Author Topic: Sudden Death (Read 3113 times)

Kitchen Cottage · « **on:** February 13, 2014, 07:54:07 am »

My Tenant bought 3 birds just before Christmas and I bought her a new coop as a Christmas present. They were fine yesterday EXCEPT I did notice there were some yellow foamy droppings around (rather like beaten/foamed egg yolk. This morning Rose (her Magpie?) is almost dead, unconscious and barely breathing. She couldn't bear to pull her neck so has put her indoors. I had gone to work and had this recounted with a shocked phone call.

From her description (she is a nurse) I expect Rose to be dead tonight but she was eating and fine last night.

My other tenant had 2 of my chickens in about October and, again, they were found dead overnight. (a bit confusing but I have a granny annexe and small bungalow on my smallholding I rent out, so two sets of tenants, 2 different coops, two different parts of the property)

That's 3 rapid unexplained deaths in birds but my flock are all fine.

What could knock a healthy bird over overnight without prior symptoms?

Clansman · « **Reply #1 on:** February 13, 2014, 09:10:48 am »

poison?

Anything about that they might be getting at?

chrismahon · « **Reply #2 on:** February 13, 2014, 11:21:21 am »

As Clansman says -only poison could do this. Yellow foamy poos are normal in themselves resulting from excitement. I have noticed they become more frequent with a worm burden but that wouldn't account for sudden death.

HesterF · « **Reply #3 on:** February 13, 2014, 12:00:23 pm »

I remember your other post and it was equally puzzling then but I think poison was the only solution then, wasn't it? Were they free ranging yesterday?

princessnym · « **Reply #4 on:** February 13, 2014, 01:33:01 pm »

I have just posted about Rose too Kitchen Cottage. Absolutely gutted. Really want to know what took her so quickly

princessnym · « **Reply #5 on:** February 13, 2014, 01:36:17 pm »

Quote from: HesterF on February 13, 2014, 12:00:23 pm

I remember your other post and it was equally puzzling then but I think poison was the only solution then, wasn't it? Were they free ranging yesterday?

Yes they were free ranging yesterday HesterF (I am the tenant in question!) I am so sad for Rose. She was the feisty one (not the magpie though..that's Myrtle)...and my other 2 were absolutely fine this morning. Can't understand it

Kitchen Cottage · « **Reply #6 on:** February 13, 2014, 01:49:43 pm »

It's got to be poison. I've got no rat poison out at the moment. The Hens all hang around the yard and the front and side garden..... We'll have to have a look....

ladyK · « **Reply #7 on:** February 13, 2014, 02:14:24 pm »

So sorry to hear about Rosie

Even worse when you don't know why/what exactly has happend, which must make you worried about the remaining chooks. Hope you can get to the bottom of it sooner rather than later - poisoning is horrible, if that's what it is...

Kitchen Cottage · « **Reply #8 on:** February 13, 2014, 08:35:19 pm »

I am convinced it is poison. Could it be food poisoning? I sometimes put rotten food in the ditch to rot down. I haven't for weeks though....

Rose's departure has been duly marked by my tenant on Facebook as I knew it would, together with the outpouring of grief from her connections at Rose's passing..... Facebook really turns adults into children....