Chickens going crazy and killing themselves

[ChickenSuicideEmergency]

Farm fields, maybe!!
I seem to remember a post here, years back, where someone lost a bunch of chicks in a similar manner. The general consensus was that drift from aerial spraying was the culprit. I do not remember the substance that was being sprayed, this was a long time ago...

Sounds likely. Now I wonder how I could protect them from something like this. Can't ask the neighbor not to spray his field.

 

[ChickenSuicideEmergency]

I suppose that just to be safe, you could send in a sample of your new type of feed for toxin testing also. It could well be the feed. The whole situation is just so bizarre and uncommon it's difficult to pinpoint what happened.

It is. I have never in my life, ever heard of anything like this and could hardly believe what I was seeing when it happened.

 

[ShannonR]

Sounds likely. Now I wonder how I could protect them from something like this. Can't ask the neighbor not to spray his field.

That's a really tough one. I think there are regulations regarding pesticide drift, you would have to do some sleuthing on that to find out more. Is there a certain direction the wind blows where you are at? It might be worthwhile to try and position the chicken quarters upwind from the fields instead of downwind. I do understand that wind sometimes shifts directions frequently, but might be worth a shot... I dunno.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

@ChickenSuicideEmergency I'm sorry for your loss.
I can't imagine how upsetting it would be to watch all your birds die.

We can speculate all day long and still not come up with the correct answer for you. The only way to know for sure would to have had testing performed. Since you burned the bodies, then sending a few birds for testing would be out of the question, too bad - this would have been a very good way to get some answers.

If you suspect feed may be the culprit. Collect several samples and send it to your state lab for testing.
You don't mention your location, so you can look up your state lab here:
http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

If you can't get testing and you feel your birds may have had a contagious disease, clean out the coop, sanitize with Virkon S or Oxine, wait several months before re-stocking.

 

[ShannonR]

@ChickenSuicideEmergency I'm sorry for your loss.
I can't imagine how upsetting it would be to watch all your birds die.

We can speculate all day long and still not come up with the correct answer for you. The only way to know for sure would to have had testing performed. Since you burned the bodies, then sending a few birds for testing would be out of the question, too bad - this would have been a very good way to get some answers.

If you suspect feed may be the culprit. Collect several samples and send it to your state lab for testing.
You don't mention your location, so you can look up your state lab here:
http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

If you can't get testing and you feel your birds may have had a contagious disease, clean out the coop, sanitize with Virkon S or Oxine, wait several months before re-stocking.

I would also be tempted to have a chat with the farmer and find out what, if any, spraying has been done recently and do some research on whatever they might be using on the fields. It's worth exploring.

 

[ChickenSuicideEmergency]

@ChickenSuicideEmergency I'm sorry for your loss.
I can't imagine how upsetting it would be to watch all your birds die.

We can speculate all day long and still not come up with the correct answer for you. The only way to know for sure would to have had testing performed. Since you burned the bodies, then sending a few birds for testing would be out of the question, too bad - this would have been a very good way to get some answers.

If you suspect feed may be the culprit. Collect several samples and send it to your state lab for testing.
You don't mention your location, so you can look up your state lab here:
http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

If you can't get testing and you feel your birds may have had a contagious disease, clean out the coop, sanitize with Virkon S or Oxine, wait several months before re-stocking.

Most definitely want to clean and sanitize just to be safe, but I had other animals to worry about and wanted to keep them safe. Lots of rescue dogs on the farm. Don't want them eating the birds and becoming infected. Or the cats getting into it.

 

[ChickenSuicideEmergency]

I would also be tempted to have a chat with the farmer and find out what, if any, spraying has been done recently and do some research on whatever they might be using on the fields. It's worth exploring.

Oh, yes. He sprays by air so it's very likely.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

The Farmer would have documentation on what is being used, all you have to is ask

 

[ChocolateMouse]

I have NO idea what could have caused it... Please keep us informed if you make any progress. My instinct is, of course, a toxin as well.
But I wanted to let you know that if it's caused by pesticide drift that you could plant a tall hedgerow and some trees on the border between the properties. This would dramatically help prevent the pesticide drift between properties and also act as a nice privacy barrier. You could even go wild and plant something edible for bushes. Evergreens will be especially good as a hedgerow, with larger trees catching bigger drift. The shade from the hedgerow may also force the farmers plot away from your property by several feet which will also help prevent drifting.

 

[ChickenSuicideEmergency]

If I ever figure it out I will. It's like a chicken version of "The Happening".