Unexplained Deaths (I have one isolated now)(Keeps Getting Weirder!!!)

[mjdtexan]

I've lost two of my egg laying pullets (Brown Sex Links) in the last 3 days.

About two weeks ago I noticed one of the pullets had a bloody foot. I watched her and what she did was go get on the roost and she did not move around a whole lot for about two days. My guess was that she was trying to recover from it and it probably hurt to walk on. I never figured out what caused that. She lived.

3 days ago I see another pullet with a bloody foot and I watched her. She did the same thing, got on the roost and hung out. I came out to give them treats and she had expired. I looked around the coop and their yard and could not find anything that could have injured her foot.

Yesterday, same thing, a pullet has a bloody foot. Again the pullet takes to the roost. Later that day, she expired.

I can not figure out what is injuring their feet. They are in an enclosed run. Any ideas? Should I be isolating these girls that come up with injured feet? Is there a treatment like a salve or something I can use to help them?

I need to add that it has been hotter this summer than normal and we are having tempatures in the 100's. I do have two fans running in the coop but the girls can not actually get to the fans

I appreciate any help yall may offer.

Mjd

 

[ranchhand]

Quote:
Oh man, it's a tough one. First thing that came to mind was a nail, screw, wire, etc., but you have already checked.

So, some possibilities-

Snakebite?
Another hen on the roost at night, being agressive?
Bees or wasps?


After more thought- how much blood are you finding? Are the other hens going after the blood?

I ask because the previous owners here loved to shoot glass- and my hens are always digging up big chunks of it. Found some 1/4" plate yesterday in the run.

 

[sonew123]

I cant offer advise just an Im sorry

 

[mjdtexan]

Again darnit. I have a pullet with a bloody foot. Its only just a little blood. She is limping though. I have here isolated in the brooder now. Its a large brooder. Plenty of room for her. Water and food. Is there something I should be doing? Besides trying to figure out what is causing the wound?

 

[lalaland]

this is strange - how many pullets do you have? are they all the same age? Are you feeling this injury happens during the day or during the night? How much blood? Can you tell where on the foot the injury is and what it looks like - puncture, slash, etc.....

that injured one you have now, give her a very careful overall exam - look under her wings, look everywhere for other wounds

are they all eating well? poop fine?

Carefully examine all the pullets, really look at their feet - feel them, etc - any weird swellings?

A foot injury really shouldn't cause death - so something else must be going on in my opinion. I think it is strange they are going up to the roost, too - it doesn't seem likely that they just hurt their foot, and then go to the roost - would think with minor foot problems they would still be trying to be with other pullets and doing their chicken thing.

When they go up to roost, if you bring them down, do they want to go right back up?

If you think this happens during the night, can you spend some time in the coop observing?

Is your coop predator proof? could rats, weasels, etc get in the coop?

 

[lalaland]

oh yeah, forgot about treatment - if it is just a minor cut, wash and use an ointment like neosporin, bacitracin, etc.

your isolated pullet might like a buddy to keep her happy. I'm not convinced you have a contagious disease here because I have never heard of one presenting this way. I think something is stressing them - leaning towards the agressive attack by another hen/rooster.

If it were me, I think I would take the pullet out of isolation, put her in the yard/run with the others, and observe very carefully for an hour or so - who approaches her, who does she run from?

 

[mjdtexan]

Quote:
That sounds like sound advice and I Thank You. I think I am going to treat her wound first. Give her a chance to heal a little. The close observation to find out if one of the pullets is being aggresive is needed for sure. Thank You.

 

[mjdtexan]

Ok, I took the pullet out of isolation because the wound looked like it was better (neosporin). When I was putting her back in general population I noticed another darn pullet with the same darn injury. She is in isolation.

What the heck is going on?

 

[purpletree23]

Is the wound on the top or bottom of the foot? What does it look like? A ragged slash? A clean looking cut? Is it a puncture mark?

 

[Judy]

Could rats be biting their feet at night? They say in NYC rats bite babies in cribs...