I’ve had 2 chickens die suddenly 1 1/2 weeks and don’t know why

[Srwilson77]

I had 12 Buff Orpington hens and 2 have died within the last week and a half. They are 10 months old. To me they seem healthy and all are good weights. I haven’t noticed any lethargy, abnormal feces, swollen waddles/combs, they aren’t sneezing and don’t have watery eyes. They look healthy. They have been eating well, have clean water, grit and oyster shells. I just cleaned the coop and nesting boxes. They are kept in a 4’x8’ coop with 3 windows. I use sand on the floor and have a fan blowing out of one window at all times and another one open about an inch for ventilation. As I live in Minnesota and it’s winter, I have 1 heat lamp and 2 heat pads in the coop and the temperature seems good. I let the out of the coop on days where the weather is warmer, above feeezing.

I’ve checked them over after death and don’t see any sign of external parasites or mites.

I am perplexed! This is my first go at raising chickens and I absolutely love my girls! If anyone has any ideas as to either what I’m doing wrong or a possible illness, I would greatly appreciate the help. The pictures are from this summer.

Thank you!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

12 Buff Orpington hens and 2 have died within the last week and a half. They are 10 months old.

They are kept in a 4’x8’ coop with 3 windows. I use sand on the floor and have a fan blowing out of one window at all times and another one open about an inch for ventilation. As I live in Minnesota and it’s winter, I have 1 heat lamp and 2 heat pads in the coop and the temperature seems good. I let the out of the coop on days where the weather is warmer, above feeezing.

I'm sorry for your loss.

You have a fan blowing out the window now in winter?
Is the heat lamp new? Where did the bulb come from - what type is it?
What do you feed, including treats?
Can you post a photo of the inside of your coop?

They have approx 2.5 sq ft per bird in the coop - you only let them out if it's above freezing - so they don't go in the run very often at all since it's winter?

How warm is the heat lamp and heating pads keeping it inside the coop?
Is the 1inch open window the only ventilation that they have?

Without a necropsy it's hard to know the cause of death.

 

[Srwilson77]

I'm sorry for your loss.

You have a fan blowing out the window now in winter?
Is the heat lamp new? Where did the bulb come from - what type is it?
What do you feed, including treats?
Can you post a photo of the inside of your coop?

They have approx 2.5 sq ft per bird in the coop - you only let them out if it's above freezing - so they don't go in the run very often at all since it's winter?

How warm is the heat lamp and heating pads keeping it inside the coop?
Is the 1inch open window the only ventilation that they have?

Without a necropsy it's hard to know the cause of death.

Thank you for your interest.

Yes, I have one window open with a fan blowing out and one other window cracked about an inch or two. It doesn’t seem drafty, as the windows are above the roosts.

Everything I have in the coop is new and most has been purchased at our local feed store. The lamp is a regular heat lamp with white bulb. The temperature inside the coop is approximately 60-65 degrees. I feed them Nature Wise layer feed and scratch. As far as other treats, I give them mealworms and washed greens.

So far we’ve had some fairly decent weather and they’ve only spent a handful of days only in the coop since October. If it’s above 0, I open the coop door for a hour or 2, but the girls don’t venture out, they’ll just peek out and go back in.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you for your interest.

Yes, I have one window open with a fan blowing out and one other window cracked about an inch or two. It doesn’t seem drafty, as the windows are above the roosts.

Everything I have in the coop is new and most has been purchased at our local feed store. The lamp is a regular heat lamp with white bulb. The temperature inside the coop is approximately 60-65 degrees. I feed them Nature Wise layer feed and scratch. As far as other treats, I give them mealworms and washed greens.

So far we’ve had some fairly decent weather and they’ve only spent a handful of days only in the coop since October. If it’s above 0, I open the coop door for a hour or 2, but the girls don’t venture out, they’ll just peek out and go back in.

That's quite warm to keep a coop in winter, I can see where they don't want to come out LOL

What are your plans if you happen to lose power?

Normally, chickens do well without heat in winter as long as they have a coop that protects them from the elements and direct wind. I don't live where you do, so can't really judge on giving them heat, but a *most* folks in a cold climate don't provide heat.

Anyway - it can be very hard to know what caused the death of a chicken without a necropsy. If you happen to lose more, consider sending the body for testing or if you feel you can - perform an informal necropsy yourself, post some photos and we may be able to help you with that.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would have to agree that 60-65 degrees inside your coop in Minnesota seems a bit warm, especially if they go outside to free range where the weather is going to be frigid. We have seen one Minnesotan whose neighbor’s flock has frozen feet already this winter. To assure that your chickens can survive in a power outtage, they must be able to tolerate freezing temperatures.

Now, that said, if we get down to zero here, I use a heat lamp just to keep it in the teens inside my coop. But my temps are usually 20 and above except for about 2 weeks in January. When we all begin with chickens, we worry that they cannot keep warm in winter. Actually, they do well until it gets below zero. Keep the coop as dry as possible, and have a little air circulation overhead where humidity can escape. My coop now has end to end overhead circulation year round. I open all the windows in warmer weather, but my coop has ventilation in the eves all around.

 

[Kathy Golla]

Triple check that heat bulb to make sure it is specifically made for animal care.
How much do your hens weigh? BOs can get very hefty which comes with its own set of problems.

 

[aart]

Triple check that heat bulb to make sure it is specifically made for animal care.

Yes, that it doesn't have any 'safety' coating on it.
How long have you been running it?
Is it on 24/7?
Non stop light is not good for them.