Random Chicken Death. Cause?

[chicknmania]

I don't know where you are, but here's something else to try. When we first got chickens years ago we called the Ohio State University for help because back then there was very little resource for chicken first aid. OSU has one of the best vet schools in the country, if not the best. They have instructors there that are poultry experts, and they might give you some insight, and advice, over the telephone. You can try any college, but that's the one we called. Course, they may not be able to help much...but it's sure worth a shot, and it's free.

 

[Eggcellent8]

Guessing you can't really do a necropsy on a half eaten chicken? Ugh.

That's how most of mine are by the time I find them. The only one I have that hasn't been eaten is the first one that died Saturday night - actually found that one right away and got it "safe" in the trash, but it hasn't been refrigerated.

This is so weird! NO other symptoms. Pooping, eating, and drinking all normal, then they die.

Quite frustrating. Started putting Bragg's apple cider vinegar in their water, garlic and cayenne pepper in food, and I mixed some kombucha in apple sauce just for the heck of it. I'll look into fermenting some food for them too.

Trying to get a fecal test of the sick one tomorrow. The vet I found will do it for $15.

I didn't realize that the Safeguard you use for chickens is marketed for goats. Maybe that will be available...

Thank you for the encouragement to not give up! It's so easy to feel defeated, especially when you're doing everything you know to do.

 

[chicknmania]

Hmm. A little old, but i'd still inquire about the necropsy on the whole one. Might not be too late. But fecal test first might save you some money. Really weird. It does sound a lot like they mighta gotten into something toxic,too....your county extension agent might be able to give you some ideas about toxic weeds, etc to look for growing on your property.

It's true you have to be careful deworming a sick bird, we've had sick birds go over the edge and die after deworming, and I'm guessing it's because they couldn't handle the dewormer on top of being sick too. Eggcessive has given you good advice with pumping her up with the vitamins and electrolytes and getting her to eat, eat, eat as much as you can, while you are waiting for the fecal test results to come back.

 

[Eggcellent8]

Got a fecal test - no worms! Glad I didn't treat them before hand...

Also took the sick one to the vet. He wasn't sure what the problem was. His educated guess was a chicken version of salmonella. Never heard of it.

He gave the sick hen a baytril injection (antibiotic), and some extra to give to the other hens for 10 days. Can't eat the eggs for 3 weeks, but hopefully it will keep them alive! The vet was intrigued with the sickness, and said if any more die to bring them to him and he'd check it out in his diagnostics lab. (With that said, I think the other one is too old now to send in. Thinking I'll bother with it if another one dies, and take that one to the vet.)

I'll look about toxic plants too.

Gave them all oatmeal with milk kefir this morning and some garlic cayenne pepper eggs. I'll try to get some electrolytes too. While this situation is still devastating, I feel better knowing I'm giving it my best. Will keep you guys posted.

So thankful for my BYC family! You guys are awesome!

 

[Eggcessive]

It's good that you had the fecal test. My vet charges $30 for one, so you got your money's worth finding out about the salmonella. Pullorum is another name for it, and you need to make sure that your eggs are cooked thoroughly and any meat from your chickens cooked well, since salmonella can cause some pretty bad diarrhea and illness in people. It can come into a flock through wild birds, rodents especially, and even flies. Here is a little about the disease:
http://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/Resource000793_Rep817.pdf
http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/poultry/salmonelloses/pullorum_disease_in_poultry.html
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/salmonella/basics/symptoms/con-20029017

 

[Eggcellent8]

Pullorum? Yikes. Symptoms match it though. The links were helpful, but I'm now wondering if there is nothing I can do to save my flock? One link made it sound like eradication is the only option, because even if chickens do recover, they'll most likely be carriers and spread it. (Wanting to get new chicks next year anyway, would my former flock infect them?) Sounds like it typically happens from mother hen to baby chick, so maybe it won't spread since I don't breed them?

Oh dear...

 

[chicknmania]

Oh, ack.

In Ohio that's a mandatory cull. But maybe with the vet's support, your flock will pull through. Gosh, I hope so. Baytril is good stuff.
Maybe Pullorum is nott what it is. There's so many things it could be. Can you get some Oxine? That'd be useful to have on hand. It's great stuff too.
Best disinfectant ever.

 

[chicknmania]

But wait, you said your birds didn't have any symptoms other than the droopiness and poor appetite. From what I read, Pullorum causes diarhea.

 

[Eggcessive]

Treatment

Amoxycillin, poteniated sulponamide, tetracylines, fluoroquinolones.
Prevention

Eradication from breeder flocks. As with other salmonellae, recovered birds are resistant to the effects of infection but may remain carriers. Vaccines are not normally used as they interfere with serological testing and elimination of carriers.

Pullorum? Yikes. Symptoms match it though. The links were helpful, but I'm now wondering if there is nothing I can do to save my flock? One link made it sound like eradication is the only option, because even if chickens do recover, they'll most likely be carriers and spread it. (Wanting to get new chicks next year anyway, would my former flock infect them?) Sounds like it typically happens from mother hen to baby chick, so maybe it won't spread since I don't breed them?

Oh dear...

Yes, the new chicks would get it. Your chickens will be carriers if they hatch any of their own eggs. You might be able to close your flock to new birds until these birds are gone, then clean and sanitize your property. I would contact my vet again and double check the pullorum diagnosis. If I were you I would contact the state vet's office and ask questions about trying to keep the birds you have until they die off, and especially how long salmonella is alive in the soil. Here is a link for state vets: http://www.usaha.org/Portals/6/StateAnimalHealthOfficials.pdf

 

[chicknmania]

I think you should just do what your vet tells you to do, and relax and try not to worry about it. The vet is the expert. He or she will tell you if you need to worry or what you are supposed to do next. Give yourself a break for a day or two, so you don't burn out. Just keep taking the good care of your birds and good for you that you found a vet that can help you.

As I said before, a lot of times these things resolve themselves just fine.