Dazed and confused...what could be wrong?

[Dpennell]

I've been raising chickens for several years now but still have questions concerning their health. I have two hens with drooping tails and messy vent feathers indicating diarrhea. I've lost 2 hens, one week apart recently. Their behavior seemed perfectly normal, healthy weight, layed eggs the day they passed, eating and drinking as usual. I found them still warm with no indications of injury, or wet beaks, nostrils or crusty eyes. I did note that they both had messy vent feathers and wondered if that may have indicated a cause I didn't notice any drooping tails with them before they died, absolutely nothing out of the ordinary other than messy vent feathers. Would anyone have any feed back for me as to what they are lacking? Or what the illness could be? They are given a small amount of scratch daily as a treat, along with black soldier fly larvae (freeze dried) and table and garden greens and fruits. They have two large cans of 18% protein layer krumbles, one inside their run and one outside in their enclosure with open access. I have two 5 gallon water cans that are rinsed and filled every other day. I can't figure out what if anything they are missing. Helpful advise or comment appreciated

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds like possibility of reproductive disorders or cancer that can affect hens after 2 or 3 years. The messy vent along with the drooping tail are signs. The only way to know what was wrong without vet care and X-rays, would be to do a home necropsy on the bodies. Your state vet usually is able to do a more thorough one.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

Vent gleet maybe? With my very first flock of 6 RIR's, I lost 2 at 2 years old to Vent gleet (Yeast infection.) How old were they? I'm very sorry for your loss, it's no fun to find them dead. Sounds like they lived a good life with you.

 

[BastyPutt]

It sounds like possibility of reproductive disorders or cancer that can affect hens after 2 or 3 years.

Would this affect multiple birds simultaneously though?

The messy vent along with the drooping tail are signs.

Did not know this about repo disorders and vents. Good to know. Further complicates diagnoses

The only way to know what was wrong without vet care and X-rays, would be to do a home necropsy on the bodies. Your state vet usually is able to do a more thorough one.

100% on this. Even if the other hens aren't showing signs, and it is something contagious that they could be carrying and you'd like to save them, I'd say order a necropsy immediately - or take a shot and see what they look like inside. If it were something like Mareks, it wouldn't be a mystery.