1 dead-1 can't walk~~~UPDATE!

[NJbirdlover]

I came home tonight after a day at the beach and checked on my 12 week old chickens and noticed that a black aust. hen was just sitting in one spot off on her own. I picked her up and noticed that the toes on her one foot were curled under and that she couldn't walk on it at all-this is also when I noticed that my other BA was missing. I checked in the coop for her and there she was dead. I did not see any signs of an injury, no blood that I could see.

I put "Pearl" in a tote and brought her in the garage with food and water. She started eating and drinking immediately. It is definatly her 1 leg ...she will stand up on the one leg but as soon as she goes to walk on the other one...down she goes.

The coop and run are secure with no signs at all of being breached.

I have noticed a lot of feathers in the coop and in their run for the past week or so... no one is bloody but my dd noticed our rooster picking on one the the BA's the other day.

HELP..any suggestions????

 

[pamiejune]

First - is your run covered? Hawks, owls... But then you'd have birds missing, so the next possible culprit is Mr. Roo - segregate him, clean out all the loose feathers, and keep an eye on the girls. If no unusual number of feathers show up and no other birds become injured, then you've found your culprit. But - would a rooster kill a hen? Have they been together all along? Or - you've got a varmint (dog, fox, weasel, cat, coyote, wolf, fisher cat, skunk, raccoon, etc.) that may be running around the perimeter of the pen, scaring the bejeebees out of the birds, causing them to flap around and injure themselves, or even die. That would explain the feathers and the lack of any visible wounds. Look for prints around the pen. If you're not sure, sprinkle some flour around the pen and see if you find prints or at least messed-up flour the next day.

Pamie "No Varmints In My Living Room" June

Buk-buk to Pearl!

 

[NJbirdlover]

yes, our run is covered so I know what ever is happening is coming from the inside. This is my 1st flock and yes they have all been together since we got them 1 day old.

If these feathers are being plucked out would they have any blood on them?? Can being plucked kill them?? My dh and I checked over "Opal" our dead hen and did not see any bald spots or blood at all??

btw, there are no visible wounds on the injured foot

 

[NJbirdlover]

BUMP.......................please help!!

 

[mtnhomechick]

Could she have gotten her foot caught up in something? Like wire? I had that happen to a 10 week old last summer and the nerves were severed.

Good Luck.......someone will post on here and help you.

 

[posey]

I'm new to raising chooks too but have been dealing with assorted illness and death for 2 1/2 wks now.

Things that come to mind:
1. When you touch her curled foot does she wince and try to pull away as if in pain?

2. What is her poo like? Is it normal?

3. I agree with segregating the roo and watching - good advice

4. Good to bring her in so that you can make sure she is eating and drinking sufficiently. If not you can intervene by feeding watery mash with eye dropper on he beak. Do the same with the water - never squirt food or liquid into an open mouth.

5. Flour idea is great to see what might be going on outside that could scare a little chick out of ther mind.

Please someone else have any suggestions?

 

[mamaKate]

Could it be the heat?

 

[NotTheMomma]

Mine are the same age and I have feathers everywhere! I think they are losing those teenage feathers for new ones. So I wouldn't worry about extra feathers.

My guess is they overheated. Did they have cool water to drink? Many won't drink warm water. Did they have shade and wind blowing? Have they been holding their mouths open like panting? Wings kinda to the side? Laying down in the dirt? It really has been hot here, and I know mine don't do well if I don't let them out of the run so they can find a cool place and offer cool water throughout the day.

I don't think your roo did this to them.

For the one you brought inside. Get it cooled down. Don't use a rubbermaid tote that doesn't allow air in. Something like a bird cage, or a dog confining cage that has plenty of air access. Offer cool water, and foods like watermelon, cantelope, stuff full of water, and cool. If you must, put a dropper to the beak, and give one drop at a time, allowing the hen to swallow. If you have any poly vi sol liquid kids vitamins, give her a drop or two twice a day for now to see if that boosts her back into health.

Of course with the contracted leg and foot on ONE SIDE ONLY, you also have to consider it being Mareks.

Best of luck to your flock, and please keep us posted.

 

[NJbirdlover]

Update.......

"Pearl is still hanging in there, I gave her some wet feed w/ oatmeal & poly vi sol mixed in and she did pretty well eating it.

Her toes are not curled this morning but when she tries to stand up, the foot won't support her.

There are no visable injuries, can a chicken get a sprain??? But that wouldn't explain our dead "Opal".

It was 85 yesterday and they do have some shade....would this be deadly hot for them?????

It's not Mareks as my chickens have been vaccinated against that.

What are the chances that only my 2 black austrolorps would be hurt/dead????

I didn't realize that "teens" lost their feathers, this is encouraging- I hope that is the explaination in our case.

agghh, how frustrating when you don't know what is going on!!!

 

[posey]

Ditto about the frustration level when you can't clearly define what is wrong with the little darl'ns. That's where I've been liv'n for 3 weeks now.

I have Australorps too and mine are about 7 weeks old and I see feathers all over and lots of pecking at themselves. Mine are still feathering out and their heads still have white to them which I think goes when they have the full adult feathering.

Remind me, how many chicks do you have?

Continue with the feeding and watering as you are and maybe someone with more experience or other suggestions will jump in here today.

Keep us posted with her condition
Posey