7 chickens dead, 1 peachick and 1 turkey ?????? WHAT IN THE WORLD !!!

[Pickaduck]

You said one chicken was stinky? Is the smell coming from discharge? If there's smelly discharge it sounds like coryza.

 

[EM Squared Farms 2]

It sounds like Acute Death Syndrome but that is only in birds 1-8 weeks old. I think the chickens were poisoned. Do you have venomous snakes, and spiders in your area? Where there ants on the dead chickens when you found them dead? Sometimes army ants will attack small chickens. Chickens can die of stress too. If they get to stressed out they can have a heart attack. If the climate is wrong they can get stressed.

 

[Tracydr]

I would send one or two to the state pathologist for necropsy. You need to know what's really going on.

 

[SilkieBantams]

I thinking that there possibly a chemical floating around the area.

 

[Avalon1984]

There are a lot of diseases that can be transmitted through poop of wild animals. Leptospirosis comes to mind. This can actually cause abortions in horses so we always try and keep the predators and wild animals away. I believe Lepto can also be transmitted to birds and humans. If you dare to do it, it may be worthwhile to do a necropsy of a few of the dead birds. Take pictures and share it with us here on the Emergency section or the meat section. There are a lot of people that know how a chicken is supposed to look like on the inside and may be able to help you find the real reason. And yes, do not introduce any new birds until you know what is going on. I believe turkeys can carry a disease that is harmless to them but causes death in chickens and pheasants. That may have something to do with it. Good luck, hope you’ll find the answer!

 

[jjthink]

So sorry for these very sad losses

JJ

 

[flashover1969]

I'm very sorry for your losses! That is such a terrible thing to have animals die so mysteriously.

If you follow the recommendations of the other post here, especially about getting a necropsy, please keep us updated.

Seems to me you have a toxic plant in your yard ( or something) ....nobody will know until a necropsy is done.

 

[Judy]

I'm so sorry this is happening to you.

Here is a link to help you in getting a necropsy done, which is what I would try to do, I agree:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=40141

Although the "stinky" thing does sound like coryza....

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
You have that backwards, turkeys don't carry diseases and pass them to chickens, chickens carry diseases that turkeys and peafowl just can't handle.

 

[chkn]

I wonder if botulism comes on that fast? Whatever it is, it sounds like it is paralysing to them.