Lost One, Second Recovering

[Captain13]

Last week, I had one of my girls suddenly lose all leg strength and become very lethargic. I immediately segregated her. She would eat and drink but seemed very confused. Also, her comb started to turn blue. She started recovering after about three days and then just passed away.

Yesterday, another one became very lethargic so I segregated her. Her comb was also turning blue. She slep all day yesterday except for getting up and drink water. Heat index here has been 105-107 daily for a week. This morning, she was up, walking around and pretty much back to normal

Fans are running all day and I’m keeping fresh cool water in the run and coop.

Last week before this problem arose, we had a migration of birds come through that would have numbered in the thousands. They were everywhere including on the ground foraging. So I looked up the symptoms for the bird flu and I’m thinking that’s what happened here. Labored breathing, blueish comb, lethargic, etc.

The heat isn’t helping but I thing that the quick segregation of the two may have prevented the spread within the flock.

Just wanted to pass this along as something to watch for..

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. Dehydration and heat exhaustion could also look like that. Make sure they have shaded water, and I would add cool water twice a day. Shade and ventilation are key in this hot summer weather. Your state vet lab would offer a necropsy if you have them do a necropsy if you lose another one. Wrap in a plastic bad and refrigerate, but don’t freeze a body. Here is a list of 6 state vet labs in GA to contact, and tell them it is for a backyard chicken:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry...L5h4Xt137GBu32pWJZSRUY5DYhQyVrd4ODmF-Ab8otocc

 

[Captain13]

Sorry for your loss. Dehydration and heat exhaustion could also look like that. Make sure they have shaded water, and I would add cool water twice a day. Shade and ventilation are key in this hot summer weather. Your state vet lab would offer a necropsy if you have them do a necropsy if you lose another one. Wrap in a plastic bad and refrigerate, but don’t freeze a body. Here is a list of 6 state vet labs in GA to contact, and tell them it is for a backyard chicken:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry...L5h4Xt137GBu32pWJZSRUY5DYhQyVrd4ODmF-Ab8otocc

Good info. The second one is up and active and the rest are fine. Keeping a close eye on them. Also, added a feed bucket that I’m keeping full of water. I add ice every couple of hours. I did this because when they drink from the bucket, which they really like btw, they dip more of their beak and the excess runs down their necks. This seems to help cool them down on these hot days.