Three unexplained hen deaths in one week

[BTinks]

What should I be looking for to prevent other deaths in my flock? We have had three hens die in the last week with no prior symptoms and no visible cause of death. All three were just face planted in the coop or had fallen off the roost. Their ages ranged from 15 months to 2.5 years. I'm just not sure what to think since they were all seemingly healthy happy birds.

 

[cafarmgirl]

I would have one necropsied if you loose another, it's the only way to know exactly what is going on, some state labs do them for free. Everything else is just a guess and there's a whole lot of possibilities.

Other then that, have you checked them all for lice/mites and have they been on a regular deworming program? Do they feel like they've lost weight? Any new birds brought in recently that might have brought along a new strain of coccidiosis? Could they have gotten into something toxic? Check the feed and feeders to make sure there's not a mold issue. Any other symptoms at all or any odd breathing noises?

 

[BTinks]

I've checked a few for lice and haven't seen any... No new birds, no weight loss, feed is good. I did discover tonight that the waterer that I just deep cleaned a week ago already had mildew or algae or something in the bottom so I recleaned that tonight and added in some ACV.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would do a search on botulism in chickens. It happens when chickens eat the botulism toxin that is produced by animal carcasses or vegetation that rots without the pressence of oxygen, and from maggots or mud from that.

 

[seminolewind]

I would do a search on botulism in chickens. It happens when chickens eat the botulism toxin that is produced by animal carcasses or vegetation that rots without the pressence of oxygen, and from maggots or mud from that.

I agree. I would search for something they could have eaten.

 

[red horse ranch]

What should I be looking for to prevent other deaths in my flock? We have had three hens die in the last week with no prior symptoms and no visible cause of death. All three were just face planted in the coop or had fallen off the roost. Their ages ranged from 15 months to 2.5 years. I'm just not sure what to think since they were all seemingly healthy happy birds.

If they free range you should look around to see if there are any toxic plants they could be eating. If you are feeding food scraps make sure that nothing is rotten or spoiled. I lost a young rooster to cabbage that had a little brown slime on it. It took him several hours to slowly become paralyzed and die. By the time I figured out what was wrong with him it was too late.