Why do my birds keep dying???

[veronicadm8]

Help!! I’ve been raising chickens for 8 years, never had a problem. Sure, the occasional bird would die now and again but it was a rare occurrence. I’ve lost 6 over the course of 3 months (maybe a little more) and I can’t figure it out!! A few were some of our oldest, but half of those were not even a year old! I even had one autopsied and cause of death wasn’t found. the only thing new is the new birds, and a new coop. I did notice recently when the rain started that there’s a leak over the nesting boxes I’ve been trying to fix and trying my best to keep bedding dry. I use hay. All bodies had good meat on them, clean vents, autopsy clear..... whats happening?!?

edit to add: I do have rats, have for many years. Could it suddenly be disease from them?

 

[nuthatched]

I'm sorry you're losing your girls.
Who performed the necropsy?
Are you finding them dead? Is the wood cedar? Could the wood be treated with some chemical?

 

[veronicadm8]

I'm sorry you're losing your girls.
Who performed the necropsy?
Are you finding them dead? Is the wood cedar? Could the wood be treated with some chemical?

I’m pretty devastated today, lost one of my favorites.
UC Davis vey center performed the necropsy. I’m finding all of them dead, all seemingly well the day before. Clear eyes, clean vets, substantial when picked up, etc.
What wood? The coop itself? It’s plywood and redwood, should not be treated. I bought it from someone who builds as a hobby, has great reviews. I paid good money for it, but now I’m concerned.

 

[nuthatched]

I’m pretty devastated today, lost one of my favorites.
UC Davis vey center performed the necropsy. I’m finding all of them dead, all seemingly well the day before. Clear eyes, clean vets, substantial when picked up, etc.
What wood? The coop itself? It’s plywood and redwood, should not be treated. I bought it from someone who builds as a hobby, has great reviews. I paid good money for it, but now I’m concerned.

Yes, I'm sorry, the coop.
If nothing is found under the necropsy, then I'd suspect the lumber of the coop or if you have a heat lamp, Teflon fumes.

 

[veronicadm8]

I’m pretty devastated today, lost one of my favorites.
UC Davis vey center performed the necropsy. I’m finding all of them dead, all seemingly well the day before. Clear eyes, clean vets, substantial when picked up, etc.
What wood? The coop itself? It’s plywood and redwood, should not be treated. I bought it from someone who builds as a hobby, has great reviews. I paid good money for it, but now I’m concerned.

I was looking back to see when I bought it. Close to a year now, and the deaths have been last 3-4 mos. If it were the coop would it take that long? Wouldn’t the birds seem ill prior to death? Is there anything I can do like a coat of paint or so I have to scrap the whole $800 coop?!

 

[Craig Cowan]

Rats carry a slew of different things that cause sickness.
my gut is. Investigate what possible things they could carry that would give this result, especially when they seem fine
day or two before & no weight loss
Since your an experienced keeper, I figure you checked for all the reg. Stuff, - worms, mites, etc.

 

[veronicadm8]

Rats carry a slew of different things that cause sickness.
my gut is. Investigate what possible things they could carry that would give this result, especially when they seem fine
day or two before & no weight loss
Since your an experienced keeper, I figure you checked for all the reg. Stuff, - worms, mites, etc.

That was my thought too. I can’t seem to get rid of them. No feed out at night, traps don’t work, the best luck we’ve had is my husbands pellet gun but that hardly puts a dent in the population.
The bodies are flawless. I checked for everything. Even the necropsy on one showed nothing, I suppose I could do another. I’m really tired of losing my girls.

 

[Aapomp831]

It’s NOT the coop. Please disregard that.
I would have a professional necropsy done by your state lab.
I would suspect in this case it has something to do with the new birds. They may be carrying a disease in which they are now immune to but can still spread. That’s my gut assumption.

 

[Mellowmalt]

definetely sounds like disease. Chickens are hardy but nothing they can do about the invisible killers humans have introduced by mass breeding. Here in the UK all chickens are still in indoor confinement as there are too many viruses in the air.
Soon all UK eggs will need to have a sticker added to them saying no longer free range (if it continues).

Where did the new birds come from?

 

[Brooks_]

Would the state lab be that much better than UC Davis?