Chickens are randomly passing.

[williamn17]

So, I have had this flock of 12 hens since a few days after they were hatched (around Easter 21), been taking care of them ever since, literally no problems they've been the best flock ever, super friendly, docile, smart etc. That is until last night, I noticed one had passed, I found it out in the run of my chicken's area. It had it's head tucked up into it's wing. I was pretty sad, especially because she gave me no warnings anything was wrong at all. Then, today I saw 2 had passed, one in the coop, and one outside similar to the first chicken, all had their heads tucked into their wings, no marks whatsoever, no signs of a predator invasion, everything looks fine. What am I missing? All of my chickens were happy and fine one second, and the next 3 had passed, mind you none had passed for the past 10~ months until yesterday. So sudden without any warnings, it has me wondering if more will go, what should I be doing?

 

[Weeg]

I’m so sorry for your loss. Without any info on symptoms, it’s really hard to know without a neocropsy. You could preform one yourself posting pics in a thread on BYC, or send her to your state lab. @Eggcessive will be able to give you more info on labs if that’s the route you want to take.
If you do want to send a bird in, next time you loose one, or if you still have her body, keep it cold but not frozen. You can follow the instructions on your lab’s site, and calling them is very helpful if you have any questions. A neocropsy usually isnt very expensive. It’s 35 dollars at my state lab.
I’m so sorry your going through this. I sent a hen of mine in last year and was very glad I did. It really dose help get some closure, and show you how to move forward with your flock. I hope this is helpful. Again, so sorry for your losses.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. It is extremely cold where you live? What type of coop setup do you have? Is there ventilation overhead? Can you take a look and smell of your feed, to look for mold or a bad odor. Mold can happen overnight if there has been any moisture get in, and it is extremely toxic. Could poisoning be possible? Here is a list of state vets, and I would get a body to them for a necropsy:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry-labs.html

 

[Ridgerunner]

Are you in the USA? If so, call your County Extension Office and see what it takes to get a necropsy on a dead chicken. It's different in each state, some states it's practically at no cost to you or in some it can be fairly expensive. A necropsy is where they cut them open to try to find out why they died, like an autopsy. Find out cost, how you need to preserve they (usually refrigerated or on ice but not frozen), and where and when you need to take them. So if it happens again you have the option if that is what you want to do.

That should not be happening, not at ten months. To me it sounds more like poisoning instead of a disease. With most diseases they don't act normal up to the point they die. They don't with some poisons either but that is my first guess. Could they have gotten into rat poison or something like that. Their respiration system is pretty delicate, could they have gotten into poisonous vapors?

 

[Mrs. K]

I did have a flock get into poison once, and it was pretty awful. I lost the whole works in 2 days. Do look in old building, especially if you let them out. We think a pack rat, in the past, had gathered some poison bait, and died, and later on, maybe chickens scratched it out into the open.

However, I have also had sudden death. One spell I lost a bird once a month for three months... and that was it. It was over. Mine were a bit closer to 6 months but still the same deal, alive and well one day, dead the next. It happens. I figured it was a genetic problem.

Most of the time, they are just fine, and more than likely, this will be it for some time to come (fingers crossed) if there are more, then I would test for peace of mind. But I am thinking, that it is more likely sudden death, than poisoning, unless you are on an old established agriculture place.

Mrs K