1st death here and scared girls, feedback please?

[ValerieLovesChickens]

When you have a small flock it is never just a chicken. I lost a little EE last week and now am down to three. Just don’t blame yourself because they really are full of surprises, both good and bad.

Okay I will try to stop doing that, hubby said the same thing. He is right this minute looking to buy an incubator, and we found a very nice lady nearby that is going to collect her EE eggs these next few days, and give us the eggs. She only asks for "pics of the family" and updates from time to time, and the hatch rate. You and her, restoring my faith in mankind. Thank you again. I'm also so sorry about the loss of your EE, they are truly unique and special little birds. Hopefully yours and mine are somewhere together having a good time chasing bugs.

 

[ValerieLovesChickens]

I’m sorry for your loss
What breed of hen was she?

She was an Easter Egger, only 4months + 1 week old.

 

[CrazyTownChick]

Thank you for asking. We are grieving, especially our poor Roo. Probably me more than him, or the same, who really knows right? LoL The 2 girls that were her friends seem a little off, but the alpha is pleased as punch with herself. (shaking my head) Vet said it was an alpha vs queen situation, we goofed up. Now the worthless mean bully is alive and my sweet Easter Egger is gone.

Hubby said when I'm ready, he would help me find another or as many as I wanted to raise again. Just sad, going thru the motions here. Going to give her a proper indian burial this evening, the way my grandpa did on his farm.

How are yours doing today? Gonna be another hot day, wait, it already is. *cue the ac window unit in coop again at 3pm* lol

Trying to laugh, but want to cry. Thanks again for reaching out. I know it's just a chicken, but she was my pet of the flock. It's nice to know others care. *hugs*

So so sorry for your loss. I would be heartbroken too. How could you have known this would happen? You couldn’t. So bury her with love and thankfulness and move on.

 

[ValerieLovesChickens]

So so sorry for your loss. I would be heartbroken too. How could you have known this would happen? You couldn’t. So bury her with love and thankfulness and move on.

Thank you for the kindness, yes hindsight is always 20/20. I had no clue. You are so right. Yes, a loving little burial around sunset. She loved to come out in the yard the hour before sunset and play, enjoy treats and follow us around. Just seemed like a good time of day to put her to bed for the night, one last time.

 

[CaliFarmsAR]

She was an Easter Egger, only 4months + 1 week old.

Oh I’m so sorry!!

 

[WhyDoILikeChickens]

Thank you for asking. We are grieving, especially our poor Roo. Probably me more than him, or the same, who really knows right? LoL The 2 girls that were her friends seem a little off, but the alpha is pleased as punch with herself. (shaking my head) Vet said it was an alpha vs queen situation, we goofed up. Now the worthless mean bully is alive and my sweet Easter Egger is gone.

Hubby said when I'm ready, he would help me find another or as many as I wanted to raise again. Just sad, going thru the motions here. Going to give her a proper indian burial this evening, the way my grandpa did on his farm.

How are yours doing today? Gonna be another hot day, wait, it already is. *cue the ac window unit in coop again at 3pm* lol

Trying to laugh, but want to cry. Thanks again for reaching out. I know it's just a chicken, but she was my pet of the flock. It's nice to know others care. *hugs*

If alpha killed her there should have been some blood or feathers. Have they showed any sign of being sick?
I'm sorry to hear.

 

[ValerieLovesChickens]

The vet didn't have a clue but felt he had to say something.

I have used this Vet for 20 something years, and I have never ever had a single reason to ever doubt him, I'm not about to start now. They have saved and helped my animals always with the utmost knowledge. Do some research in the future please, before you point a finger at a licensed Vet that has practiced 27 years.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

So we've managed to keep them alive thru the heat. Went out to do bedtime check, and my favorite female was dead and stiff. She was just fine 4 hours ago.

We did remove the Roo today, as the girls are still not even laying eggs and he had been trying to mount them. However, this Roo has also been her companion, protector, closest flockmate I would say, since they were babies. Could she have died in just a day, from losing him and stress?

No blood, no sign of struggle, and the other girls are acting scared and huddled in the corner.

No predator, nothing... just stiff on the floor of the coop.

Any input please? I'm tired and crying, she was my favorite. Did we do this?

We have placed her in a box, in a bag, inside a tote on the back porch for the night. What do we do now? Put the roo back in with the girls? Leave him out in his new bachelor pad? Could we lose him too from her being gone now? So many questions..... I dont know what to do for the girls in the coop or for him. Please someone reply.....

Thank you for asking. We are grieving, especially our poor Roo. Probably me more than him, or the same, who really knows right? LoL The 2 girls that were her friends seem a little off, but the alpha is pleased as punch with herself. (shaking my head) Vet said it was an alpha vs queen situation, we goofed up. Now the worthless mean bully is alive and my sweet Easter Egger is gone.

I'm sorry for your loss, you sure can get attached to them.

How much many sqft are your coop/run?

Acting scared and huddled in the corner, I would be more inclined to try to figure out what scared them. Hawk, stray dog coming through, predator (rat, possum/raccoon/fox/coyote, etc.). Setting up a game cam may reveal something lurking.
Birds that are startled/frightened can fly into to walls/fencing and break their neck or even suffer from heart failure.

I have seen pecking order spats with my hens and they can be nasty with one another, but I've never known a bird to suffer from a fight or spat that didn't have a mark on them. I feel that you would have seen blood, torn skin (including comb/wattles) and lots of feathers too.
I have had a rooster try to kill hens and that was brutal - you will see evidence of birds attacking one another.

All that said, I'm very sorry that you've had to experience a loss so early on in chicken keeping. I think they are some of the most lovely creatures on earth and I adore mine, but sadly, sometimes things happen beyond our control and sometimes we may make a mistake - but we learn from it, try to make changes when necessary and move forward. All of us have bad moments, but you can't let that paralyze you and keep you from enjoying the rest of the flock and watching them grow and flourish.

Just my 2¢

 

[rumbleBee_STi]

I’ve developed a lump in my throat reading your posts about your little EE. I have 2 EE, one being my ultimate favorite out of all 13 babies I have. I’m sending you good vibes.

 

[ValerieLovesChickens]

I'm sorry for your loss, you sure can get attached to them.

How much many sqft are your coop/run?

Acting scared and huddled in the corner, I would be more inclined to try to figure out what scared them. Hawk, stray dog coming through, predator (rat, possum/raccoon/fox/coyote, etc.). Setting up a game cam may reveal something lurking.
Birds that are startled/frightened can fly into to walls/fencing and break their neck or even suffer from heart failure.

I have seen pecking order spats with my hens and they can be nasty with one another, but I've never known a bird to suffer from a fight or spat that didn't have a mark on them. I feel that you would have seen blood, torn skin (including comb/wattles) and lots of feathers too.
I have had a rooster try to kill hens and that was brutal - you will see evidence of birds attacking one another.

All that said, I'm very sorry that you've had to experience a loss so early on in chicken keeping. I think they are some of the most lovely creatures on earth and I adore mine, but sadly, sometimes things happen beyond our control and sometimes we may make a mistake - but we learn from it, try to make changes when necessary and move forward. All of us have bad moments, but you can't let that paralyze you and keep you from enjoying the rest of the flock and watching them grow and flourish.

Just my 2¢

I appreciate the feedback, thank you. I used to seriously hate chickens, bad experiences as a child. With times the way they are, we decided to give it a go, and I fell in love with them. Who knew these birds would change me as a person, for the better?

Goldy (Roo) was her buddy, protector, food pal, she tucked her head under him to nap and sleep. Pearl is clearly our alpha pullet, make no mistake. She would peck Ladyhawk when she thought Goldy wasn't looking, but Lady would squawk and Goldy would put Pearl back in her place.

I had been told on these forums he would need to be removed when he started trying to mate, this was misinformation. They all grew up together, same age, same size.

She had a stress triggered heart attack, flopped around like a fish and died, which probably scared the other 3 pullets.

The vet did discover areas with drying blood that we didn't see in the dark, she had been battered by the alpha. The alpha suddenly took on behavior of trying to hide, and the others accommodated her in a group in the corner. I honestly feel she knows what she did, she has run from me today each time I've went to check on them. I've not changed my behavior towards her, that won't do any good if I did.

She's always been a bully, Goldy was always Ladys protector, I messed up.