Had a hen die randomly day before yesterday. Woke up to another hen dead. Both died inside the coop. also have another henlimping? What’s going on?

[SuperiorFarmsGirl]

Any advice? Both hens looked to have died in their sleep? No wounds of any kind. Both hens were Younger chickens 6-9 months old. Just started laying about a month or two ago
I also have an older hen limping. No bumblefoot. No other injuries? Foot looked red but it’s also cold and snowy here. Should I be concerned about the avian flu?? They are kept in an outdoor locked up coop and run. Ugh any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[azygous]

When multiple chickens die around the same time, and especially when one turns up lame, I suspect toxic poisoning. This is something no chicken keeper wants to entertain, that they may have accidentally contaminated the premises, but it needs to be investigated. It took me three whole days some years back to discovered my gas log splitter was leaking fluids that were poisoning my chickens. Paint thinner, other solvents, insecticide, rodenticides, etc.

Yes, it could be a virus. It may not be the avian flu, but another one. It would benefit you to take one of the dead chickens to your state lab and have a necropsy done to find cause of death.

Provide your location and we can help locate the lab.

 

[SuperiorFarmsGirl]

I have already emailed our necropsy lab to seek advice. Thank you for recommending that.

Their coop is away from anything poisonous. I really think the likely hood of us taking something poisonous to the coop is low. They are located pretty far out in the field. We did get a lot of rain recently that made their run mucky. It’s now cold and snowy here in Ohio. Could hay in their run cause issues? We did lay some down because of all the mud.

 

[Idaho Chicken Bungalow]

Is there is any mold present in the bedding or feed?

 

[SuperiorFarmsGirl]

Feed no, it could be possible in the bedding. I don’t see any outward signs of mold but with it being so wet it’s possible that could be an issue.

 

[SuperiorFarmsGirl]

The most recent hen had feathers missing where a rooster was pulling out her feathers. Is it possible it’s a low pecking order thing? Do roosters or other chickens kill younger ones.

We integrated them together about a month ago. When we got a really bad storm. Becasue the younger group (6 of them) Mainly freeranged and I wanted them to have a coop for the storm.

 

[FunClucks]

I have already emailed our necropsy lab to seek advice. Thank you for recommending that.

Their coop is away from anything poisonous. We did get a lot of rain recently that made their run mucky. Could hay in their run cause issues? We did lay some down because of all the mud.

I'm pretty new myself, so hopefully others will chime in about this, but from what I recall there can be a bacteria that is toxic to chickens that grows in hay, also if they eat it they can have crop problems, and sometimes die from them. I suggest using 4-6" of wood chips, like from a tree service. Or you can use straw, I don't think that has the same problem as hay. I know a few members that will place pallets over muddy areas in the run to keep their feet dry and keep them out of the mud. Make sure they have plenty of grit available free choice.

Also might consider if it's Marek's disease. In the meantime while you're trying to figure it out, I'd give everyone some poultry vitamins for a while. Sometimes symptoms that seem to be Marek's are actually vitamin deficiency, so it's worth investigating that too.

So sorry you lost your chickens! That's heartbreaking. Hope you figure it out!

 

[FunClucks]

The most recent hen had feathers missing where a rooster was pulling out her feathers. Is it possible it’s a low pecking order thing? Do roosters or other chickens kill younger ones.

We integrated them together about a month ago. When we got a really bad storm. Becasue the younger group (6 of them) Mainly freeranged and I wanted them to have a coop for the storm.

Yes, chickens will kill each other and eat each other if they can - it's instinctual. Did your dead chickens have pecking injuries? You can do a search on this forum to see what those look like. Usually large and bloody. If one gets an injury and the others see blood, they will peck at it, and sometimes kill each other. I think if it was pecking injuries, it would be really obvious.

BTW, there's products like BluKote to cover up injuries and you can stick them into a dog crate in the run or coop to isolate them (while they remain with the flock) so they can heal.

ETA: Usually roosters don't kill the hens, other hens do. Sounds like the rooster may have been grooming or overmating the hen, and the other hens were probably pulling out her feathers. Some Pinless peepers might help if you put them on the bully hen(s). Feather picking is often a sign of overcrowding or boredom.

 

[SuperiorFarmsGirl]

She only had a small area of missing feathers nothing horrible or bloody looking so I do. Suspect that’s the reason for her death. I did purchase rooster booster vitamin mineral powder you mix in with their feed yesterday.

Is there something you recommend?

 

[FunClucks]

She only had a small area of missing feathers nothing horrible or bloody looking so I do. Suspect that’s the reason for her death. I did purchase rooster booster vitamin mineral powder you mix in with their feed yesterday.

Is there something you recommend?

Don't really have enough information to recommend something in particular. Sounds like the feather picking was not the cause of your hen's death if was just a small area, and no gaping bloody wounds. I think giving your flock the rooster booster couldn't hurt, at this point.

If you could go ahead and look at the Sticky for this Forum and answer the questions (it's like the first post, and labeled Sticky or something), that will give us all more info to help you troubleshoot. I have a lot of questions about your feeding and housing. Posting the answers to those Sticky questions will help me (and others) know what to ask or suggest in more detail.