sudden death of ISA brown

peep · **Joined:** Thu Jun 24, 2010 8:50 pm **Posts:** 17

I have heard of ISA browns as being referred to as the 'fatal breed' and perhaps that is what has happened to one of my 4 chooks. They are only about 2 years old and were all healthy when I left for work this morning - although scruffy as have been moulting.
Floppy was very dead in the hen house when I got home from work. I could not see any evidence of an attack. She was stretched out and not as if she had died huddled up although she was stiff so perhaps dead for quite sometime.
A spot of blood appeared when I buried her as I had her inside an old pillow case. So I am not sure if something could have bitten her. We have been having a terrible mice problem in Roma so I am wondering if she ate a contaminated mouse. I suppose any one of a number of things could have caused her death.
She will be missed by the other 3 as she was the only one her had mastered the art of opening the treadle grandpa feeder. They will be on a crash course.
I will miss her!
Peep.

Roova · **Posted:** Thu Mar 24, 2011 10:26 pm

RIP Floppy

peep · **Joined:** Thu Jun 24, 2010 8:50 pm **Posts:** 17

Thanks. I am going to worm the others as have not done that for some time. If one has worms will that mean the others will also when you only have a few chooks?

Roova · **Posted:** Fri Mar 25, 2011 7:44 am

More than likely. Its better to have a regular worming routine whether you think they have worms or not because carrying worms can cause damage to the digestive system of your birds and in worse case scenario can lead to death. It can also be expensive as there's more than likely increased feed costs, less eggs and sick or unhealthy birds.

Good husbandry is a good preventor as well. Keeping litter fresh and dry helps and if you are using the deep litter method you definitely want to make sure you have a regular parasite control routine. (Especially if you scatter food in the litter to give your chooks something to scratch for).

When worming don't forget to follow the instructions exactly especially where repeat treatment is recommended. The repeat treatment will pick up unhatched eggs not killed by the first treatment.

Thats not to say your girl had worms. She may have had a reproductive problem which can be common in commercial layers who often lay themselves to death. Generally it seems they have an 18 month to two year lifespan, some may live longer though. Chooks are very good at hiding illness and she may have been displaying signs of illness which were missed.

I hope your other hens will be ok and won't miss their pal too much. Hopefully they get the hand of the treadle feeder soon (are you leaving it propped open for the moment)?

peep · **Joined:** Thu Jun 24, 2010 8:50 pm **Posts:** 17

Thanks a lot Roova. Tis nice to know there are others out there that get as fussed about chooks. I tried to get tablets to worm the other 3 but in this area things are a bit limited so I soaked some bread in water with the liquid drug. They are put off by the taste but did eat some soaked bread.
They have adapted quickly without Floppy and opened the feeder this morning. Floppy was often picked on by Big Comb. Is it possible for one chook to kill another? I hope not ....
Also, during moulting is it possible a hen will sit on the nest without producing an egg? If that is not common then I wonder if a snake or goanna has been visiting and taking eggs. Will they take an egg whole and leave no evidence? Perhaps you don't those problems in the Gold Coast.
Again, thanks for the support.
Peep, Roma, Qld.

Roova · **Posted:** Fri Mar 25, 2011 8:42 pm

Quote:

during moulting is it possible a hen will sit on the nest without producing an egg?

There's a couple of reasons this might happen and a few which spring to mind are they could be broody, they could be ill, or they could be egg bound. Is one of your girls sitting in the nestbox but you're not getting eggs?

Definitely a goanna or even crows can take whole eggs! Generally you'd see crows hanging around though as they aren't really subtle birds! Goanna's I haven't had to deal with luckily but you'd probably hear the birds freaking out if one was around.

If you're girls are moulting you could try giving them a boost of protein which will help them grow new feathers. Eggs and feathers use a lot of protein and often chooks can't lay and replace all their feathers at the same time.

:-D

peep · **Joined:** Thu Jun 24, 2010 8:50 pm **Posts:** 17

What would you suggest as a protein boost? I gave them a can of cat food last week. Is it ok to give fresh steak mince?

Roova · **Posted:** Sun Mar 27, 2011 9:21 am

They'd love both of those Im sure. As long as the treat's aren't more than 20% of their total diet then I'm sure they'd be a welcome addition.

Generally pellets are meant to give the bird everything it needs nutritionally but if they are in a heavy moult extra protein can't hurt

andre · **Joined:** Tue Oct 13, 2009 5:21 pm **Posts:** 612

Isas do die from time to time as they get older. Sometimes it is due to gynacological problems ~ they just lay so much that bad stuff happens to the equipment! They can also get run down from laying at such a high rate and become susceptible to a bunch of other problems.

Try bumping up the protein in their diet? While moulting they need extra protein to rebuild feathers and being Isas they are probably still laying like crazy. Extra protein can help alleviate the stresses.

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