Is it a disease?

[ChickenGeek_101]

I posted last week about a sick rooster.
Well this morning I went out side to find my buff orphington rooster, and my black star hen not coming out, so I looked to see if they were in there, but they died over night. I can't figure out why, I had one die last week and then two last night.
We just got snow here in Tennessee so it has been a little colder
The hen was just fine yesterday (she lost her feet due to frost bite two years ago) she was going everywhere like she usually does, but the rooster he hadn't been acting his self, he lost some weight, we could just walk over and pick him up.
I am worried about the rest of the flock. It's just strange that my chickens have all of a sudden my chickens have been needing special attention.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Is your coop smaller? Have you added heat? Or closed up the coop more than normal?

 

[Eggcessive]

I too have lost several chickens since Christmas, but mine are older hens. Most had ascites or fluid in the lower bellies when I necropsied them, from either heart or liver disease, and sometimes that can be a problem with internal laying.
Mine are not liking the cold, not drinking as well as usual, and are not going out of the coop because of all the snow and cold winter temps.
I would look them over for anything unusual, such as lice, mites, runny poops, feel of their crops for problems, and give them a good exam. Look for any respiratory issues. If you lose another, it can really help to get a necropsy by the state vet or a college poultry lab to get a diagnosis.

 

[ChickenGeek_101]

The coop is small, but we have a big one that we are getting fixed back up this spring.

I closed the outside up the other day, but there is plenty of vinhalation in there.

We have not added any heat, they have been fine until it snowed. It was colder before, but maybe with the sudden snow it may have infected them.

The hen was two years, and the rooster was about the same age maybe a little younger

 

[Eggcessive]

Winter cold, molting, and extremely hot summer days are all kind of stressful to chickens. If they have issues that usually don’t cause too many problems normally, or ones who Have hidden issues, those times can push them over the edge. Necropsies are something that we can do at home to look at organs for anything unusual. Take pictures and post them here on BYC for advice. The best necropsies are ones done professionally by state vets. At home, we can see things like egg binding, an impacted crop, blocked gizzard, pale or tan livers, excess fat, or white coating on organs, all of which can point to certain problems.