This is my first flock of chickens. 3 of them have died in the last 24 hours and I don't know why. The birds have just started to lay and are 6 months old. Before the deaths, I had 25 birds. 11 sex-links, 13 EE's and one Australorp rooster. I have had these birds from day-old chicks and have had no problems with health or diseases. Two birds died last night, and one was found dead and still warm this evening. All the dead birds are Easter Eggers. The birds which died last night were my two lowest ranking. They had bare butts, but they didn't have any real open wounds or anything. My husband theorized that maybe the high-ranking chickens denied them access to water.
My coop is secure. There is no way an animal has gotten into it. It also has good airflow, it has a heat lamp. Though last night and tonight are warm. The birds have unlimited access to DuMour Layer feed and are given fresh water from the same source 2-3 times daily. None of the birds appears to have any health issues. They seem fat, eyes are clear, no growths or spots on their combs. Today, I even brought in a record number of 20 eggs (the birds have only been laying since January 14th). The birds are offered oyster shell in their feed a few times a week (maybe I need to offer it more often?) and are given fresh pine shavings for bedding every week or so. I do feed table scraps when I have them, though I haven't given them anything in a couple days.
One of my theories is that maybe the heat lamp (which has been in use 24/7 for the last 2 weeks or so due to frigid temps) has caused them to die of exhaustion? The bulb is a red 100 watt bulb but it is bright enough that the chickens wake easily when I move around outside after dark. I didn't think this was a problem, but now I wonder. My poor chickens.
Please help me. I'm so sad and I hope that I can prevent anymore of my beloved girls from dying.
My coop is secure. There is no way an animal has gotten into it. It also has good airflow, it has a heat lamp. Though last night and tonight are warm. The birds have unlimited access to DuMour Layer feed and are given fresh water from the same source 2-3 times daily. None of the birds appears to have any health issues. They seem fat, eyes are clear, no growths or spots on their combs. Today, I even brought in a record number of 20 eggs (the birds have only been laying since January 14th). The birds are offered oyster shell in their feed a few times a week (maybe I need to offer it more often?) and are given fresh pine shavings for bedding every week or so. I do feed table scraps when I have them, though I haven't given them anything in a couple days.
One of my theories is that maybe the heat lamp (which has been in use 24/7 for the last 2 weeks or so due to frigid temps) has caused them to die of exhaustion? The bulb is a red 100 watt bulb but it is bright enough that the chickens wake easily when I move around outside after dark. I didn't think this was a problem, but now I wonder. My poor chickens.
Please help me. I'm so sad and I hope that I can prevent anymore of my beloved girls from dying.
