KoaLovesChickens
In the Brooder
- Feb 12, 2020
- 37
- 16
- 26
I’m relatively new to chickens and had my first experience with death today. I’m not sure what from but I’m thinking heat [exhaustion], egg bound/peritonitis, or stress... or a combination of all three? Help! I don’t want to lose more.
We had eight ISA hens about a year and as half old, regular layers. On Sunday, we brought home 12 chicks that a family friend raised for the first few weeks to be sure they survived the transit. We had the coop separated so each batch could see each other but not necessarily interact. Egg production pretty much ceased since Sunday from the eight. We live in northern MN and the temps and humidity have spiked from mid-50s to 88+ with higher dew points all in the same time span. We’ve changed water to keep it cool, put fans in, and switched out the cold weather windows to the mosquito net window screen set up.
All birds appeared fine other than reduced eggs, until yesterday evening. Chanel, so aptly named as she was the top of the line, finest looking specimen you’ve ever laid your eyes on, stayed in the nesting box without producing an egg. All symptoms of being egg bound (with the exception of the penguin waddle), heat exhaustion, stress or egg peritonitis. After her death, I did feel inside her vent and did not feel an egg. I forced her to drink via syringe but she did not and would not eat anything.
I’m mostly concerned as I now have two other birds acting like this that started. I took a few photos of their stance if that is helpful. Their poo is yellowy diarrhea or clear. My two other girls are still eating a little, thankfully. They’ve been drinking and I’ve also been syringing them some extra as well to be sure they don’t dehydrate. I should note I’ve given all flock electrolyte and probiotic (for stress), even Chanel, but I suspect I was too late for her.
We had eight ISA hens about a year and as half old, regular layers. On Sunday, we brought home 12 chicks that a family friend raised for the first few weeks to be sure they survived the transit. We had the coop separated so each batch could see each other but not necessarily interact. Egg production pretty much ceased since Sunday from the eight. We live in northern MN and the temps and humidity have spiked from mid-50s to 88+ with higher dew points all in the same time span. We’ve changed water to keep it cool, put fans in, and switched out the cold weather windows to the mosquito net window screen set up.
All birds appeared fine other than reduced eggs, until yesterday evening. Chanel, so aptly named as she was the top of the line, finest looking specimen you’ve ever laid your eyes on, stayed in the nesting box without producing an egg. All symptoms of being egg bound (with the exception of the penguin waddle), heat exhaustion, stress or egg peritonitis. After her death, I did feel inside her vent and did not feel an egg. I forced her to drink via syringe but she did not and would not eat anything.
I’m mostly concerned as I now have two other birds acting like this that started. I took a few photos of their stance if that is helpful. Their poo is yellowy diarrhea or clear. My two other girls are still eating a little, thankfully. They’ve been drinking and I’ve also been syringing them some extra as well to be sure they don’t dehydrate. I should note I’ve given all flock electrolyte and probiotic (for stress), even Chanel, but I suspect I was too late for her.
