Both chickens dead in the coop 😞

[Honeycutthomestead]

I only had two hens. They were cinnamon queens... they never seemed to be in great health. (I’ve owned lots of hens and these by far seemed the least healthy) They both had scissor beak to some degree. Both birds were fine this morning. Walking around and doing their thing. Tonight when I went to move them to their new coop... they were both dead... right next to each other??? It almost looked like they both just laid down together and died.

It’s been really hot here lately.. it was over 100 today but it’s been hotter and they were fine. Does this sound like its heat related?

We also have a mouse problem in the coop. It’s an old shed with a run but it’s not in great shape. That’s why we built them a new coop because we can’t keep the mice out of the other. Could this be a case of disease from the mice? Or maybe these chickens were always just in I’ll health from the start???

Any thought are appreciated as I’m at a loss!! Thanks!

 

[ChicKat]

So sorry for your loss. It's always sad to loose a chicken.

Today I nearly lost my favorite pullet. She was looking almost collapsed right in front of the nesting box. She was sitting on a tiny pullet egg and panting, almost looked unable to arise to get out of the little chicken house.

You know a chicken cannot expel heat fast enough and will die when body temp reaches 104. Here the heat index tomorrow is supposed to be 111. Yesterday at one point it was 108. Just think of wearing a 'down jacket' in the heat. We have AC, they have feathers. All I can think of for tomorrow is to set off a sprinkler inside their chicken-run and keep my fingers crossed, try to put more ice in their watering dishes and maybe bring an indoor fan outside.

Although only a necropsy will give you the absolute answer -- my guess would be heat exceeded their ability to survive.

 

[Honeycutthomestead]

So sorry for your loss. It's always sad to loose a chicken.

Today I nearly lost my favorite pullet. She was looking almost collapsed right in front of the nesting box. She was sitting on a tiny pullet egg and panting, almost looked unable to arise to get out of the little chicken house.

You know a chicken cannot expel heat fast enough and will die when body temp reaches 104. Here the heat index tomorrow is supposed to be 111. Yesterday at one point it was 108. Just think of wearing a 'down jacket' in the heat. We have AC, they have feathers. All I can think of for tomorrow is to set off a sprinkler inside their chicken-run and keep my fingers crossed, try to put more ice in their watering dishes and maybe bring an indoor fan outside.

Although only a necropsy will give you the absolute answer -- my guess would be heat exceeded their ability to survive.

Darn. I was afraid of that. I should have helped them cool off but I just figured they’d be okay. We are in Texas and summer is brutal but they’ve been fine so far. I feel terrible that I let them die like that. lesson learned I guess. From now on I’ll have to keep future hens cool on the hot days. thanks so much for your help!!

 

[Honeycutthomestead]

Darn. I was afraid of that. I should have helped them cool off but I just figured they’d be okay. We are in Texas and summer is brutal but they’ve been fine so far. I feel terrible that I let them die like that. lesson learned I guess. From now on I’ll have to keep future hens cool on the hot days. thanks so much for your help!!

Oh and so glad your girl is OK!!

 

[Laura_BelgianBantams_63]

I am so sorry for your loss! That is terrible.It is so sad when these things happen, especially in the darn heat

Thinking of you and your lost souls in this time❤🕊

 

[thepick4uchicks]

Darn. I was afraid of that. I should have helped them cool off but I just figured they’d be okay. We are in Texas and summer is brutal but they’ve been fine so far. I feel terrible that I let them die like that. lesson learned I guess. From now on I’ll have to keep future hens cool on the hot days. thanks so much for your help!!

Honeycutt- I am so sorry about your two hens. I hate to see anyone lose a pet. They probably could not take in enough liquids fast enough with their beak issues to cool them off fast enough with the requirements their bodies needed in the heat like it has been over time and also today. It may have well been an accumulation of things and it just finally took its toll today for both of them. It does seem odd that both would go though. I have my concerns on this. You don’t think you put out poisonous bait that the mice could have eaten and then they ate mice do you? If so you need to really watch any other birds if you have any.

 

[Honeycutthomestead]

Honeycutt- I am so sorry about your two hens. I hate to see anyone lose a pet. They probably could not take in enough liquids fast enough with their beak issues to cool them off fast enough with the requirements their bodies needed in the heat like it has been over time and also today. It may have well been an accumulation of things and it just finally took its toll today for both of them. It does seem odd that both would go though. I have my concerns on this. You don’t think you put out poisonous bait that the mice could have eaten and then they ate mice do you? If so you need to really watch any other birds if you have any.

No we definitely did not use poison. I thought it odd that they both died at the same time too. I’m assuming heat is the only logical explanation because of that but I guess I’ll never really know!! I hadn’t thought much about their beaks but maybe that contributed. I will definitely be looking for healthier birds when I get a new flock.

 

[Honeycutthomestead]

I am so sorry for your loss! That is terrible.It is so sad when these things happen, especially in the darn heat

Thinking of you and your lost souls in this time❤🕊

Thank you

 

[ChicKat]

We are in Texas and summer is brutal but they’ve been fine so far.

Same here. I'm in Woodville. So ready for the heat to move on.

Deep dense shade is a life-saver too.

I'm dreading tomorrow's heat. Index is supposed to 'feel like' 111-degrees. Real concerns about how the chickens will fare.

 

[Nikuchan]

I put a shallow rubber pan with 2 handles in the coop. I’m hoping for evaporative cooling. I’ve also recently put water near the egg boxes. The heat is so bad.