Sudden deaths in your flock: what to do first
Treat sudden deaths as urgent. Isolate sick birds, remove and safely dispose of dead birds, stop movement of people and birds on and off the farm, secure clean water, and contact a qualified poultry veterinarian the same day. Do not start medication before someone competent has looked at the birds — several very different causes look similar from the outside.
Updated 25 August 2026 · Independent veterinary review scheduled
Get qualified help immediately if you see
- Deaths rising day on day.
- Birds gasping, twisting the neck, or unable to stand.
- Any suspicion of a notifiable disease — contact the veterinary authorities immediately.
- Human illness on the farm at the same time.
Poultry mortality-rate calculator
Cumulative mortality
2.4%
- Birds remaining
- 488
- Average deaths per day
- 0.29
- Average daily mortality
- 0.06%
- Reading
- Within a normal range for a well-run flock.
Record deaths every day. The trend tells you far more than a single total.
How this calculation works and what it assumes
- Cumulative mortality = deaths ÷ birds placed × 100.
- Many commercial broiler flocks aim to stay under about 5 percent for the full cycle, but your own history is the better benchmark.
- A sharp daily rise matters more than the total figure.
Do this now
- Separate any bird that looks sick from the rest of the flock.
- Remove dead birds promptly and dispose of them safely, away from the house and water sources.
- Stop visitors, bird sales and movement between houses until you know more.
- Give clean, fresh water in cleaned drinkers.
- Set aside the current feed batch in case it needs to be checked.
- Write down the number of deaths per day, the age of the birds and every sign you have seen.
- Contact a qualified poultry veterinarian today. Photos and your death count help them a great deal.
Broad categories a vet will consider
This list is only to help you describe what you are seeing. None of it is a diagnosis, and several of these cannot be told apart without a professional examination.
- Infectious disease spreading through the flock.
- Feed or water problems, including spoilage or contamination.
- Poisoning, for example from chemicals, treated seed or rodent bait.
- Heat stress or a ventilation failure.
- Suffocation from piling, especially in chicks.
- Predator attacks at night.
Have these answers ready
Whether you ask KukuVet or call a vet, these are the questions you will be asked.
- How many birds died, and over how many hours?
- How old are they and what type — broilers, layers or kienyeji?
- Did the birds show any signs before dying, or were they found dead?
- Did feed, water or weather change recently?
- Are the deaths in one part of the house or spread throughout?
- Have new birds come onto the farm in the last two weeks?
Safe things you can do today
- Count deaths every morning and evening and keep the record.
- Check the house for gaps, predators and ventilation failure.
- Check water lines and tanks for contamination.
- Keep the remaining birds calm, cool and undisturbed.
Every farm is different — describe yours
KukuVet asks one short question at a time, then gives you a plan for your birds. Free to start, in English or Kiswahili.
Example: “I lost 15 of my 400 broilers overnight. They are 3 weeks old and were fine yesterday.”
Common questions
Should I medicate the whole flock immediately?
No. Blanket medication before a professional assessment can mask signs, waste money and delay the real solution. Focus on isolation, hygiene, clean water and getting a vet involved today.
Can I still sell birds from this flock?
Hold all sales and movement until a qualified professional has assessed the flock. Moving birds is one of the fastest ways to spread a problem to other farms.
Useful calculators
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About this page
Published 25 August 2026 · Updated 25 August 2026 · Next review 25 February 2027
Sources consulted
- MSD Veterinary Manual: Poultry — respiratory, digestive and management disorders
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: Poultry Development Review — small-scale poultry health and husbandry
KukuVet helps you organise what you are seeing and decide what to do next. It does not diagnose disease and does not replace a qualified poultry veterinarian, especially where birds are dying.