unexplained deaths in my flock (graphic photos)

[GracePoultry]

Went to collect eggs this morning and 4 chickens were gone. I’m so shocked and sad and have no idea what happened. My first thought was a predator but none of the bodies were taken.

Spoiler: Dead pets

4 Chickens who were perfectly fine, now dead.
I hope I can figure out what happened so my other chickens can be safe.
My theories so far:
ate a poisonous mushroom

Ate a mouse that has ingested rat poison

Drank something like antifreeze

Somehow got locked in the coop in The heat (I don’t know how that could’ve happened but just a theory)

Toxic feed

 

[CrazyChickenLady123]

Went to collect eggs this morning and 4 chickens were gone. I’m so shocked and sad and have no idea what happened. My first thought was a predator but none of the bodies were taken.

Spoiler: Dead pets

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4 Chickens who were perfectly fine, now dead.

Were there any that had bite marks on them or missing feathers?

 

[GracePoultry]

Were there any that had bite marks on them or missing feathers?

I’m haven’t picked them up and looked them over yet, but there were no missing feathers so it didn’t look like there was any struggle. No injuries or blood all just laying there

 

[CrazyChickenLady123]

I’m haven’t picked them up and looked them over yet, but there were no missing feathers so it didn’t look like there was any struggle. No injuries or blood all just laying there

What have you fed them in the last 48 hours?

 

[BoundlessLove]

If they somehow were locked in the coop, it could’ve been heat. Do you have an automatic chicken door?

 

[GracePoultry]

What have you fed them in the last 48 hours?

Purina flock raiser crumbles and a little bit of producers pride 5 scratch grains. They free range every day so there’s stuff in the yard they could’ve eaten I wouldn’t know about

 

[OnlySympathy]

I would keep any remaining birds locked in the run. They may have got into something while free ranging. I would also send off 1 of them to a state lab to hopefully find out what happened. I would personally also throw away your current food to be safe.

 

[BoundlessLove]

Also, how many total chickens are in that coop daily?
If they all ate the same feed and only a few passed, I’d look elsewhere.

 

[OnlySympathy]

I would keep any remaining birds locked in the run. They may have got into something while free ranging. I would also send off 1 of them to a state lab to hopefully find out what happened. I would personally also throw away your current food to be safe.

Also are they all cold and stiff or are any of them more fresh? That sounds kinda gruesome but seeing if there is any chance they died at different times could help

 

[CabritaChicks]

I am so sorry for your loss: How many chickens do you have? If there is only a few (not all), at the same time- you can retrace steps.

1. Bring one to to a lab for necropsy
2.. Seems like poison- not likely due to a mushroom. Also secondary poison (from mouse, etc is very unlikely as it takes an undigested 1 gram to kill a chicken from most USA poisons). Dont you have antifreeze bottled?
3. Do not let them out of the coop/roost until you have a definitive answer