Official BYC Poll: What Are The Top Causes of Death in Your Backyard Flock?

[Duckberry]

We just lost a Welsh Harlequin duck due to an enlarged heart. We noticed her acting a bit lethargic but eating, drinking, and preening normally. Brought her inside and the next day she was unable to put any weight on her right leg and not interested in food but was still drinking a ton of water and splashing around in the bathtub during swim time. Took her to the vet, who did an x-ray and diagnosed her with an enlarged heart. Couldn't give me a reason as to why that might happen but did give me a long spiel about how ducks fed organic feed have issues. I took her home to say goodbye to the other ducks and go for one final swim, and she died overnight.

Also, lost my WH drake last July due to an unknown illness that also came on pretty rapidly. So sad how quickly illness can progress in them. I was just devastated. Still makes me tear up thinking about it. They are just so full of personality.

 

[SusanMc]

On the orchard we have weasels which got three of my hens last fall, and hawks were the other culprit.

 

[WallacetheKhakiCampbell]

Somehow, I have never had a problem with a predator. Maybe a good rooster, maybe a good coop. I have TONS of coyotes walking around, a know local bobcat and I live on a creek. I think I could be my dogs that keep them away but I have been lucky so far. However, every chicken I've ever lost was from Mareks. I haven't tried to confirm this online, but I read that unvaccinated chickens in WA state have a 70% infection rate.
Also, has anyone else seen that any leghorn/legbar breed are more susceptible to Mareks? This is what I've seen in my flock at least. But I know that they made the Mareks vaccine from a genetic mutation from... a leghorn, so I am very confused about this.

 

[Quaicken108]

I ticked 4 boxes. I’ve lost a total of 9 chickens over the years and I hope that number doesn’t go up because I love my chickens and wish that they never died! I got four chickens and then 2 died (over a period of time) due to eggbound issues, then I got 3 and 1 of the originals died of an unknown cause, then I got 4 (SLW’s) and (over a (shorter) period of time) 3 died not long after we got them (Disease or something). The breeder was kind of sketchy and I think they weren’t too well when we bought them. I almost regret buying them but 1 survived and is still alive and I love her so much that I wouldn’t change anything! I got 2 not long after those 3 passed. Then we have last year... 1 of the ones in the second batch passed 8 days before her 3rd hatchday due to eggbound issues. I got my SLW 2 Barnevelder chicks for her! Late July the last girl from my first batch passed (almost 6) due to crop issues and her internal organs not working as well as they did when she was younger. My last loss was October last year due to an injury. It was one of my LS’s who was too young

Everyones stories are so encouraging to hear. Keeping chickens is honestly one of the best things in the world but it does take tolls because of the factor of death. I hope everyone’s chickens will continue to live a happy and healthy life full of LOVE!

 

[tripletfeb]

I had a bullying issue in my flock. The bully pullet pecked another one's vent so bad she died. Then I culled the bully just today. Only two chickens I have ever lost

 

[CSolis]

Stinking possum got two of my babies and two adults of mine.. Greedy whooptard. He was sneaking in via the tree limbs.

 

[Suedan]

We just lost a Welsh Harlequin duck due to an enlarged heart. We noticed her acting a bit lethargic but eating, drinking, and preening normally. Brought her inside and the next day she was unable to put any weight on her right leg and not interested in food but was still drinking a ton of water and splashing around in the bathtub during swim time. Took her to the vet, who did an x-ray and diagnosed her with an enlarged heart. Couldn't give me a reason as to why that might happen but did give me a long spiel about how ducks fed organic feed have issues. I took her home to say goodbye to the other ducks and go for one final swim, and she died overnight.

Also, lost my WH drake last July due to an unknown illness that also came on pretty rapidly. So sad how quickly illness can progress in them. I was just devastated. Still makes me tear up thinking about it. They are just so full of personality.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

 

[feather13]

Somehow, I have never had a problem with a predator. Maybe a good rooster, maybe a good coop. I have TONS of coyotes walking around, a know local bobcat and I live on a creek. I think I could be my dogs that keep them away but I have been lucky so far. However, every chicken I've ever lost was from Mareks. I haven't tried to confirm this online, but I read that unvaccinated chickens in WA state have a 70% infection rate.
Also, has anyone else seen that any leghorn/legbar breed are more susceptible to Mareks? This is what I've seen in my flock at least. But I know that they made the Mareks vaccine from a genetic mutation from... a leghorn, so I am very confused about this.

Wow! So impressive you have those kinds of predators around and no chicken losses.

We've lost a lot of chickens to Marek's, too. Several years ago we got 20 chicks from a local hatchery that knowingly sold Marek's-infected chicks and only two survived. They also infected our flock of older roosters and hens. Of 30 chickens, only 5 survived. It's a terrible virus and I'm sorry you have it in your flock. I don't know about leghorns, but it seems Silkies are susceptible to Marek's. We lost six Silkies to Mareks.

I'm curious if you hatch chicks from your surviving flock (wondering what the survival rate is) or if you've purchased any new chicks that were vaccinated? We now have a batch of 13 vaccinated pullets that we got as day old chicks. They are 10 months old and we've lost only one (to a dog). Keeping our fingers crossed...

 

[SusanMc]

Stinking possum got two of my babies and two adults of mine.. Greedy whooptard. He was sneaking in via the tree limbs.

That was an awesome description of a chicken predator. So very accurate in my estimation. You have an awesome day !!

 

[WallacetheKhakiCampbell]

Wow! So impressive you have those kinds of predators around and no chicken losses.

We've lost a lot of chickens to Marek's, too. Several years ago we got 20 chicks from a local hatchery that knowingly sold Marek's-infected chicks and only two survived. They also infected our flock of older roosters and hens. Of 30 chickens, only 5 survived. It's a terrible virus and I'm sorry you have it in your flock. I don't know about leghorns, but it seems Silkies are susceptible to Marek's. We lost six Silkies to Mareks.

I'm curious if you hatch chicks from your surviving flock (wondering what the survival rate is) or if you've purchased any new chicks that were vaccinated? We now have a batch of 13 vaccinated pullets that we got as day old chicks. They are 10 months old and we've lost only one (to a dog). Keeping our fingers crossed...

Oh my! I'm so sorry! Luckily the strain I've seen here wasn't the terribly contagious one, just individual infections. But I am hatching my first eggs soon. On day 9 in the incubator. Do you or anyone know if there is an way to vaccinate chicks myself?