Devastated

[Mark Whatley]

I just lost one of my 4 buff Orpingtons and have no clue why. All are 10 months old. She was in the backyard with the others when I noticed her in a corner hunkered down. I thought she was maybe laying an egg so i covered her up the give her protection. I noticed she was shaking a little. I checked on her a few times but about 15 minutes ago I found her with her eyes closed and lifeless. The others seem fine. I don’t use any pesticides or anything else that would poison them. The only new thing in the yard are some Lavender plants that I have been experimenting with to see if they would stay away from them. My understanding is that lavender is harmless but not desirable for food because of its taste and smell. Any ideas what happened? I’m so sad.

 

[Sammi_0411]

I'm so sorry this has happened sounds very fast acting like she ain't something she shouldn't have don't know about lavender she nt been acting ill at all before that?
Sam xx

 

[TropicalBabies]

Hi Mark, I am so sorry for your loss. That is a tuff one.
Did you notice her laying eggs consistently, eating consistently? Puffed up? How about her poop? What are your temperatures? Where are you at?
Did you burry her already? Can you check her crop? Any sour smells? Check under her and feel for an egg? That way you may be able to rule somethings out and conclude if the rest of your flock is in danger.
I would not worry about lavendar but check your yard- maybe something got thrown over the fence- just to be on the safe side.
If you can not check her out. How are the others acting? Keep you eye on them. If it was heat, or illness they are at risk so you may want to take some notes. Check their poop, get a fecal float if you have not wormed.

 

[CluckerFamily]

I am so sorry.
I plant lavender by my coop to prevent the mosquitoes from hanging around the chickens, I haven’t had any issues with lavender.
When was the last time she laid an egg?

 

[Mark Whatley]

I'm so sorry this has happened sounds very fast acting like she ain't something she shouldn't have don't know about lavender she nt been acting ill at all before that?
Sam xx

I’ve read up on lavender and found nothing that said it was toxic for chickens. They supposedly don’t like it because of its strong aroma. She presented absolutely no signs of illness and has bee acting normal. Thank you for your response.

 

[Mark Whatley]

Hi Mark, I am so sorry for your loss. That is a tuff one.
Did you notice her laying eggs consistently, eating consistently? Puffed up? How about her poop? What are your temperatures? Where are you at?
Did you burry her already? Can you check her crop? Any sour smells? Check under her and feel for an egg? That way you may be able to rule somethings out and conclude if the rest of your flock is in danger.
I would not worry about lavendar but check your yard- maybe something got thrown over the fence- just to be on the safe side.
If you can not check her out. How are the others acting? Keep you eye on them. If it was heat, or illness they are at risk so you may want to take some notes. Check their poop, get a fecal float if you have not wormed.

I’ve been getting 3-4 eggs a day, which has been the norm since they started laying in December. She was eating consistently and normally. No puffing up. I check for poop issues daily and haven’t seen anything out of the ordinary. I did a poop check for round worms Saturday and found nothing. I’m in the DFW metro area; our temps have been very mild lately, but we’re on the upswing. It was around 80 yesterday. The others were fine and seemed normal when they went into the coop at sunset. I buried her within about an hour; her vent looked normal and I saw no blood. Her crop seemed fine. Before she died she had nestled into a dirt hole and I noticed her back end going up and down slightly. I thought she was going to lay an egg. A very short time later she was gone. I will be watching the others very closely and will look int getting a fecal float. Thanks for your response.

 

[Mark Whatley]

I am so sorry.
I plant lavender by my coop to prevent the mosquitoes from hanging around the chickens, I haven’t had any issues with lavender.
When was the last time she laid an egg?

I can’t be sure when she last laid an egg. I get 3-4 eggs a day at this bird and one other lay identical looking eggs. I had 3 eggs yesterday and 4 th day before.

 

[TropicalBabies]

I’ve been getting 3-4 eggs a day, which has been the norm since they started laying in December. She was eating consistently and normally. No puffing up. I check for poop issues daily and haven’t seen anything out of the ordinary. I did a poop check for round worms Saturday and found nothing. I’m in the DFW metro area; our temps have been very mild lately, but we’re on the upswing. It was around 80 yesterday. The others were fine and seemed normal when they went into the coop at sunset. I buried her within about an hour; her vent looked normal and I saw no blood. Her crop seemed fine. Before she died she had nestled into a dirt hole and I noticed her back end going up and down slightly. I thought she was going to lay an egg. A very short time later she was gone. I will be watching the others very closely and will look int getting a fecal float. Thanks for your response.

My guess would be egg bound- and maybe rising heat or a nest hog helped her demise? Solution. Be sure you give them free choice oyster shells on the side, slow the snacks, fresh bedding is always a winner and be sure your nest box has plenty ventilation. Most important is making sure she/they have enough calcium. I always supply oyster shells free choice but sometimes my girls still need a boost.
If this were ever to happen in the future, because it is not completely uncommon, is to keep calcium on hand- like tums or pill form. You can crush and sprinkle on top of wet feed. It's like an egg enema. A lukewarm 20 min soak and lite massage on the under belly is wonderful and you can check her vent with a little coco oil on a gloved finger when she relaxes during soak, egg may be 2' up. the coco oil lube and bath may help her to expel egg.
Signs- wattle walks, pulsing vent, stress, comb color loss, in and out of nest box w/ no egg and yelling.
Your other girls should be fine, just make sure your calcium ratio is where it needs to be.
Again, so sorry for your loss. It happens to most all of us and all we can do is learn a little to help in our futures.

 

[Mark Whatley]

My guess would be egg bound- and maybe rising heat or a nest hog helped her demise? Solution. Be sure you give them free choice oyster shells on the side, slow the snacks, fresh bedding is always a winner and be sure your nest box has plenty ventilation. Most important is making sure she/they have enough calcium. I always supply oyster shells free choice but sometimes my girls still need a boost.
If this were ever to happen in the future, because it is not completely uncommon, is to keep calcium on hand- like tums or pill form. You can crush and sprinkle on top of wet feed. It's like an egg enema. A lukewarm 20 min soak and lite massage on the under belly is wonderful and you can check her vent with a little coco oil on a gloved finger when she relaxes during soak, egg may be 2' up. the coco oil lube and bath may help her to expel egg.
Signs- wattle walks, pulsing vent, stress, comb color loss, in and out of nest box w/ no egg and yelling.
Your other girls should be fine, just make sure your calcium ratio is where it needs to be.
Again, so sorry for your loss. It happens to most all of us and all we can do is learn a little to help in our futures.

Thank you for the great ideas. I will get them on oyster shells today.