My Hens Are Dying. Can You Help?

[SandLapper]

I just checked and she died as well...

Thanks for all your concern and help.

This a great resource and a great community.

One day when I learn something from all my failures, I'll be sure to come back and spread my knowledge.

If a necropsy is performed I will post results here for posterity.

Thank you all and Merry Christmas.

Here's hoping my other 3 hens stay strong. I will buffer the flock in spring with a few additions.

 

[springvalley123]

My usual feed routine is throwing out scratch in the morning along with a head of lettuce and some shredded carrots.

Later I feed kitchen scraps and let them poke around the pen.

Every other day or so I feed a half dozen scrambled eggs and shells.

They also have oyster shells crushed.

Thanks again

Sorry about the loss of the two hens. We're all learning, so please don't beat yourself up. Instead of scratch I'd suggest either all flock or a layer feed, since there's no rooster and all are of laying age. Scratch is really just a candy/junk food. I hope you get some useful results from the necropsy. Best of luck with the remaining three birds.

 

[AntiqueB]

I'm so sorry about your hens. I hope you find out what the problem was.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I also am sorry for your losses.

From what I read you have not been providing a formulated pellet or crumble feed. Is that correct?

If so you need to provide a feed that is 18-20% protein ASAP. Scratch has aprox 9% protein. The treats/extras have even less...except the eggs.

While your birds may have appeared ok they are severely malnourished.

 

[SandLapper]

I also am sorry for your losses.

From what I read you have not been providing a formulated pellet or crumble feed. Is that correct?

If so you need to provide a feed that is 18-20% protein ASAP. Scratch has aprox 9% protein. The treats/extras have even less...except the eggs.

While your birds may have appeared ok they are severely malnourished.

I did consider this too...

Even though some others theorized I may be overfeeding, it could have been the wrong feed.

Let me clarify though, they get scratch made of cracked corn, oats, or just common scratch.

Also, I was very involved with the hens and made them personalized power treats, along with an array of fresh veggies. I thought they were eating better than I was, they definitely ate more.

Perhaps the demands of this particular breed required more nutrients than an older breed, but this seems like the diet of most domestic birds throughout history to me...not crumbles.

Because of your advice, today I will drop my idealism and buy a bag of pellets just for the sake of experimentation though.

I know I'm new, and I may be getting slightly defensive here, but could their diet cause two vibrant and ravenous hens to suddenly fall dead?

That just seems too coincidental and one was the fattest bird of all and she didn't even take food her last day.

I don't want my pride to get in the way of a thriving flock though. So give it to me straight here!

My other theory is that maybe they ate one of the death angel mushrooms we have growing wild everywhere now.

I have some meal worms I'm raising. And want to eventually make all my own feed.

Is there anyone here that does that successfully?

Once again, thank you!

 

[springvalley123]

I have some meal worms I'm raising. And want to eventually make all my own feed.

Is there anyone here that does that successfully?

Once again, thank you!

I don't know of anyone who's done that successfully, I have heard of some people doing it, and it sounded unworkable, a big hassle. Basically, it's not just the amino acid profiles in each grain and seed, it's the vitamins, minerals, including trace minerals. There are special mixes of vitamins and minerals, and bone meal I think. It's quite a process, and then, it doesn't produce a homogenized feed--the birds could pick out what they like and leave a necessary component behind. Many people free range their birds, so the layer feed or all flock formula feed gets supplemented by weeds, seeds, and bugs. I don't know many people who give scratch at all, some do use it as a treat I think.

 

[SandLapper]

I don't know of anyone who's done that successfully, I have heard of some people doing it, and it sounded unworkable, a big hassle. Basically, it's not just the amino acid profiles in each grain and seed, it's the vitamins, minerals, including trace minerals. There are special mixes of vitamins and minerals, and bone meal I think. It's quite a process, and then, it doesn't produce a homogenized feed--the birds could pick out what they like and leave a necessary component behind. Many people free range their birds, so the layer feed or all flock formula feed gets supplemented by weeds, seeds, and bugs. I don't know many people who give scratch at all, some do use it as a treat I think.

That makes sense!

I suppose these birds are breed to intensively produce, so they need some intensive feed.

I'm considering a free range situation going forward and may purchase a hardier hen breed this spring for that reason. At that point my meal worms should be going strong and maybe I can consider a homemade feed

Until then, bagged feed is what they will get based on all of your advice

 

[21hens-incharge]

I did consider this too...

Even though some others theorized I may be overfeeding, it could have been the wrong feed.

Let me clarify though, they get scratch made of cracked corn, oats, or just common scratch.

Also, I was very involved with the hens and made them personalized power treats, along with an array of fresh veggies. I thought they were eating better than I was, they definitely ate more.

Perhaps the demands of this particular breed required more nutrients than an older breed, but this seems like the diet of most domestic birds throughout history to me...not crumbles.

Because of your advice, today I will drop my idealism and buy a bag of pellets just for the sake of experimentation though.

I know I'm new, and I may be getting slightly defensive here, but could their diet cause two vibrant and ravenous hens to suddenly fall dead?

That just seems too coincidental and one was the fattest bird of all and she didn't even take food her last day.

I don't want my pride to get in the way of a thriving flock though. So give it to me straight here!

My other theory is that maybe they ate one of the death angel mushrooms we have growing wild everywhere now.

I have some meal worms I'm raising. And want to eventually make all my own feed.

Is there anyone here that does that successfully?

Once again, thank you!

A fat bird is an unhealthy bird.
Fatty liver syndrome is linked to feeding high carb, high calorie foods.

Could the poor diet be the cause of this heir deaths? Only a necropsy can tell if their livers ruptured.

Malnourished people who eat high carb low protein diets end up with a high rate of obesity and other health issues too.

Several years ago I took in a group of 6 hens. Their first year of life they were fed 20% formulated feed and 80% corn. Zero lived past 3 years. Only 2 lived past 2 years and of the 6 birds only 2 laid eggs.

Nutrition is critical.

Not many people have adequate diversity in their free range space/yard to provide even a portion of the things the birds need to survive let alone thrive.

I do not believe it is feasible for the average small flock keeper to make a properly balanced diet for their birds.
Cost would be extreme. Availability of the needed ingredients would be questionable and then there is the thorough mixing in proper quantities as well as storage without spoilage.

It really is in your birds best interests to provide a complete feed.


One other thing about ranging....
What is available to them will vary with the seasons as well as become depleted over time.

 

[SandLapper]

A fat bird is an unhealthy bird.
Fatty liver syndrome is linked to feeding high carb, high calorie foods.

Could the poor diet be the cause of this heir deaths? Only a necropsy can tell if their livers ruptured.

Malnourished people who eat high carb low protein diets end up with a high rate of obesity and other health issues too.

Several years ago I took in a group of 6 hens. Their first year of life they were fed 20% formulated feed and 80% corn. Zero lived past 3 years. Only 2 lived past 2 years and of the 6 birds only 2 laid eggs.

Nutrition is critical.

Not many people have adequate diversity in their free range space/yard to provide even a portion of the things the birds need to survive let alone thrive.

I do not believe it is feasible for the average small flock keeper to make a properly balanced diet for their birds.
Cost would be extreme. Availability of the needed ingredients would be questionable and then there is the thorough mixing in proper quantities as well as storage without spoilage.

It really is in your birds best interests to provide a complete feed.


One other thing about ranging....
What is available to them will vary with the seasons as well as become depleted over time.

Very sage advice, thank you.

I have this idealistic vision of my hens, happily free ranging and eating food grown at home.

But I am learning that they have more nutrient requirements than I was aware of.

Like I mentioned, I am going to provide bagged feed until the time comes that we are self sufficient enough to maintain the proper environment and produce hen feed ourselves.

We just have to build up a little more and I may have jumped the gun.

I read about a home mixture of sprouted wheat berries, peas, oatmeal, along with meal worms and oyster shell.

I can buy 50 pound bags of most of those ingredients.

Does anyone have experience with that?
Or does anyone think that would be insufficient if supplemented with free range?

Also, we are trying to avoid factory farmed meats and any of the by products from that industry. But most commercial chicken feed contains animal protein.

Personally, it just feels hypocritical for me to raise chickens to avoid that industry, yet to feed them what is probably ground up factory chickens.

I'm not being judgemental, these are just my own priorities. So if anyone can recommend a brand of feed that is affordable and meets this requirement, I would be grateful.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Very sage advice, thank you.

I have this idealistic vision of my hens, happily free ranging and eating food grown at home.

But I am learning that they have more nutrient requirements than I was aware of.

Like I mentioned, I am going to provide bagged feed until the time comes that we are self sufficient enough to maintain the proper environment and produce hen feed ourselves.

We just have to build up a little more and I may have jumped the gun.

I read about a home mixture of sprouted wheat berries, peas, oatmeal, along with meal worms and oyster shell.

I can buy 50 pound bags of most of those ingredients.

Does anyone have experience with that?
Or does anyone think that would be insufficient if supplemented with free range?

How will you store everything?
How many birds are you planning on?
Are you aware that grains lose nutrients as they age and by 6 months are pretty well depleated?
How much space will you have for ranging the birds?

In the wild birds land, eat, nest, whatever then move on to "greener pastures".
Without that as an option bugs, small mammals like mice and voles become depleted. Those are hard to replace in the range area.