Sudden Chicken Death Syndrome?

[hckyguy77]

So tonight I had a 3 day of buff orpington that I got from the local zamzows yesterday and out of no where it started acting like it was choking or gagging and would randomly jump for the most part she just lays with her eyes closed and continues the same movement. Any suggestions? The others seem fine 4 of them

 

[jeepnfam]

My 11 month old Buff Orpington flew out of my arms today and hit the underside of her neck on a tire ring that was in her pen for dirt baths. She got up and ran off. I checked her and she was holding her mouth open a little, but she looked fine. 10 minutes later, I went back out to check on her and she was lying motionless in her run. I picked her up to put her in her nest box, and she went limp. Within minutes she was dead. What could have happened? She was fine all day, and was running out in the yard with the rest of my small flock. My 10 year daughter is devastated. I just rehomed our rooster last night, so in 24 hours my flock went from 6 to 4.

 

[hckyguy77]

I suggest opening your own thread about this as you will get answers much quicker as thats what happened with me.

 

[casportpony]

Sorry for your loss... Maybe she crushed her trachea?

-Kathy

 

[Eggcessive]

My 11 month old Buff Orpington flew out of my arms today and hit the underside of her neck on a tire ring that was in her pen for dirt baths. She got up and ran off. I checked her and she was holding her mouth open a little, but she looked fine. 10 minutes later, I went back out to check on her and she was lying motionless in her run. I picked her up to put her in her nest box, and she went limp. Within minutes she was dead. What could have happened? She was fine all day, and was running out in the yard with the rest of my small flock. My 10 year daughter is devastated. I just rehomed our rooster last night, so in 24 hours my flock went from 6 to 4.

Welcome to BYC. I would probably agree with Casportpony that she may have crushed her trachea, or hit her neck so hard that it hemorrhaged. That is just so sad. Chickens can get a little wild sometimes. Sorry for your loss.

 

[jeepnfam]

Thanks guys! I have been stalking the forums for months since I got my chickens, but this was the first time I ever posted. Everyone seems so nice! After I got over the shock of Layla dying, I gave her to a friend to "autopsy" aka process. She called me back to let me know what she found. The breast bone was shattered and had a massive blood clot around it. I probably didn't post this in the right category, but I was wondering how many other sudden chicken deaths had something like this occur when no one was looking. If I hadn't seen her land on the edge of the fire ring, I would have just found a dead chicken in the yard with no clue what happened. Thanks again for the replies and help. I like coming to this forum because I no longer feel like I'm the only crazy chicken lady. haha!

 

[Muffie]

My husband went into the coop this morning and Goldie was just laying on the ground eyes closed he nudged her she opened her eyes brought her in and said something's wrong with her. She is two years old almost to the day. I gave her grape fruit seed extract and put her in warm Epsom salt bath then she started drooling water had a seizure and died. She was healthy yesterday. I don't know when they get egg bound do they do this. She didn't have any signs her comb was nice and red a few areas of frostbite nothing serious. Please do I treat my other chickens we now gave thirteen.

 

[Eggcessive]

My husband went into the coop this morning and Goldie was just laying on the ground eyes closed he nudged her she opened her eyes brought her in and said something's wrong with her. She is two years old almost to the day. I gave her grape fruit seed extract and put her in warm Epsom salt bath then she started drooling water had a seizure and died. She was healthy yesterday. I don't know when they get egg bound do they do this. She didn't have any signs her comb was nice and red a few areas of frostbite nothing serious. Please do I treat my other chickens we now gave thirteen.

She may have been about to die when he found her, but I would never bathe a chicken that looks sick. I would first check the vent with a lubricated finger to check for an egg. If I were you I would do this on her body, and maybe you can find out if there was a stuck egg. She could have had any number of things wrong--heart, impacted crop or gizzard, cancer or internal laying issues. If you can you could do a necropsy, and look for a cause. It is hard to do on a pet, but sometimes is a learning experience when you can find what killed them. Sorry for your loss.

 

[casportpony]

Sorry for your loss. She was probably already dying, so you did't kill her, but remember next time you have a sick one that one should *never* bathe them unless they are , hydrated, bright, alert and suffering from egg binding that hasn't responded to treatment with calcium

-Kathy

 

[9pines]

I've been keeping chickens for about 2 years. My girls are very spoiled!! I treat them well. Cold winter mornings they get warm oatmeal for breakfast! Over this time, I have lost several. The first one,Hannah, was due to an attack,found Ruby dead off the roost, both of my wellsummers,Wendy & Wilma just, died suddenly as they were walking, legs all stretched out. Nellie, my buff orph died , due to an impacted crop,and now today my old girl Lily, she's 2ish. I found her this morning in "the" nesting box, all curled up. Poor girl. She was not sick at all, or that I could tell?? It doesn't really get easier, still a bit of sadness.

And then there was 9!!