Birds Dying and I'm Not Sure Why

[MaggieRae]

I started this summer with 6 from my original flock and, as of today, I'm down to 3 remaining. The birds are just over two years old and consist of Australorps, Easter Eggers, and Silver Laced Wyandottes. They are all standard size.

The first one was dead when I got home (An EE). With all the record heat Texas had this summer, I assumed it was heat stroke and buried her. The second one (Another EE) I found lying under a tree, close to her water jug, quite lethargic. I was worried so I picked her up and cooled her down in some luke-warm water. When she didn't react hardly at all, I took her inside and placed her on the cool tile with access to food and water. She didn't use either. I sat next to her and waited, but she didn't seem to be improving. Eventually, 3 hours later, she had a rather horrific seizure and passed. Yesterday, I got home around 6 or 7 and found another one dead(My last Australorp). My thought is she, too, had a seizure and died, because of the way her neck was twisted, wings spread out, and legs kicked away from the main body. I could blame the first two deaths on the foul heat we had, but this third one I can not. The weather never hit 100* over the course of this past week.

I heard one hacking and coughing, and was worried that she may be sick, but she was very active and when I listened to her breathing she had a nice clear airway and there wasn't any rattling sound. I figured it had to be the dust bothering her.

There's a vet not far from here, and I plan on calling him during office hours Monday, but it can't hurt asking y'all first.

Other questions I may have not answered: They all drink and eat normally, poop consistent with what it's been in the past. They seem perfectly healthy up until they're not. No recent trauma or any shock that could cause this. They never come into contact with other chickens and I'm very safe when it comes to bio-security.

These birds are my pets and I love each one dearly. It's very depressing for me when I lose one, and I've lost three this summer. If there's anything y'all can do to help, it would be much appreciated.

Ginger, the first to pass.

Rhonda, the second to pass.

Dora, the third.

Rest in peace, girls.

 

[Judy]

I'm so sorry.

If it were me I'd check into having the state vet do a necropsy if it happens again. I certainly hope this won't be necessary. But if you know the requirements ahead, which vary, you'd be prepared.

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

 

[Southernbelle]

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Or have the state vet come out and do some testing. It sounds like you have something serious and you won't know how to deal with it until you can pinpoint what it is. I think it's a good idea to go to the professionals for this situation. The testing and/or necropsy is free or very cheap through the state vet, so that's good news.

 

[openheartnp]

Oh, I am so sorry for your losses! I hope you find comfort in the the caring thoughts that this community is wishing you. I do hope you get some answers soon.
Rest in peace, sweeties

Hugs from NJ XOXOXO

 

[Tmatthews]

I really feel for you. I know it's very sad when you lose a chicken. They are unique and WONDERFUL pets! And from the pictures you posted, they were absolutely beautiful chickens!!! Unfortunately I don't have any solution for you. I would just do as the ones said before me. But I am sending a hug your way and my sympathies!!!!!

 

[KristyHall]

Is it possible they are eating something bad for them? A toxic insect, run off from pesticide in the area? something like that?

 

[jerseygirl1]

Have you wormed them?

 

[EMaker]

I'm so sorry. They were beautiful girls. I, too, suspect access to some sort of toxin, given their rapid onset and decline. Check the areas they have access to, for any unusual substance, including fertilizer, any dropped food that may have spoiled, pesticide, toxic weeds or flowers, anything at all... Again, my condolences.

 

[naakte]

My heart goes out to you sweetie. Have you been seeing chemtrails in your sky lately? Birds of all kinds do not do well with the barium and aluminum being emitted from them. chemtrails are different than contrails in that contrails dissipate rather quickly, where chemtrails linger and spread out and eventually look like a long cloud usually in criss cross patterns. another thought is the bugs they are eating could have a toxicity to them. I recommend you get a necropsy done to find out.

 

[MaggieRae]

I appreciate all of y'alls responses. They mean a lot to me.

A necropsy really isn't possible because I've already buried them all, and I'd rather not dig them up. I'd do it if it would prevent another death, but the body has been buried for a good day now, dead for two. (I found her in the evening and the ground's so hard I needed the tractor to dig deep enough, hence the wait until the following day for the burial.)
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I'm out in the country. There wouldn't be any fertilizer on or anywhere near my property, and there wouldn't need to be. All the grass is dead and there's cows and horses everywhere. Any pesticides could be very bad news for your neighbors, so they really aren't used. I don't think there is any dropped food... They pull a lot of the food out of their feeders and pick it off the ground. Could that have done it? I don't know of any toxic weeds or flowers. They've recently begun spending their time in a new section of the woods they'd never gone near before, but there's not really anything there other than the odd plant. Dora hadn't been out in a week before she died, though.

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We are near an airport, but it's mostly just private and government planes. I haven't seen any chemtrails. We have a lot of healthy wildlife, especially birds, since we're right on the lake and I haven't noticed any unhealthy wild birds. I go birding pretty often, so that's something I would pick up on.

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I have not. I've never seen any worms or anything. Forgive me if I was naive in this assumption. I do have wormer just in case, but I read that some people didn't worm unless they found worms because it was hard on their systems?

Thanks again for all of y'alls replies.