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

[Percheron chick]

The confirmed cases of e coli were 5 weeks ago. Highly unlikely at any of that lettuce is still edible. They also seem to believe it was limited to a food service supplier (institutional or restaurant).

 

[AaronandAlice]

That's the coop in summertime when we were just finishing it up.

 

[Welshies]

Hmmm... looks like the ventilation is okay, but if you have frost I would definitely add more.

 

[AaronandAlice]

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

How tall is your coop?

6 feet in the front (on the inside)

 

[TexasSam]

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.

Put a vent at the top on the same side as the door under the overhang

 

[TexasSam]

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

X2

 

[Welshies]

You need 1 square foot of ventilation per bird. They may have died because of too much moisture in the lungs- thoughts guys?

 

[Chelseyb123]

Id say poor ventilation and to drafty. Im in maine as well. I dont cover up theyre openin to go in an out of the coop an i have one window plently of vents above roosts. My window is dry in the morning. I also put hay at the bottom of the window. Pic of my coop below. It was super windy last night so if the house was very drafty it couldnt of been good condition for them last night.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Do those windows open? If so you need to open one or two to let the wet out.

How far from the heat lamp were your birds huddled on the floor?
What kind of bedding did you put in?
Have you used the stuff you put under it before?


Were any of them breathing oddly? Rattling sound while breathing? Sneezing? Coughing? Nasal discharge?

 

[21hens-incharge]

If you have not yet PLEASE put any still alive in the garage or storage shed or your basement.

Just not in the coop til the cause is sorted out.