Seemingly healthy hens mysteriously dying

[Jenaia Ward]

Within the week we have found two of our girls mysteriously dead in their coops. Both hens were very healthy looking as far as weight and plumage. Both hens have been eating and pecking around for bugs like they regularly do. Both are free range during the day and roost in their coops at night. They are in different coops, but all share the same food and water during the day. I am at a complete loss as to what could be causing their deaths and would be ever so grateful for any help/advice, we love our birds and are afraid we'll lose more if we don't figure out the cause immediately. Thanks in advance!

Let me add that one hen was a year old and the other around 3 years old. The 1 year old Welsummer "Hawk" was a poor layer and always laid deformed eggs, so being she died first, I chalked it up to her possibly being egg bound. But once the second chicken "Baby" a 3 year old Amber Sexlink died tonight, I figured we have have something more serious going on.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Sexlinks tend to have troubles sometimes. Do you have a garden? Or is it winter were you are? They could be eating something that could be killing them. Check for mites. Those like the really warm parts of the chicken.

 

[chickencheeper]

Did you check for swollen crop, or anything odd in their poop? I’m so sorry for your loss

 

[Jenaia Ward]

Did you check for swollen crop, or anything odd in their poop? I’m so sorry for your loss

I haven't noticed anything wrong, physically. They're free range so I can't exactly find every dropping, but I haven't noticed anything alarming.

 

[chickencheeper]

I haven't noticed anything wrong, physically. They're free range so I can't exactly find every dropping, but I haven't noticed anything alarming.

The fact that they died within days of each other suggests a desease such as worms, but the fact that one of them always lays deformed eggs suggests egg bound. Was the welsummer(or others) acting strange before death?

 

[Jenaia Ward]

Sexlinks tend to have troubles sometimes. Do you have a garden? Or is it winter were you are? They could be eating something that could be killing them. Check for mites. Those like the really warm parts of the chicken.

It is winter, but by winter I mean 80 degrees... We're in Florida. I have noticed lice on them, but just figured that was a fairly normal chicken thing...

 

[chickencheeper]

It is winter, but by winter I mean 80 degrees... We're in Florida. I have noticed lice on them, but just figured that was a fairly normal chicken thing...

NO! Lice is NOT normal for them. Wear gloves and inspect their skin for lice and mites. I’ll bet that’s your cause of death. Dust baths are a must especially when free ranging!

 

[Jenaia Ward]

The fact that they died within days of each other suggests a desease such as worms, but the fact that one of them always lays deformed eggs suggests egg bound. Was the welsummer(or others) acting strange before death?

The Welsummer seemed broody the day before but didn't seem uncomfortable or in any distress. The next day she was alive in the morning and dead by the time I got home from work. The other hen showed no signs, as far as I know. I've been working long hours so I leave when it's dark and get home when it's dark, but I do know for sure that the Sexlink was completely normal Sunday.

 

[chickencheeper]

The Welsummer seemed broody the day before but didn't seem uncomfortable or in any distress. The next day she was alive in the morning and dead by the time I got home from work. The other hen showed no signs, as far as I know. I've been working long hours so I leave when it's dark and get home when it's dark, but I do know for sure that the Sexlink was completely normal Sunday.

Was she puffed up or bobbing up and down(that indicates egg bound)

 

[chickencheeper]

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