Found Chicken Dead Today?!

[MAchicken105]

yes the post above yours is right that is the coop i have it was bought because it holds 15 chickens https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/p...n-walk-in-coop-up-to-15-chickens?cm_vc=IOPDP1

Tractor supply really does new chicken owners a disservice by advertising what is clearly not adequate space for 15 chickens.

Like the others have said, this coop should hold 4 chickens.

You are setting yourself up for failure I'm afraid. Your chickens once matured will be too stressed to lay to their full potential. That many chickens and a Rooster in such a small area will lead to more deaths and sick chickens.

Sorry

 

[Chickassan]

yes the post above yours is right that is the coop i have it was bought because it holds 15 chickens https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/p...n-walk-in-coop-up-to-15-chickens?cm_vc=IOPDP1

It might hold 15 chicks if you used it as a brooder but there is no way in Hades that coop can house 15 full grown hens and a rooster. Not even if you fold them or are a chicken Tetris master. You really need a bigger coop or a smaller flock tractor supply lied to you.

 

[rebrascora]

You might get away with it if you can build an add on run or free range them every day, but RIRs are not the most mild mannered chickens and pecking order issues could get nasty if they are overcrowded like that once they mature. The coop part is also going to be very crowded and whilst they are probably out in the run most of the time during the summer, in winter when it's dark early and the weather is bad, being crammed into that small coop is going to cause major behavioural issues as well as a very unhealthy atmosphere....condensation, dust and ammonia.

The rooster is an added complication that you probably don't need at this stage. I would try to sell some of the them. It shouldn't be difficult with them being at point of lay and better than having more die.

 

[Hamiam]

Zack, it's hard to say what your chickens died from. It could be from their poor diet (Like I mentioned in your "Hello" post). First, you need to improve your chickens diet. Your second priority should be dealing with the overcrowding. I do have some concerns about trying to sell some of them now, with the possibility of illness in the flock being the cause of the chicken deaths. The rooster should be the first to go. (A rooster isn't needed to get eggs from your hens)

With your Dad being ill, I'm sure you've got enough stress. Chickens can be a lot of fun & can be a stress relief. However, you have to be set up for success & part of that is being educated about the basics. There is a lot of information here at Backyard Chickens to learn from. You will need to do a lot of reading & please don't hesitate to ask questions here. Many of us have raised chickens for years & love to help others.

 

[MisterZack]

Tractor supply really does new chicken owners a disservice by advertising what is clearly not adequate space for 15 chickens.

Like the others have said, this coop should hold 4 chickens.

You are setting yourself up for failure I'm afraid. Your chickens once matured will be too stressed to lay to their full potential. That many chickens and a Rooster in such a small area will lead to more deaths and sick chickens.

Sorry

I found a 3rd dead today early morning and it was a cool night not freezing i could walk out without a shirt and just be a bit chilly but i am noticing a pattern now in each death they all seem to be trying to look behind/above them now i am wondering if my rooster is doing this maybe hes trying to mate with them and is accidentally killing them?

 

[keesmom]

A necropsy is the only way you may find out what is causing your losses.

 

[MisterZack]

A necropsy is the only way you may find out what is causing your losses.

Yeah i couldn't stomach that but i also noticed that 2 of the chickens were pinned against walls one inside the house part the other against the fence part one appeared to have a broken neck i say this because when i was removing the bird its whole body was completely stiff but its neck and head where moving around like it wasn't attached by bone

 

[keesmom]

You wouldn't have to do the necropsy - submit a deceased one to the state vet or an avian vet to see if they can figure out what's going on.

Did any of the 3 have any wounds?

 

[MisterZack]

You wouldn't have to do the necropsy - submit a deceased one to the state vet or an avian vet to see if they can figure out what's going on.

Did any of the 3 have any wounds?

No wounds but i did notice feathers laying around and one of it looked like maybe his tail feather

 

[MisterZack]

well no wounds that i could see its just the way they were facing it seems like something was on their back and they were looking back to try and peck at it or just see what it was and with my coop being small with him in there they wouldn't be able to get away. Does the vet charge to do that?