Really, for a hen that is laying she should have layer pellets. Her comb should not be purple, you generally only see that if they are very ill. She might have died from egg binding, or heat exhaustion. Or any number of reasons, hard to tell for sure. When you get new chickens you should always...
Did everyone have a safe and happy 4th of July Holiday? I read LA Mike was in hospital, hope he is OK. LOts of fireworks around here, even though they are not legal. Our neighbors shoot them off, and they land in our yard, on the pool cage on the roof etc. I worry it might start a fire.
I am petrified of snakes, and there are a lot of poisonous ones here in Florida. I try to keep the grass cut short so they stay off in the brush or get chopped by the mower:tongue