I returned home from vacation and all seemed well. We had had a heatwave while I was gone. (I live in S.E. PA) My grown daughter and a friend of mine did the best that could be done. If I had been home, it wouldn't have been any different. I returned (Wednesday) and within 12 hours, I noticed one of my barred rocks (1+ yrs old) was lethargic. It was hot, but not as hot as it had been. The next morning (Thursday) she was even more lethargic and weak so I brought her into the air conditioning to give her body a break. When I picked her up to put her into a cage, she "gurgled" when she was picked up. I figured her lungs were in trouble from the high heat and humidity. She stayed in, ate a little watermelon, drank a little and stayed quiet. 2am Saturday morning she past.
I've been watching the rest of the flock. No others seemed to be in trouble. I've kept everyone hydrated, fed and cool, as best as possible. Went out tonight and was missing a hen. I looked just to the side of the coop and found another dead hen, not even in rigor so it was less than 4 hours. This time it was one of my Turkens. I'm at a loss. There was no sign of ANY trouble with her today. The heat was only in the mid 80's with a dew point in the low 60's. Turkens are known for their ability to tolerate heat and are naturally disease resistant.
Neither chicken showed any sign of eye or nasal discharge. Turken even laid an egg today. I'm very nervous now for the rest of the flock seeing I don't know the cause. We have another heatwave coming starting Monday until Wednesday. At a loss as to what has happened and what to do.
Thinking of:
*power washing the inside of the coop
*disinfecting everything
*trying to find an antibiotic, broad spectrum, of some kind in case it's a bacteria infection. (not my favorite option)
I really have no other thoughts. Please chime in with anything I can do before I lose any more.
I've been watching the rest of the flock. No others seemed to be in trouble. I've kept everyone hydrated, fed and cool, as best as possible. Went out tonight and was missing a hen. I looked just to the side of the coop and found another dead hen, not even in rigor so it was less than 4 hours. This time it was one of my Turkens. I'm at a loss. There was no sign of ANY trouble with her today. The heat was only in the mid 80's with a dew point in the low 60's. Turkens are known for their ability to tolerate heat and are naturally disease resistant.
Neither chicken showed any sign of eye or nasal discharge. Turken even laid an egg today. I'm very nervous now for the rest of the flock seeing I don't know the cause. We have another heatwave coming starting Monday until Wednesday. At a loss as to what has happened and what to do.
Thinking of:
*power washing the inside of the coop
*disinfecting everything
*trying to find an antibiotic, broad spectrum, of some kind in case it's a bacteria infection. (not my favorite option)
I really have no other thoughts. Please chime in with anything I can do before I lose any more.