2 dead... please help!

[4Hchickymomma]

The other night, we came home and found one of our chickens dead outside the coop. It looked like she had fallen off the ladder and broke her neck. Today, we found another one, huddled in the corner of the coop, neck twisted backwards dead. I checked her over, and there is no trauma at all. I did notice they have runny poo. Is it wry neck? What do I do for them? Do I need to do anything to the bedding?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It doesn't sound like wry neck. I would suspect something is poking around your coop at night frightening your birds and causing them to fly about. They can often end up with broken necks.

 

[Toddrick]

I never heard of chicken necks breaking that easily. Chickens are tough. I suspect they only appear broken because they are limp. Chicken heads can turn 180 degrees or more easily, so their flacid necks may appear quite contorted by human standards.

Do they have proper ventilation? It is very hot there?

 

[4Hchickymomma]

Plenty ventilation. Both times, the coop was open. One was found dead outside the coop, one inside the coop. One at night, one mid day. I am completely baffled. Our egg production also dropped. We went from 12 eggs a day to 4 a day.

 

[4Hchickymomma]

I am in Florida. Temps have been in the mid 70s to low 80s.

 

[Toddrick]

Could be cocci or worms.