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

[mjdtexan]

Quote:
The wound appears to be on the top of the foot. Not so much a raggad slash. Kind of a clean looking cut.

Quote:
I hadnt thought of rats. The girls do sleep up on their roosting limbs. I have a crepe myrtly tree that I trimmed some branches off last season and I've set those branches up so that they can roost on them at night. Think rats would climb to get the girls. I have to be honest, I built that coop in a manner that I dont think a rat could get in. I've been all over that coop in the last week trying to find anything and I think I would have noticed a rat hole but I will for sure be on the lookout for that now that you've brought it up


I think I may have found what is cutting them, maybe. There is a spot they love to crowd into and let the wind from the fan blow on them. There was a little piece of wood that was sticking up that was kinda sharp. I have removed it. I will see if that stops the problem. I just have a bad feeling that it cant be that simple.

 

[badnfluinz]

But why are they dying? I have never heard of one dying from a small cut on the foot. Really strange.

 

[speckledhen]

Unless they are getting poisoned by the wood itself (treated?), I cant figure why they'd die from that.

 

[mjdtexan]

I dont know why they were dying either, unless it was the high heat and the stress of being wounded. I know it sounds weak but I just cant come up with anything else.

Someone suggested rabbid rats but does rabbies kill that quickly? I just dont think its rats. I cant find where one could get in at night. I am not seeing any rat droppings. The two pullets that I isolated have lived. It was only the ones that I did not Isolate that died. I dunno. I am at loss as to what is going on. I have not seen any new wounds since yesterday when I removed the offending piece of wood. I guess the next couple of days will tell.

 

[speckledhen]

Avians don't contract rabies, so that's not the cause.

 

[Country4ever]

How old are they?
I too was wondering about if you used any treated wood, but it sounds like they roost in a tree.
The tree isn't poisonous is it?
Could it be something like a staph infection that's going from chicken to chicken?
This is truly a mystery.
Did you say they were free-range?
So it seems to occur only during the night?
Where exactly on the foot is the laceration? How long is the laceration?
Could it be a disease that one of the chickens has, and that one keeps pecking the others and injecting it into them??

 

[allison finch]

I am thinking you may have bumblefoot going on. This is caused by staph bacteria found in all coops. Check this link for more info. Then, you can search here for treatment. Hope this helps.


http://www.geocities.com/KelliAnn293/healthproblems.htm#BumbleFoot

 

[mjdtexan]

Quote:
They are not in a tree but I am using crepe myrtle branches (small tree in our area) for their roost.

Quote:
Thank You very much for the link. That could very well be my problem. I have the last one I told yall about in isolation. I've noticed she wont eat the laying pellets, scratch, or any fresh greens I've given her. I will get some help tomorrow and take a picture. I am going to try the suggestions in the link you sent me. Great site by the way.

 

[Chickenaddict]

Look at the bottm pad of their feet for a brown scabby looking thing. If that is present it sounds like bumblefoot all the way. Make up a solution of betadine and epsom salt in warm water but only put enough betadine to make the water look the same color as tea. Soak the foot for at least 20 minutes, 10-15 didn't do it for the hen I am treating now for the same thing. Then get a pair of tweezers or an exacto knife sanatize it in rubbing alcohol and get the "core out by peeling the scab off the bottom of the foot. YOu should find a chunk of hardened puss in there, once that is cleaned out soak the foot again for a few more minutes to flush the wound then pack it with neosporin without pain relief and wrap gauze around it then go over it with stretchy vet wrap or that colored stuff they use on horses. Repeat that process everyday for 1 week or until the foot looks totally healed.

 

[Judy]

I'd also suggest changing to the side side of a 2x4 for roosts. They say chickens do not like to wrap their feet around roosts.

Good luck.