Sudden Death of BO

[hiddenchickmama]

I just went outside and found my favorite BO laying dead in the middle of the coop. No signs of trauma or anything. She looks like she just laid down and died. Aprox. age was 8 1/2 months. She was my rowdy girl, last one up the ramp when I needed to lock them up and protesting all the way up!

Could changing their feed have anything to do with it? Don't ask me why, but as a 'change' I switched from layer feed to regular scratch. Even made the comment that if they didn't like it or had problems with it, I would go right back. Could that have anything to do with it? Whether or not it did, I'm going to always have that in the back of my mind.

R.I.P. Ruth, first rate Chickie Girl.

 

[willowbranchfarm]

Scratch is not enough for them. Its just going to get them fat. It doesn't have any nutrients or proteins. But I dont think she died from it. I would put them back on the layers feed for sure.

 

[hiddenchickmama]

That was the first thing I told my husband when we found her. I can't risk loosing anyone (I only had 3 to begin with). They didn't seem to like the scratch that much anyway.

 

[cafarmgirl]

I agree with willowbranchfarm. While scratch is not a healthy diet to replace a commercial chicken feed, I would not think that is what caused her sudden death.

 

[JerseyGiantfolk]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/290622/non-emergency-fatty-liver-syndrome

Take a look at this. I suspected it was Fatty Liver Syndrome because scratch is high-carb.

 

[hiddenchickmama]

She had only been on scratch for 3 days. It's the only change they've had.

I went right out and got their usual feed. Hopefully everyone else will be alright.

 

[Conchis]

hiddenchickmama did you see this thread? I don't know what kind of feed you were using, but I thought I'd point this out. Liver toxicity is one of the indications of aflatoxin.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...in-d-deficient-aflatoxins-aspergillus-related

 

[hiddenchickmama]

Checked through it and what I used wasn't listed on there. Just seemed so strange that she was fine one day and dead the next. I've switched the other ladies back to their original feed and will just pray for the best.

Thanks for the input.

 

[This_chicks_place]

I'm sorry to hear about your chickie. I'm sure it's wasn't the scratch, although not the best for them, it's certainly not the worst either. We lost one about the same age in the same manner.....fine one day and dead in the coop the next. That's nature. Sometimes these things just happen.

 

[emunches]

Scratch is generally thought to be good for winter/cold weather but I feed a layer crumble/scratch combination year long with some additional supplements and I have never had a problem. I recently lost two pullets in a span of two days. I found them in the same exact spot of their coop, in the same exact position, they are the same breed, same hatch within minutes apart. Sometimes it is very frustrating. You try to apply investigative principles in trying to come up with a cause of death, but all avenues of possibilities are cut short due to lack of evidence. Unless I perform a necropsy, no Clue! Sometimes this happens. They have appeared to be completely healthy, none of my other birds are showing signs. Very frustrating!