whats wrong with my hens

[bigtim68]

I live in RI, Last may i bought 12 RI Red chicks from our local feed store, they grew enormous, they are easily 10 to 12 lb hens, they all began to lay in september than stopped around the first week of November, they all over wintered fine I keep their house and run clean and change their wood shavings as needed, they all started laying again the end of march, Then the 1st one died it had pecks all over its head and neck, the 2nd one was found about a week later in the hen house with no marks on it just stone cold, the next one 2 weeks later then another the next day, i saved them both and thouroughly cleaned everything, i then googled chicken diseases and got out a sharp knife and gloves and went to work, all their insides were or appeared to be normal, no worms or growths other lan a lot of fat in their abdominal cavity and outside. I called the feed store and their explanation was the chicks that they got were'nt normal hens they were "production hens" they could be used for laying or meat. Well, I have had others that died overnight and i just scooped up another. I have 2 left, the birds are in a 10x10 dog run with box wire buried in the ground with a fenced in roof. they can't get out and nothing can get in. The dog run was bought for the chickens because we have everything from fishers to coyotes. except something else is killing them, I feed them layer crumbles, mixed with pellets, they get fresh water weekly, and pulverised oyster shell and granite. I don't know what else to do, I'll be getting 12 cornish chicks the end of the month! Help

 

[Mtn Margie]

Well, they could be having issues with being overweight. That can cause major organ stress and also promotes egg bound problems. You might try getting a through autopsy done. Not sure how much that would cost in your area. Check for a mite infestation. Were the poos normal? Do they have a coop or somewhere to get in out of the drafty weather? Might need a bit more info to really help.

 

[bigtim68]

They have a decent coop with nesting boxes thats off the ground and i dusted their nest boxes as well as their dusting area with a pyrethyn poultry dust i did notice the last hens comb was more purple than bright red like the other 2 yesterday their poo seems normal one was more runny which i examined closer for worms but nothing

 

[schellie69]

I am not sure but a production bird for meat and eggs does not make sense I have my girls going on 2 years this year. I think that if they had a bunch of fat maybe heart problems. I am not sure I would suggest a necropsy done by a vet or local state vet hospital would be your next move. Good luck sorry this is happening.