My husband went out to close up the chickens and ducks last night and he came back in and said "I think we have a dead duck". Well, it was dark and he only had a flashlight and he saw 'something' in the back of the little pallet shelter we have for them to use during the day if they want, and only two of three ducks walking around, so assumed it was a duck. But when we got back out there, there were the three ducks by the coop, and he said "so what's THAT" and I said, "must be a chicken." Which it was, unfortunately. It was one of our 2 year old Americauna/EE's. She was in perfect feather, good weight, not a mark on her, but dead.
These are livestock to us, not pets, but don't let anyone tell you that people who view their animals as livestock don't care about them. She was a beautiful Americauna - one of those that is golden in color with lots of lacing, and she had a nice personality. I'm really bummed that she just dropped over for no apparent reason. Everyone was fine when I was out to feed in late afternoon, and then a few hours later she was gone.
Kinda bummed
I really hate it when I lose any animal but it is even worse when I have no idea why it died. I hope yours is an isolated case (it usually is, despite my worst fears.)
So sorry to hear you lost a nice hen like that. Mine are not "pets" either but I still love all my animals. I lost a couple like that. I did necropsies on them and figured out one was bitten my a snake. Couldn't figure out what happened to the other one.
Oh I am so sorry. I hate not knowing what happens when they die for no obvious reason
Sorry to hear... Our livestock to us are near and dear to our hearts as well.
I'm sorry for your loss, but it sounds like she had a great life with you and she didn't suffer for long, or there would be signs of trauma. There is always SOMETHING to be thankful for... even at the saddest times. I am very sorry.. I know your pain all too well.
Yeah, it was like she just fell over onto her chest and died. Must have been very fast, whatever it was. Chicken heart attack?
Seems very strange indeed.
Snake bite or poison sounds reasonable. Can't think of anything else at all that might explain that, other than an accidental broken neck. My chicken flipped a bucket over herself once. Couldn't find the chicken and there she was under the bucket. Accidents are certainly possible.
There are the stories of basketball players falling dead on the court from some kind of defective heart problem, but they are under a lot of physical stress when that happens.
Sounds fishy.
Well, I'll be waiting to hear the rest of this story.
I am with you now galles... I went out this afternoon and our Turkey Tiffany was no where to be found she escapes somehow and useally roost's in the trees. This afternoon she was gone and after looking for her I found a pile of feathers under the apricot tree. We had a bad problem with Coyotes last night, I shudder to think. Billy Bob the turkey is all alone. I will be moving 6 buffs in with him tomorrow so he has company. He grew up with chickens, so he will be ok.
I agree with you on that chicken heart attack. I just lost and eight month old the same way. No signs of struggle or marks on him either. As you said just laying down on his chest. Chickens are known for heart attacks, for what ever reason...Hay
No venomous snakes here, and nothing poisonous she could have gotten into. I checked her over very carefully and there was no blood anywhere. I even thought maybe someone pecked her just right on the top of the head and potentially poked a hole in her skull, but there were no signs of anything outwardly.
Sorry about your turkey MissJestr. We've had our share of predator problems in the past.
So sorry about your turkey. Can you kill coyotes there? We can but not the bears. We had 2 bears that denned on our hill last winter. Didn't give us any problem.
Yes I can, you need a hunting license (which I own) and the approval of any neighbor that is with in 1/4 mile of your house to shoot a gun. Then they have to be a threat to your livestock. My Chickens, Turkeys are livestock, my horses are not considered livestock. If you kill a coyote, you need to dispose of it. I know she was out and somehow they caught her.
Why are horses not considered livestock? Do you mean you don't consider them livestock, or TPTB don't consider them livestock?
TPTB (BLM) does not consider them Livestock Something about they are not raised for food or produce a by product for food. They are like equipment that ranchers and farmers need to do work..
This is a very sad thread! Whether its livestock or pets , we are all protectors and guardians of our animals, so when one dies with no cause it hurts and causes questions. We all give and get good suggestions if something dies from a known cause, but when its a death with no reason what can you do?? I know it leaves me with a terrible knot in the pit of my stomach. I feel that there should have been something more for me to learn about .. but what?? I know these things happen but it still worries me! If more than one dies this way, I would take the carcass to a vet. But if the rest of the brood stay fine and healthy , just know its Natures way!
Well.... I had my very sad morning today! After adding to the thread yesterday and feeling so sad for all of your mysterious losses, I found my precious "Oatmeal" Serama Pullet , not even 6 months old yet, laying on the ground under her roost , looking as if she had just fallen asleep where she was laying. Her little head was cocked to one side with her wing raised slightly as if she had had her head under it to sleep. I checked her and there were no marks or sign of injury.
So now im back to one Serama Pullet and 3 Roos and one A hen that is only laying Tiny Tiny infertile eggs. So I start over again, hopefully next Spring , trying to raise Seramas. Thats three little Serama hens ive lost this year, So sad!!
oh no!!!! Eufaula so very sorry
Sorry Eufaula, the seramas do have unique only to them problems that I have experienced. Last year I hatched nineteen seramas in one hatch. All went well until they were about two months old, then out of nowhere one lay deceased, I removed the carcas and began to watch for any signs of sickness. Nothing, two days later even though I was watching for long periods I found another one deceased. This goffy proccess continued until I was down to thirteen. So I had lost six inside a two week process. As suddenly as the crazy thing started it stopped and I never lost another. There were no signs that I could see of any kind. Another thing that happened was Murphy (ZZs) every rooster that came from her did very well, every hen died with three months, and the signs that there was something wrong was the same with each one. The way they behaved was as though they had coccidiosis but none died except murphs hens. I have to believe that it is gene problems, as nothing else makes sense...Hay
Im beginning to really see that Haystack! Its beginning to really get verrrrry expensive for me too! Oh well I dont Smoke , drink or Chew... I just spend my money on my Chickaholic addictions!!
Now that Im down to one possible Hen for Spring and two little white Baby Girls still in the Chick TV, Im hoping to get a start again!
I'm with you Eufaula, I don't smoke, drink, or chew either. I think that means our vice with chicks is understandable, I mean after all what we don't spend on birds the Government will find a way to relieve us of it...LOL...Hay
Yep!! The Government is not worrying us about them yet but Im afraid they are going to try!!
Wow Haystack that is weird... but it seems that every time I have any losses, (predators included) the pullets seem to be the ones that are killed or die.
The same goes for hatching.. pullets die first.. hence the high roo to pullet ratio in incubated eggs, especially shipped eggs. I'm getting more and more convinced that pullets are just not as strong when it comes to survival..
Do you have the medicine for Cocci? You can cure them overnight or sometimes in one daytime. Cocci is deadly and quick if not treated. It is especially dangerous when they have just been transferred to outside.. (on the ground the first time)
Anyway.. that is very strange.. I wish Catsy was available... I know she could shed some light on this too.
Other than Seramas... if you look at all the diseases or possible causes for death, there are literally hundreds of things that can cause sudden death. I have believed for some time now, there is no way we can know what happens to every bird that dies for reasons unknown to us. Unless you have big bucks to spend on scientific analysis.. :)
gallesfarm, I had the same thing happen not too long ago. A Buff Brahma, in good shape, nice fluffy feathers, about year and a half old, and a good layer. She was the one laying double yolkers. I always check on them in the morning before I leave for work and all were fine. When I got home that evening I checked on them again and she was dead in the coop. It looked like she just went to sleep and didn't wake up. Her best friend was there sitting with her coo-ing at her. Like porkpal, I like to have a reason why I lost one of my flock. This one still kind of niggles at me as there just didn't seem to be any good reason.
Very sorry to hear about your loss. Hope is well with the rest.
I totally agree with you ZZs. Yes I do have the medication for coccidia. In fact I have used it very sucessfully before and agree it works quick and effectively. When I lose the hens from Murph they are always around three months old. They stand around and wobble or just sit and don't move but they are like that for probably six weeks before they croake. In that period of time I try everything I can think of. Zip, nada, nothing seems to affect them. It's only Murphs that do it. That period of time that I lost six birds in the two week process not one acted sick, there were no signs at all. I took a chair out and would sit with them for hours at a time. They ran helter skelter and about every other morning I would find a deceased body. It stopped as suddenly as it started and never had another episode. Coccidiosis does not just start and stop like that. I know there is a reason, I just don't know what it is...I have come to believe some things we just have to live with unless as you said we have lots of money and want to spend it in the lab...Hay
I lost a rabbit once when a hard cold front came through here. He just dropped dead for no obvious reason.
A woman that raises rabbits said that often happens for some reason with rabbits.
When the seasons change I often have a difficult time for a few weeks until my body adjusts. This last week my shoulders and joints have been hurting. It's supposed to snow today.
I used to show horses. Depending on whether it was a low or a high, I could predict how my horse was going to do in the ring.
That sound like Mareck's Hay... the age and symptoms match.. some die, some recover.. it's very strange that one hen's pullets are affected.. I need to talk to someone who knows better than me.. I'll get back to you on that.. ;)
I also suspect that pullets are weaker, and it would get them first. In fact, I'm convinced! That seems to be the case in many instances... including hatching!
Edited to add... You might try vaccinating her chicks.. I wonder if that would help?
This message was edited Nov 12, 2010 8:11 AM
After a little consult Hay..... We are convinced it's Marek's.. and pullets are more susceptible to it than roos... Also, if the hen raises them, they don't get it near as bad (if at all) as incubated eggs. Incubated eggs are susceptible to many more problems than hen raised.
Vaccinating them might help, but I doubt it. You need to vaccinate them immediately upon taking them out of the brooder, cause as soon as you open the lid, you have exposed them.. I'd think the best way to get around it is let a broody raise them.
Hmmm , thats something to thinkabout ZZ. During the spring and Summer months I usually take my Chicks outside for sunshine after about the first 5 days. I allow them to walk around and scratch with a wire cage over them. Now thats its going to be cold outside I want be doing that so often. Do you think if I prepare them a terrarium type "Playpen", on the porch with access to grass and sand from the yard where they will be going once feathered , it would help?
Some breeds seem to be more sensitive to Mareks than others. The only pullets I've ever lost to Mareks have all been Jersey Giants between five and seven months. (I had no Jersey roosters at that time.)
Eufaula, That is a great way to get them exposed to it gradually. Perfect in fact! I always put a clump of grass with roots and dirt in the brooder.. and change it every few days. IF I can't get them outside..
Yes, your idea would work, but they don't have to go outside.. you can bring "outside" in with the method above. Then all you have to worry about is temperature change when they do venture out. I got stuck with a group of 3 Seramas that are gonna be here for a while.. No chance to put them out till it warms up!
You are very right Porkpal.. Catsy is the one I get my info from.. I haven't lost but a couple from Mereck's.. She could tell us a lot.. I can't remember which breeds she was having problems with... but it's like one group, all of a certain breed got it.. while the hatchmates of a different breed weren't affected! She has hatched a lot more than I have.. Oh gosh, if that's possible! LOL
Here they are today enjoying the outdoors and the Sunshine. My BLRW Roo and Twoo Buff Hens are getting aquainted with them!
