ill chickens

Hello, I'm new to this chat and am hoping for someone that may be able to help.  I started a small flock of about 25 chicks in March, and have had no problems or losses except of a few roosters we slaughtered for dinner.  In the past week or so I have lost a hen and a rooster, and almost lost another rooster.  I live in the state of Maine, USA, and it has been cold and alot of snow.  All the chickens like to stay in the coop unless we shovel (which we do) the area around the coop. The hens have stopped laying eggs for the past few weeks.   The hen I lost started out very lethargic and wouldnt eat or drink.  It looked as if she had been picked at in the face.  I brought her inside but she passed within 12 hours.  The rooster that almost died started to not be able to walk and would lie on its back and flop around.  I brought him in and he ate and drank and after a day was on his feet but is still wobbly. The rooster I lost  started out acting as if something was wrong with its legs and would lay down, the others picked him, and the next morning after i brought him inside he passed.  Is this something to do with the weather conditions?  or is it a disease? why have they stopped laying?  I would apprieciate any advice.

Hi Spicerider welcome to the group.
I agree with Trillium, the very cold weather you are having and possibility of over crowding will make the more dominant of your birds attack the weaker ones. Can you divide into separate houses?

I have three hen houses one large and two smaller ones that the ladies use, I have put lots of hay into all of them and the ladies do bury down into it even during the day whern it is cold.

I am about to replenish today as the forcast here in the UK is not good.

The others will be around soon and will give you more advice.

Good luck hope to hear from you again with progress.  

It's very difficult to give you a reason for your problems.  We have very little experience of very cold weather in the UK but I do know that North Americans do insulate their hen houses with straw bales stacked around the outside during the winter as Trillium suggests.  

I think I would check through the hen house for lice and mites as these (particularly red mite) can bring a bird down quickly, although it may be too cold for them where you are at present.

The fact that one of your birds recovered when you brought it in for tlc might indicate no serious infection although I would not rule it out.  If they are crowded in their coop they will peck each other so try to enrich their environment with things hung up for them to peck at.  

Do you know any other people living near you with hens who might be able to give you some ideas ?  

Do let us know how you're getting on !

Scroll down to the bottom of this page:

http://www.countryfayre-countrystore.co.uk/shop.php/health-and-husbandry/c_15.html

and you'll see Poultry Booster - that's vitamins and Poultry Spice or Poultry Drink - that's minerals.  Apple cider vingar in their water can help to improve their digestion.  Worming with flubenvet every 3-6 months will get rid of worms.

This is a UK company but I'm sure you can find one nearer to you if you google for Poultry Booster.  

The vitamin bottle isn't near at hand, but its from Holland and its actually for racing pigeons, but all fowl will benefit just as well. Its not cheap but a little goes a long way, well worth the investment if you want to over winter chickens.
As for foods, I made sure my hens had pellet feed rather than mash, and you can hang old cabbage leaves and such for them to peck at and eat, although layer hens will have a cabbage flavour to their eggs (but not meat birds). Hang outside lettuce leaves (from heads), apple slices and other bits of fruits in the coop so they can clean up and keep busy with.
Lots of old straw or hay to nest in, as previously suggested, is also a good idea and they'll stay busy scratching for food in it. A bored chicken is a problem chicken. And a lightbulb left on will also add a bit of heat to the coop. Until you can sort the crowding problem, daily shoveling of the outside run would be a good idea as well.

thanks for the mention, Aunty Sally - I wasn't aware about the hay thing.

And we always added some crushed garlic to the water - not too much though or they won't drink it. Alternate garlic with the liquid vitamins in the water. If your water tends to freeze, get large flat bottomed plastic bowls and fill with snow for them to 'drink'. that's how I do our racing pigeons all winter. Change every day as they just have to stand and poop in the bowls. Plastic feed pans for cows are what we use.
And always go very easy on any sunflowers you may want to add to feed - chickens don't handle them well, unlike pigeons which can pig out on them.