lost a hen today, worried about the rest of the group

[hen howitzer]

Yesterday when I put up the hens I noticed one wasn't on the roost, but sitting on the floor in the hay. She was a little lethargic looking, but I had to go to work. I looked up backyard chickens at work and saw someone said to hold them upside down and see if stuff drained out of the mouth. This morning when I let them out, she was sitting in a corner by herself. I picked her up and her eyes were mostly closed and she was breathing slowly and had a couple drops of yellowy water stuff in her mouth. I turned her upside down and a bunch of stinky brownish water drained out. I did this several times and then had her sitting on my lap and she jerked around a little then died.

. I just cleaned out the coop and I'm going to clean the waterer with bleach, but I'm worried about the other birds. They are acting normal, but so was she a couple of days ago. Any ideas?

 

[hen howitzer]

Oops forgot to click the notify button.

 

[leadwolf1]

Sorry for you loss. Sounds like she may have had a sour crop. I've actually read that you shouldn't turn them upside down that they will aspirate the stuff and choke to death.

I don't think that it is something that you have to worry with the other chickens. If you are concerned, you can have her necropsied and find out exactly what you are dealing with. You can put her in the fridge until you can find someone that will do one. State agencies are usually the best since they will do them for nothing or for a small fee.

 

[hen howitzer]

I'll have to look sour crop up and look more into it. I wouldn't even have thought about turning her upside down if I hadn't read it. It's hard to believe all the things that can go wrong with chickens.

 

[leadwolf1]

So true

 

[teutschb]

Try worming them.

 

[dawg53]

Sorry for you loss. Sounds like she may have had a sour crop. I've actually read that you shouldn't turn them upside down that they will aspirate the stuff and choke to death.

I don't think that it is something that you have to worry with the other chickens. If you are concerned, you can have her necropsied and find out exactly what you are dealing with. You can put her in the fridge until you can find someone that will do one. State agencies are usually the best since they will do them for nothing or for a small fee.

x2, Sour and/or impacted crop.

 

[hen howitzer]

I read up on the sour crop and it looks like that was it. I'll know better now if it ever happens with the other hens.