Suffocating Chickens

[FettuccineAlfredo]

We are out of town and the person watching our chickens told us one died. It stormed last night and they must have huddled together and suffocated. Our chickens are not laying yet, they are 2 and 3 months old. There were 6. They are different sizes (but they get along) and the littler chicks like to huddle underneath the bigger. I fear that is what happened. Its not like the temp dropped too low so they were probably just scared. Its supposed to storm again in a couple days. Is there anything I can do to prevent this from happening?

 

[aart]

OhBoy...that's a tough one.
Sorry for your loss and feeling unable to correct the problem from afar.
I kind of doubt that 5 birds of that size could suffocate one by piling, tho I suppose it's possible. It's hard to say how to prevent another death when you're not positive what caused the first one.
Is your chicken sitter well versed in chicken keeping?
Is it hot where the chickens are?
Hard for us to help not knowing more about the environment and situation.

 

[FettuccineAlfredo]

OhBoy...that's a tough one.
Sorry for your loss and feeling unable to correct the problem from afar.
I kind of doubt that 5 birds of that size could suffocate one by piling, tho I suppose it's possible. It's hard to say how to prevent another death when you're not positive what caused the first one.
Is your chicken sitter well versed in chicken keeping?
Is it hot where the chickens are?
Hard for us to help not knowing more about the environment and situation.

Thanks so much for responding! The sitter does not know much about chickens but she is very responsible and her father came down and helped her. I live in Georgia and it is really hot. The chick that died came from a farm in really bad conditions (our chickens came from different places). The chicken had feathers missing when we got her. We have not treated for mites or anything. I took a flashlight and looked her over before and did not find anything. Its possible that somthing else happened although I have seen them huddle really close before. The bigger chickens are really large compared to the smaller ones. The red one is the chicken that died. Here are photos of where she didnt have feathers. Thank you.

 

[aart]

How long have you had these birds?
Did you get them all at the same time?
What does their coop look like?
I assume that run is covered to protect the feed from getting wet?

It could have been a piling suffocation, or heat stress/stroke, or a latent disease... or a 'fly into the wall broken neck' or heart attack from being freaked out by the storm....could be many things, and I'm betting the rest will be fine. It can take some good long experience to spot a potential problem or diagnose just what happened when a bird dies...even then, sometimes there's no finite answer/solution.

There's not much you can do, I don't think.

 

[FettuccineAlfredo]

.

How long have you had these birds?
Did you get them all at the same time?
What does their coop look like?
I assume that run is covered to protect the feed from getting wet?

It could have been a piling suffocation, or heat stress/stroke, or a latent disease... or a 'fly into the wall broken neck' or heart attack from being freaked out by the storm....could be many things, and I'm betting the rest will be fine. It can take some good long experience to spot a potential problem or diagnose just what happened when a bird dies...even then, sometimes there's no finite answer/solution.

There's not much you can do, I don't think.

They live in a plastic shed with big screen windows we made to keep them cool. Their run is 8×10 hardware cloth and walk in. The babysitter has been giving cold treats and misting them. She said that they have not been panting or showing signs of over heating. We have had the red one that died for a month now. We have three pairs and i am worried about mites on the red ones infecting the others. When we get home I think we will use the treatment dust bathing stuff we got. Thanks you are probably right. They have only been outside for a couple of weeks and could have easily gotten scared.

 

[aart]

mites on the red ones infecting the others

Are you positive they have mites?
I would not treat unless you've actually seen the mites.
But if some birds have them, they probably all do or at least all should be treated.
If they do have them use something sure to work,
start with permethrin dust or spray, don't screw around with DE or herbs.

Bug check notes:
Have you checked them over real well for mites and/or lice?

Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.

Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.

Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.

Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).

If you do find some...check out this thread:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1134783/permethrin-spray

 

[FettuccineAlfredo]

Are you positive they have mites?
I would not treat unless you've actually seen the mites.
But if some birds have them, they probably all do or at least all should be treated.
If they do have them use something sure to work,
start with permethrin dust or spray, don't screw around with DE or herbs.

Bug check notes:
Have you checked them over real well for mites and/or lice?

Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.

Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.

Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.

Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).

If you do find some...check out this thread:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1134783/permethrin-spray

Okay then will do. Thank you!

 

[Mrs. K]

I would be surprised if chicks that age smothered. One sometimes just gets a sudden death. Where as the chicken was walking and eating and acting perfectly normal, and then are just dead. I usually blame a genetic default internally.

Mrs K