Southern NY, Dutchess county and below

[Sallysec]

Thank you, I have been reading, trying to educate myself on to why or what could have happened. Still no ideas just our theory that they fought with each other until they both were so wounded that they separated and died. I am just so sad, and the other girls are just acting off. I let them run around while we cleaned out the coop and they didn't leave. I mean they came out but stuck right next to us. I keep thinking they are worried. I have one easter egger just walking back and forth and a ton of eggs. Last week I was worried about not getting eggs...now id rather have the girls then the eggs. I feel rotten too, because I looked right away to see if my favorites were there. My husband is wondering if this all has something to do with the egg eating behavior we experienced last week. The two girls that are dead are the two we suspected of egg eating. I put plastic eggs in and the two of them jumped on them and cracked them open to get sand. I then filled two with mustard and these two had also been pushing hens out of the box to get their eggs etc. Could that be a cause for them to fight? Or could the other girls have gotten tired of the egg stealing?

 

[queenchick16]

...

Thank you, I have been reading, trying to educate myself on to why or what could have happened. Still no ideas just our theory that they fought with each other until they both were so wounded that they separated and died. I am just so sad, and the other girls are just acting off. I let them run around while we cleaned out the coop and they didn't leave. I mean they came out but stuck right next to us. I keep thinking they are worried. I have one easter egger just walking back and forth and a ton of eggs. Last week I was worried about not getting eggs...now id rather have the girls then the eggs.  I feel rotten too, because I looked right away to see if my favorites were there. My husband is wondering if this all has something to do with the egg eating behavior we experienced last week. The two girls that are dead are the two we suspected of egg eating. I put plastic eggs in and the two of them jumped on them and cracked them open to get sand. I then filled two with mustard and these two had also been pushing hens out of the box to get their eggs etc. Could that be a cause for them to fight? Or could the other girls have gotten tired of the egg stealing? 

Did you say they both had wounds on them? Had they eaten eggs while you were away?
Any predator (fox, raccoon)getting in would have done much more damage and you would see evidence. How much mustard did they eat.
I'm sorry you had to go through this.

 

[Sallysec]

To be honest with you I didn't pick them up, my husband did. I was crying and tossed my cookies from crying so much. He said they were stiff and the EE had a lot of blood near her on a ramp that leads towards a waterer. The other was in the run flat and rigor was set in, I noticed a half of an easter egg in the bottom of the coop ...I didn't even go looking for the other half of it. I don't think they ate eggs while I was away. I had some eggs on the counter (under 2 dozen) and I came home to find almost five dozen. I left late Wednesday night and came home Sunday night...well Monday 3 am. I put around two baby spoons full of mustard in two eggs. I used my daughters spoons and put one in each half of the eggs. I just want to know what I did wrong. I don't ever want to see that again. I don't even see feathers missing etc. Does that make any sense? Wouldn't they have pulled out a lot of feathers before drawing blood?

 

[warmheart]

Sallysec, I am so sorry that you are going through this! I have no ideas, but just wished to offer my condolences and support. Please be extra good to yourself right now. I'll be sending good thought for your other girls.

 

[magsrags]

Sorry Sallysec. It's not pretty finding your hens in such a state.

In my humble opinion the scene just doesn't speak of them killing each other to me. That, and the fact your other birds are traumatized says it might be a predator? Even one you'd not expect to see?
Could anything possibly penetrate the coop area or run? From overhead or underground as well?
Something might have been startled away before it finished it's business........just trying to be helpful in case there is a way for a predator to get inside again.

 

[Sallysec]

Thanks again warmheart and mags. I am pretty positive its not an outside source. Nothing is even pulled or moved a little and that thing has a bottom buried and metal grates on the bottom. Everything is secure and nothing is dug into. I got some advice from another board because my husband noticed a bloody mess possibly poop next to a bird. Coccidiosis? I had used medicated feed with the girls when I first ordered them. Never had a problem, I do know that I used new waterers and feeders and one old one which may have been used when transporting a bird. I washed it but not with bleach. Possible? Also all this rainy weather has my run looking pretty similar to the earlier posted pictures...water world. I know this is the perfect weather for that. The coop itself is dry and there is plenty of space that is covered for the girls to be in. So now I am trying to find someplace local for necropsy. I found Cornell in Ithaca for $60 but I have to ship them the bird. Anyone know someplace closer? Also I have just read something about the bodies needing to be refrigerated? Help!

I hate not knowing..this is making me ready to purchase a full on camera monitor system. This next month is supposed to be filled with tons of weekends away etc where I have chicken sitters coming in...and now I don't even want to go on our vacation for fathers day (which I LOVE).

Thank you all again for your insight and warm wishes.

 

[Harborview Hens]

Sallysec......

So sorry.

 

[queenchick16]

Sally , check in the morning completely around the perimeter along the ground for any signs of dirt being disturbed, or wire damage. If something came in at night while they were asleep they might not have put up a fight and as mags said it could have been scared away. Sorry if this is not helping . I know it's terrible to have to keep going over it.

 

[magsrags]

Sickness is always possible and if no critter could make entry then it's probable. Wish I could be more helpful. I hate not knowing cause you just can't rest.
Tomorrow really check out your birds poop. keep them on a feed only diet so you can really tell if it is looking normal or not. Watery/fruity treats will make the poo loose/watery for a bit and look different right after a meal of it so keep that in mind. Pick each one up and feel their crops etc. making sure they have some meat on their bones. Worms are another possibility as well.
There is plenty of info on the threads for treatments with the different medications available that you can check out as well.
I find chicken illness difficult to learn about myself.They hide the symptoms so that we just can't seem to catch in the very beginning.

 

[littlecritters]

Thanks again warmheart and mags. I am pretty positive its not an outside source. Nothing is even pulled or moved a little and that thing has a bottom buried and metal grates on the bottom.  Everything is secure and nothing is dug into. I got some advice from another board because my husband noticed a bloody mess possibly poop next to a bird. Coccidiosis? I had used medicated feed with the girls when I first ordered them. Never had a problem, I do know that I used new waterers and feeders and one old one which may have been used when transporting a bird. I washed it but not with bleach. Possible? Also all this rainy weather has my run looking pretty similar to the earlier posted pictures...water world. I know this is the perfect weather for that. The coop itself is dry and there is plenty of space that is covered for the girls to be in. So now I am trying to find someplace local for necropsy. I found Cornell in Ithaca for $60 but I have to ship them the bird. Anyone know someplace closer? Also I have just read something about the bodies needing to be refrigerated? Help!

I hate not knowing..this is making me ready to purchase a full on camera monitor system. This next month is supposed to be filled with tons of weekends away etc where I have chicken sitters coming in...and now I don't even want to go on our vacation for fathers day (which I LOVE). 

Thank you all again for your insight and warm wishes.

I'm so sorry this happened! There is a Cornell Diagnostic Lab somewhere on LI that will do necropsies. The $60 that Cornell quoted you for necrposy does not cover the cost of the histopathology report..which is not optional. Bloody poo sounds like it could be cocci. The current wet conditions are perfect for cocci to proliferate. I'm out of town at the moment and don't have access to my Emergency Kit from Dr Peter Brown...he recommends a specific treatment.

If you are near STOOPID (Roberta)...she may have an extra kit on hand, that you could purchase. Dosing instructions are in the kit. I would consider treating your flock asap. Please let me know how you make out.