Sudden Death (8.5 mo old Buff Orpington Hen)

[microchick]

I think it's a wise plan. It never hurts to be prepared.

There are a lot of things that can cause a chicken to fall over dead. Unfortunately you never know for sure unless you have a vet involved or a necropsy done as to what the cause is.

I lost almost 20 chickens since this time last year to Marek's. Trust me, it is never easy to loose them and you never get use to loosing them. I hope your hen's death proves to be nothing more than an isolated case.

 

[chickens really]

Chickens are great at hiding illness until it's too late in many cases...My Speckled Sussex had to be culled within 24 hours of showing any symptoms..This happened yesterday..I found nothing wrong with her other than suddenly lethargic..I will wait and see how the rest do over the next week. Might Cull them all and stick with Ducks...?

 

[MartinsPoultry]

If you have a burning barrel place her in there and when you can burn do so. That's what I do with my birds if they just up and die.

 

[microchick]

@chickens really you are right on about that. I have learned that 75% of the time, when one of my chickens presents with symptoms that may even vaguely be associated with Marek's, I cull immediately as I know that trying to treat them will just prolong their suffering. It's a no win scenario otherwise for both the chicken and myself.

Injuries are different. This summer I have had two roosters with eye injuries from mixing it up with my bantam cockerels. Those little fiends have learned that one of them can't affect a standard cockerel too much but 5 can beat the snot out of them. Antibiotics, TLC and good food pulled both of them through.

Being at the bottom of the food chain does make them harder to treat.

 

[sawilliams]

I don't know quality wise but an alternative wormed for staying organic would be pumpkin. Whole thing seeds and all cut it in half and feed regularly. My understanding in theory is the shells of the seeds act as gut scrapers to remove internal parasites and the pumpkin its self aids in the process. Personally I haven't used pumpkin for a worker but since out is the season I plan to get a few extra soon for chicken treats