Dead chicken, don’t know what happened

[Candy S]

Hi, really need some advice. I have (had) five layer hens, 3 red sex links and 2 Rhode Island reds. Yesterday I noticed a lot of poop on the rear end of one of my Rhode Island reds. I placed her in a sink of warm water and soaked it off. After that she seemed ok. I went out to check on her today and found her dead. They’re fed organic feed, get fresh veggies almost daily and always fresh water. They stay in a fenced area due to our coyote population. I have no clue what happened. Very concerned that it may be contagious? Just devastating.

 

[Relleoms]

Your best bet for answers would be to send or take the body to your state lab for a necropsy. Ours charges $20-$50, depending on the work performed. Best wishes to you & your flock!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Welcome to the site.

You'll never know the cause without a necropsy. What state are you in?
Every state has at least one poultry lab where they will determine cause of death.

 

[HuskerHens18]

Your best bet for answers would be to send or take the body to your state lab for a necropsy. Ours charges $20-$50, depending on the work performed. Best wishes to you & your flock!

x2

You can never be too careful, it's always worth the money to do a necropsy. My veterinarian does them 20$ per bird, you can check yours

 

[Kiki]

Necropsy will give you an answer.
May I offer a bit of advice?
Stop feeding daily treats.
Instead offer treats only once a week.
It really is better for your birds to eat a complete feed diet only.
http://vetmed.illinois.edu/vet-resources/veterinary-diagnostic-laboratory/

 

[ChickenCanoe]

University of Illinois Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory


Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory

2001 S Lincoln Ave

Urbana, Illinois 61802-6178

Phone: 217-333-1620

 

[cmom]

I have a lot of birds (around200) and every now and then I will go out and find one dead but not very often. I do not get a necropsy. I do have my birds tested by the state every year. It can even be something like a heart attack. I do give my birds treats every evening when I collect the eggs. What they get for treats is probably a thimbles worth for each bird. Since I give them treats daily I make sure they have granite grit which I put in their feeders since here it is mostly sand and nothing for their gizzards to grind their treats.

 

[featherhead007]

Necropsy will give you an answer.
May I offer a bit of advice?
Stop feeding daily treats.
Instead offer treats only once a week.
It really is better for your birds to eat a complete feed diet only.
http://vetmed.illinois.edu/vet-resources/veterinary-diagnostic-laboratory/

How bout unsalted canned corn with their regular feed?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

How bout unsalted canned corn with their regular feed?

That's fine if you want to lower the overall crude protein, essential amino acids and many vitamins and minerals.

Feed is formulated to be what chickens are known to need at the appropriate ratios. Adding corn or anything else will alter that nutritional balance. If you are a poultry nutritionist, you can play with that.

 

[featherhead007]

oh, I'm torturing my hens?