In chicks the most common lethal illness is cocci. If one gets it, they all get it. The main early symptom is loose stools with blood &/or mucous. Later the chicks may look hunched up, lethargic, & not wanting to eat/drink. Sadly, in some cases it only takes a few hours to go from symptoms to...
I'm sorry for your loss & sad that this thread is so popular. All we can do is our best & keep an eye out for the remainder of the flock.
Because of the young age, it's possible that your pullet was having an egg issues. The messy vent could mean lots of things.
Things to research: vent...
So sorry for your loss. I too have no idea what would pour out the back. If it was a hot day, then a heart attack / heat stroke is very possible. The bigger breeds like Orpingtons have a harder time in the heat. If she was overheated & dizzy, then she may have been too weak to get to water...
I'm so sorry that your sudden loss has made you join this sad club.
On the bright side:
There are many, many people who understand what you're feeling.
So sorry for your loss. I have blacks & lavenders (not buff), but I've never had an orp die from cold. It's certainly possible. Last winter we got some -40'F nights with daytime highs of -10'F. The roo got some comb frostbte, but all the hens were fine. If your coop is well ventilated, then...
So sorry to hear of your loss. You will definitely want to make sure your remaining girls are healthy (then follow with a quarantine of the newbies) before adding any birds.
Since your winters are cold & snowy, I'd recommend a good winter breed. Brahmas might be good, but I personally have...
Sorry about your losses, but I like your naming idea.
For me, I had 2 losses & both birds were less than a year old. Both were sudden, unexplained, & happened in the summer. The rest of the chickens were fine. With my young hen, I believe it had to do with her egg production. She had a...
Sorry for your loss. That's what happened with mine. I kept a very close eye on the flock & had no other losses. Mine was a very large bird, so perhaps summer heat or heart attack.
So sorry for your loss. Losing a pet is hard.
Could she have been egg-bound?
One thing we do for our beloved pets is have a backyard funeral. I pick out a perennial plant or even fruit vine that reminds me of the pet. We plant it together in honor of that pet. After 18 years of this...
I can't believe it but my poor, beautiful hen is gone. She was fine this morning. Even laid an egg. Just turned 1 year old 9 days ago. My DD came running into the house crying that Hope was dead. She found Hope in the run, still soft & warm. No injuries. Comb was strangely white.
RIP my...