Lost 2 hens in 2 days!

[CHlCKEN]

19° is not going to kill them, mine are fine through colder temps. Keep locking them up and perhaps even earlier, before it’s dark. If at all possible, order one of those trail cams. You’ll be able to catch any sneaky animal when they come by. However, I do hesitate to say it was an animal because you did not identify significant or even minor injury. Report back to us if your chickens are acting off (inactive, droopy, strange poop, discharge in nose or eyes, etc)

 

[Mrs. K]

Did you get them at the same place? And they were the same age? It sounds like sudden death syndrome to me. I have lost birds about that age. It doesn't happen often, but it is just like you describe. They are perfectly normal, and then dead.

An old timer told me that sudden death syndrome is caused by a genetic defect, that when the bird approaches full size, they can no longer compensate for the defect. And they die. One group of birds I lost 3 -1 month apart, when the third one died, I was getting quite nervous...never lost another one.

It happens around 5-7 months - not real often, but sometimes.

Do take a good hard look at your remaining birds, no harm in that. But I bet they are just fine.

Mrs K

 

[Racheleighc]

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.

I don't think it was especially windy.

 

[Racheleighc]

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.

Yes I think I will try to get out there earlier so if anyone is not in I can look for them.

 

[Racheleighc]

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

No I bought them at about a year old. So I'd say they were 18 months. They were both Production Reds.

 

[Racheleighc]

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.

I hadn't noticed them off by themselves or acting weird. They were both laying. I will start checking their crops once in a while. That's a good idea!

 

[Racheleighc]

Did you get them at the same place? And they were the same age? It sounds like sudden death syndrome to me. I have lost birds about that age. It doesn't happen often, but it is just like you describe. They are perfectly normal, and then dead.

An old timer told me that sudden death syndrome is caused by a genetic defect, that when the bird approaches full size, they can no longer compensate for the defect. And they die. One group of birds I lost 3 -1 month apart, when the third one died, I was getting quite nervous...never lost another one.

It happens around 5-7 months - not real often, but sometimes.

Do take a good hard look at your remaining birds, no harm in that. But I bet they are just fine.

Mrs K

Thanks for your reply! So I actually got them at about a year old so they were around 18 months. But yes I did get them from the same place together (and only those two). So maybe it was something with them because it's quite a coincidence that it was those two and all the rest are, so far, just fine.

 

[Mrs. K]

Sometimes it just happens. Chickens are often times not long lived. Did they have good care until then? That is all any of us can do.