Why do my birds keep dying???

[veronicadm8]

Try Rat-X, it's not a poison, do there's no risk of secondary poisoning. It's a salt that causes only rodents to not feel thirst, not drink so they die of dehydration in a coma.
Put it in some thing like a box with a hole cut out, mixed with something the rats would eat, like scratch.

Thanks! Will look into this

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

How cold is it where you are?

 

[veronicadm8]

How cold is it where you are?

I’m in Sacramento, CA. Not too bad, never snows. Right now 60s in the day. Winters have never been an issue for me, I struggle more with the summers

 

[Fontaine]

So very sorry for you loss.I can’t imagine how upsetting it would be to lose your birds and not even know why. I hope you will post an update. I will be thinking about you. This may sound nuts but is there any chance they were poisoned?

 

[veronicadm8]

So very sorry for you loss.I can’t imagine how upsetting it would be to lose your birds and not even know why. I hope you will post an update. I will be thinking about you. This may sound nuts but is there any chance they were poisoned?

I did think at one point that maybe my neighbors were poisoning rats and my chickens had secondary poisoning. But, I haven’t seen any bodies or evidence of that. Just not sure how else that might have happened

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

OK, I just thought they might have gotten cold, I lose a birds each winter or so that way.

 

[black_cat]

What hatchery did you buy from? What breeds?

 

[Byrd gal]

Are they free range? Maybe metal poisoning?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

UC Davis is your state lab. I would have the necropsy again. @casportpony may be able to give you a contact number of someone to speak with prior to sending a bird in so you can get more detailed testing/information.

How "new" are the new birds? You mention a leak and using hay. Is the hay moldy? It would be odd that there's no symptoms if it were mold. I'm thinking while typing here. No mold in the nesting box where it leaked?
Any chance they ate something toxic - fertilizer, weed killer - those usually cause some visible symptoms prior to expiring as well. Even rat poisoning, birds would usually have noticeable symptoms.

Curious if there is a certain time of day? Do you find them in the morning like they have died inside the coop overnight or is it just random times of the day?

 

[Aunt Angus]

UC Davis is your state lab. I would have the necropsy again. @casportpony may be able to give you a contact number of someone to speak with prior to sending a bird in so you can get more detailed testing/information.

How "new" are the new birds? You mention a leak and using hay. Is the hay moldy? It would be odd that there's no symptoms if it were mold. I'm thinking while typing here. No mold in the nesting box where it leaked?
Any chance they ate something toxic - fertilizer, weed killer - those usually cause some visible symptoms prior to expiring as well. Even rat poisoning, birds would usually have noticeable symptoms.

Curious if there is a certain time of day? Do you find them in the morning like they have died inside the coop overnight or is it just random times of the day?

Davis has fantastic client service. Call the number on your results or your invoice, or you can email them. I bet they will help you. They have been outstanding for me answering questions.There are numerous tests they perform at that lab. Maybe talking to them will get them to look at things differently. I'm not sure what the standard tests they perform during a necropsy, but their site lists dozens of other tests.

I am so sorry this is happening to you!