Lost 2 adults and one pullet in two weeks

[uwharrie]

We lost two adult Austroloup hens a little over a week ago. Healthy active birds that were eating and drinking normally my daughter let them out to free range at 3 pm and they were dead by 7 the other two free hens were fine.
this moring I go to let the birds out and find one of my New Hampshire Reds (young pullet) dead in the hen house. They went in at dark and I went to let them out at dawn, other than her head being wet ( like she had regurgitated on herself) there was not a mark on her. She was completely normal acting yesterday and had just started to free range this week.
All three of these birds seemed perfectly healthy, had access to fresh water and food.
I did find out last night my husband had sprayed Roundup under the grapevines, and we have not had any rain since he sprayed 3 weeks ago.
Could it be the roundup? or something else?

 

[Judy]

A little Googling indicated Roundup is probably a pretty toxic product, contrary to Monsanto's claims, but evidently more research is needed. However, the one with the wet head was probably the victim of a different problem. Here is a thread that should help you guess the identity:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=18670

 

[uwharrie]

Quote:
The info I could find on the internet on Round up was pretty inconclusive. My guess was the round up but i could not find any reference to someone actually losing birds to it.
As for preditors, the house is pretty tight and the rest of the birds were calm and unharmed. At night I dont think even a snake could get in (which would be the only thing I think would leave a wet head) This was not a small bird I guess she was at least a couple of pounds