Hen Death

[SaltyFlockers]

I'm at a loss. I have lost two hens in two months. We started with 6 hens, lost one in May but everything has been fine until the last two months. We haven't changed anything, they get layer feed, an apple a day, a mix of scratch, mealworms, black sunflower seeds, calcium, and grit mix although they don't get the latter two everyday, and get a treat of homegrown herbs and fodder a few times a month, give or take. Everybody has been acting normal, no vent issues, feet look good, not parasite/mite issues, I put my hands on them a few times a month and haven't found anyhing. They have a large OverEZ coup and an 8x12 run plus the area under the coop. They are well protected from predators and there hasn't been any evidence of anything trying to get into the coop or run. I'm at a loss. I read about keeping chickens and do everything I can to make sure my flock is healthy and safe. I want to expand our flock in the spring, but at this point I'm not sure that is a good idea, I feel like I don't know what I'm doing and shouldn't have any more chickens. I appreciate any advice or suggestions. Michelle

 

[nuthatched]

Cut out or cut back the junk food, the apples, scratch, seeds, worms etc.
What are they dying off? Any symptoms?
Losing hens is normal, though unhappy.

 

[Hannah Jean]

I'm sorry for your losses

 

[Rusty Hills Farm]

hmmm. Are they laying? Layer feed is only for hens that are actually laying. Apples? Whole or with the seeds removed? Apple seeds are poisonous to chickens. Plus any "extras" should only provide a very small portion of the diet. Otherwise they don't get the balanced feed portion that provides all the stuff they really need in order to thrive!

Are these hatchery hens or hens from a good, well-known breeder? There is always the possibility they weren't bred to be successful. My first flock came from a hatchery with an excellent reputation but my first loss happened the first week they started to lay and by their 3rd season I only had a roo and 3 hens left out of the dozen hens I started with. It pays to really know who you're buying from.

It also takes time to learn how to keep chickens. Reading gives you a good foundation to build on IF you're reading the handful of people who actually know what they're talking about. Unfortunately a nice website is no real proof they do know anything. (I've stuck with Gail Damerow for YEARS for just this reason.) The rest comes from hands-on and that does take time and quite a bit of heartbreak.

So good luck with this and please accept my sympathies for your losses.

Rusty

 

[SaltyFlockers]

Cut out or cut back the junk food, the apples, scratch, seeds, worms etc.
What are they dying off? Any symptoms?
Losing hens is normal, though unhappy.

Ok. We don't give them alot, just a little something. There have been absolutely no symptoms that I noticed. Normal behavior, scratching at the ground, eating and drinking, interacting with the other hens, no vent issues, no mites, feet looked good, crop was good, combs and wattles were good color and texture...just nothing. But I'm a novice chicken owner so I guess I could have missed something.

 

[nuthatched]

Apple seeds are poisonous to chickens.

It would take 3,500-5,000 seeds to make a chicken croak. The 6-10 seeds in one fruit divided by multipe birds won't do anything, ever.

 

[Rusty Hills Farm]

It would take 3,500-5,000 seeds to make a chicken croak. The 6-10 seeds in one fruit divided by multipe birds won't do anything, ever.

Good to know!

 

[MountainWoman73]

Sometimes stuff just happens to chickens and you don't know why. I don't think you have anything to feel bad about. I've had it happen a couple of times that one just drops dead with no apparent cause. If the others seem healthy with no symptoms of distress, I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

They do need the crushed granite grit daily for digestion as they don't have teeth. The oyster shell is for forming egg shells when they are actually in production and is more necessary when they are not getting a layer formula feed. If you supply both oyster shell and grit, they should be in separate containers, as non-laying birds do not need the oyster shell and will avoid it.

 

[SaltyFlockers]

hmmm. Are they laying? Layer feed is only for hens that are actually laying. Apples? Whole or with the seeds removed? Apple seeds are poisonous to chickens. Plus any "extras" should only provide a very small portion of the diet. Otherwise they don't get the balanced feed portion that provides all the stuff they really need in order to thrive!

Are these hatchery hens or hens from a good, well-known breeder? There is always the possibility they weren't bred to be successful. My first flock came from a hatchery with an excellent reputation but my first loss happened the first week they started to lay and by their 3rd season I only had a roo and 3 hens left out of the dozen hens I started with. It pays to really know who you're buying from.

It also takes time to learn how to keep chickens. Reading gives you a good foundation to build on IF you're reading the handful of people who actually know what they're talking about. Unfortunately a nice website is no real proof they do know anything. (I've stuck with Gail Damerow for YEARS for just this reason.) The rest comes from hands-on and that does take time and quite a bit of heartbreak.

So good luck with this and please accept my sympathies for your losses.

Rusty

We haven't gotten any eggs in about a month and I wasn't sure if that was because of the time change or a couple were molting. The one's that were molting have gotten their new feathers back so maybe they'll start laying again. They get whole apples but we've been doing that the entire time. I'll start cutting them up from now on so they don't get the seeds. We got them from Tractor Supply so probably not the best quality.

Although I haven't seen any evidence of illness, should I treat for parasites in addition to reducing the snacks?

Thanks for you feedback.