Sudden death

[Furby Ray]

Has anyone seen this? The following has happened with both young pullets and mature hens.
Setup: I have a divided chicken run and 2 coops. The ground of the chicken run has rocks and sand and some weeds. I also have an area to quarantine sick birds.
I put five 9mo old hens in the run and coop #1. They were there 3 weeks when they all dropped dead at the same time. No predators, tails were high, combs bright red, they had each laid an egg about 2 hours earlier. I was watching them and each hen gagged and then passed. I am feeding them an organic non soy feed.
I waited a few weeks and then introduced 7 pullets into the run and coop next to the one that the hens were in. They grew and were fine for 2 weeks but same thing : within 2 hours, they all dropped dead- no symptoms. No wheezing, no watery eyes, they were eating, running, pecking and just dropped in their tracks. All poo looks normal- no blood, no diarrhea.

I know this seems implausible and even crazy. Trying to find answers, I sent the bodies off for autopsy (necropsy) to an avian specialist.

 

[MommyGirl]

Could it be a toxic plant they are eating or possibly some other kind of toxin?

 

[MommyGirl]

Curious to see what necropsy will tell you!

 

[countrybumpkin5]

Could it be a toxic plant they are eating or possibly some other kind of toxin?

Agree. Sounds like a poisoning/toxin whether plant or in the air or environment, acute exposure. Several plants have a cyanide type chemical that kills pretty quickly, lack of oxygen.

 

[Furby Ray]

I think it is poisoning too. I cannot figure out why or how...The only plant that I cannot find toxicity on is burr medic. The other weeds are all non poisonous as far as I can identify. I have had chickens before, but we moved to a new house and this is the first time I have had them here.

I have some young pullets ready to go out but I am too afraid to put them in the pen. They are too old for the brooder, but they are staying in until I can get answers.

 

[MommyGirl]

Are they located anywhere close to something that would release exhaust fumes or anything like that?

 

[Furby Ray]

no. we are in the country and there is nothing around us. They are in the shade near a fence. There are no buildings.

 

[MommyGirl]

Yeah that’s really strange! Hope you find out what it could be! And good luck

 

[countrybumpkin5]

no. we are in the country and there is nothing around us. They are in the shade near a fence. There are no buildings.

Is there a chance the previous owner used some strong weed killer, pesticides, etc on the property, particularly where you have the run? Or perhaps in your coop? Toxins released from treated lumber and other materials, especially in the heat, can adversely affect poultry very quickly. Remember the old teflon tests where birds inside the house died within minutes of heating a teflon pan over high heat. It's no joke.

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

I’m not an expert at all but sounds like there is something in the ground or the environment area they are in that’s causing this
Hopefully you get answers from the ones you sent off
Sorry for you losses
I would definitely keep the youngest ones away from there until you know