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

[AaronandAlice]

http://www.poultryhub.org/health/disease/types-of-disease/colibacillosis/

It doesn't sound like they would die immediately once becoming infected with e coli at a level that would be harmful.
My chickens won't eat lettuce. But, I eat it almost daily. The recommenation was from consumer reports due to previous e coli outbreaks (nothing recent, but almost all produce can be contaminated (remember when strawberries were being recalled from certain locales?)
This warning regarding the romaine lettuce almost sounds like fear mongering.

Likely- I'm just grasping at straws because I'm not sure what is going on.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Likely- I'm just grasping at straws because I'm not sure what is going on.

I understand.
Sorry to hear about your losses and hopefully you get it figured out soon.

 

[AaronandAlice]

Hmm if they moved to the floor from the roost they might be getting a draft up there and that could cause problems. Don't get me wrong they need ventilation but not draft. Is the roost higher than the vents or lower

There's no real vents per say, it's just a non insulated wood coop with more drafts near the floor because of their access door I open during the day. That was closed though.

 

[Welshies]

Weasels have tracks kind of like squirrels. They are squirrel sized and can decimate a whole flock within seconds. Cover any 1/2" or bigger holes with 1/4" hardware cloth to prevent this.

 

[21hens-incharge]

How big is your coop?
I actually am thinking they are overheated.

 

[Welshies]

How big is your coop?
I actually am thinking they are overheated.

Could be a possibility.
Post pics of coop.
Chickens can withstand -40° weather so if it wasn't that cold and you had a heat lamp on them they may have had heat issues.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

Even a real sneaky weasel attack would have left signs of struggle it seems. Feathers strewn about.

How tall is your coop?

 

[AaronandAlice]

How big is your coop?
I actually am thinking they are overheated.

It's decent sized- I can walk in it comfortable with all of them inside. there is even frost on the inside of the glass and the door in the mornings.

 

[Welshies]

Even a real sneaky weasel attack would have left signs of struggle it seems. Feathers strewn about.

How tall is your coop?

Nah... weasels usually leave no signs. They sneak around and jump up on an unsuspecting hen's back or neck instantly severing the jugular. They then suck the blood. They are very sneaky you'd be surprised.

 

[Welshies]

It's decent sized- I can walk in it comfortable with all of them inside. there is even frost on the inside of the glass and the door in the mornings.

Frost means it's too humid in there. How many square feet and how many birds?