Multiple deaths; unknown cause; what's best course of action?

[tehbry]

Hello! Hoping for a little link to resources or ideas for best course of action. We've been raising chickens for 5 years. We have a flock of 23, roughly. 2 Roos, 21+ hens. Overall, we've had a very healthy flock with no 'illness' related deaths during our time.

We've recently (within a week span) lost two healthy hens quickly. Symptoms were the same. Lethargy, liquid coming out of the mouth/crop, and a quick death. Both died in our arms, so we did get to see how quickly the process took. One hen was lethargic for an afternoon, was brought inside for examination, and died quickly inside after a quick warm bath. 2nd was lethargic and found laying in the run. She died within minutes of being picked up. Both chickens were healthy in the days before and had no other known issues. Both were laying.

I don't know what's going on specifically, or if I have a systematic problem in the coop, but what is my best course of action? Do I proceed to change all the food? Deep clean? At this point, we're concerned about stopping any potential problem that may kill more of the flock.

Thanks for any ideas.

 

[nuthatched]

Sorry for your loss.
What is their diet?
Any toxic or moldy substances?
Send one in for necropsy, if you loose another.

 

[addctd2plnts]

You should be able to take in a body to a state ag extension for an inexpensive autopsy and diagnosis. If you post the state you are in, maybe somebody can tell you the specifics of who to call and where to go?

 

[tehbry]

You should be able to take in a body to a state ag extension for an inexpensive autopsy and diagnosis. If you post the state you are in, maybe somebody can tell you the specifics of who to call and where to go?

Thanks to both of you. Northern Virginia.

Diet is a local non-gmo layer blend. No mold that I can see in their food. It's kept dry and I always inspect the food. Yes to possible mold exposure from some vegetable scraps though. We give less than ideal garden produce to them that we grow, but we never intentionally give them moldy stuff. That said, there is a chance they've had access to some of that. Is that a major worry in a small amount and possibly a cause?

I believe I'm about to lose a 3rd bird who is very lethargic and her weight is way down. She's eating, though, but doesn't seem to be healthy.

 

[tehbry]

I think I'm going to lose my 3rd bird today. So far, the rest of the flock is doing fine. Any old scraps or moldy vegetable carcass we've seen around (which was not much) we removed.

In anticipation to necropsy the 3rd bird, I'll need to drive it to a state lab that's about an hour away. If I have to go a period of time before I can take it, can I freeze the bird? What's the protocol?

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. If you plan to let the state vet lab do a necropsy, the body should be kept in 2 plastic bags, and placed in a cooler with ice, or refrigerated. Do not freeze the body. Ideally, the sooner the body is examined after death, the better. How old are the hens who are dying? I do home necropsies if reproductive disorders or cancer are suspected. Some things may be more obvious. Check her crop and tell us what it feels like. It should be empty first thing in the morning before eating, and it should feel full and firm in the evening. Pictures of droppings can sometimes give us clues. With extreme weight loss, I suspect either cancer or a crop disorder. I hope that you can figure out what is happening.

 

[tehbry]

Thanks for your reply.

Long story short, we've had two hens pass away within 2 weeks. Both younger 1/2 years. Healthy hens up until this point. Both were good layers. Suspect is something ingested. They had a 'sour' crop, but no smells or issues. They just both had a leaky crop and general lethargy. No other issues noticed. They died VERY quickly. Normal to death in a few hours.

3rd hen has lost significant weight. She's not eating much or accepting water. Her eyes are looking like they are bulging a bit at this point. I know she's not doing very well. We have her contained and giving palliative care. This hen is 3-4 years old. She doesn't lay anymore. She's always been a sweet bird. Nice demeanor. One of the few we can hold easily. 3 days ago I noticed her lethargy was more than normal and I separated her. Her poop looks a version of normal, I think. A little white and a little runny.

 

[Eggcessive]

What is your location and climate? Have you wormed your chickens recently? I like Valbazen for worming, 1/2 ml given orally, and repeated in 10 days. Do they free range, and are there any plants that might be poisonous? Can they get into a compost bed? Here is a link for most state vets including VA, and how to keep the body:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry-labs.html

 

[tehbry]

Virginia. Zone 7A. We haven't wormed our chickens recently. It's been a couple years. We typically have only wormed in the past when we saw evidence of worms. Full pasture access. They have access to lots of plants, but none that I know to be poisonous. They do not have access to compost right now. Thank you for the link.

She's still alive, but fading. She's starting to smell pretty bad. She does have white mites (Edit: I believe it is lice, not mites) on her that we can now see given her weakened state.

We'll inspect all the birds and likely do a permethrin spray. They have good access to dust baths, we use D/E in many, many places.

Plan is to take the body to the state lab on Monday and we'll see what information we can gather for flock treatment.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

You say that she smells. Are you sure you are seeing lice and not maggots?