My girls are dying!!!

[Molnut]

In about 8 days, I have had two hens dying unexpectedly. They both were 3 and 1/2 years old and showed no symptoms of anything.
Both were acting sleepy in the morning and were dead within about three hours. They both looked beautiful. No sign of parasites, tumor, buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity. They looked perfect! If I really looked, it could have been said that they were experiencing a little heavy breathing. But, there was no discharge, no swollen face , no symptoms of any respiratory infection that I know of. Has anybody experience this? This is so scary.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

In about 8 days, I have had two hens dying unexpectedly. They both were 3 and 1/2 years old and showed no symptoms of anything.
Both were acting sleepy in the morning and were dead within about three hours. They both looked beautiful. No sign of parasites, tumor, buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity. They looked perfect! If I really looked, it could have been said that they were experiencing a little heavy breathing. But, there was no discharge, no swollen face , no symptoms of any respiratory infection that I know of. Has anybody experience this? This is so scary.

No, but so sorry to hear that. Will you be sending them for a necropsy? Where I live there is virulent Newcastle‘s disease going around in surrounding area‘s, so that is what I have been fearful of.

 

[danceswithronin]

In about 8 days, I have had two hens dying unexpectedly. They both were 3 and 1/2 years old and showed no symptoms of anything.
Both were acting sleepy in the morning and were dead within about three hours. They both looked beautiful. No sign of parasites, tumor, buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity. They looked perfect! If I really looked, it could have been said that they were experiencing a little heavy breathing. But, there was no discharge, no swollen face , no symptoms of any respiratory infection that I know of. Has anybody experience this? This is so scary.

Definitely send in to a lab for necropsy since Newcastle is going around and the mortality rate on it is very quick and very high.

 

[cleoandtheflock]

I agree you should send them to a lab for a necropsy if they looked completely fine
Where I am they do it for free!

 

[lilmillefleur]

Get a necropsy and please tell us what the diagnosis is. It's always good to be safe.
So sorry for your losses.

 

[Molnut]

Thank you for your responses. I am preparing her right now to send her to the lab for a necropsy.

 

[dogsandchickens]

I know this was a long time ago but what did the lab say if you can remember?

 

[Molnut]

It was peritonitis. Thank you for asking.

 

[lilmillefleur]

It was peritonitis. Thank you for asking.

Oh so sorry. Good to know it wasn’t contagious though, just pretty common in older production hens

 

[Molnut]

Thanks. Yes, that was a relief!
My hens are "heritage" breeds so I, naively, thought they would be more resilient. They did come from a commercial hatchery. I guess that counts more than the breed itself. Live and learn....