Beware of the Bradford Pear Trees

[JedJackson]

I am sorry about your rooster. Whether or not the tree killed him, it is a good head's up about chickens roosting in thorny trees, which can definitely harm them. It's also a reminder to us all to watch invasive foreign species of plants that have invaded our environment, usually to detrimental effect.

I was never aware that a type of pear tree was among the offenders. Here, English hawthorn, holly, ivy and old man's beard clematis are the things to look out for, but I will definitely keep my eyes open for Bradford pears, now. Honeysuckle isn't a problem here, thank goodness. I love the smell of the flowers.

 

[centrarchid]

I am sorry about your rooster. Whether or not the tree killed him, it is a good head's up about chickens roosting in thorny trees, which can definitely harm them. It's also a reminder to us all to watch invasive foreign species of plants that have invaded our environment, usually to detrimental effect.

I was never aware that a type of pear tree was among the offenders. Here, English hawthorn, holly, ivy and old man's beard clematis are the things to look out for, but I will definitely keep my eyes open for Bradford pears, now. Honeysuckle isn't a problem here, thank goodness. I love the smell of the flowers.

Whatever happened, if tree related, was a fluke. This last summer alone I had close to 30 juveniles roosting another larger Bradford Pear. It was very hard time getting them out each night for almost a month. A Honey Locust, which is thornier yet, has been used quite a bit by the same cock and his harem over two production seasons without major problems. It was a headache for me to fish birds out but I could also call them with treats.

The title of this was almost a joke, I just found the loss very odd, still do.

 

[JedJackson]

Whatever happened, if tree related, was a fluke. This last summer alone I had close to 30 juveniles roosting another larger Bradford Pear. It was very hard time getting them out each night for almost a month. A Honey Locust, which is thornier yet, has been used quite a bit by the same cock and his harem over two production seasons without major problems. It was a headache for me to fish birds out but I could also call them with treats.

The title of this was almost a joke, I just found the loss very odd, still do.

It is very odd. It does seem like it must've been either a heart attack or poisoning for it to come on so suddenly in a healthy bird like that. I still think it's a good idea to keep chickens from roosting in thorny trees, although mine will fly up into wild roses to get at the heps in late summer/Autumn. They're probably better able to cope with such things than we're aware.

 

[SueT]

A few years ago, we had 2 guineas drop dead out of the tree they roosted in. They were on the ground, seemingly uninjured when we found them next morning. I only outwardly examined them. The day before, they were pecking around in the tractor shed, and I think there may have been toxins in the soil, strongly suspecting spilled antifreeze..I think it takes only a tiny amt to kill animals.
Usually when we occasionally lost guineas to predators, they were gone, all but a few feathers, and the survivors moved to another tree next night. The others didn't move this time.

 

[centrarchid]

We had a couple poison issues this last summer. One at work with this cock and a juvenile where I think they picked up insecticide by eating dead insects they picked up off floor in entrance way. They were birds 2 and 3 so affected. Cock obviously survived. The indecent at home involved a stag eating a pelleted weed killer where he died very quickly. This could be a poison issue, but I do not know where he picked it up.

 

[aart]

Cock obviously survived. The indecent at home involved a stag

What is the difference between a cock and a stag...age maybe, like cock and cockerel?

 

[WthrLady]

Also can check for nodules or fatty deposits on liver and kidneys.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

Sorry for your loss. I can tell you bond with your birds, maybe more so with the guys. This is the second time I've seen you have great concern for one of your boys. Did the other fella heal up OK? The one who went to sleep in your lap.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

What health issues would effect kidney morphology, especially those that could cause rapid decline? I still have bird.

I'm sorry, I had an excellent link with lots of pictures of various types of damage to kidneys. It was a Chinese site but the link was on my computer that fried recently. There are two kidneys with 3 segments each.
Urolithiasis is one of the things that can kill a bird suddenly. The birds act just fine, showing no symptoms as long as there are at least two functioning segments. When one of the last two segments fails, they just die. Any asymmetry of the kidneys could be an indication even without microscopy. Some segments become enlarged while others atrophy.
Kidneys can be damaged by things like IB but it also happens when crystals in the urine aggregate in the kidneys. Those crystals can be made from accumulation of up to 10 different minerals. Calcium being most common. The only way to know what mineral/s are culprit are by x-ray diffraction, optical crystallography or infrared spectroscopy. Hence the lab work. However that wouldn't be necessary if the kidneys appear to be perfectly symmetrical.
There are a number of diseases that can cause sudden death in mature birds.
Other than the kidney issue, other possibilities for sudden death not including infectious disease are botulism, visceral gout(kidney related), fatty liver syndrome, choking. Other possibilities are doubtful since he slept in a tree.
Kidney and botulism issues causing sudden death are actually quite common.
Again, I'm sorry I don't have the link with the excellent pictures and explanation of the development of the problem but here is something for you to peruse.
http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/urolithiasis

By the way, good job on the cursory necropsy and showing your son.

 

[centrarchid]

Liver looked good, a dog just ate it. Kidneys appear normal. He did not appear to eat any, but the fruit of the trees is fermented big time. Each enough and a bird could get stoned.