Found a dead chicken hrs after she was fine--7 days after finding a chicken that could not walk

[Talisa]

I posted last week about finding my 3yr old chicken not able to walk 5 hrs after she was fine. I isolated her and gave her meds and she got better. Then 7 days later, I noticed one of the other girls Comb, ears and waddle was dull in color but she was running, eating and drinking like normal. The next day she was fine in the morning and 3 hrs later I found her dead in her coop. Nothing was wrong with her that I could see and she was fine hrs before. I do not know what is going on--but I am starting them all on meds and vitamins tonight.

We also completely cleaned out the coop after we isolated the first sick chicken and noticed nothing--no bugs or mold.

I am not sure what is going on. The dead chicken was laying eggs and seemed fine. I am at a loss. But I do not want to lose all of them. I have 4 chickens left, who all have bright red combs, ears and waddles and 4 ducks that seem fine.

 

[Reurra]

Check for poisons and contamination of the drinking water. They may have eaten a bug that was poisoned or there might be something they ingested. Some beetles are poisonous too. They may have eaten the droppings from a mouse or bird that was sick. Some disease can hit with no definable symptoms and kill very quickly. Keep close watch on your flock and birds with similar symptoms, isolate them and clean the coop again. I have read that a product called Oxine is very useful for sanitation. Perhaps get some as an added precaution.

http://www.welphatchery.com/poultry_health.asp

Good luck!

 

[Talisa]

when I found her she was on her back, like she was walking and then fell over dead. When the other one got sick 7 days before, she was found laying over on her side. We change their water all the time because we are putting meds in it, so it couldnt be the water. I really do not understand. I'm not sure it if is connected to the first chicken or not. We are not sure she was actually sick or if she hurt her foot or if it was a vitamin thing. I I thought I would keep her in isolation another week just to be sure. We are keeping a close eye on the others, their combs and waddles are all bright red and everyone seems fine. But, we have learned that isnt always a good indication of anything.