2 dead chickens

[Sledwards]

Over the past week we've had 2 chickens die.First was one of our buffs, the only visual sign of death is a limp, broken neck. Same thing happens 3 days later with one of our white rocks. I'm absolutely sure that our coop is secure. I was wondering if our rooster possibly is being too aggressive with them? Several of the hens have bald spots that we've been treating on their backs, which we were told were from him. I don't have any pictures but I don't think it would help much as nothing really looks odd about them. We started out with 15 mixed hens and 1 rooster, and they're just shy of 1 year old.

Basically, what I want to know is; Could our rooster be doing this? What can I do to prevent more deaths? And is there anything else that it sounds like it could be?

 

[Duckopolis]

The rooster could be doing this. A solution would to be to separate them for awhile or give him away. It could also be that they just weren't healthy and died.

(Not saying that it was your fault or anything)

 

[MrsBachbach]

Are you sure the neck is broke? That is strange. If it wasn't for that, I would say some kind of disease killed them. Lots of different things can cause limps, but a broken neck is a sign of physical abuse.

 

[Serenity Sav]

Keep in mind when they die, their neck becomes very limp. are you sure you're not confusing that with a broken neck?

 

[Sledwards]

It's possible they aren't broken, as this is my first experience with chickens dying. I'm just kind of at a loss as to what to do.

 

[MrsBachbach]

I doubt it's your rooster. Something else is going on. Do you notice any other symptoms at all? Is the poop normal? Are they eating and active or standing around fluffed up? Are the eggs normal? Any soft shells? Are their combs red or pink or pale? Have you checked for lice or mites? How does the feed look? Not moldy is it? Lots of possibilities, but with two dead in a week, there has to be a connection.

You could try moving the rooster for a week if you have a place for him. It could be that he is stressing the pullets and stress can trigger hidden disease. However, one rooster to 15 girls is alot of work for one rooster, so I doubt he is overly stressing anyone. You say your chickens are just shy of a year old. Have they been vaccinated for Mareks? They seem about the age for it.

 

[Sledwards]

Another dead this morning. A couple seem a little off, but not specific symptoms, just moving slow and not a lot of it. Saw one little pile of partial runny stools. Eggs have all been fine, been getting roughly 10 per day. Combs look all okay. I'll look for mites again when i go out, though I didn't see any. And yes they were vaccinated for Mareks. No moldy food here, they've been going through it too quickly since the weather has been nasty.

Been considering the possibility of an infection of some sort since the weather has been so up and down the last month or so. The local feed place has recommended Duramycin (sp?) to to mix in their water. Going to get some when hubby gets off work. I wish there was a vet in the area that dealt with chickens, but unfortunately the closest one is more than 2 hrs away and I can't justify taking them that far.

 

[enola]

Have you checked their body condition? Or isolated one so you can see what the poop looks like? Can you take a picture of one or two of the 'slow' ones? Have you brought in any new chickens in the last month or so?

 

[Eggcessive]

When I have found a chicken dying their necks are very limp, but botulism can cause limber neck. It is a toxin that comes from eaten rotted meat, fish, or vegetation. An animal carcass out in a field for example, or a dead fish around a creek could be a source. The first symptoms may be death, but usually there will be weakness or paralysis of the feet, legs, progressing upward to the wings, then neck and eyelids, eventually paralysising the breathing center. No treatment unless you have an avian vet with antitoxin. If a chicken only consumes a tiny bit of toxin, and survives 2 days, they probably will recover. Coccidiosis could also be a cause of the deaths, but you should notice sick birds. Here is a link: http://www.avianweb.com/botulism.html
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/19/botulism

 

[MrsBachbach]

I would treat for coccidiosis first. If they have been free range it could be botulism. You said the weather has been nasty. Wet? Coccidiosis activates in wet weather.