So Discouraged.

[Krist10]

We just got through a hen with swollen eye. With the help of others here, we fixed her up and her eye has been great. Saturday, when I was fianlly able to put her back out side, we noticed that about half of the flock has what looks like fowl pox (I also posted about this). Yesterday, I went out to the coop and the bird that had the swollen eye now has a swollen leg (pic attached). WHAT!? UGHHHHH!!! WHAT NOW? So Ive been doing research trying to figure out what it could be. this afternoon, I went out to check on everyone, look for eggs (a couple of them just started laying about 10 days ago) and one of my red sexlinks who was one of my best healthiest looking, sounding, sweet birds, I mean NO issues, is DEAD in the dust bath. She must have died this morning after they came out of the coop, because rigor mortis had set in. I looked in the coop and around the run. I didnt really see any bloody, green or off-looking poop. What in the world could have caused this? It was not a predator, she had no signs of being even remotely sick, nothing coming out of her vent. I'm just so over this. What in the world.

 

[Themellowyellows]

Oh noo! Im so so sorry to hear!

Not really sure as to what this is. Did you do a autopsy? You could send her body out or do it at home (there are lots of videos.) I do find this sudden death weird, its concerning... 3 days ago we found a chipmunk dying on our balcony. No predator, just dying.. I even saw it pass away. Two days ago, I saw a dead halk, no predator, no gun shot, feathers beautiful! Dead.. In a really weird spot, like it fell out of the sky, or crawled there. The fact that two deaths happend to really healthy creatures are concerning, now three actually. You should get this checked out with a vet ASAP.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

You can also send your dead hen to a state lab for them to do a necropsy (animal autopsy) and report their findings back to you. Double wrap the body in plastic and refrigerate, do not freeze, until ready to send. Here is a list of state labs. It may cost.

I'm sorry for your loss, and for your troubles!

https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry-labs.html