2 hen deaths in a week... help/thoughts?

[bektravels]

Hi all, first post here, long time reader

Sadly we've lost two of our girls this week and I'm just wondering if I should be concerned about the rest of the flock.

5 days ago, first thing in the morning our 16wk old RIR was found alert but lying strangely on her side, with both legs sticking out on the same side as each other. She was 100% fine the day before. I think she must've jumped out of the coop awkwardly (60cm drop to the ground) and injured herself as she was close to the drop when I found her. She was unable to move from her side but had her head up and ate/drank fine for the next 24hrs. Despite not being able to stand, she could still kick both legs around. After 24 hrs, she started to go off her food and drink and she started to look like she was suffering. Eyes were clear, no excessive moisture from eyes/nostils/beak though. The vet when he put her down thought injury was likely but also was concerned about disease and asked if all other hens where fine... which they were until...

This morning, I go down to the coop and realise our big 1.5yr Orpington was no where to been seen. I open the coop and she died on the roost in her sleep overnight. She had a day a few weeks ago where she was off her food and looked a bit more low key than usual but I put it down to her moulting (Autumn/Winter here in Australia). Her eyes were clear, no excessive moisture from eyes/nostils/beak. She bounced back by the next day and was moving as usual and back to her piggish ways with food. I thought she might've moving slower the last few days but seemed normal enough.

All 12 hens in the flock had recently been treated for worms etc with Ivermectin.

Should I be concerned about the rest of the flock or does it sound like 2 unrelated close together incidents??

Thanks

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome!
Sometimes things do happen, and are unrelated. Other times, not. Are you or your vet going to necropsy this latest bird? At least a fast look can be helpful, if it's peritonitis or something obvious.
Refrigerate, don't freeze, wrap in plastic, and hold in case another birds fails soon. then I think necropsies would be a very good idea!
Mary

 

[bektravels]

Welcome!
Sometimes things do happen, and are unrelated. Other times, not. Are you or your vet going to necropsy this latest bird? At least a fast look can be helpful, if it's peritonitis or something obvious.
Refrigerate, don't freeze, wrap in plastic, and hold in case another birds fails soon. then I think necropsies would be a very good idea!
Mary

Thanks Mary, I was thinking to keep her to show the vet. I'm pretty inexperienced and would have no idea what to look for, so vet would be best!

FWIW, none of our hens have laid an egg in the last month due to the cold weather.

It was a pretty cold clear night last light - 3ºC - the cold wouldn't be an issue?

 

[Folly's place]

Any stress, including sudden weather changes, can affect egg production. However, if you are in the northern hemisphere, it's late spring, and hours of light increases egg production. It's hours of ambient light, not temperature, that impacts egg production in hens.
Mary