Sudden chicken deaths from unknown causes

[Wyandottes13]

I've had two chickens die unexpectantly. They showed no signs of illness the day before. They both had purple combs. There is nothing else connecting them. One was a rhode island red/ rhode island white cockeral and one was a wyandotte hen. Any suggestions?

 

[Marty101865]

Sorry to hear about it! I just lost a Buff Orpphinton 2 hours ago. At 1 pm this afternoon she was fine, I let them (five of them) out to run in the back yard and she didn't come out to play. She was disoriented and slow. When she finally came out I was able to walk over and pick her up, she just sat and waited for me...never happens.
I had her in my lap trying to figure out what to look for; no evidence of injuries, she didn't seem to be egg bound, and her crop was not swollen, ZERO evidence of mites or lice. We do have West Nile in the area but it shouldn't kill chickens. Her breathing was labored and just died!

Currently we've been scoring the internet for info on butterfly's, butterfly bushes and other plants they may have gotten into.


I sincerely hope you don't loose anymore! Good luck and if anyone has ideas I know I'd be grateful for the information.

 

[Eggcessive]

What symptoms were they showing as they died? You may want to contact your state vet to find out if there have been reports of any suspicious diseases, and if you lose another or have refrigerated the ones that died, you can send them in for a necropsy. I would check the feed for any off odor or color that could be mold which is toxic to chickens. Look around the ranging area for poisonous plants, dead animals, or other poisons. Lead shot found in the ground or old paint chips can be toxic as well. I hope that you can find out why 2 would die at the same time. Sorry for your loss.

 

[Wyandottes13]

Marty, that sounds similar to what the first one did before it died.
Eggcessive, I tried emailing the state vet when the first one died, but he didn't answer.
they did not die at the same time though, the first one died about 3 weeks ago. Which is the wierd part.They also do not free range and do not come in contact with waterfowl. They only eat grass in the chicken tractor, there is no carcasses around, no one has shot around my house, and there has never been any painting around the area. i only feed them layer feed and the monthly treat of mealworms.
The bad thing is, she was going to be my breeder for a project next spring.....