Sudden Death

[tracy0052]

I found one of our 1 year old white rock hens dead in the nesting box today. My son had seen her with the other hens earlier, and he said yesterday she was pale not eating or drinking and laying around a lot. Even wanting to sit on his lap. I found her in the yard last night after the others had gone to roost and carried her to the coop. Her feathers looked like she hadn't been cleaning herself her belly feathers were yellowy. But other than that she seemed okay. After I found her dead today I checked her body for wounds and felt to see if she had been egg bound but I couldn't find anything. Lately we went from getting 5 eggs a day to only 4. I just don't know what happened to the poor girl!

 

[Eggcessive]

Coccidiosis, enteritis, worms are some possible causes. The state vet can do a necropsy on a refrigerated body to look for a cause of death. I would at least give a call for help.


Animal Health

Division of Animal Health
8995 East Main Street
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068-3399
Phone: (614) 728-6220
Fax: (614 ) 728-6310
Email: [email protected]

 

[tracy0052]

So far all the other birds seem well. Knock on wood...we've been keeping a close eye. I would have loved to have had the body tested but I had already disposed of the body. I wrote down the info for future use though if needed!

 

[Stiggy]

Sometimes they just suddenly die around a year old for no apparent reason. They can go from being healthy and happy one week to dead the next. Having said that @Eggcessive is right, it could also be a number of things and the only way to rule that out Is a necropsy

 

[subhanalah]

I would have a fecal test done to rule out worms especially if you've never wormed them or haven't wormed them for 6 months or more.

 

[tracy0052]

I have been adding ACV to their water once a day and watching for abnormal poo. I just ordered wormer from Molly's Herbals. I've read many good things and I'm hoping it will work for us.

 

[subhanalah]

If they are of laying age and it is hot where you live, you should probably skip the ACV.

 

[tracy0052]

It's been cooler this week than normal. The day the chicken passed it was in the 70s.

 

[subhanalah]

Why is that?

Because that is my informed opinion. You are more than welcome to also make yourself informed of the effects of such a combination...or you can just take my advice

 

[tracy0052]

This is our second year keeping chickens and learning much along the way.