Dead Chooks - can anyone help

[ChickChick]

Hi all

I had 7 lovely girls last weekend, I went away for a long weekend to come back and find one had died on the Monday, she had been losing feathers but I was told that was normal. Then this morning a seemingly (ie.yesterday) heathly chook was dead in her nesting box.

Any ideas ? I'm really worried about the 5 I have left, am I doing something wrong ? Do they need heaters in their co-op? Is it too muddy for them in their garden ?

Please help, I'm at my wits end

Thanks

[shirlthegirl43]

Oh dear, poor you. Sorry to hear about your problems. It might be worth taking the body to the vet and asking them to check it over. Other than that I can't think of any suggestions sorry. How old are your hens?

[ChickChick]

Thanks, that's what I was thinking - re vet. They vary the oldest year and a half

Is that old ?

Nicky

[shirlthegirl43]

Not very old at all, think we had chooks over 5 years old at one time (if we kept the fox out long enough). Good luck finding out what caused it. Has it been very cold or anything? Are they snug where they roost or do they have lots of space? If it was just one that had popped off I would have said maybe just one of those things but to lose two is odd.

[terrier]

A year and a half is certainly not old for a chook and if you've had two die in quick succession I would be thinking of a viral infection. An immediate trip to the vet I think would be in order.

[Tracey]

Hi CC

Sorry to hear about your chooks. How are the others?

As a precaution it may be a good idea to ring the DEFRA helpline, to see if any other chickens have died in your area.

Kind regards
Tracey

[kirsty b]

Sorry to hear of your troubles. Any news on what could have caused it yet?

Kirsty

[nemo]

hi kirsty b
when i first started with chickens i lost them all every morning i went to leave them out i nearly always found one dead the vet said they had a resporaty disese and the cure would cost more than the birds were worth. Hopefully you do not have this .the birds could be seen to be panting for air. After this i always buy vaccinated chicks . As a tonic the vet said i should a a bruised clove of garlic to there drinking water
best of luck
nemo

[TPeers]

Having lost a hen for unknown reasons this week - she was also found dead in the nest box - could the problem be an eggbound hen?

Marie - the hen I lost - was just around 1 year old, but had been laying slightly odd looking (elongated and/or deformed shape) eggs for the last week - I assumed she was just comming off lay for the winter.....

The weather has also been notably cold in the last week.

[Birdie Wife]

Hi ChickChick, really sorry to hear about your loss. It does sound like an infection, as terrier says - chickens can cope with surprisly cold weather. The two large chicks I gave to one of my work colleagues are still roosting outside as far as I know, and the temperature has been well below freezing on several nights up here. So long as they have each other for warmth, they should be warm enough. Is there enough ventilation in the coop? Is it dry? Don't be afraid to put some ventilation holes in the side of your coop if it hasn't got them already, a cold dry house is better than a warm wet one.

There are additives you can put in their food to help them get over winter coughs and sneezes, but this sounds more serious. The safest thing to do would be to get tests done on one of the bodies and then the vet may prescribe antibiotics, depending on the results. How are the rest of your girls today, are they showing any signs of illness?

[yoanbob]

really sorry for your loss.

get the post mortem done, then you can be sure.

good luck

[Tracey]

Hello CC
I’m concerned because you’ve we’ve not heard about how your girls are, how are they?
I came across this on smallholder.co.uk and thought it may be of interest to you.
‘As well as preparing the housing for winter also think about its location. What can be grassy and dry in the summer can often become a muddy quagmire in the winter, so any mobile units should be moved to drier ground before the need to do so arises. Mud is very bad for poultry, for it not only causes welfare problems with caked feet and feathers but bacteria thrive in mud, so it is better to try to eliminate any possible health risks by keeping the birds on a hard, drier surface or completely housed.’CAA
Hope alls ok.
Tracey

[ChickChick]

Thank you all for replying

Thankfully the remaining birds are absolutely fine, thriving and still laying well, Yes bird no 1 was egg bound, the second girl they do not know what was wrong - just one of those things I am told.

Thanks again
CC

[shirlthegirl43]

That is good to hear ChickChick. Hope all remains well with them. Thanks for the update.

[kirsty b]

While I'm sorry for your loss, its so good to know it wasn't something that could have threatened your whole flock.
I know they're 'only' chickens, but its horrible when you lose an animal for any reason.