot of information on Diseases and Disorders . The Vet would be first port of call but it may help you to look out for any symptoms of illness`s as if like me you are new to chicken keeping.

Hi, i have only kept birds for 39 years, 3 years studying poultry and avian species at college 24 years in the poultry industry meat and egg management uk and canada. 10 years with HOMOEOPATHY and natural products. i make no medical claims. Always consult a vet. vets out of 7 years studying are lucky to do 6 weeks on birds, we use to get them through our college for 2 weeks. there are some great vets out there who specialise in avian species, power to their elbow. testimonies speak for themselves. happy to help. Keep it natural, always! www.allcreatureshealthcheck.com Colin. call anytime, i will call you back, save your phone bill!

I believe that you should make sure that all chicks you order, buy etc. are vaccinated, even if you have to do this yourself, as it is most likely one of the diseases that have been killing your chicks. If your breeders don't Vaccinate their chicks then i would buy and incubator and buy hatching eggs, you can buy the vaccine for Mareks disease at almost any chicken store breeder etc. I would vaccinate them at a day old!