Seven dead hens within 4 hours, not attacked. UPDATE: Teflon Poisoning!

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AaronandAlice said:
Sadly, the hen passed while I was gone to get antibiotics. I don't know if chickens can vomit--but she had a thick brownish liquid in the box with her. Ugh- what a shi**y day. Will the rooster go mad by himself?
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Oh no, I am so sorry!! :hugs :hugs It is normal for birds to vomit up things from the crop at death. Part of the dying process.

I am so so sorry!:hugs
 
I expect the rooster would prefer to have other chickens around but I imagine he can make it alone until you get your spring chicks. Get them in April and used the Mama Heating Pad brooding method.

As others said don't beat yourself up over this, sad as it is. And consider the educational value to everyone reading this thread and who will see it in the future.
 
I have dealt with lone birds in the past. Soft music on a radio during the day, a ticking clock 24/7. Both of these will help calm his nerves for now.

If you get chicks in the spring, you won't be able to mix them in with him till they are of laying age. You might try to find some adults locally in your area. Check feed store bulletins too, sometimes people are getting rid of flocks or part of them.
 
TwoCrows said:
I have dealt with lone birds in the past. Soft music on a radio during the day, a ticking clock 24/7. Both of these will help calm his nerves for now.

If you get chicks in the spring, you won't be able to mix them in with him till they are of laying age. You might try to find some adults locally in your area. Check feed store bulletins too, sometimes people are getting rid of flocks or part of them.
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I was thinking the same. He arrived with our chicks at one day old and was much larger than them- I'd be afraid he'd hurt a smaller bird.
 
It could've happened to us too. My DH had worked KFC with his folks for 13 yrs. He couldve had these same bulbs in his truck.

Thank you for sharing your experience, and I'm TRULY SORRY for your loss. Your reply brought tears to me eyes, cause I can imagine the guilt you feel.
My parakeets were having nests of eggs, too many for my female to attend to since I had to separate my male who kept cracking the eggs. Well, I thought the brooding time was def over, the nest smelled SOOO BAD even tho we tried to clean it daily for the girl, but she was very aggressive for good reason. I finally took out the box and decided the male just hadn't gotten it right this 3rd time. Put the box outside and it was 40 that night. Next day, out if curiosity, I broke open all the eggs. To find out that each one was 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 days from hatching. I cried for 2 weeks and still do telling the story. We all make mistakes. :'(

Please forgive yourself. Build your flock back up. Love on those who are left


AaronandAlice said:
Hello there... I am Alice's husband. I just want to say, that this was very much my fault. Although I did not know that a Teflon lamp would harm/kill chickens, I am the one who took the bulb out of the package and told her to use it to heat the coop. I have been servicing commercial food equipment for over 27 years now, and not once have I ever read the box that the lamps come out of. These are the very same bulbs that keep the wing bar food warm at your grocery stores.

The terrible scene in the coop I witnessed while Alice was posting with you folks last night, brought a wave of fear over me, that was confirmed as I read the lamp box. Although we had no idea, I feel responsible for this. It is our first time brooding chickens, and we went in with a lot of researching what needed to be done first. Nothing can prepare you for this. I just went through the posts, and see Alice taking the blame. I assured her it was ok to use the bulb, because it just produces heat. I am having a hard time accepting the result. Truly, I had never heard of any dangers of PTFE. I am sorry this even happened, but I am thankful you folks are comforting her. We will do what we can to revive the remaining 2 birds. The rooster actually seems unscathed by it all. Thank you for your support and friendship. It means a lot. Alice puts in 99% of the work everyday to keep them fed, warm, safe. I let her down. And that's the worst...
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AaronandAlice said:
I was thinking the same. He arrived with our chicks at one day old and was much larger than them- I'd be afraid he'd hurt a smaller bird.
Click to expand...

Every bird is different. Some roosters might be gentle, others not so much. Chicks can get stepped on, worse yet, chicks nearing maturity should not be mated with until they are of age.
 

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