Buff Brahma Hen died last night-- what to do?

[bellydancer]

We got this Buff Brahma hen on Friday night-- she was supposed to be of laying age, but we suspect she was younger-- she had been sneezing since Saturday morning-- not continuously-- just every now and then. Last night, I heard her cough and we were going to call the feed store where we got her this morning, but when we woke up, she was laid backward over the nest box with her wings splayed and a face full of mucus. Poor chicken! My husband is distraught. We also have a silver wyandotte that we got from the same place at the same time who is symptom free, but who has been in the same coop with the sick chicken.

What should we do? Do we want to get another chicken from the guy who sold us these? Are sick chickens fairly common or is this indicative of a place where we wouldn't want to buy any chickens?

Will our second chicken come down with what the first one had and die?

How long should we wait before introducing another chicken to the coop. The wyandotte is all alone.

Anything we newbies need to know?

Thank you all for your help!!!

 

[bantymum]

You poor love, thats not a nice way to be introduced to chickens at all.
Can you try and move the other one into somewhere else for a day or 2 while you clean up the coop. You will need to clean it thoroughly and replace the bedding etc, scrub the roost, im not sure which cleaning products you have there for this, as I am in Australia, sorry!
I wouldnt recommend getting a new hen from the store where you got yours from as I would say that whatever this infection is, it would have started to spread.
Can you get more stock from another source for now.
Please wait for a few days to ensure the other hen doesnt have it too!
You should tell the store that your hen died just so he knows and can treat the others. He may even offer you some medicine for your hen if he cares enough about them!
Let us know how it goes.
Im sure someone else will help you here.

 

[Chatychick]

Sounded like pnuemonia to me or maybe some type of shipping fever. If they get to hot and then to cold it occurs as I got some last year and had to treat with terramycin to clear the snots and runny noses. Some of mine made it and some didnt, It all depends on how soon you treat them and if they are strong enough to make it or just give up. I dont think I would want to get anymore from that guy either ...shop around and find some healthy chickens , surely there are some chicken people around you that will sell you another. Good luck

 

[bellydancer]

Update: Just got off the phone with Aggie Feed & Seed and they are unconcerned-- they say "it happens". And they will not refund our money or replace the bird. Nor did they want to see the bird or seem concerned about the safety of their flock.

We are scrubbing the pen, dumping and replacing the bedding, scrubbing the feeder and waterer and are prepared to go on as a one-hen household until we find chickens for sale at a different location.

None of the others of my list of feed & seed stores in our area have chickens save for banties and roosters.

I know hens are social creatures-- will our little Wyandotte make it without a pal for a little while?

 

[Blondie]

Where are you located? You can look for ads or place a free one on www.craigslist.org. I've sold chickens on there before - to someone on BYC!

Your chicken will be lonely. Hopefully you can get her a pal or 2 soon!

 

[Tuffoldhen]

If they were my chickens I would wait a few weeks to see if the other hen comes down with anything, before I would try placing a new hen with her...you need to keep a new hen separated anyway for atleast a month in case she would have anything wrong with her that your other hen could catch...

Might want to try a garlic clove or AVC in her water to help with mucus if she shows signs or just in case...it doesn't hurt....also poly vit childrens drops in the water are good to help with immune health...not all at the same time....my opinion

Hard to tell what she died from, sorry it happened with your first chickens ...... I would have called the feed store too and complained...