Lost 2 hens in 2 days!

[Racheleighc]

I'm not sure if this is the right spot to post... so please direct me if I'm off. This is my first post.

Two nights ago I went to lock my chickens into their coop. I always count them and I noticed one of my production reds was not in there. I looked around the yard for a bit but couldn't find her (it was already dark). The next day I saw her lying dead in the middle of my backyard. She didn't have any signs of trauma, no feathers around. That night my son locked up the coop. He says he counted but he must not have, or at least miscounted, because this morning my other production red was dead right outside the coop. Again, no feathers, no obvious trauma. It did get down to 19°f last night. Could them getting locked out of coop and getting too cold kill them?

I've had those 2 birds for about 6 months. Why would they all of a sudden not go in the coop at night? They all free range during the day. I have 12 others (plus one of the neighhors' that had decided she lives here now lol) It's also weird that I only have 2 of that breed and it was those two that died.

Any thoughts? This is my third year with chickens but the first time I've lost any that I can't figure out why. Thanks for reading!

 

[M-H-Fielding]

That's hard, I'm sorry or your loss!
I don't know why they wouldn't go in at night, that doesn't sound like anything my hens have ever done!
I wish I had more knowledge on this subject.
Maybe try locking them up and not letting them range for a few days while they get used to going to bed in the coop?

 

[Racheleighc]

Thanks for replying! Yeah that's how I always train them when I first get them/ they are moved outside. And they've been going in fine since I got them. I mean, there may have been a stray time here and here when they roosted somewhere else. But we always found them and such them in the coop. It never became a habit. So strange! Needless to say I'll be locking them in myself fit a while to make sure I keep an eye on what's going on!

 

[DougVC]

Answering one of your questions about the temp. 19f should not kill them, we routinely have days below zero and our chickens are fine. Was it windy those nights? As the wind can cause some problems when it is colder.

 

[BarredRockMom]

Wow, that's sad & I'm sorry to hear it. Not sure why the two that died did or why they weren't in the coop, since it sounds like everyone knows the drill. My suggestion would be to put the flock in when it's light enough for you to see & account for everyone, at least for a while.

As for the temp, I don't know how cold they'd be able to stand it out in the elements v in their coop. With no obvious sign(s) of trauma, it's anyone's guess as to what caused their passing.

 

[Racheleighc]

I don't remember it being especially windy. I know that temp is fine when they're huddled together in the coop. But I was wondering if just one alone outside might not be able to keep their body temp up enough?

 

[aart]

I've had those 2 birds for about 6 months.

Were they 6 months old....or....?
What breed?

 

[The Lazy L]

Sometimes (just like humans) chickens just die, it was just their time.

 

[CHlCKEN]

Sometimes (just like humans) chickens just die, it was just their time.

That doesn’t explain two in two days. There is an explanation to this.

 

[ChicNmom]

Had they been acting off? Not eating as much? I do an occasional crop check in the evenings while I'm doing head count. It helps me to know which ones may not have been eating or may have a crop issue. Had they started laying yet?

Did you notice that they were with the group through out the day or off by themselves?

I had one that was missing one time and found her just staring off into space. I brought her in an she died that night. No idea why but she wasn't that young.

Can you take one somewhere for a necropsy?

I got 3reds last summer. Lost one to reproductive disease. Another wasn't eating well and also looked like she had sour crop. ( It was the first sign I noticed in the one I lost.) She or her sister possibly layed a balloon egg. I gave her calcium and got her eating. She seems to be fine now.

I don't know of any predator that would kill hem with no sign of trauma.