Two of my chickens died in a month span.

[Eagymom]

So we got our first 5 chickens from a neighbor who no longer could take care of them. The next year we added 8 more because we weren’t sure how old the first 5 were (6-7 years maybe older). Now two of the older one have died within a month. They did seem sick or weren’t showing any signs of anything wrong with them. All of the other ones seem fine. Is there something I’m doing wrong and what steps I need to do or look for to prevent anymore dying?

 

[Buckeye Amy]

If they were as old as you think they were I would suspect old age, especially if there were no other issues.

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello and welcome to BYC!

I agree with @BuckeyeAmy69 6 or 7 years is old for chickens. Yes they can live longer but 6 or 7 years is a pretty average life expectancy. The stress of moving them could have pushed the older birds a bit. Keep an eye out for funky poop or odd behaviors just in case. The more time you spend with them the easier to tell if one is having an off day. Enjoy your flock!

 

[Synthlady]

I suspect that your two chickens were simply at the end of their lifespan. I noticed that my old chickens tend to be more susceptible to die in extreme weather conditions (too hot, too cold). I'm pretty sure the rest of your flock will be fine. With time I'm sure you'll be able to detect those subtle behavior changes that will warn you that the hens are either sick, or in the case of your older hens, approaching the end of their life. In any case, all you can do is try to keep your chickens healthy and happy with routine check ups, good feed / water, a safe coop / run, and dry dirt areas where they can take healthy dust baths. There's not really more you can do to prevent your hens from getting sick or dying. Just do your best, chickens are resilient and adapt well when you give them what they need.