Sudden Chicken Death Syndrome?

[chickerdoodle]

Gosh, so sorry about your loss.

These stories make me a bit apprehensive as I get my first babies next week. I get so attached to my pets so if "it" happens I hope I can deal with it understanding it can happen no matter how well you take care of them. Sheesh, even my goldfish live so long we've had to build 3 ponds in 15 yeras--each larger than the other. We are up to 1,000 gallons for a dozen fish now as they only get bigger and better.

 

[Gigijenn]

Yes, it is a relief to know we're not alone. Got back from vacation late last night, all the girls were fine. This morning we found Hester2 dead in the coop, as if she had just croaked and rolled off the roost. We did notice a pile of loose poop in the corner of the coop though. We also wonder if she was straining somehow. She didn't appear to have any parasites, but she was definitely at the bottom of the pecking order so maybe she was sick and we didn't know it, but the other chickens did. We'll have the two others in her immediate flock checked out.

Anyway, we buried her this morning with Hester1 who last year was attacked and killed by our dog. Needless to say, we won't be naming anymore chickens Hester.

And then there were five............

 

[Guwisti]

We went on vacation this past weekend. Got a call from our friend who was watching them for us. She found our sweet Hennyroo Heather dead in the coop and said the other chickens were standing around her. They are all just a year and a month old. She called and told us Saturday night and we buried her tonight. Didn't see any visible wounds. We have all girls and she was leader of the flock and had taken on some Roo qualities. Thought maybe spider bite or something...I had let them out into the backyard loose Wednesday and Thursday. Thursday night she was staying in the coop when we were packing up, while the others ran out to see us. She's usually right out there quick to see us, being the leader and all, but she stayed in the coop the whole time. Then Friday morning she was running around fine and Saturday dead. Our friend said she was lying on her back. She was nice enough to bag her up for us so we could bury her. Very sad. We have no children, so our pets are like our kids. We've become very attached to our girls. We had 2 of each kind that we have and our other Welsummer who is also named Heather seems lost without her.

Good to be on here amongst friends and like minded individuals. RIP Hennyroo Heather 3/17/09 - 4/24/10.

 

[Chickateer]

This is really nice to read that this has happened to others as well. I went outside tonight to close up the coop and I was missing one of my white silkies. I remembered seeing one nestling in the dirt earlier in the day, so I looked outside and saw her still sitting in the same hole she was digging into earlier. As I got closer I saw she was laying on her side with her head bent down towards her chest. I didn't remember any warning signs. She was eating earlier that day (her crop was full) and I believe she layed an egg, although I could be wrong. Anyway, I had brought food out earlier that day (asparagus and an uneaten corn dog) and she was eating just fine. When I examined her body, the only weird thing I could find was there seemed to be some pink skin (maybe a little more than normal? (I am new to chicken health)) coming out of her vent. I couldn't tell if this was normal or not. Silkies have the dark skin, and there was the dark vent, then the pink skin coming out. Looking in "The Chicken Health Handbook" (I didn't read through all the diseases) it seems it would match Sudden Death Syndrome, but that is said to mostly affect broilers. Any thoughts?

--Rebekah

Graphic photos:

 

[Penske]

I am so sorry for all of your losses--everyone...

Just this morning, I went out to the coop and found my Red Cochin dead on the floor. It appeared that she had a heart attack and just fell as shavings were under her wing. No parasites, no broken bones, no wounds, no egg binding, vent OK, crop normal...just dead-with her eyes closed. Very sad for us. She was a BIG personality in our flock. All the hens and roo were solemn when I went into the coop. I opened the chicken door to let them all out and they would not go out with her laying on the floor. I went back into the house to get a towel, came out and they were all in the same place! Normally, they trip over one another to get out! Once I took Ruby out, they went outside and stayed quiet...except the the roo crowed for 20 minutes straight! Other than that, they were quiet all day.

She she turned 2 on April 7th.

Why at 2 do they die? It seems so young??

We miss her...

Lisa

 

[2overeasy]

Apparently this is the place to post unexplained losses. My sweet little LouAnn Poovey died today. No discernible reason. When i went to close them up for the night she was lying on the henhouse floor on her side, dead. I looked everywhere for marks and couldn't find any. She was a very steady layer - almost 1 a day. She was also my favorite out of all 30. it's the first one I've lost and I'm, quite frankly, baffled. She was lethargic yesterday but normal today.
About a month ago she seemed to be lethargic so I brought it her in the house overnight, and the next morning she layed a shell-less egg and was fine, so she went back outside.
I'm very sad...

 

[MrsBockBockBock]

I experienced something similar this morning as well. 1 week ago I got 7 new birds that were healthy and they have been well intergraded with my established flock. My black Australorp was just fine yesterday, running around, dust bathing, eating the works. I put them to "bed" at 8 last night and this morning I found her flat on her back but still warm at 6 this morning. There was no signs or symptoms and had me in a panic. I am a first time chicken farmer and I don't know what happened and am worried that this version of chicken SID's (Sudden Instant Death) will spread. I love my girls and I love to watch them and have them peck at me toes when I wear flip flops. They are so funny and great. I don't want to lose anymore. I now have a brief case of the sads with the loss of "Vicci" the black Australorp. (Yes I name my chickens, I bet you do too so hush!) I hope none of my others die and I hope this is just a one time thing. I wish every else luck with their flocks.

MrsBockBockBock

"Mom" of 2 Rhode Island Red (Tweedle Dee & Dum), 6 Americana's (1 "Carni" for carnivore cause I caught her eating an egg but she hasn't done it again since, 1 "Pigpen" cause she is constantly surround by a cloud of dust and the rest are called "fluffly cheeks"), 2 other lg black 'lorps "Gertie and Eunice", 1 Cornish "Gracie", 2 B&W Brahma's "Jemima and Jane", 1 white Cochin "Betty White" or "Midge" cause she is tiny, 1 sm black 'lorp "Ruby", 1 Buff Orpington "Balina" from wizard of Oz, 1 Turkin "Rosy" but my kids call her Ugly poor thing., 1 speckled Sussex "Sussey", and my favorite and Queen of the hens "Pepper" the Barred Rock.

 

[Sally-O]

Being a newbie of one year+, we were also wondering what had happen when we found one of our hens dead too.
We search the body for bite marks, and felt her all over and couldn't find anything wrong. She was totally healthy and happy yesterday, and the next morning she was dead in the coop. She was the leader of the flock, so I knew the others didn't peck her. It was a mystery. I even searched my yard for anything that she might have eaten. And found a nightshade plant in fruit in a back corner. Thought that might be it, but the other girls looked healthy. There was also an egg that we knew was hers, as the other hens lay different color eggs from her.
So, it's good to read here that it's a common thing to happen sometimes.
Thanks everyone for posting your stories.
My daughter was sadden at the lost of Lacey. She was a silver laced Polish. Awesome girl. Would always run up to you to say hello. A Natural leader. We buried her in our yard, so she could be near the other girls: a bantam cochin (her buddy), two light brahma, two silkies, an Americana and a speckle Sussex.
Thanks again,

Sally

 

[pgpoultry]

Unfortunately chickens do just seem to drop dead occasionally. I have had it happen twice in two apparently healthy birds.

Animals (and birds) who are usually prey rather than predator often hide symptoms of their illnesses very well until they are at death's door.

We keep sheep and they do the same thing,

Sandie

 

[rillgal]

I lost one of my buff orpingtons this morning. No apparent reason, she was well taken care of and just the friendliest gal, always happy to see me...I will miss her for a long time.