chicken moving slow and sitting

[kristip]

So my birds are all 1-3 years old. we are going through molt and a few were broody that I finally broke recently. So very few eggs these days...
Yesterday I went back to coop and one of my molters was sitting on her butt in middle of coop. I picked her up and she literally passed away in my hands. Crop was a little firm but not really hard.
Then I noticed one other bird that is moving slower than normal and sitting down...gets up but moving slow. Will check her again when I get home from work. What should I be worrying about?

 

[azygous]

It could be a virus. It could be poison. I would suspect the latter since more than one chicken is displaying similar symptoms.

Where had your chickens been ranging in the past day or two? Have you sprayed for insects?

Is there any machinery standing around leaking fluids onto the soil?

How about toadstools and mushrooms? A plant with berries? Have you cleaned brushes in paint thinner and dumped the thinner onto the dirt?

Wasps? Did you spray any nests? Has it rained and puddled near where you sprayed?

Have you checked the feed for mold?

How about a compost pile with standing water in it?

All the above can produce neuro toxins that can disable and kill.