Emergency

[orpington123]

My gorgeous big buff Orpington died today and my lohmann Brown the day before. The lohmann died in the night when I was gone but I witnessed the buff dying. At first it lay on the ground and kept panting non stop as if it was trying to sqwauck but no sound was coming out. Then she started beating herself up by frantically jumping into the air and whacking herself into things. She lost the power to keep her head up and within ten minutes she died. Her comb and wattles got really dark when she was dying. I have no idea what happened and I’m afraid all my hens will drop dead any idea what happened and what I should do??,greatly appreciated.

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

Welcome to BYC....
Im so sorry about your chickens. These symotoms are new to me...
@casportpony any thoughts on this?
If she's here she may have some ideas. I hope you get some answers soon.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

@Eggcessive

 

[casportpony]

My gorgeous big buff Orpington died today and my lohmann Brown the day before. The lohmann died in the night when I was gone but I witnessed the buff dying. At first it lay on the ground and kept panting non stop as if it was trying to sqwauck but no sound was coming out. Then she started beating herself up by frantically jumping into the air and whacking herself into things. She lost the power to keep her head up and within ten minutes she died. Her comb and wattles got really dark when she was dying. I have no idea what happened and I’m afraid all my hens will drop dead any idea what happened and what I should do??,greatly appreciated.

Welcome to BYC. So sorry for your losses. What state do you live in?

 

[ronott1]

A Necropsy is the way to tell

http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/necropsy-and-disease-testing-lab-info.1236884/

 

[orpington123]

they live free range on a big Irish farm so maybe they chocked or got worms I don’t know!!

 

[ronott1]

they live free range on a big Irish farm so maybe they chocked or got worms I don’t know!!

There are some things you can check--parasites and poison.

A person posted last month about wind blowing rat poison around the yard. This got mostly her cats but I think a couple of chickens--It was the new one that is an overdose of Vit D that destroys the kidneys. There is not anti dote for it

 

[Eggcessive]

I am sorry for your loss. It is rare to lose 2 chickens so close together, unless it was something infectious or a toxin they both got into. First, check your feed for any odd odor or blue green color of mold which is highly poisonous. Certain plants may be poisonous around the yard, so good to look for something they may have eaten. Have there been any recent outbreaks of Newcastles disease or other diseases in your area? I would contact your nearest poultry center for a consultation. If you lose another, refrigerate the body, do not freeze, and contact a vet for a necropsy.

 

[orpington123]

Thanks for all the help guys

 

[orpington123]

I read an article about sun stoke in chickens today. My chickens was clearly panting and since it was a big buff orp on a 23,24 degrees day I think it was the cause