Nesting Material of Death

[Wyorp Rock]

9 month old Faverolle pullet

second pullet started acting strange

She's acting a little lethargic (not flopping over, but standing in a corner on her own).

She's not eating

She hasn't started laying yet so at least it isn't an egg. Her comb hasn't matured yet. I checked her vent earlier too, it was clear. I'll try and grab some pictures of her in the morning. Right now she's on a mix of chick feed and layer feed, because the older hens are layers. The only problem is that I'd be too scared to tube feed her, because she might asphyxiate.

You actually felt inside her vent for an egg?

Isolating herself...she's not well - it would be wise to go check her out again before morning. See if she's pooping and get some fluids into her.

 

[FluffyButtBabies]

Ok, I'll go check on her quickly then, and see if I can grab a photo or two. No, I haven't felt inside her vent for an egg, but that's because she isn't at laying age yet. Her comb is still unmatured and small and pink, and she's about two months younger than the hens who have started laying. Her sister that's the same age as her isn't close to laying yet either.

 

[FluffyButtBabies]

I just went in the coop to check her out. She complained and clucked when I picked her up, which I take as a good sign. I grabbed a few pics of her. I can't tell if she was falling asleep because she didn't feel well, or if it was because she's a very sweet bird who's pretty chill with me and it's way past her bedtime.

 

[LateBirdFarms]

While I understand why you would consider the nesting material suspect, I wouldn't put it as my first guess personally. Just typing out some ideas bouncing around in my head here...

Is she your only hen going near the nesting box? If it were something toxic enough to cause such a quick reaction, I would think it would be visible in at least some others that share the space, unless that girl has some underlying issue that makes her more susceptible? If she ingested some, would trying to flush it out with coconut oil be helpful, or harmful? (<--I really don't know, so I'd be curious if someone knew the answer and could share it, pretty please) Was the material removed from the nest after the first death? Was the first death of the same breed? Wouldn't it be amazing if they could just frikkin tell us their problems? Perhaps not, I think my remaining poor production reds would be full of nonstop tearjerker save me pleas!

I would put her into a crate for the night to get an idea of her droppings in the morning, so you know that they definitely came from her and keep an eye on her intake at the same time. Hydrating by tube is terrifying the first time, but you can get the hang of it pretty quickly if it becomes life or death, and the resources and experts here are amazing.

(Sorry if I'm repeating someone, my internet is being wonky tonight so I'm having trouble going back to read posts before I lose connection again... so I'm typing like the wind to just get this up!)

 

[Wyorp Rock]

How is she this morning?

 

[FluffyButtBabies]

I checked on her this morning, and she was acting better! Definitely not 100%, because she wis still sluggish and quiet. But I did watch her take a few small nibbles at her food, which I take as a good sign. So should I just wait this out and hope she gets better? I wish they could just say what was wrong lol! I only have 3 other hens in that coop so it's possible none of the others had gotten to the material yet. And yes, after the first one died I took out the material because it had been soiled, and I didn't use it till just now. I don't think she has any underlying issues, although I know the first one had an impacted crop a few months before she got sick. They're all Faverolles.

 

[mommiesrcool]

I threw out the packaging, but it was supposed to be one of those fancy ones with the straw/twine on top attached to a paper layer on the bottom so that it would catch their droppings. It kind of looks like this: View attachment 2488572

Oh no that's the same one I use

 

[aart]

Oh no that's the same one I use

Do you still have the labeling?

 

[SweetLittleChicks]

So I have a 9 month old Faverolle pullet. She hasn't quite started laying yet, but in another month or so she should. Now, a few months back we had another hen who mysteriously stopped eating for no apparent reason. She gradually grew more lethargic and passed away two days later. Well we had no clue what might have happened, but the other day we put in a new nesting material. We haven't used it since the last hen died, just because there was no need. Well a day after we put it in, lo and behold, our second pullet started acting strange. We decided there must be something wrong with the material, but the damage is done already. She's acting a little lethargic (not flopping over, but standing in a corner on her own). I felt around her crop and there was nothing in it, even after having food available all day. She's not eating, just like the last one. I don't know what I'm really supposed to do. I've given her sugar water, but she refuses to eat even the treats she loves. I'm really worried, as it's been two days and she isn't getting any better. I know from the last one that this is around the time she might get even worse, because after two days the last one died. I feel horrible because I should have figured out the nesting material was what killed the last one, it was brand new. And now it's too late, and I might have just sentenced the other to a death. I'm incredibly distraught. Does anybody know what might be wrong with her, or how to save her? She looks just fine other than the not eating and mild lethargy. The other hens are okay too, after close monitoring.

Whats the nesting material perhaps take a picture of it

 

[Mogul Moonshine]

I threw out the packaging, but it was supposed to be one of those fancy ones with the straw/twine on top attached to a paper layer on the bottom so that it would catch their droppings. It kind of looks like this: View attachment 2488572

i use thouse same ones (great know i am paraniod)