Dead bird in coop, what should I do?

[bootsuu]

It's been a while since I posted, but I had a shock when I got home tonight--


One of the two birds I got from my neighbor 2 months ago was dead on the floor of my coop. Both birds are under a year old but have both been laying.

I've removed the bird and bagged it, but now I want to know what I should do? I normally observe my birds daily to make sure they're moving normally, eating, etc. I didn't notice anything weird about them recently. The neighbor in question is right behind me, and has chickens for years longer than I have. The only thing separating the two yards is a wood fence, so aside from diseases spread from direct contact I think that any cross contamination would have been in place since I started my flock.

That being said, I checked all birds for any signs of frostbite or exposure. Their eyes look bright and clear, their combs are nice and red, their feathers are good. None of them have any poop issues that I can see. Their droppings tray doesn't have any abnormal bits in it.

On the dead bird I didn't feel any hard masses in the lower abdomen (do I need to check higher up on the body for egg-binding? I also didn't feel anything abnormal about the chicken's crop.

What should I do next? I plan to spend time each day observing the remaining birds. I don't have the money for an autopsy or anything, and am not really sure I need to have one done for just one bird.

Thanks!

Boots

 

[The Sheriff]

Do you have a state vet or a university that has a veterinarian program in your state? They usually offer free necropsies for backyard flock owners. You can usually ship the dead bird to them via express mail if they are too far the drive.

Sorry for your loss.

 

[bootsuu]

I will check. Utah has a lot of Universities, and I think at least one of them as a similar program.

Thank you!

 

[jerseygirl1]

Could she have fallen off the roost, or hit her head on the wall?

 

[mchl]

how cold was it last night? Did it get plenty to eat? I had a smaller bird pass from extreme cold. sorry

 

[PeepsInc]

If your not seeing any noticeable signs of sickness, & you take proper care of them. You may just have to chalk it up to the fact that every once in a while you will loose one to a freak incident. Best of luck with the rest of your flock.

 

[bootsuu]

The really cold days were last week. I have a heat lamp in the coop, so the temp doesn't drop much below freezing even in the worst weather. I take pretty good care of my birds, with food, heated water and scratch every few days along with grit and oyster shell. I doubt she fell across the coop and hit her head, though anything is possible.

 

[jerseygirl1]

I've never lost any to the cold, and it's been to -3 here, but I have lost one due to falling off the roost and hitting her head. And also lost one to fatty liver disease............................FOund that one laying on the floor of the coop