[IMOmimey]

OMG, poor you. did you buy any of your equipment second hand, coop etc?  I definatlely don't think its anything you have or have not done. Don't feel guilty, they will know they were loved. I'm shocked the breeder wasn't more helpful. Did he/she sound concerned?-ask lots of questions about symptoms etc, I would, because I'd be anxious that my girls might get it, or did he/she sound like it was no surprise??
 

[grumpydad]

nothing was second hand, built the coop myself from untreated wood, and painted with animal friendly water based fence paint on the outside.
when i spoke to him he was busy, didnt know why i was having so many problems, but he had my number and would ring if he could think of something.
i know it is not an issue, but it was ok when he had £40 for florence, and £30 for olive, £210 for them all in march.
cant fault the vets, they have been so understanding, especially when he said he would do more research over the weekend. have added their details to aunty's vet sticky.

as and when we can have more, we are going to have 2 more rhode island reds.
not having them till i know what has caused this though.

weighed them all last night, lol, what a job, lizzie and vera, the bantams are a pound and a half, the blue laced wyandottes, doris is four and a half, and sally (the pig) five and a half. will weigh them to make sure they are ok, they have masses of feathers,

martyn

[grumpydad]

lizzie

[grumpydad]

doris, vera and sally

[grumpydad]

olive and florence, now gone

[Rubellite]

Hardly think painting the perches and cracks with creosote as opposed to using Diatom would have made any difference to your girlies. Sounds like the guy is just looking for a cop out 

[IMOmimey]

Poor you. Maybe this means all your bad luck at once, so you have no more problems for at least a couple of years eh?

Let us know what the vet says. Ask hime if he has any idea when the birds would have come into contact with their diseases, ie in the last week, at birth, etc

[grumpydad]

i hope so, we keep checking the others, this is nerve racking, hoping they are going to be ok.
we dont know anyone nearby with chickens, and have not been near any, so how they got ill is a mystery.
we will be having 2 more next year, but want to leave some time so we know these 4 are ok, will be having 2 Rhode Island Reds, and will need to find a good caring breeder, we are not going back to where we got our chickens from.

martyn

[grumpydad]

AN EGG !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
after 5 weeks of nothing, all of them off lay, and 2 deaths, we have an EGG....
hopefully the worst is all over, and the others are going to pick up, they are still having a tonic in their drink, and their combs are turning nice and pink again....

many thanks to all for putting up with my moans and groans, and the support from all on the site, first deaths are not the best and 2 in a week was not good....but an EGG....

martyn

[joyfull]

come on then martyn where is the photo as proof 

[Foxy]

Nothing like a freshly laid egg to make you smile!

[Rubellite]

Woo -hoo 
Hopefully this is the turning point!

[grumpydad]

2 from doris in the last 2 days.
both sally and doris now squatting, so i think they are on the way to recovery

[joyfull]

Super well pleased for you  , enjoy those eggs.