Chicken in quarantine died, now what do I do?

[luvchickens1]

I have 13, 21 week old black jersey giants. I acquired two 15 month old barnyard mix chickens that I hoped to use to incubate eggs for the giants. They have been at my place in a small coop/run for 3 weeks kept away from the giants. I let the new 2 free range under supervision for a couple hours yesterday. While they were out with me I cleaned the poop but of one of them, with some fresh water. She seemed fine yesterday and was her normal friendly self. I was concerned she had a pretty bare butt. I did some research and decided the other chicken was not plucking but she might have a yiest infection. So, I checked on her this morning before church and then picked up some providone. When I got home she was dead. No blood. Just wondering if there are any thoughts about whether the possible yiest infection is what killed her? What should I do about the other chicken? Should I quarantine for just one more week or for 4 more weeks or not risk introducing at all? I have read don't introduce 1 new chicken to a flock, your thoughts on this? I am new to chickens and am sick about this loss. How do I know if the other one is sick too? Should I take her to a vet before introducing her to my flock?

Thank you in advance for your help and any suggestions!

 

[GitaBooks]

I'm sorry to hear that.

Clean out the whole coop as best you can, clean up everything (just in case it was infectious). Keep your new bird separate for a couple more weeks at least, just to be careful.
She could have died from egg-binding, over-heating, or a disease. The move may have been stressful on her and made her condition worse.

Introducing one new chicken to a flock is not ideal, but if she is older than the others it may work. Just do it very carefully. If you can take your bird to the vet, I would do so. However, make sure it is a good avian or chicken vet, or else it will likely be misdiagnosed.

I hope this helps, and I hope the others remain safe and happy. Best of luck!

 

[luvchickens1]

Thank you for the reply.

 

[MargeTom]

I had a Rhode Island that I quarantined after her comb drooped. It then got mottled white spots, and died two days later. None of my other 5 hens showed any changes for concern, but the rooster has lost all but 2 of his tail feathers. I am not concerned about the lost chicken - I believe it was the one chicken that never laid an egg in the first place. (Defective factory chick?) I have not experienced a decline in production. I wonder if I should isolate my rooster, and if so, do I did infect the quarantine coop that the chicken died in?

 

[GitaBooks]

I had a Rhode Island that I quarantined after her comb drooped. It then got mottled white spots, and died two days later. None of my other 5 hens showed any changes for concern, but the rooster has lost all but 2 of his tail feathers. I am not concerned about the lost chicken - I believe it was the one chicken that never laid an egg in the first place. (Defective factory chick?) I have not experienced a decline in production. I wonder if I should isolate my rooster, and if so, do I did infect the quarantine coop that the chicken died in?

I'm sorry to hear that.

I could be a disease, but if she never began laying (especially if she is over 8 months of age) then she likely had a genetic defect that caused failure to thrive, perhaps a heart condition.
Nearing autumn, it could be your chickens are molting. My poor roosters look sick whenever they molt, because they loose so many of their feathers, including their handsome tail feathers.

What age are they?

 

[MargeTom]

All 7 I purchased from the local Agway 2 1/2 years ago. I have difficulty telling the hens apart, but one never had a full crop at night. All 5 left have full crops, and with egg production stil at 3-5 eggs a day, I suspect she had a problem from chick stage. This summer heat has been hard on them. How long before I could put another chicken in the isolation cage should I have another problem?

 

[GitaBooks]

All 7 I purchased from the local Agway 2 1/2 years ago. I have difficulty telling the hens apart, but one never had a full crop at night. All 5 left have full crops, and with egg production stil at 3-5 eggs a day, I suspect she had a problem from chick stage. This summer heat has been hard on them. How long before I could put another chicken in the isolation cage should I have another problem?

2.5 years is pretty old for a laying hens and some breeds of roosters, and the heat can lower egg laying. However, if one is showing symptoms of being sick, I would scrub the isolation cage either with bleach or scrub it with soap and leave it in the sun to dry (both of which help kill disease organisms).

 

[MargeTom]

I will do that. Thank you.