2 hens mysteriously dead overnight!

[Debs55]

This morning I found two of my rhode island red hens dead. No injuries. And they were completely fine yesterday except that I did not get an egg from either of them. While looking at them I noticed one hen was even in the process of laying when she died.

Some background information: both hens were 1 and a half years old, they were both in a sperate pen because I was trying to let them grow their feathers back, I had just moved another hen out of that pen who was perfectly fine, they had a full waterer, their feeder was empty but i had filled it yesterdayso they either ate it or flung it every where, they had scratch on the ground from yesterday they obviouslt didnt eat.

Any suggestions as to what happened? All other chickens are fine. I am so upset they are gone but even more worried that I dont know why

 

[realsis]

Sounds like it could have possibly been egg binding. If they are bound with an egg and don't get it out in a certain amount of time its possible this can kill them unfortunately. I'm very very sorry for your losses! The one that was in the process of laying is the one I'm guessing that was egg bound the other could have been bound too but I'm not sure
She wasn't in the process of laying so can't be sure what happened exactly to her. But my guess for the one that was on the nest is egg binding. Again I'm very sorry for your losses.

 

[Debs55]

I guess that kind of makes sense but that would be quite a coincidence for both to die at the same time

 

[ten chicks]

This morning I found two of my rhode island red hens dead. No injuries. And they were completely fine yesterday except that I did not get an egg from either of them. While looking at them I noticed one hen was even in the process of laying when she died.

Some background information: both hens were 1 and a half years old, they were both in a sperate pen because I was trying to let them grow their feathers back, I had just moved another hen out of that pen who was perfectly fine, they had a full waterer, their feeder was empty but i had filled it yesterdayso they either ate it or flung it every where, they had scratch on the ground from yesterday they obviouslt didnt eat.

Any suggestions as to what happened? All other chickens are fine. I am so upset they are gone but even more worried that I dont know why

Start looking around for toxic plants,mold,any new feed,algae in water? Something is going on,two hens dead no symptoms in separate pens by themselves,i'm guessing something they have ingested. No signs of predator attack ? How hot was it?

 

[The Mother Hen]

It sounds like they were egg-locked, meaning their vents were too small or strained to push the egg out so it killed them. I had a Bard Rock chicken die two days ago, so I know how you feel. Her comb was shriveled and I found no injuries either, so she could have been egg-locked too. Sometimes the chickens like to hide their sickness so they don't get picked on, and so it sometimes becomes to late to help them. No one knows why chickens become egg-locked, but it sounds like it was. Granted, I am not a vet, but I have been taking care of chickens since 2011. I would suggest placing yogurt in their water. In the water make sure it is still runny so it can pass easy. Make sure it has the active enzymes in the yogurt because it will help your chicken get the nutrients your chickens need. Try giving them small bits of fruit for a day or two to liven them up, especially in the morning.

The tell-tale signs of egg-lock is the bottom sags to the floor, tail point down, AND she waddles like a penguin. After she starts to waddle it's about too late to help her, since she will have already a few eggs inside her stomach cavity. If you suspect a chicken to be egg-locked you can place a hot bowl under her so her muscles in her vent start to constrict and loosen. If you suspect an egg to be stuck in there place a lubricated (and gloved) finger in there to feel if an egg is definitely in there. If you feel an egg you can go to the means as breaking it to get it out. If you break it, get EVERY SINGLE PIECE OUT. If you don't, your chicken can get an infection and prolong the pain until death. Egg lock stretches the skin, causing pain to the chicken. The vent will be thin, which is another sign of egg-lock.

I am not a vet, I just gathered information from other websites. I hope you figure out what is wrong with them. Losing a chicken can be hard on both the chicken herself and the owner.

 

[Debs55]

They were in the same pen just seperated from the flock. No toxic plants, they had clean water, no new feed or treats, no signs of a predator. It was pretty hot yesterday but it's always hot here in GA and I've never lost a chicken to the heat before

 

[ten chicks]

They were in the same pen just seperated from the flock. No toxic plants, they had clean water, no new feed or treats, no signs of a predator. It was pretty hot yesterday but it's always hot here in GA and I've never lost a chicken to the heat before

Previous posts have mentioned egg binding,could be,but that would be quite the coincidence and i don't believe in coincidences. Did you notice anything on girls after death,any discharge,signs of struggle,open beaks,etc.something happened. Heat can kill,chickens do not do well in heat.

 

[Debs55]

No I noticed nothing out of the ordinary. It was like they just laid down and died

 

[Debs55]

My dad just suggested lightening since we had a storm last night