We lost a chicken yesterday and are now worried about disease. Please help

[DanaRaye82]

We typically let our chickens free range during the day then pen them up once they go in their coop at night in order to keep them safe. Last night when my husband went out to make sure all of our chickens had gotten in their pen/coop so he could close the door he found a dead chicken in our yard. It had not been attacked and looked very healthy. We are worried about disease. How do we know if our chickens are sick? They all look pretty good except a few that are missing feathers on their backsides, we have no decreased egg production, and they are drinking water & eating food well. Any thoughts? I am new at this and dont want to over look something.

 

[Suzie]

Have you treated then for mites,lice infestations? Mites are almost invisible to see.. maybe a good idea to treat the flock, bedding and nesting boxes with Sevin or Permethryn.

You should also consider worm infestations..... treat with a proprietary de-wormer.

 

[Haunted55]

We typically let our chickens free range during the day then pen them up once they go in their coop at night in order to keep them safe. Last night when my husband went out to make sure all of our chickens had gotten in their pen/coop so he could close the door he found a dead chicken in our yard. It had not been attacked and looked very healthy. We are worried about disease. How do we know if our chickens are sick? They all look pretty good except a few that are missing feathers on their backsides, we have no decreased egg production, and they are drinking water & eating food well. Any thoughts? I am new at this and dont want to over look something.

It sounds to me as if the bird could have gotten into something toxic or something that may have pierced something inside. Really need more information here.