Lost our beautiful girl. Help?

[Hollysaurus]

Hello,

I am hoping someone could tell me what could of possibly happened to our girl, Maple. (I will attach some photos.)

We look after our chickens very well, I generally think this could be a cold weather incident. We had a shift in weather recently and it was sudden so I am feeling terrible we didn't turn on a heat lamp sooner. But i'll let you guys decide if you think that could be the reason. We spoil our chickens, I mean we spent about $4,000 just on their coop set up. We love them dearly, they came into our lives around a hard time so they're kinda like our children? Maple and Aspen are our first so it's absolutely devastating this had happened to my personal favorite.

She was completely fine yesterday, she had lost a bit of weight and I did comment on it. Other than that she was eating normal; even when I dropped treats she was eating yesterday, she wasn't laying eggs like the other girls too because they're all molting.

She wasn't egg bound, I do check when they don't lay eggs. No predator attack, no sour crop, none of them shown signs of breathing issues.

I am at loss.
Maybe worms? When they get anything I am on the ball with treating them.
I really hope you guys can shine the light here, I feel terrible.

 

[GodLovesU]

She looks just like my favorite hen who I lost almost 2 years ago. How old was she and how cold was it outside?

 

[Egg Snatcher]

Chickens don’t need a heat lamp and I’d recommend not to use one.

If she was loosing weight it could be worms, molt, stress or even Merek’s. If you still have her body you could send it to your state lab to get tested.

 

[PimsGarden]

Yeah idk, the only thing I hear that might be an issue is the heat lamp. They don't need that and can often get sick from being used to heat and then not having it. They can handle really low temps so long as there is not a draft on them.

Others might have better suggestions? I'm so sorry for your loss.

 

[Hollysaurus]

She looks just like my favorite hen who I lost almost 2 years ago. How old was she and how cold was it outside?

Im sorry for your loss, It's heartbreaking.
She was only about 2-3yrs old.

 

[Hollysaurus]

Chickens don’t need a heat lamp and I’d recommend not to use one.

If she was loosing weight it could be worms, molt, stress or even Merek’s. If you still have her body you could send it to your state lab to get tested.

Our winters get very cold here, I don't think there is any chicken owner that lives around us that don't use a heat lamp in our winters. Our winters are very cold.

The only real danger of heat lamps are if they catch on fire. Thankfully, we're smart enough to know how to install one.

My 2nd thought was worms. They are molting as well so I could imagine with them being stressed from that the worms just took ahold.

I'm just hating myself for not picking up on it sooner, it's very frustrating how chickens seem fine until they're not, they're such hardy animals.

 

[Hollysaurus]

Yeah idk, the only thing I hear that might be an issue is the heat lamp. They don't need that and can often get sick from being used to heat and then not having it. They can handle really low temps so long as there is not a draft on them.

Others might have better suggestions? I'm so sorry for your loss.

Heat lamps here are used by literally every chicken owner, I don't think I know anyone around here that doesn't use one in our winters. It all depends where you live to know if you will need one. Our winters are very cold.

Thank you, I'm starting to think if it was worms. I'm just hating myself for not picking up on it sooner. I hate how they always seem fine, chickens are so hardy.

 

[StinkyAcres]

So you found her on her back in the run just like in the photos? Did you notice her comb being purple when she was alive?

I think using a heater in your area is just fine, although something like a Sweeter Heater is safer.

 

[Hollysaurus]

So you found her on her back in the run just like in the photos? Did you notice her comb being purple when she was alive?

I think using a heater in your area is just fine, although something like a Sweeter Heater is safer.

We found her in the corner of the coop, as if she couldn't get up the top of the nesting bar last night and decided to sleep in the corner.
I noticed her comb being a purple color the day before she passed.

She shown no signs of ill health at all, I even threw treats out that afternoon and she was running over to munch on them.

Looking more into this, I really do think it was worms.
Our other girls Aspen and Maggie are now looking the same. It might be too late but we've gone and got some de-wormer and put it in their water.

I'm going to be devastated if we lose them. I just wish I payed more attention; but it's so hard when chickens don't really show signs of ill health.

I know they hadn't been laying eggs but they've all been molting too so it was just a bad judgement call thinking they're fine and just molting. I just feel so sad.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. Molting is a stressful time and that is the most common time to lose one. The bitter cold in January and Feb is also a time for an illness to show up. If you worm the others at this time, I would get Valbazen which is safe for molting. Dosage is 0.5 ml (1/2 ml) given orally for a 4-6 pound hen, and repeat it in 10 days. You can open her abdomen and take some pictures of her organs, and possibly get some idea of her issue. Look at the intestines where you may see worms inside, and you can cut them open to look further. Note any spots on organs, large amounts of fat, any yellow fluid inside the belly, and look for any lash egg material or unexplained masses. Take pictures of the organs and post here for any advice. Here is a good video of a necropsy with identification of the organs: