2 chickens dead today... ideas why?

[chkns4me]

We have (had) 12 apparently healthy chickens. They are just over three years old. Last night they were all out in the yard (like almost every day) seemingly fine. This morning I looked out to see one dead in the coop for no reason that we could tell. This afternoon the remaining 11 were again out in the yard when my son brought one to me saying that she was breathing funny. It was a little rattling sound but no sneezing or fluid draining from her eyes or nose; her face looked normal. I watched her walk around and she obviously didn't feel well. She wasn't very energetic and her tail was a little droopy. It appeared that she had had some diarrhea as well by the looks of her back end. We were discussing isolating her when, an hour later, we looked again and she was laying dead in the grass. Any ideas as to what is happening? My kids are scared that their favorites are going to be next. I am wondering how to stop this from going through the rest. I thought I would get some antibiotics tomorrow. I just don't know what else to do!

 

[vonchick]

Have they been wormed?

 

[chkns4me]

They haven't. Would that make them seem to die so quickly?

 

[casportpony]

Many States offer free or low cost necropsies:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/nahln/downloads/all_nahln_lab_list.pdf

-Kathy

 

[vonchick]

They haven't. Would that make them seem to die so quickly?

Chickens hide their illnesses, and once they appear sick can go down very quickly. Without having a fecal exam done it can't be certain that worms are the culprit, but it's a good place to start. Especially with diarrhea as a symptom.