Lost our beautiful girl. Help?

[Hollysaurus]

They are worried about it because they want to help you understand certain things, personally I only use a heat lamp in winter when I have baby chicks, and it’s in the outside run above a perch that the babies sleep on at night because I learned that chickens will be fine in -20 as long as they have a draft and moisture free shelter, so my adults just ride it out and I’ve never lost one to cold. Personally I would check for mites and respiratory problems because purple comb means lack of oxygen a lot of your chickens symptoms do have to do with molting so dont immediately assume something. Another cause could be fatty liver disease I wouldn’t give as many treats as you give and make treats a twice a month thing and avoid fatty foods

It doesn't come across as worrying though sometimes. I have posted threads on here a lot of times and people always jump on someone who mentions about using a heat lamp.

My mother in law here has used them for 20+ years, a long with a number of people who own chickens. It gets to about -40 here. They are sometimes needed.

I don't mind peoples opinions about heat lamps; it's just some people need to also respect that some people use them and they're not going to change others minds. Especially if the person lives in a place that needs them, some people don't even ask where they are from and tell them to not use one, that could be detrimental to someone's flock.

In regards to the chicken I lost, I wish I could send her off for some tests. I think if we lose another we're going to do it no matter the cost; I need to know what happened, to prepare in future if we get anymore after this. We already buried Maple, and I don't have the heart to dig her back up.

I don't give my chickens treats enough to give them fatty liver. I'm assuming it's worms, mereks or poisoning at this time. I have been talking in DM's to a few others.

 

[RiDaGeckoGuy]

It doesn't come across as worrying though sometimes. I have posted threads on here a lot of times and people always jump on someone who mentions about using a heat lamp.

My mother in law here has used them for 20+ years, a long with a number of people who own chickens. It gets to about -40 here. They are sometimes needed.

I don't mind peoples opinions about heat lamps; it's just some people need to also respect that some people use them and they're not going to change others minds. Especially if the person lives in a place that needs them, some people don't even ask where they are from and tell them to not use one, that could be detrimental to someone's flock.

In regards to the chicken I lost, I wish I could send her off for some tests. I think if we lose another we're going to do it no matter the cost; I need to know what happened, to prepare in future if we get anymore after this. We already buried Maple, and I don't have the heart to dig her back up.

I don't give my chickens treats enough to give them fatty liver. I'm assuming it's worms, mereks or poisoning at this time. I have been talking in DM's to a few others.

It doesn't come across as worrying though sometimes. I have posted threads on here a lot of times and people always jump on someone who mentions about using a heat lamp.

My mother in law here has used them for 20+ years, a long with a number of people who own chickens. It gets to about -40 here. They are sometimes needed.

I don't mind peoples opinions about heat lamps; it's just some people need to also respect that some people use them and they're not going to change others minds. Especially if the person lives in a place that needs them, some people don't even ask where they are from and tell them to not use one, that could be detrimental to someone's flock.

In regards to the chicken I lost, I wish I could send her off for some tests. I think if we lose another we're going to do it no matter the cost; I need to know what happened, to prepare in future if we get anymore after this. We already buried Maple, and I don't have the heart to dig her back up.

I don't give my chickens treats enough to give them fatty liver. I'm assuming it's worms, mereks or poisoning at this time. I have been talking in DM's to a few others.

yeah necropsy is a wonderful idea, if you’re using the heat lamp their whole life and not stopping them you’ll have no problem but if you stop their bodies will have no idea what to do so they die, that’s what they’re trying to tell you.

 

[Hollysaurus]

yeah necropsy is a wonderful idea, if you’re using the heat lamp their whole life and not stopping them you’ll have no problem but if you stop their bodies will have no idea what to do so they die, that’s what they’re trying to tell you.

We don't use a heat lamp during summer and hadn't turned it on until recently. Their body adjusts through-out the seasons. Here we sadly get extremely hot summers and then extremely cold winters.

If we chose to not turn on a heat lamp during the winter and it was mild, they'll be fine. But sadly it gets very frosty and dry here; they are pretty much needed even though they give me anxiety. I'm always thinking their coop will catch on fire or something; I suffer with major anxiety but my husband promises me it's something everybody does here and I have seen it for myself and also asked anybody else who owns them. Plus his mother has owned them for 20+ years.

I am from the UK; so weather is much different, haha. I understand the worry of using them but in some places they're just needed or preferred.

 

[triciayoung]

They are worried about it because they want to help you understand certain things, personally I only use a heat lamp in winter when I have baby chicks, and it’s in the outside run above a perch that the babies sleep on at night because I learned that chickens will be fine in -20 as long as they have a draft and moisture free shelter, so my adults just ride it out and I’ve never lost one to cold. Personally I would check for mites and respiratory problems because purple comb means lack of oxygen a lot of your chickens symptoms do have to do with molting so dont immediately assume something. Another cause could be fatty liver disease I wouldn’t give as many treats as you give and make treats a twice a month thing and avoid fatty foods

1. She doesn't give a lot of treats 2. She is mourning a very loved chicken and is looking for closure

It is an inappropriate time for members to insert their heat vs. no heat and treat preferences and push them on her.

Where is the sensitivity?

 

[triciayoung]

It doesn't come across as worrying though sometimes. I have posted threads on here a lot of times and people always jump on someone who mentions about using a heat lamp.

My mother in law here has used them for 20+ years, a long with a number of people who own chickens. It gets to about -40 here. They are sometimes needed.

I don't mind peoples opinions about heat lamps; it's just some people need to also respect that some people use them and they're not going to change others minds. Especially if the person lives in a place that needs them, some people don't even ask where they are from and tell them to not use one, that could be detrimental to someone's flock.

In regards to the chicken I lost, I wish I could send her off for some tests. I think if we lose another we're going to do it no matter the cost; I need to know what happened, to prepare in future if we get anymore after this. We already buried Maple, and I don't have the heart to dig her back up.

I don't give my chickens treats enough to give them fatty liver. I'm assuming it's worms, mereks or poisoning at this time. I have been talking in DM's to a few others.

Unfortunately, as you are experiencing, there are people here that look for any opportunity to bring up their rigid, unproven opinions about heat and treats. I hope you stay as a member. There are many members that avoid unproven hypothesis and try to help.

 

[RiDaGeckoGuy]

We don't use a heat lamp during summer and hadn't turned it on until recently. Their body adjusts through-out the seasons. Here we sadly get extremely hot summers and then extremely cold winters.

If we chose to not turn on a heat lamp during the winter and it was mild, they'll be fine. But sadly it gets very frosty and dry here; they are pretty much needed even though they give me anxiety. I'm always thinking their coop will catch on fire or something; I suffer with major anxiety but my husband promises me it's something everybody does here and I have seen it for myself and also asked anybody else who owns them. Plus his mother has owned them for 20+ years.

I am from the UK; so weather is much different, haha. I understand the worry of using them but in some places they're just needed or preferred.

Yeah I get you, and I never said anything about extra heat in summer so sorry if there was confusion, but here in Oklahoma summer heat is up to 46°C and in winter as low as -28°C in winter and I understand the anxiety I was so scared my chickens would freeze but my mom showed me all this stuff about the heat lamps so I decided not to risk it, if it gets to be -40 then yeah heatlamp would be needed but from the way you’re saying it I thought you were having like -15 winters and stuff but if it’s that low then I would recommend giving external heat during the super cold parts of the year.

 

[RiDaGeckoGuy]

1. She doesn't give a lot of treats 2. She is mourning a very loved chicken and is looking for closure

It is an inappropriate time for members to insert their heat vs. no heat and treat preferences and push them on her.

Where is the sensitivity?

I may not be understanding what they’re saying but it came off as she gave a lot of treats and had unnecessary external heat

 

[Ponypoor]

yeah necropsy is a wonderful idea, if you’re using the heat lamp their whole life and not stopping them you’ll have no problem but if you stop their bodies will have no idea what to do so they die, that’s what they’re trying to tell you.

I am sorry but are you saying that ‘stopping a heat lamp’ will kill them?

Hmmmmm wow! Glad my chicki-poos never died there 2 winters ago when I forgot to turn on the radiant heat for them one night when it went to -35c



As long as your chooks are not wet and not in a straight draft, they will survive quite well if the ‘heat goes out’.

I think many people are very confused about livestock and heat sources in the cold. Supplemental heat is a wonderful thing - it prevents cold stress in our chooks and helps them to remain happy and contented.

If the power does go out, just leave them in the hen house to maintain any warmth, don’t open doors, etc. their body heat will keep them warm and they will be fine as long as they are not wet or have direct drafts.

It’s all about common sense. We all know (here) that if we are stuck in our vehicles on the roadside in a blizzard that we are to stay in the vehicle, keep a window just barely cracked (you need fresh air), keep your wooly mitts and winter boots, toque and scarf on. Luckily the chooks are one up on us, they have a nice fuzzy feather duvet to wear.

One can only truly know how to deal with extreme cold climates until one has to live here.

(PS I hate winter BTW)

 

[Ponypoor]

Yeah I get you, and I never said anything about extra heat in summer so sorry if there was confusion, but here in Oklahoma summer heat is up to 46°C and in winter as low as -28°C in winter and I understand the anxiety I was so scared my chickens would freeze but my mom showed me all this stuff about the heat lamps so I decided not to risk it, if it gets to be -40 then yeah heatlamp would be needed but from the way you’re saying it I thought you were having like -15 winters and stuff but if it’s that low then I would recommend giving external heat during the super cold parts of the year.

I do supplement heat here for any temps less than -10C, once it gets to -20 I keep them in the Hen House to keep it warm, and -30 I keep the horses in the barn to keep the whole barn warm. Brrrr! I hate winter!

Don’t feel bad about using supplemental heat, your chooks will be happier for it.

 

[Ponypoor]

Hello,

I am hoping someone could tell me what could of possibly happened to our girl, Maple. (I will attach some photos.)

We look after our chickens very well, I generally think this could be a cold weather incident. We had a shift in weather recently and it was sudden so I am feeling terrible we didn't turn on a heat lamp sooner. But i'll let you guys decide if you think that could be the reason. We spoil our chickens, I mean we spent about $4,000 just on their coop set up. We love them dearly, they came into our lives around a hard time so they're kinda like our children? Maple and Aspen are our first so it's absolutely devastating this had happened to my personal favorite.

She was completely fine yesterday, she had lost a bit of weight and I did comment on it. Other than that she was eating normal; even when I dropped treats she was eating yesterday, she wasn't laying eggs like the other girls too because they're all molting.

She wasn't egg bound, I do check when they don't lay eggs. No predator attack, no sour crop, none of them shown signs of breathing issues.

I am at loss.
Maybe worms? When they get anything I am on the ball with treating them.
I really hope you guys can shine the light here, I feel terrible.

Hmmm, from how she is laying I would say it was a sudden event. Is there any way she could have flown into anything? Or flown down from somewhere and broke her neck?

Also she could have had some sort of cardiovascular event. Chickens are just like us, they get sick just like we do.

At any rate I am very sorry about your lovely lady. I don’t feel it is anything viral/bacterial, not laying on her back like that.