Mass Sudden Death!!

[jermoatc]

Look closely - especially on the neck and under the wings. Weasels will leave very little sign. They can make tiny little bites, then will lap up the blood as the bird bleeds out. This has been my experience, anyway.

I will look. I would find it hard to believe a weasel would be able to do that to 33 birds in one day though.

 

[jermoatc]

Are you using a heat lamp on the chicks and poults? There are been massive deaths from using Teflon-coated bulbs that are not meant for poultry.

What are you feeding? Check the feed to make sure there is no odd odor or color from moldy feed. If the least bit of water gets into feed, it can mold overnight and cause poisoning.

If none of the above are a problem, then I would look for the possibilities the others have suggested, of a weasel or the gnats as a possibility. A necropsy might be helpful.

I have not had heat on them for several weeks. They are about 10 weeks old,

 

[Eggcessive]

What type of bedding are you using? Cedar can be bad for them. Do you have any pictures of your set-up? How is the coop ventilation? I would look for any opening in the coop where a small animal could get inside. Recently someone lost most of their chickens because of a gap at the top of the coop door. Weasels can apparently fit through a 1 inch opening in chickenwire. Many use game cameras to solve these sorts of problems. I am very sorry for your loss.

 

[Henriettamom919]

https://www.vdl.umn.edu/services-fees

This chart has a fee of 85.00 for up to ten birds. That would be money well spent if it saves the rest of your flock!

I am so, SO sorry!

 

[Trux]

I’ve recently learned and heard of gnats being deadly to chickens. Unclear if it’s bite related or airway clogging related.

Sorry about your loss.

It is both and when they bite the saliva of the gnat is toxic

 

[Trux]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/gnats-killing-birds.1305726/#post-21277273
They are known by different names around the country, buffalo gnats down south and I believe black flies in the north. The thread I posted the OP did not know what it was killing her birds till she had a necropsy done...she lost 41. So getting it done quick as you can should be a priority if you want to keep your birds alive. Not saying that it is gnats but the necropsy will tell the story and you will know for sure what it is.
These gnats bite the birds, feathers don't stop them. They also get in the airways and bite, and BTW their bite is also toxic so if you have swarms of gnats hanging around your property you might want to follow that thread. She sprayed permytherin to get them under control

 

[jermoatc]

So..... Upon further examination of the birds and discussion with some other local chicken people it does in fact appear to be a gnat problem. They are soooooo bad. I talked to some other people that have been losing birds to them as well. The little bastards are filling the nasal cavities of the birds and suffocating them to death. My coop has pretty good ventilation but i put some extra fans in there to help move the air around faster in hopes that it will help. Thank you all for your input and suggestions and sympathy. I would like to spray something to help get rid of them but I am fearful of having the birds ingest insecticide contaminated insects and dying from that too. Anybody know of any insecticides that will not kill my chickens?

 

[AmyJane725]

So..... Upon further examination of the birds and discussion with some other local chicken people it does in fact appear to be a gnat problem. They are soooooo bad. I talked to some other people that have been losing birds to them as well. The little bastards are filling the nasal cavities of the birds and suffocating them to death. My coop has pretty good ventilation but i put some extra fans in there to help move the air around faster in hopes that it will help. Thank you all for your input and suggestions and sympathy. I would like to spray something to help get rid of them but I am fearful of having the birds ingest insecticide contaminated insects and dying from that too. Anybody know of any insecticides that will not kill my chickens?

I'm SO sorry for your loss. What a horrible shock. Damn gnats. I hope you wipe em all out.

I do not know of one that would be good. I'm sure others have suggestions though. In the meantime, the fans are a good idea. Should make it harder for the little bastards to fly.

Sorry for the harsh language. I hate gnats in general, and 10x more now that they've killed so many lovely chickens.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Excellent article about the gnat problem: https://blog.mcmurrayhatchery.com/2...-alert-black-fly-buffalo-gnat-poultry-deaths/

 

[Eggcessive]

I usually spray my coop with permethrin 10 once a month in summer to keep flies and other insects away. It is safe for chickens, but do not use if you raise bees. Mix it 37 ml per gallon of water in a garden sprayer or spray bottle. A pint is $8 at TSC and other feed stores.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/gordons-permethrin-10-livestock-and-premise-spray-32-oz