big loss

[BUFFS]

we noticed yesterday that one of our blackrocks (dizzy lizzie) was not acting in her usual daft way,but being very quiet,in the afternoon she seemed to just stand around,even when they were getting their afteroon greens,she went to the coop but just sat down outside last night,so i checked her over,found nothing evident and put her on the coop door and in she went,this morning she was laid curled up but obviously gone,our biggest bird,best layer,biggest eggs,she had looked fine first thing,egg laid early and pottering about,seems odd to go downhill so fast,other birds are fine,so has anyone any ideas what would cause such a fast demise?

[RichmondHens]

It's really difficult to tell when they go that quickly. Unless you want to shell out for a PM at the vet, or can do it yourself then unfortunately you may never know.

Just looking in my "bible", Victoria Roberts lists the following as possible causes of sudden death:

egg peritonitis, heart attack, Gumboro, Salmonella, choking, kidney failure, aspergillosis, botulism, Newcastle Disease.

Unlikely to be peritonitis if she was still laying regularly, also with a heart attack she would have just dropped down I think, ditto choking. All the others you would need PM/lab tests to confirm/exclude.

[Suechooks]

Sorry to hear about that Buffs.
Trouble is they're so good at hiding anything wrong so by the time we can see they're sick its often too late.

[polo]

Sorry to hear the news. It's horrible not knowing but at least it was fast.

Hugs, polo x

[Glutton4...]

You have my Sympathy, too. I lost my eldest this week. Very sad.

[Nicsknots]

Sorry to hear about your loss Buffs and Glutton4. As others have said, at least it was quick. Hope your other chooks are ok.

[BUFFS]

i have kept checking all the other birds,and they all seem full of beans,they have been wormed,had limestone flour,poultry spice,and the funniest bit,their spring bath,with puppy shampoo and 4 rinses,minnie, the other blackrock likes being rinsed after her bath,i had rinsed her and loosened my grip (i use 5 of the big chicken manure pellet tubs,one to wash,4 to rinse,after 3 birds the dirty first water is binned and refilled and becomes the last rinse etc) and she settled back down a bit,rested her chin on the edge and just burbled away as she does when she is happy,thinks shes a duck..