Can hens have heart attacks?

[ronott1]

I found my lovely Delaware hen, only 7-1/2 months old, dead in the garage where she was comfortably living with another hen. She was fine this morning, perched up on a ladder as usual where she spends the night. She had sunshine (lots of it) and straw and cozy spots and a good life, I thought.

What do the veterinarians and other animal specialists say about sudden deaths? Does anyone know for sure? I've had hens keel over but they were much older and it was to be expected, ie, 5 years of age.

I feel awful! I KNOW it's just a hen, but still...

I live in California and here we can take or send back yard chickens to a Lab for a free Necropsy. I had a Black Australorp die like yours. It was from a liver hemorage. She had fatty liver disease and the report said it was more common in certain breeds.

Chickens can also break their necks, so you will never really know unless there is a Necropsy performed on the chicken.

 

[Horsea]

I don't know if such a free service is available where I live or not. I ought to look into it for future reference. Sounds like California is a good place to live for backyard chickeners. In any event, I put Ms. Delaware's body in the snow, under a bush, and I wouldn't be surprised if some vermin has come along and done its duty, as is Nature's way.

Fatty liver! Sounds like people disease, doesn't it.

I had a bunch of black Australorps. One hen made it to 5-1/2 yr. of age, then one day chose to stay outside overnight. Next AM I saw a hawk swoop down on her. I hope it was a quick death. As for Australorp roosters, they were a mean bunch, all of them, chasing me all over the yard and attacking me for no reason that I could see.

 

[mariel37]

That happened to us a few weeks ago.

Stella, one of our Silver Wyandottes (and the first chick I chose at the feed store out of the bin) was fine one morning. Two hours later I went out to the coop to give them some treats and she was dead - right in front of the pop door.

No feathers, no blood, didn't look like a skurmish happened - just layed down and died.

That was a bit of a shock - she was only 7 months old and the first chicken we lost.

 

[theoldchick]

Yes, they can. Meaties are famous for doing the cardiac flip.

 

[Horsea]

The more I hear about sudden death in chickens, the better I feel about finding a dead chicken. Not that I will ever feel "good" about it, of course! The point is, it didn't have a lingering disease. Something just snapped.