Dead chicken

[20736]

The heat and old age has been my problem this year.
I have lost a few with no signs of injury, but it has been hot when it happened.
Two were 8 years old.
Also, lost a 16 week old RP chick to the heat this week as well.
Rough.

 

[4kids*2dogs]

I lost 13 chickens one morning last month due to heat! I had our yard sprayed for ticks and had to leave them in the coop until noon. I was aghast when I opened the coop! We have left our chickens for 2-3 nights in the coop last summer when we went awaywithout any issue.

We cried for days! It still makes mr sick to think about it.
Anyone have that happen??

 

[heydeej]

when a chicken dies, does its vent stick out? I know that it is common for animals (and humans) to defecate when they die, so I didn't know if this was the case or if she had a prolapse and I didn't catch it.
I heard a weird noise in the coop last night. It ended up beng this hen breathing open mouthed and making a sorta honking kinda noise. I thought maybe the heat or ammonia was bad in the top of the coop so I went to get a fan and some Sweet PDZ (for ammonia).
When I got back she had dropped to the floor and was doing the death flop. I took her out to fresh air but she was already gone. None of the other chickens seem to be having any trouble other than panting from the heat. (No one else is honking) and I never did smell any ammonia, so I really don't think that is it.
In examing her body, the crop didn't seem like it had much in it, I saw no signs of physical trauma or parasites, but her vent was protuding.

Any ideas?