Omlet Smart Autodoor - New in box

[4-sweetpea]

We purhased our eglu at the begining of May and started off with 3 young hens(Custard, Nina and Mablel) who where 12 weeks old from a local breeder. the first one died (Custard), just seemed to drop dead after two weeks and no symptoms of illness.The breeder came round to see her corpse and he said she had not been eating as her crop was empty, but she had eaten that morning as I was watching them enjoy their breakfast. So we replaced her from the same breeder with a 15 week old hen (Hedwig) who died a week later suddenly again. We returned to the breeder who said 'oh this sometimes happens' and we got Pandora (15 week old). Mabel started to be very slow/sleepy and seemed to 'snore ' and a bit runny (clear water from her beak )and very sadly died the next day. I thought that it was maybe a plant in my garden they could be eating and searched the internet finding 'Nicitiana' of which I had a pot on my patio that I immediately removed.I left a message with the breeder and he has not returned my call. So that left Lovely Nina and Pandora. The folowing day Nina's eye had discharge and she began to 'snore' with runny nose too, I isolated her from Pandora she seemed to fall into a deep sleep and died ( week ago now). Pandora is on her own and is our constant companion in the garden she has been full of life eating loads and running free range. This morning she did not want to get up, has not eaten her porridge,she is very sleepy and not herself. No runny nose but I just feel she is ill . I have phoned and left another messge on the breeders phone but have not yet had a call. This is our first time we have kept chickens.I am going to take Pandora to the vet this afternoon. Can anybody gie us any advice -many thanks

[susanb]

I don't really know - but I would be very surprised if it is a plant or anything you have done. It sounds to me more like there may be some sort of infectious illness in the flock of the breeder (which would also explain why you are not getting replies to your calls!). The vet might be able to give you more information too. If you do need to get more, then I think I would be looking for somewhere else to get them.

 

Sorry you are having so much trouble and hopefully someone with more experience can help you soon.

[Olly]

I'm very sorry you have had this experience, and I'm afraid that I agree - it sounds as if you have been sold hens which were infected with something. It's most unlikely that it is due to anything they have eaten in your garden.

 

Hens can sometimes die very suddenly for no apparent reason, they are not the most robust of creatures, but for three to become ill and die within such a short space of time suggests to me that there is some infection that is being passed around. I would definitely take Pandora to the vet, and explain what happened to your other hens - and I think I'd be asking for my money back from the breeder. Were you told that they'd been vaccinated against disease?

 

I also think that 12 weeks is quite young to be selling hens, mostly they are nearer to 18 weeks if they are sold as 'point of lay' pullets.

 

I'm really sorry that you have had such an unhappy start to chicken-keeping, please be assured that this is a rare occurence. I hope the vet can suggest something for Pandora, and I would suggest that once she is better, and you are sure she is clear of any infection, you go to another breeder for some new birds.

[Chucky Mama]

The common factor here is where your birds came from. As Olly says they are quite young to be homed and the stress of the move has it would apprear enabled a previously hidden illness to come to the fore. I would get your remaining girl to the vet and would definately not go back to this breeder. Where did you get them?

[The Dogmother]

I would agree with Olly and Chucky Mama on this one, see if you can get a diagnosis on the remaining hen. When you do decide to restock, I'd chose a different stockist - whereabouts are you?

 

I'm sorry that you had such a rum start to hen-keeping; they aren't usually so difficult to look after

[Chucky Mama]

The diagnosis on the remaining chicken is important as it will give you an indication as when you are safe to restock.

[helen1962]

This is a terrible experience for you first time keeping hens. And yes it does seem an odd age to sell hens. Hens are not daft even the young ones and they know what is good for them so it is very unlikely they have been poisoned in your garden. I do think you should tell some sort of environmental officer because it may be that a disreputable breeder has set up and jumping on the band wagon that hen keeping has now become and thus he needs stopping. Afterall we want to encourage people to keep hens than this sort of thing would just destroy it for them.

 

Kindest Regards

Helen

[Egluntyne]

Sounds as if this breeder needs to be given a very wide berth. Sorry you have had such a lousy time.

 

From the description of the symptoms that one hen has displayed, I wonder if mycoplasma is the problem?

[Ain't Nobody Here]

You poor thing, what an awful introduction to chicken keeping . I agree with the others, it sounds like they were sold with something wrong with them . A visit to the vet would be a wise move and once it seems safe, get some new girls from a reputable breeder.

 

Be assured that this is a very rare event - almost all of us have healthy hens that live a good long life . (And it's nothing you've done wrong .)

[Redwing]

Its not terribly uncommon to sell hens of that age, they are old enough to have been sexed and I expect the breeder is hatching a lot so as soon as they are fine to go often they will be sold - they should be ok to go to new homes from 6 weeks at this time of year, hens are only more commonly sold as point of lay at about 18 weeks because this brings in the highest amount of money

 

It sounds like they may have mycoplasma, this is common in large flocks and is underlying often only appearing at times of stress like a move

 

I'm not saying its ok that they have it just that its pretty common and the breeder may not have seen any illness in the same chooks but that doesnt mean its ok for them to ignore you and not help in any way

 

So many illnesses and problems in the same little flock though is a shame and I probably wouldnt restock from the same supplier just in case

[4-sweetpea]

Pandora very sadly died today after two visits to the vet (antibiotics) and a week of nursing I thought she was on the mend. We are awaiting results of P M will post results. Many thanks for all the support and kind messages x

[Egluntyne]

Sorry to hear it.

[Olly]

Oh, so sorry to hear that.

 

This must have been an awful experience for you, but I hope it hasn't put you off keeping chickens. It's probably best to wait for the results of the PM to be sure that there's nothing in the run or surrounds that caused it, but once you have been reassured that this wasn't your fault, I hope you'll feel able to find another breeder and start again, with a happier outcome this time.

[Goosey Lucy]

So sorry, that's an awful start to chicken keeping. Please let us know the PM results.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Very sorry to hear that . I hope you can get to the bottom of what was wrong. Chicken keeping is such a joy normally, it would be such a shame if this put you off .

[The Dogmother]

I don't think I have missed this in any of your posts, but roughly where are you located?

[Tutti Frutti]

I am so very sorry

[Forge Cottage]

You poor thing. This must have been awful

 

Please let us know where you got the girls so that others can avoid the same experience, especially if the breeder avoids the issue. This is a significant and influential forum community so it will be in their interest to do the right thing for you...

 

Even if this is an awful isolated occurrence, there must be similar deaths in this breeder's remaining stock, so they will be well aware. It just rings alarm bells about health procedures there.

 

However the vast majority of breeders are full of knowledge and experience. They only sell birds who have been properly reared and inoculated - and are individually suitable for sale. After all, their business viability depends on a good name and introductions over time, not a one-off sale.

 

I hope you have a good outcome and above all, enjoy some healthy chooks soon.

[capper]

Oh I am so sorry to hear that your last girl has past away - it must have been truely awful. You must get to the bottom of what caused these deaths - the breeder sounds a bit suss. Give yourself some time and hopefully you will look to give other chooks a chance of a loving home - bhwt are always looking for homes for their ex-bats (which is what I have). So sorry again.

[4-sweetpea]

Thank you all for your kind words of support.

I spoke to our vet this afternoon re; the pm results. The lab thought it was either ibv (which has come back negative )or Mareks disease (which they can confirm early next week) I have been advised not to get any more chickens for a while as Marek's can live on the land? I am not sure if I can /or what to disinfect the eglu with?

I am waiting for conformation before I visit the breeder . Do I need to inform anyone if it was Marek's? My dream of keeping chickens is a bit of a nightmare at the moment or/and a big learning experience Well at least the sun has just come out here in Somerset x

[Olly]

Afraid I don't know much about Marek's but I imagine the vet would say if it was notifiable.

 

You should be able to disinfect the Eglu with any pet disinfectant, there is special stuff for birds but to be honest if it's going to be (sadly) empty for a while, and as long as you rinse it well, I should think anything would do.

 

I will wait for someone more experienced to comment on whether Mareks can 'live' in land, but in any event I would dig over the area where the run was, and dig in some garden lime. There may be something else you can do if it does turn out to be something that may have contaminated it.

 

This must have been a horrible experience, but please believe us when we say that it is really, really rare for this to happen - you might lose one hen but not all of them at once. I do hope that in a few weeks time, when you've got some healthy new hens and have stopped checking them hourly to see if they are ok, that you'll be able to enjoy chicken-keeping as much as the rest of us do. Let us know what the lab says.

[susanb]

I have googled. Nothing suggests that it lives "on the land" - but it can be spread in poo, feathers etc...so you would need to give everything a good clean up and wait a couple of weeks. It is more common in younger birds and stress (just like moving to a new place) can "bring out" the symptoms. I think if it is Mareks and you wait a couple of weeks, and get new birds from somewhere else.....you will have a much happier time.

[capper]

Hi just read something in one of my chook books that may help you decide on how you address your supplier - Marek's disease is a Herpes virus disease which is transmitted via the egg, it affects chickens between 2 & 16wks, its carried through the air within the poultry house in feather dust, dander, poo and saliva, infected birds carry virus for life and can infect other birds. Mortality is inevitable and the only prevention is by vaccination at the hatchery! You did nothing wrong and sadly there would have been nothing you could have done for your girls. Please don't let this put you off getting more chickens as they really are funny and bring a lot of joy into your life. With regard to disinfectant I use Virkon S tablets - a couple of my friends swear by this in their stable yard and you can buy it from omlet shop! Nothing anyone can say will make you feel any better but I hope I have eased the feeling of 'what if I could have done more' . Take care

[The Dogmother]

I can confirm what capper has posted about Marek's, but please be reassured that while it remains 'in the background' in many flocks is it relatively rare for a chicken to contract the full blown disease.

 

Disinfection is essential and careful watching of any remaining birds.

[Daphne]

Just to add my condolences - this is a rotten start for you Please be assured this type of terrible bad luck doesn't happen very often. I would clean the eglu and move it and the run if you can to ground not used by your previous hens. Don't use that breeder again and do try to tell him/her what the vet said. If it is mareks then they should not use the hen(s) for breeding any more and should no longer be selling the stock from those hens.