I'm stumped 2 chickens have died in 5 weeks

[2ndTink]

You mention other coops.

When was the last time you brought ANY new to you birds home?

The last new birds were the ones in this 8x10 coop last spring. No new birds on the property since then.

 

[McChooky]

Was your husband the primary caretaker of the chickens before he became ill?

 

[McChooky]

I came home to my favorite chicken dead today. This morning she was fine as far as my quick check before going to work showed. Through the week I don't get a lot of time to just watch the chickens, but from my morning and evening feeding and opening / closing the coops, I haven't noticed anything.

To go back to the first chicken 5 weeks ago, I had no idea she was sick, same thing, going to work in the dark, coming home in the dark, 60+ hr work weeks. My husband was in the ICU so that even kept me from spending time that weekend with them. I noticed Saturday night she was on the floor of the coop, I thought she'd been knocked off and couldn't see to get back on the roost in the dark. I put her back on the roost and that's when I noticed she was puffed up and pale. It was almost midnight and I was running on 2 1/2 hrs of sleep in two days, so I didn't spend much time looking her over. I got a nap basically and went back to the hospital. Sunday night when I got home she had passed. Two weeks ago another RIR in the same coop was lethargic and puffed up. She's still alive, I have a thread on her but no progress. She's lost a lot of weight, isn't interested in eating, I did get her to eat a little scrambled egg last weekend so I'm planning on doing that again tomorrow.

She's still holding on, but tonight my favorite pullet is gone, and as far as I know, without warning, her crop was empty, and since I've been checking crops on them with Crazy Eyes not eating, I know she ate yesterday. I haven't noticed any bloody poops, the only thing I have seen is some poops are extra dark, smooth, and shiny. I have no idea if this means anything or not.

Could it be coccidiosis, or worms? There are no mites or lice. I have Corid, should I dose their water and see if Crazy Eyes gets better? They are in a well ventilated 8x10 coop, Nutrena layer feed, minimal snacks (scratch grains) and they are all about 10 months old, and my other 2 coops have had no issues.

Please post a couple photos of the coops vents and roosts thanks!

 

[2ndTink]

Was your husband the primary caretaker of the chickens before he became ill?

No, it's always been me, his was an ongoing heart issue so nothing catching thankfully.

 

[aart]

from my morning and evening feeding

Do they have feed available all day long?

 

[McChooky]

No, it's always been me, his was an ongoing heart issue so nothing catching thankfully.

I'm glad he's feeling better! Bless your heart!You probably still aren't getting much rest!

 

[2ndTink]

It's 16 degrees out, I'm doing a deep clean on the coop, the girls don't want to be outside so they are mostly hanging out with me in here. I have one EE that is puffed up, but I'm not sure if she's just cold, she's looked like this before, attaching photos.

It's 28 in the coop and falling since I have the door open and I've shut off the heater, it was 35 in here when I came out this morning.

I got Crazy Eyes (RIR) to eat some scrambled eggs, now she's cruising around pecking at things with the other chickens. But, she's still puffed up and not right.

I've also attached a photo of the one fresh poop that is different than all the others, but still I'm not finding any bloody droppings.

 

[2ndTink]

Please post a couple photos of the coops vents and roosts thanks!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Their crops are emptying overnight?

Being fluffed up, is keeping warm, but I agree with you, something is a bit "off" with Crazy Eyes. Is there a reason for her name? Do you notice something different about her eyes?
Just asking, I'm not seeing anything about her eyes.

It can be very hard to nail down what's going on sometimes. Re-check crops, look for lice/mites. If you have a vet get a fecal float to see if worms are part of the problem.
If you lose another, then getting a necropsy can often reveal what's going on.

The poop is cecal poop.

 

[Artichoke Lover]

Do they free range? Are the shavings from the same bag as the other coops?
Are they laying?
Are they vaccinated?
I agree with what others have said that a necropsy is in order.