Chickens going crazy and killing themselves

[chixNW]

If you let them free range there is a winter berry that makes birds drunk. I had two pheasants slam into my window and died. The fish and game told me they must have eaten these berries. Not sure where you live. Also do you put down de-icer. If you do you could be carry this on your shoes. Just thoughts
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[Shamo Hybrid]

I lost my entire pen of chickens. They were turning up dead every night and I had no idea what was happening.

Then one morning when I was pouring them their feed I witnessed a chicken suddenly go insane for absolutely no reason, start running, flying and ramming it's body back and forth into the walls of it's cage until it dropped dead. Then a second one did this some time later.

Does anyone have any idea why my chickens went insane and killed themselves? Is there a virus or a parasite? I am so confused by what I witnessed. I have no idea what in the world caused them to commit mass suicide and what to do to prevent it happening again.

The Zombiepocalypse have begun..............

 

[Aunt Angus]

What a terrible thing to have happen! I am so sorry!

I am stoopid when it comes to this stuff being a newbie and a city-type girl. But I read this and thought of mass hysteria, which made me think of ergot and Salem. Never thought about ergot poisoning in chickens, but that really would make sense if the chickens all died within a short amount of time and only had one feed/water source. Craziness....

What a tragic thing to have happen.... I really can't imagine... My heart goes out to you, @ChickenSuicideEmergency .

 

[PirateGirl]

I have not read every response, but I did see that you had switched feeds and many other posters seem to think feed or poison or contamination of some sort might be the culprit. Here is a link to the FDA's page with all the current feed recalls. It wouldn't hurt to check the list for any feed and/or purchased treats you have on hand.

https://www.fda.gov/animalveterinary/safetyhealth/recallswithdrawals/default.htm

 

[bobbi-j]

Live right next to farm fields. Good point. Maybe spray from the fields carried over?

When did this happen, and where do you live? Farmers don't spray fields in the winter...

 

[bobbi-j]

What you described sounds like they got Ergot poisoning. I had a similar scenario last year but didn't kill any of my birds.

My birds were having seizures, falling down, flopping and then just seize up. After a few minutes they would quit having the seizures.
At first I thought genetic neurological disorder but it wasn't just one species that was exhibiting this behavior.

The only thing I could think of was some type of poisoning. Had the feed anaylized at a lab and it came back positive for Ergot.
Ergot is caused by the fungi, Claviceps ssp. found in cereal grains. Cool, damp weather conditions allow the fungi to thrive in the growing grains.
I have my feed custom milled, and I have red winter wheat, rye, barley, and oats in my feed.
If you can and still have the feed you were feeding them, I'd have it tested.
ETA - This same poisoning is attributed to the Salem Witch trials, it affects humans the same way.

Thanks for sharing this. I have never heard of it.

 

[aart]

Another thread where the OP will likely never return.

 

[SidneyandAstro2020]

I lost my entire pen of chickens. They were turning up dead every night and I had no idea what was happening.

Then one morning when I was pouring them their feed I witnessed a chicken suddenly go insane for absolutely no reason, start running, flying and ramming it's body back and forth into the walls of it's cage until it dropped dead. Then a second one did this some time later.

Does anyone have any idea why my chickens went insane and killed themselves? Is there a virus or a parasite? I am so confused by what I witnessed. I have no idea what in the world caused them to commit mass suicide and what to do to prevent it happening again.

We JUST had a chicken start to do exactly what you’re describing. It was so brutal how she was trying to smash her head against the underside of the coop/run walls that she broke her beak in the process. It was a bloody mess..
I’m thankful for your post because it’s the only thing on the internet that accurately describes her behavior. This was no ordinary seizure..


I know it’s been a long time, but did you ever figure out what it was?

We’re just watching and waiting to see if the other two girls who lived with her are ok.. or the girls in the other coops since they all get the same feed. Hoping to figure out what’s wrong soon…

Ps. We do not live next to a farm field.. though that did sound like a promising conclusion.

 

[Sally PB]

@SidneyandAstro2020, this thread is old, and OP was only on BYC for a couple days.

You can start a new thread and ask about your chickens. You're more likely to get an answer.

And,

Sorry it's under these circumstances.

 

[Bleubae]

I lost my entire pen of chickens. They were turning up dead every night and I had no idea what was happening.

Then one morning when I was pouring them their feed I witnessed a chicken suddenly go insane for absolutely no reason, start running, flying and ramming it's body back and forth into the walls of it's cage until it dropped dead. Then a second one did this some time later.

Does anyone have any idea why my chickens went insane and killed themselves? Is there a virus or a parasite? I am so confused by what I witnessed. I have no idea what in the world caused them to commit mass suicide and what to do to prevent it happening again.

Usually when they try and off themselves they try to drown themselves. In this case more than likely they were sick and had a infection ot bacteria. They can get sick from the food or bedding.