Tuesday, November 15th, 2011
From: Billie Best <billie@billiebest.com>
To: Discuss Issues in Livestock Processing <livestockprocessing-l@list.cornell.edu>
Sent: Mon, Oct 17, 2011 1:33 pm
Subject: OT-chicken illness question
I have a flock of 45 pullets born August 23. They have been free ranging on my farm since October 1st. They are mixed in with my laying hens, a flock of 20+ mature birds. This morning one pullet was dying and is now dead. Seven other pullets now seem sick: unresponsive, standing around inside the coop with heads tucked in, almost listless.
They are behaving flu-ish, like they just don’t feel good.
I have had beautiful flocks of free range chickens here for many years. I’ve never seen so many birds with the same symptoms. I am looking for advice on what this might be, and what to do about it.
Thank you,
Billie Best
On Nov 11, 2011, at 2:52 PM, Kim Hilliker wrote:
Billie – I held on to this email as I’m always looking to gain chicken-wisdom, having only had chickens about 4 years.
Did you ever find out what the issue was with your chickens? I was thinking maybe worms? But, then, your older birds weren’t affected?
Kim Hilliker
Morgan Woods Farm
Saratoga County, NY
From: Billie Best <billie@billiebest.com>
Date: November 15, 2011 8:44:35 PM EST
To: “Discuss Issues in Livestock Processing” <livestockprocessing-l@list.cornell.edu>
Subject: Re: OT-chicken illness question
Thanks to the listserv, I got great advice about my “chicken illness” in a couple hours.
My seven-week-old pullets had coccidiosis. Ten birds (out of 45) died. I consider myself fortunate. My chickens free range. When the illness set in, the strongest birds were already ranging far from the coop, and roosting at night. The most immature birds were still sleeping in a pile on the floor of the coop in the corner. They are the ones that died.
This batch of pullets was particularly slow to mature. They took a long time to feather up, and they were all slow to range and roost. My mistake was not to give the floor sleepers fresh hay bedding every night. Conditions were cool and wet for weeks, perfect for microbes.
I received very helpful advice from Dr. Jang, a poultry specialist at Cornell Animal Diagnostic Lab. However, I did not treat the flock. I practice organic standards, so chemotherapy was out of the question, and I would not put antibiotics in my food [as some of you suggested, which wouldn't have worked anyway since coccidia are a protozoa not a bacteria].
This is my seventh flock of chickens and the first time I have had an illness in the flock. I will definitely be more fastidious in the future.
Again, thanks to the listserv for being such a valuable resource.
Billie
Tags: Chickens