Clogged vent, chicken is dead

[johyatt]

I have had two chickens die in the past couple of months. Both of the same thing. The first one I thought was just old age, but now I don't think so. The vent is clogged with poop. We cleaned her off with water to make the vent open again. The smell was horrible. They both separated from the flock and would squat making a clucking noise and action like they were trying to poop. Once you clean them off they just sit there, but not like they were in distress anymore. The next morning, both times, they both acted like they were fine. The first one died that afternoon of the second day. The one that just died a couple of days ago, was fine the next morning, throughout the day she got clogged again. We cleaned her vent area with water so the clog was gone, still a horrible smell. She hid from the rest of the flock the rest of the day. She died overnight sometime in the coop. What is wrong with my chickens? They are free range all day and put up at night in a coop. The one chicken was over 4 years old and the second one was about 2 year old. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks !

 

[realsis]

hi I'm so sorry for your losses. maybe they had an infection going on? with the smell it sounds like that to me. were they still laying? perhaps they had a reproductive issue too. its hard to say. but likely an infection of sorts. again I'm so sorry.

 

[johyatt]

Thanks for your reply. The first one was my oldest and only Americauna (not sure of the spelling) and she layed randomly. The most recent one was a mixed breed. She was a brown egg layer and did not lay consistently anymore either. Honestly, I could not tell you when I actually saw them lay last.

If it was an infection, what would cause it? Is there anything I can do to prevent it? We have 18 chickens, all hens, ranging in age to under a year to over 4 years. All have been healthy until now.

 

[freespiritmom]

Do you give ACV in their water? I understand that really helps chickens in many ways. Sorry for your loss, it must be difficult to a member of your chicken family.

 

[johyatt]

No I haven't ever used ACV.

 

[freespiritmom]

Do some research on it, there is so much info here on BYC about the benefits. I am a newbie in the chicken world so I have been consuming as much info about natural treatments and preventatives, ACV seems to be very beneficial to their immune and GI systems. It is an individual decision there are so many opinions, most are positive (it does help with pasty butt in chicks, which is a clogged vent, so it may help prevent others in your flock from the same problem).

I hope all is well with the remaining flock and this was just a fluke. Keep us posted.

 

[3 NH reds]

X2 on the ACV I put it in water and feed fermented mash to chicks/chickens and it keeps them healthy. Great thread on fermented feed in the meat bird section. Last hatch I did not feed ACV and a chick got sticky butt, previous hatches I used acv and had no trouble.