I had some chicks raised by hens that dropped dead one by one. The coop is dusty, but everything else is top-notch. They have clean drinking watering and feed containers, plenty of room, and plenty to eat. There was a chick dead every day. Now the adult hens are dropping. I don't see anything wrong with them as far as poop or behavior. Sometimes it seems that they're dropping from their perches at night. I have three pens side by side and all three are having problems. As I'm writing this, I realize the major problem may be the dust, for which I have the things to clean them, though I've never had this problem before after years of chickens. Then again, it's suspicious that the three coops share a common screened wall. So, I'm tearing my hair out! Any suggestions?
I doubt it is the dust. Almost everyone's coop is dusty to some degree. There are perhaps 20 things that can cause sudden death with no symptoms. You definitely have something moving through your building. It could be viral, fungal, bacterial, Get ready to send the next one to your state poultry lab for necropsy. There is no way to know what is wrong till you get lab work. Then you will know the correct course of action - whether that be a thorough cleaning, an antibiotic (if a treatable bacteria) or to cull the flock/s and start over, or even burn the building and wait a year between flocks. What state are you in? I'll give you the location and contact info. Perhaps it is close enough to drive or get a shipping box ready so you can get it in the mail. The bird needs to be refrigerated and if shipping, you need insulation in the box with freezer packs.
I am soo sorry! Do you think that perhaps they might have some kind of disease that doesn't show symptoms? What does their poop look like? Unusual coloring? Weird smell? Are their combs pale? Loss of weight? Whats their behavior like? I hope you find out whats wrong.
Ahh, that would hurt so bad if I had to give them all up! They're not common breeds. I'll take your suggestion about the state lab. I live in Texas. What kind of box should I use? Thank you very much for your help. No symptoms at all.
You have 6 labs in TX. Call them and ask how they want them shipped. Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory 1 Sippel Road, Drawer 3040 College Station, Texas 77843 Phone: 979-845-3414 Fax 979-845-1794 Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory - Amarillo 6610 Amarillo Blvd West Amarillo, Texas 79106 Phone: 806-353-7478 Fax 806-359-0636 Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory - Center 635 Malone Dr Center, Texas 75935 Phone: 936-598-4451 Fax 936-598-2741 Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory - Gonzales 1162 East Sarah DeWitt Drive Gonzales, Texas 78629 Phone: 830-672-2834 Fax 830-672-2835 Texas Animal Health Commission State-Federal Laboratory 4501 Springdale Road, Suite B Austin, Texas 78723 Phone: 512-933-0441 Department of Defense Veterinary Food Analysis and Diagnostic Laboratory 2899 Schofield Road Suite 2630 JBSA Ft Sam Houston, Texas 78234 Phone: 210-295-4604
