2 chickens sadly passed within a week - what could be going on?

[dvanos]

Warning - graphic (Edit: including graphic image)

I've had 2 chickens pass away - both at night - within a few days of each other. No sign of predator attack.

I didn't examine the first chicken in detail, but the second one appears as follows:

• Red, swollen vent
• Small amount of white/yellow discharge from the vent (looked like pus)
• Skin around the vent was blue/purple
• Crop was swollen
• Crop skin was also blue/purple
• Slightly pale comb and wattles
• Neck was tilted backwards when I found her (and the other chicken too)
• Noticed mites on her (EDIT: they were 1-2 mm long white insects, so I now suspect they could be lice)

The chickens are:

• ISA brown breed
• 8 months of age
• Laying daily or almost daily (including those that passed)

Conditions:

• I live in QLD, Australia and it has been hot (32C) and humid here the last week.
• The chickens have access to water in their bowl and mixed grains 19% protein.
• They free range from 6 am-3 pm and then go in the coop to reduce fox attacks.
• We use dried mown grass clippings as bedding.
• We have a rooster, and a horse nearby.

Anyone have any idea what could be going on?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Noticed mites on her

Red, swollen vent

Skin around the vent was blue/purple

Welcome To BYC

It can be hard to know without necropsy, but with a red swollen vent and the skin around the vent being discolored, she may have been egg bound.

If you happen to lose another on in a short period of time, taking or sending the body to your Ministry of Agriculture, A Vet or Veterinarian School would be a good idea, so a necropsy can be performed. Alternatively, if you are up to it, you can do your own informal investigation. If you decide to do that, you can post photos of that in your thread and we'll try to help you with what you see.

You feed 19% Mixed Grains, do you ferment them or feed them as a mash?
Do you provide Oyster Shell free choice for them?

I would also address the Mites, asap. Mites can suck the life out of a bird in time and kill them if there's a heavy infestation. I'm not sure what is available in AU. A permethrin based poultry dust or spray should be effective. Also Elector PSP (Spinosad) is another product that is used here in the U.S. For Mites, you'll also want to treat the coop/housing as well as the birds. Ask at your feed store to see what is available to you.

Warning - graphic

I've had 2 chickens pass away - both at night - within a few days of each other. No sign of predator attack.

I didn't examine the first chicken in detail, but the second one appears as follows:

• Red, swollen vent
• Small amount of white/yellow discharge from the vent (looked like pus)
• Skin around the vent was blue/purple
• Crop was swollen
• Crop skin was also blue/purple
• Slightly pale comb and wattles
• Neck was tilted backwards when I found her (and the other chicken too)
• Noticed mites on her

The chickens are:

• ISA brown breed
• 8 months of age
• Laying daily or almost daily (including those that passed)

Conditions:

• I live in QLD, Australia and it has been hot (32C) and humid here the last week.
• The chickens have access to water in their bowl and mixed grains 19% protein.
• They free range from 6 am-3 pm and then go in the coop to reduce fox attacks.
• We use dried mown grass clippings as bedding.
• We have a rooster, and a horse nearby.

Anyone have any idea what could be going on?

 

[dvanos]

Welcome To BYC

It can be hard to know without necropsy, but with a red swollen vent and the skin around the vent being discolored, she may have been egg bound.

If you happen to lose another on in a short period of time, taking or sending the body to your Ministry of Agriculture, A Vet or Veterinarian School would be a good idea, so a necropsy can be performed. Alternatively, if you are up to it, you can do your own informal investigation. If you decide to do that, you can post photos of that in your thread and we'll try to help you with what you see.

You feed 19% Mixed Grains, do you ferment them or feed them as a mash?
Do you provide Oyster Shell free choice for them?

I would also address the Mites, asap. Mites can suck the life out of a bird in time and kill them if there's a heavy infestation. I'm not sure what is available in AU. A permethrin based poultry dust or spray should be effective. Also Elector PSP (Spinosad) is another product that is used here in the U.S. For Mites, you'll also want to treat the coop/housing as well as the birds. Ask at your feed store to see what is available to you.

Thanks for the ideas! The insects were white and about 1-2mm so at first I presumed they were mites, but could be lice as well? Regardless, I've sprayed their entire coop out with a chicken-friendly insecticide Maldison 50, and will spray the chickens next.

I feed the crushed whole grain dry / as is. Would fermenting help?

I don't currently feed them Oyster Shell but I do feed them egg shell. Just read up on it, sounds like its worth having Oyster Shell available as well? But would that have prevented cause of death here?

Unfortunately I had to dispose of the chicken already as it was hot and rainy here, but I will investigate if the worst happens and another chicken passes. That's what I'm most afraid of now - that it will keep happening

 

[Crazy Chicken Keeper]

Do you know what kind of mites they were?

 

[Finchbreeder]

Shellgrit is probably the easiest form of grit to aquire and feed here in Aust.
Coopex spraying the entire coop and surrounds annually is also a good preventative for mites - and it is safe even for smaller birds - I can use it in the Finch avairies.

 

[dvanos]

Do you know what kind of mites they were?

They were 1-2 mm and white, so they could actually be lice

 

[Crazy Chicken Keeper]

They were 1-2 mm and white, so they could actually be lice

Very likely lice. Lice feed on feathers, skin and blood, and could have weakened her immune system. That, combined with the sickness she probably got, might have been what happened. I'm not pretending to know about the sickness I have no idea, but the lice could have weakened her

 

[dvanos]

Warning - graphic image:

Adding an image of the swollen vent in case anyone has any ideas what could have happened.