One maybe Two Dead Hens in Two Days...

[bkbingham]

One of my hens died yesterday...sh had been looking sick..head hanging down, moving slow, fed her yogurt/eggs ...but she died...then found one of my favorites today laying down..labored breathing..raspy type breathing...She was fine this morning....I dont know whats going on...it has been 115, 116 today and I have plenty of shade, Mister system under the roof of pen....

I do see some mites but there is not many....What is to many mites? (Are they little brown bugs running around?)

Baby is laying on the ground with legs out to the side and cant keep her head up!!! Help...

This is baby...

 

[bkbingham]

I think i am dealing with heat prostration on this one........The hen yesterday is an older hen and has not been well for days...this one was all of a sudden..

 

[Emzyyy]

I don't know but Im sure someone else can help you.

 

[Judy]

115??? Wow. I thought it was hot here.

I'd also guess heat. A heavy mite/lice infestation will make them anemic and even take them down, but that isn't going to happen with a few. They are one of those things we control, but don't eliminate. Somewhere I read that 100 degrees is their limit.

 

[bkbingham]

I have 15 the others are fine....This one just happen today...she was running around the yard this morning...tody I came home and she was on her side..i thought she was dead...but she is just shaking and breathing fast...wont drink, head lays down...

 

[mypicklebird]

Over 90 degrees is stressful for chickens, over 95 the old and young may start dying. 115? you are lucky you did not lose your whole flock- the shade and misting probably saved you many birds. heat exhaustion & heat stroke can take birds just like mammals. If the water runs out, or the non dominant birds are prevented from getting in the shade or drinking- they can stress and die rapidly. The lice or mites are not helping, and just add to the stress. Enough of them can kill from anemia. An anemic bird is a weak bird, and will not be able to cope with the heat as well.

 

[bkbingham]

Thank you...I cooled her dow last night and this morning she is up and alert but still not right she tried to get up and walk and lost her balance...She wont eat or drink, which worries me...I need to re-think some cooling ideas..it will get above 100 constantly through the summer...

I am new to this and these hens are 20 weeks old

I am from Yuma, AZ where it can get 120...and I know people raise chickens there...I am going to try to freeze gallon mikl jugs and throw them ini the coop..I have lots of shade and mister system under the shade of the coop wich is a 25' X 8' Run....

One of my kids said they saw her in the nesting boxes and they took a green egg from where she was..if so then yesterday was her first lay which could of caused some additional stress...

Anyways any of you Arizonans Out there got any Ideas how to keep the Flock Cool during 100 degree temps?

 

[bkbingham]

This is what her Poop looked like this morning...