We lost a bird this morning and are not sure of why it died and if my other 5 birds are at risk.
For the last two days one of our ISA brown hens has been very lethargic. Yesterday was the worst, as she was sleeping wherever she stopped. She was sleeping outside in the run, right inside the door of the coop, and in a nesting box that night. Two nights prior she was sleeping on the roost bar with the rest of the chickens. This morning we found her asleep in the water breathing very heavily. We tried moving her out of the water and she fell over. At that point we wanted to separate her, so we put her in a separate cage. About three minutes later she let out some terrible cackles and then expired.
A little back story. We got chickens for the first time last Saturday. We purchased 3 ISA Browns at an auction. I know nothing about their age. I built a nice coop and run for the chickens. The coop is approximately 4'x8' and the run is roughly 4'x15'. I have both hanging water and feeder for the birds. I am feeding the chickens 16% chicken feed from TSC. The chicken that passed was an auction bought chicken. When I brought the chickens home they were seemed in great health. They were wandering around the yard full of energy. Then on Wednesday I went to a local small farm and purchased one Isa brown (~1 year old) and two Amberlinks (16 weeks old). The 3 auction chickens beat the new chickens up pretty good, but I was expecting that. Now a week into my chicken career and I have a dead bird.
Does anyone have a guess as to why or what killed my bird. Should I be worried that whatever killed my bird could be spread to my flock.
Thanks for the help,
For the last two days one of our ISA brown hens has been very lethargic. Yesterday was the worst, as she was sleeping wherever she stopped. She was sleeping outside in the run, right inside the door of the coop, and in a nesting box that night. Two nights prior she was sleeping on the roost bar with the rest of the chickens. This morning we found her asleep in the water breathing very heavily. We tried moving her out of the water and she fell over. At that point we wanted to separate her, so we put her in a separate cage. About three minutes later she let out some terrible cackles and then expired.
A little back story. We got chickens for the first time last Saturday. We purchased 3 ISA Browns at an auction. I know nothing about their age. I built a nice coop and run for the chickens. The coop is approximately 4'x8' and the run is roughly 4'x15'. I have both hanging water and feeder for the birds. I am feeding the chickens 16% chicken feed from TSC. The chicken that passed was an auction bought chicken. When I brought the chickens home they were seemed in great health. They were wandering around the yard full of energy. Then on Wednesday I went to a local small farm and purchased one Isa brown (~1 year old) and two Amberlinks (16 weeks old). The 3 auction chickens beat the new chickens up pretty good, but I was expecting that. Now a week into my chicken career and I have a dead bird.
Does anyone have a guess as to why or what killed my bird. Should I be worried that whatever killed my bird could be spread to my flock.
Thanks for the help,