Death Toll Rising

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I have 9 chickens (well bantams) and they are about 4-5 months old and been very healthy up until now with lots of room on a farm with fresh water daily and a well kept area. In the last few weeks 4 of the hens have died, some suddenly, others lasted a day or 2 walking strangely and being reclusive yet eating and drinking well and over night they slip into a coma and die. Its very frustrating as we are providing the best conditions possible and still we are loosing them about 1 a week, all other look healthy but the symptoms come on very quickly. The cockrel is very hansome and least of all would I like to loose him.

If anyone can shine a light on what the problem might be then thank you! like I said they look very healthy, no external sign of any problems and the coop is disinfected every 2 weeks also.

Cheers, P.
 
? red mite.

Is there any chance they have been able to access rat poison or anything else which is poisonous ?
 
I use a detol disinfectant solution on the slide out drow and perches and next box area every 3 weeks ish, I am trying to keep an eye out if it is mites but that would be a serious infestation to kill them? and why would it be one at a time? surely they would all be under duress? There is no chance it can be poison, its an area of pasture which is fenced off, they have access to the hedgerow and there is a pile of rotting wood but they seldom scratch around on that, they spend a lot of time retreating in the hedge, especially when sunny
 
I am so sorry, it must be so frustrating to lose your bantams in this way :(

I am afraid it is very difficult to asertain what could be the problem and would suggest a visit to the vet, or maybe if you lose another one look at have a post mortem, not pleasant I know.

There are a couple of things that point on the direction of one of the groups of illness called retroviruses..the age of your bantams coming up to point of lay, symptoms and the probability you are looking at an infectious illness.

This is assuming that any risk of toxic poisoning has been ruled out..tbh I think chickens are far more sensible than humans when it comes to knowing what is/is not poisonous.

Of course it may just be one of those things, an avian specialist may be able to help you though, or at least eliminate some possible nasties.
 
In regard to red mite, if there is a severe infestation, all the chicken don't die at once as some will be stronger than others and some will have more blood sucked than others depending on where they sleep.
 
And as numbers of birds reduce the amount of blood taken from the remainder every night increases. The first sign is a pale comb, even though they are laying.
 
Could even be Mareks disease, may be worth having a vet check them out.

JubesXX
 
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