Please Help...two chickens have died in the past 4 days

[eyes88]

Quote:
Thanks for your questions and suggestions:

The first hen was found in the pen (near the water/feeding area), the second was found 4 days later in one of the nesting boxes.

It is possible that mice could get in to the coop, but i doubt anything bigger. The construction is 2x4's and ply wood with a cement block floor. I'm pretty confident that the coop is secure.

There has been nothing unusual with the eggs at all. The hens both seemed totally normal and were laying regularly.

The poop has been both dark and light brown...but again nothing struck me as being out of the ordinary.

The hens have not been de-wormed or treated for mites.

When the first hen died the temps were warm but not excessively hot (mid 80's). The weather has gotten very hot, and the when i found the second hen we had the second day of 90+ temps. There is plenty of shade and a small fan in the nesting box...and this is the 3rd and 2nd summers for both hens.

After the first hen died, i changed all the bedding and replaced the old cedar shaving with new. When i removed the cedar shavings last night, i did notice that the new shaving were very aromatic...and the second hen was found in the nesting box, so it is possible that the fresh cedar shaving had something to do with the second hen's death.

Thanks again for all of your suggestions, interest, concern and condolences...it is most appreciated.

- eyes88

 

[Lobzi]

I read that they are free-range.....correct?
I met a woman last night who's duck was killed by eating ant poison. You might check on that, or other poison,as a possibility.

 

[d.k]

* I think you gave your own answer-- The rising heat is making the cedar more volatile. But, I would also add several more waterers, too, for the duration of the melt-down, and maybe add a little poultry electrolyte.

 

[sammi]

I asked about rodents thinking that maybe the hens were startled, and jumped off the roosts and injured them selves..

the second hen could have been egg bound..
but also could have been effected by the heat and cedar fumes.
maybe true of the first one also..

some toxin is still a possibility..

you might consider having a fecal float test done to check for worms..just as a maintenance thing for their over all health.

 

[antiquebuff]

Sounds like it could be a combination of cedar shavings and heat. So sorry for your loss, sometimes we never know for sure!

 

[ivan3]

Four chooks. Two of one breed, two of another. One/two yr. olds. All four exposed to cedar during previous summer(s). No observed signs of illness/stress prior to sudden death of a one year old and a two year old. Two survivors appear to be healthy (all had access to same food/range?).

What can kill chooks without any clinical `prodromal' signs and no observed symptoms? (I'm assuming no breed(s) related cardiac problems).

Possibly acute Aspergillosis or Clostridium?

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Dozens of things, unfortunately (fewer if you're out there staring at your chickens every moment of every day to notice occasional or brief symptoms, but really, who is).

Pat

 

[ivan3]

Of course there are many ways for chooks to expire without us having a clue one. Just seeing if anyone else had a guess about this particular set of circumstances. Eyes88 was kind enough to follow the guidelines and provide good info., maybe narrow it down to a half-a-dozen. That two are healthy and two died suddenly (all other variables seemingly constant over one yr. for all 4) would cause me to guess that they might have gotten ahold of something moldy.

Then, again, there are an infinite number of hypotheses that are equally capable...

A good link with more deaths sudden and unexplained:

http://www.poultrydiseases.net/online/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27&Itemid=52

 

[jjthink]

So sorry for and about your hens.
As I was working my way through this thread I was also thinking combo of cedar and the heat. Doesn't explain the Friday loss because the insane heat didn't hit until Saturday but boy oh boy it was relentless straight through last evening (Tuesday) in the NJ/PA/NY area. My roo seemed to endure it all (with cool fruit offerings and ice water, fans etc.) but tonight (even tho much more comfortable by comparison - 82 instead of 102 at 7 p.m.) he is for the first time ever open mouth breathing. I just fed him cold melon drizzled with pedialyte and I have fans on him whether outdoors or in. It's possible your second hen could not endure the heat possibly combined with a cedar issue and that maybe her death is unrelated to that that of her feathered friend. I hope everybody else will be okay.
JJ

 

[SpottedCrow]

Sorry for your losses.