Chicken died- please help me figure out why- Flowl pox?

[seattlechicken2019]

Our one year old buff Orphington hen just died. We found her sitting in the run with the other chickens, not moving, and then shortly thereafter she died. I tried to do an examination and didn’t notice anything abnormal, although I could really feel her breast bone- is that normal? The rest of our hens feel pretty similar. I have noticed dark marks or scabs on her comb for the last few weeks, but I Didn’t think they looked like fowl pox, and I thought maybe she was being picked on. I don’t know if she’s been laying- all our chickens lay the same color eggs and it’s hard to tell who’s laying which one. Ideas? I still have her body to examine if anyone has a suggestion. If it’s infectious, I’m worried about our other chickens.

thank you!

 

[SilkiesnFrizzle]

I'm not sure its fowl pox, if she had it they all would get it unless they were vaccinated or already had the pox. How prominent is her keel bone? She looks like she was being picked on and the others weren't letting her eat much. I personally never lost a bird that got fowl pox but it does happen.

 

[pinknblackchaos]

Sorry for your loss.

 

[seattlechicken2019]

Thank you. I am so sad to think that she was getting picked on and could have been starved... but I definitely saw her eat the treats I used to get them back in the coop daily, so I have a hard time imagining she starved to death. One of the 3 remaining hens has similar (but less) black marks on her comb, so I am anxious to figure out what caused this. Her feathers are all very nice and healthy; if she was being picked on, wouldn’t they be ratty?

 

[Painted Calls]

I'm sorry for your loss.

If you still have her body, you can send it to your state lab for necrospy. Wrap her in a bag and place her in your fridge. Don't freeze her though.

Given your user name, I'm assuming you are in Washington? If so, here is a lab that will preform a necropsy for you.

http://waddl.vetmed.wsu.edu/avian

 

[Eggcessive]

You can keep her body cold, and send it in to your state poultry lab in the morning. Call them early and find out details and how to get the body there. Here is a list of state poultry vets including WA:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

 

[SilkiesnFrizzle]

Thank you. I am so sad to think that she was getting picked on and could have been starved... but I definitely saw her eat the treats I used to get them back in the coop daily, so I have a hard time imagining she starved to death. One of the 3 remaining hens has similar (but less) black marks on her comb, so I am anxious to figure out what caused this. Her feathers are all very nice and healthy; if she was being picked on, wouldn’t they be ratty?

Notall the time.... Most of the time chickens go for each others heads...that might be why she had injuries there. Other than that... Maybe a parasite...mites, poultry lice, etc. Or worms. Check your other girls for mites or lice and pay attention to the other girls poop. None of the other girls have any respiratory signs?

 

[seattlechicken2019]

I will take a look for signs of those things today. As much as I would love to know exactly what happened, I didn’t think that sending her for autopsy made sense, so we buried her yesterday. Our family is very sad- she was our chicken with the most personality. I am worried because one of the other chickens has similar marks on her comb – here is a picture. Any advice would be really appreciated. She was acting totally normal the morning she died...

 

[pinknblackchaos]

Beautiful chickens. Honestly i don't think i would think anything if i saw that on my chickens. Given what has happened to yours I can see why you would. I wish I had answers for you. I have had a chicken or two drop dead for no particular reason being very healthy acting and appearing and had no other issues with the rest. I hope it is a fluke for you as well.

 

[seattlechicken2019]

I have been watching my chickens more closely and one of them (the biggest one, the Cochin) is picking on the Wyandotte in the last post. I had suspected the Cochin was picking on the Orpington that died, but hadn't seen it in action, but now witnessed the Cochin doing it to the Wyandotte (who also has black spots on her comb). For example, I bring them a small dish of fermented grain each morning and the Cochin was pecking at the Wyandotte when she would try to feed, or chasing her away from the dish (nothing violent, like I have seen videos of chickens doing- she mostly just gives the Wyandotte a look and she backs away). I don't think this is what killed the Orpington, but I suspect that is why she and the Wyandotte have the black spots on their combs. There are no black marks on the combs of the Cochin or the 4th (uninvolved) chicken.
Should I not just bring out 1 dish of fermented feed? Maybe that is creating an environment conducive to picking on each other? I not do it at all, or bring out 2 dishes. Should I not scatter treats into the coop to entertain them on rainy days, for the same reason? Now that the weather is getting better I will let them out of their coop as much as possible to run around.