2 chickens dead

[jenfred75]

I had 6 hens, 3 buff orpingtons and 3 sex links. On Monday morning I went outside to open the coop and one of my buffs was laying there dead. There were no wounds and nothing seemed off. She was totally fine when I locked them up the night before. Today, Friday, I got home from work and another one of my buffs was dead. She was under the coop and today had been a rainy day. She was still warm. I looked in her mouth, there was nothing there but some seed, but clear fluid was leaking from her mouth. She was not egg bound, her crop was fine, her eyes were clear yesterday. I have no idea what is going on. None of my birds appear sick. All of their eyes are clear, none of them have a runny nose, they are all eating and drinking, and their poop seems normal. They will be 1 on Halloween and are all currently molting. We live in NM and it's a dry climate, today's rain was the first in over a month.

Any idea what is going on? I don't want my remaining 4 to die.

 

[slordaz]

I would put this bird in a double bag in the fridge, and send off to your state vet for a necopsy. @Texas Kiki knows where that is done.

Did you check for external parasites, worm overload can cause death too.

What are they being fed including treats?

if they are fed more than 10% of their daily feed in other than chicken feed/free ranging, it can cause an imbalance and lead to nutritional deficiency. didn't include coccidosis due to saying pop seemed normal but they can still have a worm overload and you wouldn't see it without having a fecal float test done add in the molting even that could be to much.

 

[Kiki]

I am sorry for your loss.
Below, in my signature, is a link to a thread where you can find your state lab.


What exactly do you feed your flock?
Is there any mold in your coop or run?

 

[Morrigan]

I'm very sorry for the loss of two of your birds. Do you know if any pesticides have been sprayed near the area where your chickens range? My only thought is that with the rain there might have been some tainted run-off water that your chickens drank.

I third the idea of getting a necropsy. It's very odd to lose two young birds so suddenly with no obvious symptoms.

 

[jenfred75]

They have their layer feed (Onate brand) which is a local company, that is available for them when they want it. I only feed the 6 with a handful of scratch to get them back into their yard from free ranging in my backyard, but it is definitely less than 10 %. Being in a super dry climate (I'm talking around 10% humidity most days), we don't have mold here.

I checked the hen today and there were no signs of anything on her. There was nothing under her wings, on her bottom, or anywhere I could see. Their poop is solid with the white stuff on top. I have seen tiny white worms in some of the poop, but it looks like fly larva. I have fly predators and a fly trap to keep the flies down to a minimum.

I called to see how much it cost to check my dead chicken and they said it started at $200, but couldn't give a definite price. I don't have that kind of money, unfortunately.

 

[Kiki]

They have their layer feed (Onate brand) which is a local company, that is available for them when they want it. I only feed the 6 with a handful of scratch to get them back into their yard from free ranging in my backyard, but it is definitely less than 10 %. Being in a super dry climate (I'm talking around 10% humidity most days), we don't have mold here.

I checked the hen today and there were no signs of anything on her. There was nothing under her wings, on her bottom, or anywhere I could see. Their poop is solid with the white stuff on top. I have seen tiny white worms in some of the poop, but it looks like fly larva. I have fly predators and a fly trap to keep the flies down to a minimum.

I called to see how much it cost to check my dead chicken and they said it started at $200, but couldn't give a definite price. I don't have that kind of money, unfortunately.

I'm sorry.
You called your state lab?

 

[jenfred75]

I called the only chicken vet in our city and they told me $200 +, but I just looked up the website and it says $130 for up to 3 birds. They are currently both in our freezer. I just don't want to lose any more birds. I only have 4 left.

 

[Kiki]

I called the only chicken vet in our city and they told me $200 +, but I just looked up the website and it says $130 for up to 3 birds. They are currently both in our freezer. I just don't want to lose any more birds. I only have 4 left.

The local vets will always charge more. The cheapest place you will find is your state lab but you cannot freeze the bird You can only refrigerate it.

 

[jenfred75]

I'm very sorry for the loss of two of your birds. Do you know if any pesticides have been sprayed near the area where your chickens range? My only thought is that with the rain there might have been some tainted run-off water that your chickens drank.

I third the idea of getting a necropsy. It's very odd to lose two young birds so suddenly with no obvious symptoms.

No, not that I know of. The one that died Monday, it had been dry for over a month, so that wouldn't have made since.

 

[Kiki]

Actually you may want to try and call California's state lab, I do believe they accept birds from out of state much cheaper, if you should lose another one.