Buff Orpington Died Tonight

[Briyon]

Went out to the coop tonight to check on things and notice one of my Buff Orps in the nest box. I went to move her to see if there was an egg under her (there was) and she was real weak and listless. It was like she was asleep or something...semi coherent. I put her back in the nest box and she just slumped head first into the shavings. I wasn't sure what to do at that point so I picked her up to take her to the garage to quarantine her from the other chickens. She died right as I opened the door to go out. I am concerned about something spreading to my other 9 birds. There was no sign of injury or anything and I hadn't noticed anything in the last day or so that would tell me she was sick. The other hens seem fine...although I am still having an issue with their tail feathers. I posted a message on here before that a couple of the chickens had tail feathers missing. Now most of them do. I sprayed them all with the antibiotic spray (the purple stuff, I can't remember the name, that was recommended). Could mites or lice or something cause the tail feather issue? Could it also kill a chicken? I am not sure what to do at this point except watch the other chickens.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Brian

This is the tail feather issue...

 

[mikecar007]

How old was the chicken? It looks to me as though she may have had her feathers plucked by the other chickens. I am not an expert on chickens by any means. I have been researching quite a bit lately. I have two flock blocks in the coop from Purina and use the avia charge 2002 in their water from McMurray Hatchery(I think that's what it's called) to help with mineral or vitamin deficiencies and reduce cannibalism. I also give them grit, scratch grains, oyster shells, 3 hard boiled eggs and Manna Pro Supplement from TSC for my ten ladies. With that few tail feathers I doubt that was the issue. From what I have read this is the time of year that they will become more likely to pull each others feathers out due to boredom. This is all based on what I read, if someone has better info please let us know. I have ten production reds with a fenced in acre of land to keep the bad guys out and 50 sq foot coop. If this pic of tail feathers is indicative of a problem I need to know. I have tried Pine Tar though it did not seem t o help.

 

[3goodeggs]

Spend a few hours watching the hens. I suspect you have a feather eater. I have about seven out of 24 that have that problem. I got the hen that was doing it and put her into solitary confinement. We will see if this has corrected her behavior. The other hens turned and pecked back, but the plucked chickens are more submissive. We upped our protein from layer to flock raiser. I hope this helps our issue. Maybe it will help yours, just be sure they have extra calcium, oyster shell or something easily available. There have been a lot of posts lately about this. I wonder if they are needing the extra protein because winter has been harder than usual. I am just guessing.
Observation is usually my best way of finding out answers...until google came along that is.

I guess you used blue kote. I don't think it would harm a chicken since it is used on chicks too.
I do not know why your hen died. Maybe a heart attack?
Sorry about your BO. I have them too and they are sweet birds.