What in the ? Need veterinary advice, please.

[Amry]

Live in Coastal Southern North Carolina with lots of wild-life. Beginning Thursday morning, Aug 9th) 3 of my chickens began getting ill and dying..( I was out of town until Thurs. eve, but hubby was taking care of them.) He said it had been very hot and humid. We had had a hotter, more humid spell a few weeks back with no issues. They are free range birds somewhat guarded by an electric fence and deer netting.

Symptoms: lethargic, probably diarrhea, flies landing on hind feathers. No markings like a snake bite with the exception of the fourth bird who is still suffering but not dead yet. Seems to take about 24 hours for them to expire? All birds were quarantined when discovered symptomatic.

Did find a 2 foot copperhead in the area that had gotten caught in the deer netting mesh and died.

These were extremely healthy, happy birds. 2-3 juvenile Orphingtons (soon to start laying) and a mature Rhode Island Red.

Yesterday cleaned and hosed out the coops/ bedding. Bleached where possible.. Sprayed with Murphy's Oil Soap to keep snakes away (On-line suggestion).

? Snakebites (3 of the birds had no visible bites but one,.that is still alive but sick today, has a nasty looking backend with feathers falling out).Too hot ? Bacterial?, Any help is appreciated.
Symptoms: lethargic, probably diarrhea, flies landing on hind feathers. No markings like a snake bite with the exception of the fourth bird who is still suffering but not dead yet. Seems to take about 24 hours for them to expire?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It would be just a guess. There are just too many possibilities.
The very best thing to do is send a recently dead bird or even a very sick bird to one of your state poultry labs for necropsy and lab work for an exact diagnosis. That way you'll know exactly how to proceed.
Here is one.
Rollins Diagnostic Laboratory
North Carolina Department of Agriculture
2101 Blue Ridge Rd
Raleigh, North Carolina 27607-6432
Phone: 919-733-3986

NC State is another one. https://cvm.ncsu.edu/
If you call, they'll likely send you a FedEx label for shipping.
Our University vet school has someone on call 24/7.

I don't think a copperhead venom is strong enough to kill a chicken.

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds like the one may have flystrike with the poopy feathers and flies. Look for maggots, and take her quickly into and soak her in slightly warm Epsom salts water. If you see maggots moving about, you will need to get every one off. New ones can hatch out within the next day or two. If you have a body that can be refrigerated, not frozen, you can ship it off to your state poultry lab on Monday AM. Heatstroke, intestinal parasites, such as coccidiosis, worms, and enteritis can cause death. Flystrike is a possibility if there is a wound or poopy but, and they will get inside the body and kill them.

I don’t know about it being snakebite, but it could be a problem. A necropsy would be helpful. Here is a good link with state vets:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

Here is a good article about flystrike:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/flystrike-in-backyard-chickens-causes/

 

[Wyorp Rock]

lethargic, probably diarrhea, flies landing on hind feathers. No markings like a snake bite with the exception of the fourth bird who is still suffering but not dead yet.

Did find a 2 foot copperhead in the area that had gotten caught in the deer netting mesh and died.

(3 of the birds had no visible bites but one,.that is still alive but sick today, has a nasty looking backend with feathers falling out).

It sounds like the one may have flystrike with the poopy feathers and flies. Look for maggots, and take her quickly into and soak her in slightly warm Epsom salts water. If you see maggots moving about, you will need to get every one off. New ones can hatch out within the next day or two. If you have a body that can be refrigerated, not frozen, you can ship it off to your state poultry lab on Monday AM. Heatstroke, intestinal parasites, such as coccidiosis, worms, and enteritis can cause death. Flystrike is a possibility if there is a wound or poopy but, and they will get inside the body and kill them.

I don’t know about it being snakebite, but it could be a problem. A necropsy would be helpful. Here is a good link with state vets:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

Here is a good article about flystrike:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/flystrike-in-backyard-chickens-causes/

I agree it sounds like possibly FlyStrike, I too would bring her in and examine the poopy backside to see if there's maggot.

I do have a question for the OP @Amry how long had the snake been dead, did it have maggots dropping off of it and the chickens eating those? Did the pullets have any symptoms like paralysis?

If you happen to lose her, sending the body to the state lab would give you answers. http://www.ncagr.gov/vet/ncvdl/ NC is a bit more reasonable than a lot of states, basic necropsy starts at $30.00 for up to 8 birds.

 

[Amry]

I agree it sounds like possibly FlyStrike, I too would bring her in and examine the poopy backside to see if there's maggot.

I do have a question for the OP @Amry how long had the snake been dead, did it have maggots dropping off of it and the chickens eating those? Did the pullets have any symptoms like paralysis?

If you happen to lose her, sending the body to the state lab would give you answers. http://www.ncagr.gov/vet/ncvdl/ NC is a bit more reasonable than a lot of states, basic necropsy starts at $30.00 for up to 8 birds.

Thanks for the great information. The snake was probably dead for about 24 hours before I found the sick birds. Interestingly, on a whim, we put deer netting around their free range area with electric fencing to help keep out critters. About 5-6 snakes have gotten themselves so ensnared in the netting, that they died (sometimes with a little help from me with a heavy stick.). Anyway it seems to be a pretty good snake deterrent, but probably not foolproof.

 

[Halfpasthen]

Live in Coastal Southern North Carolina with lots of wild-life. Beginning Thursday morning, Aug 9th) 3 of my chickens began getting ill and dying..( I was out of town until Thurs. eve, but hubby was taking care of them.) He said it had been very hot and humid. We had had a hotter, more humid spell a few weeks back with no issues. They are free range birds somewhat guarded by an electric fence and deer netting.

Symptoms: lethargic, probably diarrhea, flies landing on hind feathers. No markings like a snake bite with the exception of the fourth bird who is still suffering but not dead yet. Seems to take about 24 hours for them to expire? All birds were quarantined when discovered symptomatic.

Did find a 2 foot copperhead in the area that had gotten caught in the deer netting mesh and died.

These were extremely healthy, happy birds. 2-3 juvenile Orphingtons (soon to start laying) and a mature Rhode Island Red.

Yesterday cleaned and hosed out the coops/ bedding. Bleached where possible.. Sprayed with Murphy's Oil Soap to keep snakes away (On-line suggestion).

? Snakebites (3 of the birds had no visible bites but one,.that is still alive but sick today, has a nasty looking backend with feathers falling out).Too hot ? Bacterial?, Any help is appreciated.
Symptoms: lethargic, probably diarrhea, flies landing on hind feathers. No markings like a snake bite with the exception of the fourth bird who is still suffering but not dead yet. Seems to take about 24 hours for them to expire?

I would make sure to check them well for mites or lice also. Loosing feathers and dirty bottoms can be caused by them.

 

[Amry]

Thanks for the great information. The snake was probably dead for about 24 hours before I found the sick birds. Interestingly, on a whim, we put deer netting around their free range area with electric fencing to help keep out critters. About 5-6 snakes have gotten themselves so ensnared in the netting, that they died (sometimes with a little help from me with a heavy stick.). Anyway it seems to be a pretty good snake deterrent, but probably not foolproof.

One, the last to pass on, was the only one losing feathers and poopey bottom. She did end up with maggots. Yuk. Thanks for your reply.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Are you going to send it in for testing?