Chickens are dying (1 a week)

[Swbertrand1]

Poultry mites of the blood sucking kind will hide in the crevices of your coop during the day and only come out at night to feed on the roosting birds.

One way to determine if there is an infestation, would be by wrapping doublesided adhesive tape around the ends of each roost, right where they meet the coop walls.
Poultry mites on their way to feed on the chickens will stick to the tape and those already on the hens, will stick to it as well on their way back to their hide outs.

Never heard of that before, but that's INVALUABLE information! Thank you!

 

[NHRedsRock]

Never heard of that before, but that's INVALUABLE information! Thank you!

That is a great idea!!!! Thank you. We will do that today!

 

[NHRedsRock]

Where are you located in the world?

Can you please post some photos of the sick hen and her poop?
Have you changed feed or has feed gotten moldy?

You don't mention any of these birds actively laying eggs - have they been laying consistently?

Any swelling/bloat of the abdomen?
Crops emptying overnight?

If you lose your hen, sending the body for necropsy would give you some answers. You can look up your state lab here https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm
Alternatively, you can perform an informal necropsy yourself, looking for anything obvious. If you do it yourself, then take photos and we'll try to help you with what you see.

Do what you can for the one that is not well. Work on hydration first, then offer wet feed. Do check the crop to see if it's emptying.

Here are a few pics that I took this morning. She is eating but walking slowly and wanting to lay in shady brush.

 

[NHRedsRock]

Here are a few pics that I took this morning. She is eating but walking slowly and wanting to lay in shady brush.

Here is a first poop picture too. Sorry for the grossness.

 

[LaFleche]

Your pictures show a bloody comb that could indicate some kind of previous predator attack. Also her feathers look somewhat ruffled to me.

The poop picture shows lots of eggwhite and dark greenish poop, indicating a broken egg inside her oviduct and that she seems to be starving right now.

 

[Eggcessive]

I think another byc member from NH has had good luck with getting their state vet to do necropsies to look for a cause of death. There are many things that could happen to make a chicken sick, but it sounds like there may be an issue with feed or infections. If you lose another, keep the body cold on ice in a cooler or refrigerator, but do not freeze it. Contact your state vet early M-F and deliver or ship the body overnight to arrive on a weekday. I would contact them anyway, before another death to get all of the info and make a plan. Many of us will do our own necropsies at home, and sometimes obvious problems or illness can be seen. If you do one, you can take pictures of the organs and ask for opinions. Sorry for your loss.

 

[Eggcessive]

Your pictures show a bloody comb that could indicate some kind of previous predator attack. Also her feathers look somewhat ruffled to me.

The poop picture shows lots of eggwhite and dark greenish poop, indicating a broken egg inside her oviduct and that she seems to be starving right now.

The tail position is low as well, which is significant. She might be ill or have a reproductive disorder. You can examine crops to see if they are empty, full, hard, or puffy. Early morning before eating, they should be empty, and full at bedtime. Examine skin under the belly/vent area for signs of lice or mites. Feel the breast muscle and pick them up to check for weight loss. It does not hurt to go ahead and worm your chickens with Valbazen or SafeGuard Liquid Goat Wormer.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

We are located in the US- NH. We have seen a decrease in egg production, but assumed it was because they are 3+ years old now. We do get eggs everyday but only half the amount that we used to. Thank you for your help!

Here are a few pics that I took this morning. She is eating but walking slowly and wanting to lay in shady brush.

I agree with @Eggcessive it wouldn't hurt to deworm her.
The tail position and poop gives me pause to think that she's suffering from a reproductive disorder. It would be hard to know unless you lose her and necropsy is performed.

Reproductive issues wouldn't be uncommon with hatchery production birds.

 

[NHRedsRock]

Thank you all! Update: she is doing well. We found out the bloody comb was from her fighting with other hens ( when she wasn’t looking well, they approached her and pecked at her- this is why she had the bloody comb). Now she is eating and free ranging and poop is looking better. We dewormed her (found no worms) and gave her some natural Vetrx. She is not laying and when we take her outside to be with the other hens and rooster (we have kept her separated) she is the aggressor now and stays away from all of the hens and rooster. Our new challenge is how we get her back with her flock. Thanks for all of your help! Not sure what her problem was but she seems to be doing better health wise.

 

[LaFleche]

Thank you for the update, I'm glad she is already better.