I think a yellowjacket sting killed my Rhode Island Hen

[denicerlewis]

I got two new hens and finally put them into the henhouse with the others last night. This morning, when I let my hens out (I clipped flight feathers on the new birds this morning) my old Rhode Island Red hen was okay at first then went passive in their house (sitting on the perch quietly). When I pulled her out she just sat without any struggling so I set her down to observe what she would do. When I did that, she gave two flops and died. I know I saw a yellowjacket exit the house shortly before I noticed how she was acting.
So, my question is, can a yellowjacket sting kill a chicken? I'm really unhappy over this as we only have 11 hens to give us eggs (even if most of them are going through moult and three are laying). And she was more of a pet.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

YES I think they can! I am a tough girl from Alaska, I co-exist with bees, spiders, all kinds of crap out in my garden all day. But lately, I have been bitten TWICE by yellowjackets and it was SO BAD. And I'm not allergic... But the bites turned to HUGE pancake sized welts, I could feel my throat get a little tight (they say go straight to hospital when that happens but I didnt). And the bites turned to huge purple bruises when they went away. I'm a human but I do think my chickens could be hurt by them too. I notice that instead of eating them out of the ait like they do other bugs, they shake their heads and run away. They KNOW how nasty yellow jackets are. I am completely opposed to chemicals but when "natures neurotoxin" didnt work on killing they yellow jacket next we found, I told my man to break out the napalm! Find thier nest, you probably have one around somewhere, and NUKE THEM. They are AWFUL! SO SORRY for your loss, I'm afraid of this happening to me too....

 

[jhm47]

UNEMPLOYED CHICKEN! After reading your post, I would suggest that you be very careful around any kind of stinging insect. It sounds to me like the next sting may be your last. You would be well advised to see a doctor and have him prescribe an "Epi-pen". It is a small device that will allow you to self inject epinephrin into your leg to reverse the effects of a severe allergic reaction.

 

[Chicks_N_Horses]

Yes, get yourself an Epi Pen. We have some on hand just in case....none of us have ever been alergic to anything but there are several women in my DHs family who are alergic to bee stings and such.....

Sorry about your chicken -

 

[SandyRiverChick]

I know you're right, I will... We've been reading alot on the internet since this just happened last week. I did take alavert and zyrtec right away but I will get the epi. They can kill chickens - correct?

 

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

I'm not so sure that's why your chicken died.

Chickens have a lot of fluffy feathers and thick scales on their legs that would make it more difficult to sting a chicken vs a human with soft skin.

How old was your girl?

 

[denicerlewis]

Actually it was my chicken that died but that's okay. I know the wasps and hornets seem to be more aggresive and toxic this year. Just last week I got stung twice on the same finger and had some weird side effects (by the next morning the finger was three times the normal size) and I went in to see our family Dr. and he put me on some medication to ward off the toxins from my lungs (I still ended up with a strange cough).

I talked with my friend that got me started in chickens and she said that yes, a yellowjacket sting can kill a chicken (weird).

 

[jhm47]

Actually, I find it hard to believe that a yellowjacket could kill a hen, but I suppose it would be possible if the hen had received multiple stings. Or---if the hen had been stung before and had developed an allergy to the stings.

As to Unemployed Chicken, you have now developed an extreme, live threatening allergy to these stings. Your next could easily be your last. Don't blow this off. It's a matter of life and death for you.

I have quite a bit of experience with yellowjacket stings. I have been an EMT at our state fair for many years. The fairgrounds has been infested with yellowjackets, and we have treated dozens of stings each day at times. Yellowjackets love meat and sweet things in the fall. Many fairgoers will be carrying a hot dog, or a drink, and the YJ will land on it. The fairgoer will take a bite of hot dog, or a drink, and the YJ will end up in his/her mouth, stinging immediately. There really isn't much that we can do with someone who has a stung tongue, except to give them ice water or ice cubes. Luckily, YJ's don't leave their stinger in the person like a honeybee does. However, YJ's can sting multiple times.

 

[darbella]

I think that if the lighting was not good in the coop, the hen could have thought the YJ was a fly and grabbed it in her beak and the soft tissue in her mouth may have gotten stung and her throat closed and that is what killed her. Please get an epi-pen for yourself to have on hand. The YJ's will cling to you if they swarm and can sting repeatedly. My mom and dog got attakced years ago and the YJ's were all over them and you could see them pulsing and stinging over and over. She was so focused at getting them off the dog she did not realize the extent of the attack on her. I had to rush her to the ER cause she went into shock and could not breath. She passed out as i got her there and thank God they managed to save her. She had over 300 stings on her body, they even flew up her shirt and pant legs! i hate them!

 

[SandyRiverChick]

I truly didnt mean to steal your thread over to my own troubles with yellow jackets. Bottom line is not alot of vets have experience with YJ killing chickens but yes it can happen. My friend has large animal degree in medicine so consulted her...... She says HE__ yes, plenty of venom there..... venom is what it's all about and they are carrying plenty. Not that you can know for sure by any stretch but you certainly cant rule it out as cause of death. So Sorry again.. really, feelin for you.... peace.